Survivor

Octavia ejected Survivor from the canon of her work because of its racial essentialism, with the Kohn having strict social classes according to colour. Aside from this element, Octavia's exploration of space is utterly absorbing, whether humans believe they are graduating from the earth or are escaping it. Having only one chance once you drop on a new planet is a compelling and terrifying idea and the force of the book's title rings throughout. The relationship between Alanna and Diut is also one of her most believable, including taking into account the active non-consent at its initiation, reflecting the decisions Alanna has to make to survive her new world, if not echoing a large part of human history.