105 pages 3 hours read

Octavia E. Butler

Dawn

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Octavia E. Butler's Dawn, Lilith Iyapo awakens post-apocalypse on an alien ship run by the Oankali, a three-gendered species intending to merge genetically with humans to survive. Chosen to help rehabilitate Earth, Lilith trains other humans while struggling with their hostility and the alien integration's ethical implications. The story explores intense themes including genetic manipulation, consent, and the complexity of interspecies relationships.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Octavia E. Butler’s Dawn is widely praised for its imaginative and thought-provoking narrative, rich character development, and exploration of complex themes like identity, consent, and coexistence. However, some readers find the pacing slow and the prose dense. Overall, it's celebrated as a compelling work of science fiction that provokes deep reflection.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Dawn?

Readers who love Dune by Frank Herbert or The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin will enjoy Dawn by Octavia E. Butler. This book is perfect for those interested in complex characters, themes of survival, and the interplay between humanity and alien civilizations. Fans of thought-provoking speculative fiction will find it compelling.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Gender / Feminism

Themes

Identity: Gender

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Fantasy