Burkeville is yet another divergence from the Atlantean social norm. Its inhabitants are all Burkes so they have ended casteism and have each developed different skills. Thinking alike, they need no ruler. Their Council, with its Speaker, makes routine decisions but its members are not superior. Their village is on stilts above a lake, approached by a drawbridge.
Burkes are thinkers. Burkevillers, free from other social influences, disparage Atlantean traditions and superstitions but pay lip service when approaching the Doctors for parthenogenesis. Their response to the arrival on Atlantis of a single "Man," or male human being, is unique: kill his companions and monopolize him, thus bearing sons as well as daughters and becoming independent of the Doctors! Davis and his companions fight their way free... This new incident considerably increases the richness of the novel and is another logical implication of its premise.
A Doctor's response, when Davis has disclosed that he is alone and unarmed, is even more drastic: he is a Monster (alien), not a Man, and should be killed! (In other words, a Man will challenge the Doctors' monopoly on reproduction.)
An element of comedy is introduced as Davis is repeatedly interrupted just when getting close to one of the women. A couple of times, he is invited to "fer..." but the invitation is indignantly interrupted by his immediate companions.
Change of subject -
(Something I wrote above inadvertently reminded me of this anti-racist song:
"He who rides with the Klan,
"He's a monster, not a man,
"Because beneath that white disguise,
"I have looked into his eyes.")
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