Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler

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Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler


                Lilith has just given birth to the only human born, male construct on Earth. Akin looks human with brown skin and no tentacles except one on his gray tongue. His perception is amazing. Within days he can speak and because of his memory and Oankali senses he is very intelligent. But Akin, regardless of how intelligent he is, is still a child. The raiders took him from his village on Earth in hopes of trading with one of the resister villages. It is there, with the people who once knew his mother that Akin learns of his Human heritage and why they feel the need to continue to fight.
                Just enough time has passed between Dawn and Adulthood Rites for this to feel like a fresh start, with different challenges and circumstances. Lilith has now been living on Earth for years, and has been raising a family with her Oankali mates. The resisters live on Earth as well, having separated from the Oankali as soon as the opportunity arose. The resisters are completely infertile, but have an extended life expectancy thanks to the Oankali. Akin’s experience with the resisters dictates his experience throughout his life. I really enjoyed Akin’s character. His intelligence, his ability to think through many sides of a situation, and his experiences make him the only person who can speak with any authority about the human condition and why the resisters refuse to join the Oankali. Akin was just extremely interesting and extremely self-aware. I also thought it was really interesting seeing some of the characters that interacted with Lilith in the first book. So many questions were left unanswered in Dawn about what would happen to humans. With Adulthood Rites Butler did an amazing job continuing to construct the world and building towards a future.
                Butler was a creative genius. This story of Lilith, Akin, Oankali and humanity is absolutely incredible. It is unpredictable with circumstances that I could never imagine. Her incredible understanding of humanity and society is breathtaking. The fact that she was able to put her observations on the page in a manner that is undeniable is unmatched. I love this series. I’m always actively engaged in the story and interested in what happens. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

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