Dawn

By: Octavia E. Butler

Narrated by: Julienne Irons

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

One woman is called upon to rebuild the future of humankind after a nuclear war, in this revelatory post-apocalyptic tale from the award-winning author of Parable of the Sower.

When Lilith lyapo wakes from a centuries-long sleep, she finds herself aboard the vast spaceship of the Oankali. She discovers that the Oankali—a seemingly benevolent alien race—intervened in the fate of the humanity hundreds of years ago, saving everyone who survived a nuclear war from a dying, ruined Earth and then putting them into a deep sleep. After learning all they could about Earth and its beings, the Oankali healed the planet, cured cancer, increased human strength, and they now want Lilith to lead her people back to Earth—but salvation comes at a price.

Hopeful and thought-provoking, this post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt during a pivotal time of crisis and change.

©1987 Octavia E. Butler (P)2023 Grand Central Publishing

Right on Time

The legend, Octavia E. Butler, originally published this book the year I was born, yet it reads like plausible prophecy. This post-apocalyptic sci-fi will have you obsessed with the cycle of attraction and repulsion.

Narrator was easy to listen to even with multiple characters. Only took 2 days to finish-Can't wait to devour the next two!

Futuristic with a twist

Nice futuristic story line. Easy to get into and keeps your attention from beginning to end. It’s a page turner!

What a ride!!

Fourth book by this author and I deeply appreciate her sense of world building and making you feel like the characters in the story. They are all relatable and equally made to be as real and grounded and those in our reality. At the same time making me reflect on what I would do or how I would react in theses situations. What would I choose, who do I relate to more in those tense moments. 10/10

Brilliant sci fi

A completely original take on post-apocalyptic survival and rescue by an alien race of superior intellect 

new beginnings!

it was a little too predictable... realistically shows the flaws in human nature ,but none the less a great futuristic sci-fi story !

good but strange!

pretty good book but definitely not for people who don't like a little but of weirdness in their stories!

Narrator was not terrible, she at least wasn't monotone, but there was little to no differentiation between the voices of different characters besides like one female side character who had a British accent. This made it a little difficult to follow certain bits of dialog, but overall didn't make it impossible to get through.

Interesting concepts, grounded narrator

My only regret is that I didn't stumble across this sooner. very interesting themes explored through this story. enjoyed the realism of characters that made the story feel as believable as this sci Fi story could be.

Disturbing

I little too disturbing for my taste. Alien sex is not really what I wanna read about in a science fiction novel. Finished the book, but won't be continuing the series.

Nuanced story, narrator tries too hard

There was a bit of overacting from the narrator. Whispers, screams and drama where the text didn't call for.

Brilliant sci fi, mediocre narrator

This is a great sci fi novel, especially in its portrayal of an alien race. Absolutely brilliantly imagined! I was continually amazed and enthralled by the Oankali. It’s wonderful to read about aliens who don’t think or act like humans, but are truly different. Butler is a genius!

I wasn’t enamored with the main conflict, though, the intense desire by Lilith to protect her “humanity” by resisting genetic manipulation. What’s so special about being “human” if it means being afraid of improving the species? I actually felt more kinship with the Oankali than with the humans. I see nothing wrong with gene tweaks that enhance memory, or strength, or healing. But that’s probably just me.

And now for the narrator: ugh!! Her phrasing and intonation was so irritating! Each phrase ended on an upswing with along pause, like a less dramatic William Shatner. Very choppy. And she rarely got emotional. I think one reason I didn’t connect with Lilith was because of the narrator. Plus she did a terrible “British” accent! And mispronounced words. I really think I would have loved this book, and Lilith, but for the poor narration. Such a shame, for such a brilliant book to have a terrible narrator.