Wow. This book captured me!
There are lots of difficult [and potentially troubling] issues this book brings up. It was very philosophically engaging and provocative, exploring issues of human worth, the human condition, gender, sex, consent and will, and on and on.
One thing I particularly loved was that there was rarely a clear right or wrong given. Some readers might want the protagonist, Lilith, to have or eventually arrive at some solid, unwavering stance for or against the Onkali and particular actions or opinions of theirs. But neither Lilith nor the book as a whole fully condemns or advocates for either side of any of the issues that are raised. I appreciated that not only because it’s rare for an author to explore so many seemingly two-sided issues without taking sides with such deft ambition, but also for Butler’s bravery in doing it.
As to the more evident and outward pieces of the book, Lilith is a great protagonist to follow as she is exploring herself, her unfamiliar surroundings, and her new companions. The inter-human interactions, especially later on during the awakenings felt slightly formulaic, but enjoyable and potentially realistic. And…well, I might as well say: I never thought I’d be so turned on by human-alien sex.