introduced to the other except, in this instance, both are experiencing confusion with the other simultaneously being the other themselves.
The saga also heavily addresses agency with the female characters’ bodies. As expected, the mating process plays a vital role in the relationship, as repopulating the planet is a large focus within the series. Including two human women unable to conceive is a powerful addition to the story, one showing agency and the other demonstrating inclusion and acceptance. One of the female human characters, Josie, had an IUD as a form of implanted birth control when the aliens kidnapped her. This hormonal contraceptive device prevented her from finding her barbarian match, and she found comfort in the extra time she had to assimilate into the community before finding a mate and making the choice herself to remove the contraceptive device( Dixon). Another girl, Kira, suffered an infection from a burst appendix when she was younger, which resulted in her being unable to carry children. Despite this, she was accepted by the community and her mate. Her value was not diminished based on her inability to reproduce.
51