social-experimentation

This chapter follows Akin, a Human-born male child raised by Oankali caretakers, as he develops self-awareness and learns to perceive others through multiple senses, including taste and touch. The narrative explores Akin's unique biology and social position as an experiment in Human-Oankali hybridization, highlighting tensions around his identity, the challenges he faces from Human society, and the evolving family structures within this post-contact world. The dialogue between Lilith and Nikanj reveals the complexities of genetic engineering, cultural adaptation, and the negotiation of new social norms.

In this chapter, the narrator recounts a visit from two former students, Rogers and Jamnik, who express their disillusionment with conventional paths and their desire to create a new kind of society based on scientific principles. Rogers articulates a frustration with traditional politics and education, advocating instead for experimental social living to discover what truly makes people happy and how they can coexist peacefully. The conversation reveals the narrator's internal conflict about his past teaching and the limitations of academic research in addressing real social problems.

This chapter presents a tense dialogue between McKie and the Gowachin High Magister Aritch, exploring the philosophical and practical differences in legal and governmental systems, particularly contrasting the human DemoPol with Gowachin law. The conversation reveals the Gowachin's disdain for excessive lawmaking, their experimental control over Dosadi's society, and the ethical complexities of using sentient populations as test subjects. The chapter also introduces Broey, a religious oligarch on Dosadi, highlighting the planet's militarized and violent social structure under constant threat.