Customer Reviews

Survivor

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read Survivor after seeing Octavia Butler speak at a Sci Fi conference not long after the book came out. I was impressed with the woman in person and I was amazed by her writing. Not only was Survivor a great science fiction story, it spoke to me in ways most science fiction could not. Being black/white/native american and female, I didn't find many characters in novels (science fiction or otherwise) who resembled me or the people in my family. But, more than that, Butler writes with sensitivity and skill on behalf of all of her characters, male or female, black white or asian, human or other-wordly. In this book, I found my own sense of the world mirrored back to me and treated with gentleness and love. That was a very new experience for me and one I will never forget. I have loved Butler's work since and much of it is even more fascinating and innovative than Survivor but this book will always remind me of how acknowledged I felt when I first read it. I have always meant to write to Butler about this so that she could know one of the reasons why so many people think highly of this book and wish it were still in print.

After reading "The Evening and The Morning and The Night", I rushed out to purchase every Octavia Butler book I could find. "Survivor", in it's plastic book covering, with it's edges worn and color faded, was the first I found. I only recently found out how luckly I am, in that the author herself, hate's it (Blasphemy!), and wishes it never to be reprinted. "Survivor" is a tale of missionaries fleeing from a plague riddled earth, who find themselves trapped between two warring tribes on a distant world. The Garkohn hosts' come bearing fruit, and soon the colony of missionaries find themselves confined to the valley in drug-induced complacency. A young, 'wild' human, one of many kidnapped in a raid by Tehkohn natives, yet the only one to survive, is again plunged into a world not unlike the savage Earth of her youth, forced to learn a new language and new culture for yet the third time. An opportunity of chance and misfortune will bring Alanna back to the valley, but will the missionaries overcome species prejudice and accept help from the 'Tehkohn enemy'? "Survivor" explores the complex realm of human emotions by giving us character's we can identify with, set in a future that seems all too likely to occur(See Clay's Ark). The world Butler creates for us is indeed real, the motivations our own, with a plot that is sure to keep you up all night. "Survivor" is what the world will make you if you pay close attention to details. A must have that is hard to get, but worth it's weight in gold!

After reading "The Evening and The Morning and The Night", I rushed out to purchase every Octavia Butler book I could find. "Survivor", in it's plastic book covering, with it's edges worn and color faded, was the first I found. I only recently found out how lucky I am, in that the author herself, hate's it (Blasphemy!), and wishes it never to be reprinted. "Survivor" is a tale of missionaries fleeing from a plague riddled earth, who find themselves trapped between two warring tribes on a distant world. The Garkohn hosts' come bearing fruit, and soon the colony of missionaries find themselves confined to the valley in drug-induced complacency. A young, 'wild' human, one of many kidnapped in a raid by Tehkohn natives, yet the only one to survive, is again plunged into a world not unlike the savage Earth of her youth, forced to learn a new language and new culture for yet the third time. An opportunity of chance and misfortune will bring Alanna back to the valley, but will the missionaries overcome species prejudice and accept help from the 'Tehkohn enemy'? "Survivor" explores the complex realm of human emotions by giving us character's we can identify with, set in a future that seems all too likely to occur(See Clay's Ark). The world Butler creates for us is indeed real, the motivations our own, with a plot that is sure to keep you up all night. "Survivor" is what the world will make you if you pay close attention to details. A must have that is hard to get, but worth it's weight in gold!

Ms. Butler has said that she's sorry this book was ever released. She knows what she's doing. This is a great story for any other SF writer. But it's mediocre coming from Ms. Butler. It's more shallow than her other stuff. Since it was out-of-print, I thought it would be the only story of hers that I would never read. I felt tortured until I found a library with a copy. I feel better now. But if you can't find one, don't torture yourself wishing you could.

I read this book several years ago and loved it so much that I bought it again when I misplaced the first copy. I can't believe the current price.

This book was straightforward and easier to read and understand than the other books I read by Ms. Butler. It was definitely worth reading!

Survivor, is one of my favorite books. Although out of print for some time, I think it worth while to try and find a copy. Any reader of Clay's Ark will want to read this. The setting follows the Ark disaster & as in many of Ms. Butlers stories has a multi-racial and alien cast. For an Afro-American this is great. It gives us a stake in the imaginative future. If you can find a copy I think you'll see what I mean. Pat Randolph

Survivor is story of how a grown foundling becomes the only hope for survival on a hostile new planet. Her inability to become "human" makes her able to become something else, and therefore save the human immigrants from extinction. Alanna is the heroine that stands for all the people that are "different" and thus able to see other possiblities.
This book should be in print.

I first read this about 20 years ago, and I still remember it as a very intriguing story. It is more of a straight out adventure tale that much of Ms. Bulter's later work, but well worth the read. This is one that I sincerely wish would reappear on store bookshelves.

This book appeals to everyone who feels the least bit different and is trying to fit into the world around them. It shows you can be your own person, and accomplish great things.

It seems mrs Butler regrets that this book ever found its way into print. I guess I can understand this as "Survivor" is a much more straightforward and action-directed story than the rest of her work. Nevertheless I found this to be mrs Butler's most readable book. It has plenty of depth and lacks the bitterness that apparently always is present in her other work, and alway seems to be on the verge of spoiling it.

"Survivor" should definitely be reprinted!