Beyond Reality discussion

Have you finished reading Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler, book 2 in the Xenogenesis trilogy? What did you think?

Spoilers through book 2 OK here.

I enjoyed this much more than the first book. I think this is because it focused on the main problem I had with the first book, wondering why the humans couldn't be allowed to have their own, unchanged future society. I find that I sympathize more with our aliens; after all, they had no obligation to interfere at all, to "save" any part of Earth's people. The fact that they have done so only on their terms should come as no surprise.

I admit that I am still troubled by the feral nature of most humans in this story. Civilization is merely a thin veneer in this world. There is such a hunger for "the way things used to be"; very few individuals seem to accept that the world they knew was destroyed, and that things have changed. I sympathize with their mourning for the past, but I don't have much patience for willfully ignoring the new situation.

I am encouraged in that this book seems to propose a possible solution, if still a difficult one. Looking forward to book 3 ....

9/10
So close to a 10, but something held me back—not sure yet just what stopped me.

The vast majority of resister humans presented in this second book of the trilogy seem, as Chris said, so “feral” (perfect word choice!), so quick to resort to violence, theft, rape, drunkenness, anger, hatred. Yes, they are bitter over their inability to reproduce without Oankali “interference” and, absent the hope of future generations, their will to maintain a civilized society has disintegrated. It’s rather bleak.

Akin has plenty to be bitter about as well, separated from his closest sibling during their time when they should have bonded and then left on his own with the humans, but he accepts his circumstances (with some difficulty) and forges onward to make his life complete and meaningful. I especially liked reading about his time on the ship with the Akjai.

Will the resisters who are going to Mars with Akin be told of the Earth’s eventual fate? Would that information help them accept Mars as a home more easily? Anxious to see what happens in the final book of the trilogy.