Adulthood Rites

Adulthood Rites has a hard time trying to match the shock and awe that was its predecessor, Dawn. In comparison to Dawn's many horrifying realizations, this book is much more melancholic, as the human survivors (who, now sterilized, have spread across the globe in clusters of resisters) are witness to what they see as the sunset of their species. One of Lilith's many children, a cross between human and Oankali called a "construct", is one of the first to see both sides of this conflict, and advocate on humanities behalf. It is the Oankali's opinion that humanity is doomed to death, that our hierarchical structure will bring us to ruin regardless of our circumstances, and that to give us another chance on our own would only postpone the inevitable. A waste. Unethical.

Adulthood Rites suffers a little bit from middle book syndrome, as much of what takes place is more-or-less a setup to what will happen in the final volume. While the same could be said of Dawn, I was much happier to fill in the blank after Dawn than I am after this. There's a serious lull towards the middle section of the book that I found found repetitive, especially when describing the tangible emotions and sensations of Oankali connection. Butler never really tries to innovate or surprise with any of the ideas in Adulthood Rites; and perhaps it's on me for expecting that. While I'm still just as impressed with Butler as I ever have been, I really missed the tension and suspense of Dawn.

Nonetheless, I'm very content to finish the series immediately. The relationships in this series are so tender and realistic, the thematic work so textured, and the Oankali fully realized.