A review by sergek94
Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler

dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

“Yes. Tomorrow you will resume your suffering—if you must. But just now, just for now, lie here and warm me and let me ease your way a little.”

To escape the dark reality of earth, a group of people known as the Terrans made their escape from the planet, venturing into space, in hopes of finding a better planet to live in. Unfortunately, these humans found themselves in a new horrifying reality. They now live on a distant planet, alongside centipede-like creatures called the Tlic who are facing potential extinction. In order to ensure the preservation of their species, these creatures use humans as hosts for their larva, planting them inside human bodies and allowing them to grow inside of them. When the time comes, these humans give birth to the alien creatures, and the process is extremely bloody and painful, that involves their insides being torn apart as the newly hatched aliens exit the human bodies. If not done correctly, this process is fatal to humans.


This short story was the first work I read by Octavia Butler, and it was an excellent introduction to her writing, making me very eager to read her full length novels. The themes explored regarding the interdependence of these two species were done so in a profound manner. There is an unequal power dynamic between these many legged creatures and the humans.The humans are ultimately submissive to these creatures, acting as vassals to their offspring, and in turn, they are taken care of and can live, as long as the process of giving birth doesn't go wrong. This story is oddly romantic at certain places and has erotic undertones, and Octavia Butler herself classified it as a form of an erotic romance.I believe this work also explores the concept of sexual slavery,despite Octavia Butler claiming that is not the theme she intended this story to carry. It is heavy on gore and can get quite disgusting, as the intricate details of how the larva develop into young Tlic and tear the humans inside out are not shied away from by the author. At the same time, there is a dynamic of tenderness and care shown between the Tlic in this story and the family she is living with. We even see a quite graphic scene where this creature gently impregnates a man after choosing him as her children's vassal, and it read like a very twisted alien on human erotica. I found the idea of human males being impregnated by female Tlic bizarrely interesting, and the way Octavia Butler seamlessly merges bizarre erotic relationships with gruesomely harsh consequences made this an unforgettable read. I was pretty disturbed throughout the story since it is a pretty dark one, and even the "tender" scenes have a gruesomeness to them that I literally felt on my skin,which is a testament to her excellent and immersive writing.

I can see why this story won the Hugo, Locus, Nebula and Science Fiction Chronicle awards, I think I would count it as a classic must read for fans of this genre, as long as the reader is okay with the extremely bizarre gruesomeness that is definitely present here!


“I saw them eat a man.” He paused. “It was when I was little. I had been to the Hartmund house and I was on my way home. Halfway here, I saw a man and a Tlic, and the man was N’Tlic. The ground was hilly. I was able to hide from them and watch. The Tlic wouldn’t open the man because she had nothing to feed the grubs. The man couldn’t go any further and there were no houses around. He was in so much pain, he told her to kill him. He begged her to kill him. Finally, she did. She cut his throat. One swipe of one claw. I saw the grubs eat their way out, then burrow in again, still eating.”


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