Is Sex really necessary?

[ReadMeow]

I thought it was not necessary and a little creepy. I was not in favor of the whole concept of the plant and suddenly everyone getting pregnant. It seemed like a fantasy of the author that he put into the story for those who were fond of it. It technically made sense due to the plant, but I did not think it was necessary or wanted by readers. It would have been better in my opinion to show the characters resisting the urges the plant gave them.

[Claris L]

I think that the sex component was the science fiction element because it was caused by the hormone-producing plant that caused them all to be aroused and fertile. I don't think it was necessary to the story; I think it was annoying.

I agree. Even if it was because of the worldbuilding sci-fi element of the plant, I do think it got in the way of the overall story.

[Theresa-a]

I believe the sexual contents are wholly irrelevant as it overshadows the central meaning, thereby casting a dark shadow over the central message.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I believe the inclusion of sex scenes generally for an author are to install a level of matureness within a book. Of course sometimes it can speak volumes of a characters' personality depending on the amount or type of sex they choose to partake in and this is what the author is trying to get across.

The book can get a touch of maturity with such content, and then it will be suitable only for a mature audience as well

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Readers might get bored if the story does not contain a variation of emotions. Therefore including sexual encounters to the plot stands as an effective trick to broaden the audience. Yet I don't think that adding sex scenes to each and every fiction is compulsory.

Ultimately it is the author's decision and readers' preference. But it will ccertainly broaden the audience

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think an author is never wrong in his own creation but the inclusion of sexual encounters in the plot was largely unnecessary.

An author has full freedom to include whatever content that he/she wants, but whether it is palatable or not is purely depend on reader's preference

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I didn't see the necessity of the sexual encounter in the book but I would like to think that the author wanted to depict the fact that human can still be distracted by natural instincts like sex even when engrossed in other activities.

I tend to disagree with the first part of your sentence, while agreeing with the second part Grant became more 'human' to me as a reader because he did engage in sex, despite his/our misgivings about his sexual partner. Maybe the scene was a tad too graphic ? But necessary, yes

An adventure novel containing graphic sexual content sounds a bit odd

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Ruling out the sex as irrelevant in the book is just defying our human nature. Just because Grant was on an expedition to find his uncle doesn't mean he shuts the natural instinct to have sex. To me, Fred's addition of a sex in the book is pretty normal. No man is an island.

Having a mission doesn't mean that he/she has to suppress all his/her other needs and practises

True. Sex is natural and very vital for us human beings.

Yes, it is vital for human beings. But the matter is whether it is vital for this novel as well

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I believe the sex scenes were necessary as it is also part of life. it only made the whole story more realistic and not too artificial.

Maybe yes, the content made it more realistic. But what did it do to the book as a whole?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Readers might get bored if the story does not contain a variation of emotions. Therefore including sexual encounters to the plot stands as an effective trick to broaden the audience. Yet I don't think that adding sex scenes to each and every fiction is compulsory.

Exactly my view too. If there were no emotions to the story, it would be boring, for me though.

Variety of emotions is necessary to keep up the pace of a novel. But those emotions should be chosen wisely

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I thought it was not necessary and a little creepy. I was not in favor of the whole concept of the plant and suddenly everyone getting pregnant. It seemed like a fantasy of the author that he put into the story for those who were fond of it. It technically made sense due to the plant, but I did not think it was necessary or wanted by readers. It would have been better in my opinion to show the characters resisting the urges the plant gave them.

That is a way that it could have been happened. But the author is free to include whatever his own fantasy in his sci-fi fantasy book

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think that the sex component was the science fiction element because it was caused by the hormone-producing plant that caused them all to be aroused and fertile. I don't think it was necessary to the story; I think it was annoying.

I agree. Even if it was because of the worldbuilding sci-fi element of the plant, I do think it got in the way of the overall story.

Seemingly it has imparted a significant effect on the novel, unfortunately not in a positive way

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I believe the sexual contents are wholly irrelevant as it overshadows the central meaning, thereby casting a dark shadow over the central message.

Yes, if it masks the central plot then it inevitability becomes unnecessary

[Marion Jepkosgei]

Having a mission doesn't mean that he/she has to suppress all his/her other needs and practises

True. Sex is natural and very vital for us human beings.

Yes, it is vital for human beings. But the matter is whether it is vital for this novel as well

Of course it is. How realistic would the book be if the author just made us read about Grant going to find his uncle and the zone itself without adding any human traits such as feelings which in this case translates to sex?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

True. Sex is natural and very vital for us human beings.

Yes, it is vital for human beings. But the matter is whether it is vital for this novel as well

Of course it is. How realistic would the book be if the author just made us read about Grant going to find his uncle and the zone itself without adding any human traits such as feelings which in this case translates to sex?

That is a valid argument. But such additional content should not be distracting too much