Paperback, 220 pages
English language
Published Dec. 28, 2021 by Aspect.
Child of two species, but part of neither, a new being must find his way. Human and Oankali have been mating since the aliens first came to Earth to rescue the few survivors of an annihilating nuclear war. The Oankali began a massive breeding project, guided by the ooloi, a sexless subspecies capable of manipulating DNA, in the hope of eventually creating a perfect starfaring race. Jodahs is supposed to be just another hybrid of human and Oankali, but as he begins his transformation to adulthood he finds himself becoming ooloi--the first ever born to a human mother. As his body changes, Jodahs develops the ability to shapeshift, manipulate matter, and cure or create disease at will. If this frightened young man is able to master his new identity, Jodahs could prove the savior of what's left of mankind. Or, if he is not careful, he could become a plague …
Child of two species, but part of neither, a new being must find his way. Human and Oankali have been mating since the aliens first came to Earth to rescue the few survivors of an annihilating nuclear war. The Oankali began a massive breeding project, guided by the ooloi, a sexless subspecies capable of manipulating DNA, in the hope of eventually creating a perfect starfaring race. Jodahs is supposed to be just another hybrid of human and Oankali, but as he begins his transformation to adulthood he finds himself becoming ooloi--the first ever born to a human mother. As his body changes, Jodahs develops the ability to shapeshift, manipulate matter, and cure or create disease at will. If this frightened young man is able to master his new identity, Jodahs could prove the savior of what's left of mankind. Or, if he is not careful, he could become a plague that will destroy this new race once and for all.
The start was mostly the protagonists thoughts and felt a bit slow but it helped shape Jodahs and the more it progressed the better I liked it. Expected a bit more about Mars but didn't mind this being something else.
it is really interesting how I ended up being sympathetic with jodahs, my perspective towards the ooloi has changed a lot over the course of the story. some very interesting thoughts on biopolitics and human nature (the "human conflict" especially) and an entertaining read. as it has already been pointed out by other readers the gender essentialism is hard to endure sometimes. i think ooloi is a pretty cool gender though ^^
like, it's meant to be a trilogy, but the three stories just seem to live by itself, without really needing each other much, and that's why the conclusion doesn't really bring closure in my opinion?
still, it's definitely worth reading it.
of course, if amongst your hobbies there is "destroy gender", this book will kind of hurt you not a little bit, but, for example, i was happy to inflict myself that pain just to read butler.
so, you know, check where you stand and decide.
