Jenny Reviews: Fledgling

The Vitals

Fledgling by Octavia Butler
Release Date: 2 January 2007
Page Count: 310
Genre: Science Fiction; Fantasy
Target Audience: Adult
Series: No
Source and Format: Purchased; Paperback

Summary (From Goodreads)
Fledgling, Octavia Butler's new novel after a seven year break, is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly inhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted--and still wants--to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself. Fledgling is a captivating novel that tests the limits of "otherness" and questions what it means to be truly human.

Notes on Fledgling
We ended the semester with this book because it explores larger issues of community and, as the blurb says, what it means to be human. This is the first Octavia Butler book I have read, though I like science fiction and she is a pioneer in the field. It was...different. My students and I firmly believe that this book was supposed to be the first in a series, but she passed away before she could continue it. There are several plot points that are left vague and undeveloped that would have helped the reader to get a more solid grasp on the Ina people (the Ina are the vampires).

My students really liked the book, though they repeatedly complained about how weird it is. I firmly agree with them. The main character- Shori- has amnesia. The story begins with her waking up after a horrific trauma and trying to figure out who/what she is, who to trust, and how to survive. Butler continually keeps her audience off balance throughout the work- Shori is a 53-year-old vampire, but this means she has the body of a 12-year-old. She is sexually active with adult humans throughout the book, but Butler is constantly reminding the reader of the youth of Shori's body, which is very uncomfortable.

The novel covers a lot of ground as far as social commentary goes- the Ina live in polyamorous communities, they are a matriarchal society, their Council of Judgment is more interested in truth than justice, and some Ina are furious with Shori because she is genetically modified and has human DNA. There is a lot going on and Butler does a wonderful job of introducing lots of interesting societal features but, for me, it is really hard to get past the sexual relationships. The importance of community is emphasized in this work in a way it has not been in the other 5 books we read, which I really enjoyed. Butler has created an interesting world that I would probably like more if she had been able to write more about it. Overall, however, it is not a book I care to read again.  

Overall Diagnosis