SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

What are your first impressions? Do you like the protagonist? What are your thoughts on the world building? The style of writing? Is this your first Octavia Butler novel?

Give us your thoughts!

I've not read Dawn, at least that I remember...but have read Butler for ages and love her work - Parable of the Sower was wonderful and one of my favorite shorts by her is - Speech Sounds: http://www.e-reading.ws/chapter.php/1...

Will check my shelves and/or see if I can get this one....

Looking forward to rereading this one, it's been quite awhile.

I read this two years ago and absolutely loved it (I am very stingy with my 5 stars!). Of course, I have yet to read anything by Octavia Butler that wasn't completely awesome. This reminds me, that I never did finish this trilogy. The question is...do I reread the first two books first? Hmmmm...

I loved it! I have been wanting to read this for months and finally got to. it was amazing. I was so stuck when thinking about what Lilith should do! Should she fight or accept? What would I do in the name of survival? I adored this book and HAVE to buy a physical copy of the whole series. I regret only having it on my Nook lol.

I absolutely love this series and wish I had time to reread this book with the group right now. Just not enough time to read with a toddler around! But I will be following the discussion and love that we are reading more Octavia Butler.

Agree with Kenny about Speech Sounds - one of my favorite pieces of short fiction ever. It haunts me but I love it.

Just started it last night. So far, I like it.

Looking forward to reading this again. It has been a few years.

I remember that I read the trilogy in just a couple of days, so it must have been good. Lol.

Octavia Butler in general is a fantastic writer. The themes are always a bit disturbing, but the stories are excellent.

After having read two good SF books last week, I was struck by how much better Butler's opening was. She puts a lot in while avoid a flat expositional tone. It also sets a stage for me to expect a book focused on understanding humanity, as the first character is trying to understand herself.

Only read the first few chapters so far but I am loving it! So well written that I am urged to keep reading.

I read/re-read the first few chapters as well (from the ebook sample of Lillith's Brood) and located my copy of Exogenesis (the original name for the trilogy) -- she is an amazing writer.

Russ wrote: "After having read two good SF books last week, I was struck by how much better Butler's opening was. She puts a lot in while avoid a flat expositional tone. It also sets a stage for me to expect a ..."

I'm curious what those other two good sf books were??

I find Butler's style so natural, so readable compared to some others whom I find all but unreadable yet they too are praised/awarded/etc.

I'm only up to the fourth chapter, and I feel as though it's the nature of the main character's position, but I feel the author is hand-holding a bit. It's not too bothersome, but noticeable enough. Perhaps it's only me, or as mentioned, part of the character's nature of needing to overexplain things because of what a predicament she is in.

I read this last fall, and "loved" it, though I agree with Paul that Ms. Butler's themes are disturbing. I've ordered a physical copy of the trilogy (there's a lot of cheap ones out there, Diandra!), so that I can reference it during the discussion and then continue the series.

I remember the opening really grabbed me, and I was glad I didn't know what it was about when reading it, because it was such a tense mystery at first.

I somewhat agree with the handholding, Superior Ven A., although I find that I like that in her books (I've read this and Kindred). Her books seem to consider deep, complex ethics, and I think it is easier to consider them more thoroughly with the character's considerations all up front, but some might not agree.

I'm wondering why they changed the name of the trilogy collection from Exogenesis to Lillith's Brood? Anyone know?

Just finished book one and I'm pretty intrigued so far. It's only touched on the alien's intentions and I'm really up in the air about how dastardly their plans are. Jhadya's explanation of his race needing to fulfill certain functions just as much as Lilith needing to breathe was cool but a little eery.
I also like the living ship idea, have seen it used in the Farscape tv show but not to this scale.

Kenny wrote: "I'm wondering why they changed the name of the trilogy collection from Exogenesis to Lillith's Brood? Anyone know?"

The series name you are looking for is Xenogenesis. (I know because I used it for one of my "X"-titled books in an alphabet challenge!) I don't know why the published name change, but I'm afraid of poking around too hard because I don't want any series spoilers. I'm getting the trilogy in the mail soon and will let you know if the introduction says anything about it...

Oh sorry, my typo, I have the hardcover and will probably buy the ebook ... currently reading the ebook sample which includes the first half-dozen chapters.

I'm not remembering reading it ... it would have been decades ago ... but maybe I did :)

Funny enough the CA Amazon site has it by my incorrect name. :)

Still wondering about the change of title for the series though....

I can tell you the name change happened somewhere around 2000 because the copy I got used through amazon is from 97 and still has the "Xenogenesis" name on it.

I think the publisher changed and that is most likely the reason, but I can't find any info on it.

Kenny wrote: Funny enough the CA Amazon site has it by my incorrect name. :)"

That is funny. And curious. Is that Canada? They could have published it differently, but I don't see anything about it on Wiki. I do see a lot of hits for "Exogenesis Butler" on Google, though; it may be a mass consciousness typo...

http://www.amazon.ca/Exogenesis-Octav...

:)

All those searches are belong to me! :)

Kenny wrote: "I'm curious what those other two good sf books were??."

They were Neuromancer, which I've been meaning to read for years, and Childhood's End, which was a re-read but it's been over a decade. I didn't plan it this way, but I think some of the common themes from two very different authors in different periods make Childhood's End and Dawn a perfect pairing.

Russ wrote: "Kenny wrote: "I'm curious what those other two good sf books were??."

They were Neuromancer, which I've been meaning to read for years, and Childhood's End, which was a..."

Ah, yes, I've tried to read Neuromancer many times and have never been able to get past chapter 1. Like you I read Childhood's End long, long ago. Not sure if it would stand up for me today.

Thanks!

I'm about a third of the way through and finding it interesting in a slow way. No fireworks yet. Maybe there won't be any fireworks; maybe this is a thinking person's story.

Stephanie wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through and finding it interesting in a slow way. No fireworks yet. Maybe there won't be any fireworks; maybe this is a thinking person's story."

That sounds about right. This and Kindred both focused on ethical decision-points, but I would say Kindred was more "action" oriented than Dawn.

Russ wrote: "Kenny wrote: "I'm curious what those other two good sf books were??."

They were Neuromancer, which I've been meaning to read for years, and Childhood's End, which was a..."

Ooh, those are both high on my to-read list. Interesting what you say about Childhood's End, I'll bump it up sooner so I can compare to my thoughts on Dawn.

Dawn is my first book by Octavia E. Butler. I am only four or five chapters in, but I have to say this book so far is quite compelling, grabbing hold of me and making me wonder what is to come. Good stuff.

My wife recommend this book as an introduction to Butler. I have up on it due to the themes. I found parable of the sower a better introduction personally. With the group reading this for June I figured I would give it another go.

I forgot to add it is easier to read after reading some of her other books.

My copy of Xenogenesis, I couldn't get it to come up here, is from the Science Fiction Book Club. They used to put novels together, sometimes with their own titles and artwork.

Well I got to the end of the sample on my Kindle Fire....I need to either buy it or pull out the paper copy. :)

I read Dawn a few years ago, and I am re-reading it now. I absolutely love Octavia Butler. I found the world building interesting - the world you begin in is so efficient - I can't think of another word for it. I never finished the series but I look forward to finishing it now after this re-read. It was a great dystopian sci-fi novel.

I've read Dawn twice before (no time now). I remember being struck with how deeply it deals with the psychological impact of being taken by aliens.

When there are choices to be made, the author never gives her protagonist (or the reader) any easy way out - there is no clear right and wrong way, we have to walk in those grey areas, just as we do in real life.

I think that's what I like about her work - it seems she is saying "life is tough. Make your decisions and stick by them, but know that sometimes it will be wrong and sometimes it will hurt."

Fiona wrote: "I've read Dawn twice before (no time now). I remember being struck with how deeply it deals with the psychological impact of being taken by aliens.

When there are choices to be made, the author n..."

Good observation, Fiona! That captures how I have experienced her books anyway.

I bought Lilith's brood which appears to be some kind of omnibus. Well I meant to read the first chapter and read the first and second book. Great stuff. I look forward to reading the third. I don't look forward to reading our fantasy book. I hate fantasy and I have no idea why scifi and fantasy are lumped together. It's as if crap and steak put in the same platter and you are expected to eat them both.

lol Jezzle, I have to agree though. When I first joined I wasn't so sure I would like the sci-fi books and now a year later I am skipping on the fantasy but loving the Sci-fi :-D
swords < lazers
Although in Dawn all we have are sharp objects...

Anyone else got a firm image in your head just what the Oankali look like?
(mine is a bit like chewbacka with tentacles instead of fur)

That is one of the things I love about scifi how we come up with completely different images based on the same words. I always imagined them more like almost a jelly fish or sting ray skin, gray with of course tentacles. So right now I googled Oankali to see what others thought and found this:
http://chid250c.tumblr.com/post/35790...

I love the aliens, I'm disappointed by the sexism. I realise [it's] a huge fear in females, and rightly so, but I'd hoped that--at least these days--males would be more interested in survival than anything else in a position like the one in the book. Even if not, I get hopeful for that reality and kind of wished Butler would have portrayed civility. I feel it's awfully cynical, accurate though it may be.

Can you elaborate in what you mean by the sexism in the book?

This book is on a kindle daily deal special at the .com site today, $1.99 - http://smile.amazon.com/Dawn-Xenogene...

Thank You!!!

but Dang, do I buy the one book or the trilogy....

Okay....so I bought the ONE ebook for now....

Kenny wrote: "Thank You!!!

but Dang, do I buy the one book or the trilogy...."

Welcs :)

But, hmm, yea, you have a good point. The trilogy is $9.99 for the set - http://smile.amazon.com/Liliths-Brood...

While the next two in the series, sold individually, are $6.15 a piece.

Julia wrote: "My copy of Xenogenesis, I couldn't get it to come up here, is from the Science Fiction Book Club. They used to put novels together, sometimes with their own titles and artwork."

You can add a new edition, so your shelves contain the one you read, Julia.

Julia wrote: "My copy of Xenogenesis, I couldn't get it to come up here, is from the Science Fiction Book Club. They used to put novels together, sometimes with their own titles and artwork."

Is there a webpage for it? I could add it and combine it.

Just started this yesterday and wow, I'm in love with this book. I see everyone else who have already read it and I feel so inadequate. I didn't think I'd have enough time to read this and the other fantasy, so I picked this one. I'm so happy I did. Butler is a genius.

Her "bloodchild" short story is still free on Amazon uk (And com I think). I know it is a bit off-topic, but maybe some of you will like it.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Her "bloodchild" short story is still free on Amazon uk (And com I think). I know it is a bit off-topic, but maybe some of you will like it."

Just snagged it! Thanks Ellie.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Her "bloodchild" short story is still free on Amazon uk (And com I think). I know it is a bit off-topic, but maybe some of you will like it."

bummer, not on the .com site. Thx for the heads up, in any case! :)