Imago (Xenogenesis Series) by Octavia E. Butler (1997-04-01)

Warning - some spoilers ahead...

Imago is the final book in the “Lilith’s Brood” (or Xenogenesis) trilogy. This conclusion to the series focuses on Jodahs, the child of a union between humans and Oankali. Jodahs is maturing into the first human-Oankali construct ooloi (a third gender for the alien Oankali). Because of this, it is seen as potentially dangerous – uncontrolled ooloi have the capacity to do massive genetic damage to everything they touch, and an ooloi with a human side poses even greater danger simply because their skills are not fully understood. To avoid the possibility of danger, Lilith and her family move to the deep woods to be isolated during Jodahs’ metamorphosis into an adult ooloi, waiting for the possibility that Jodahs may be exiled to the Oankali ship orbiting Earth if it is deemed too dangerous for it to stay. Unable to find mates, Jodahs becomes increasingly isolated and silent – it withdraws from its family. Beginning to lose its sense of self, it changes erratically to suit its environment.

Wandering in the woods, Jodahs discovers two human siblings from an unknown settlement of fertile humans. Though the Oankali thought they had sterilized all humans on Earth, they clearly missed at least one. The inhabitants are diseased and deformed due to their inbreeding, but Jodahs repairs and seduces them. When Jodahs and his mates return to his family’s camp, they find that Aaor, Jodahs’ closest sibling, has started to morph into an ooloi as well. Without its own mates, Aaor begins to physically dissolve in its hunger and loneliness.

Aaor, Jodahs, and its mates decide to go to the fertile resister village in the hopes of finding suitable mates for Aaor. Aaor finds mates quickly and easily, but the trip nearly ends in catastrophe as the siblings try to protect their humans from the other fearful, hostile, and xenophobic villagers. Like its mother Lilith and brother Akin, Jodahs end up becoming the diplomat – negotiating the relationship between humans and Oankali.

In Imago, Butler makes gender and race much more "flexible" than in the previous two books, Dawn and Adulthood Rites. Seduction is much easier for the construct ooloi because they can morph into their mates’ ideal of beauty. They have the power to become any apparent race or gender – they can even conceal many of their Oankali features. Resister humans even admit that if the Oankali had always been able to shape shift into more desirable (human) forms, they would have had a much easier time convincing humanity to participate in their “trade”. With Jodahs’ peacemaking work, many of the resisters willingly join Oankali families and start a new village with the construct Ooloi. The rest join the fertile, human-only colony that Lilith’s son Akin began on Mars in Adulthood Rites.

In addition to the continuation of absolutely amazing world-building and the interweaving of complex social issues into a compelling story, Butler nailed the title of this third and final book in the trilogy: Imago. From a biological standpoint, Imago is the final and fully developed adult stage of a winged insect. From this perspective, the title perhaps symbolizes the stabilization of a new “construct” life form and a new culture that is ready to take flight – go into space to find other species to trade with. However, Imago also has a psychological meaning: an unconscious, idealized mental image of someone, especially a parent, that influences a person’s behavior. This could most directly represent the influence from Nikanj that led Jodahs and Aaor to develop into mature ooloi – and the influence of their human parents on their understanding of human culture. These influences allowed Jodahs specifically to develop into the being that could best understand and represent both species – - – and allowed him to negotiate compromise and teach acceptance and mutual respect and understanding between the two species.

The thoughtful and strategic development of the story arc through these novels has, for lack of a better term, made me addicted to Octavia Butler – I feel like I need to immediately get my hands on everything else she has written! In Dawn, Lilith enabled integration: albeit a painful, imbalanced integration with the Oankali. In Adulthood Rites, Akin created separation: he made the case for human separation and safety from their alien colonizers. In Imago, Jodahs enabled compromise: by the end, the two species were able to meet as something resembling equals.

I absolutely love these three books, and Octavia Butler is definitely a new favorite author of mine. My one qualm was that I wanted more explanation – - – more time to say goodbye to Lilith, Akin, and Jodahs before the end of this last book in the trilogy. I know, I know… the ending of the book (and the series) was symbolic with the planting of the seed of a new village, it also felt abrupt. I wanted to know more – what happened to Lilith – did she continue having children? How long did she live? What about Akin – did he have children? How did the colonization of Mars actually go – did Tate and Gabe end up going to Mars? How did Jodahs live out its life in the new village – was it happy?

I guess that in the end, Butler’s message was that the future for both species is not merely biological change (which has been the obvious theme from the beginning of the series), but their future is bound by a progressively negotiated relationship moving closer to equality, compromise, and understanding.

This trilogy frames two major issues. The first is the self destructive nature of human life, and the second is our evolving relationship with our own bodies, especially issues surrounding gender. Butler gives us an earth already destroyed by humans in a final great war that leaves only a few survivors tottering on the brink of extinction. How are they to survive when the seeds of self-destruction are encoded in their own DNA? Their salvation comes from above in the form of aliens who collect and preserve humanity's remnants much as we preserve endangered species. Like us, they reintroduce humans into their former habitat, but in s doing so they intermix their own DNA with ours and create a new species with three different genders which all must come together nine order to reproduce. The story is really one of the seduction of human beings onto an evolutionary path that has a very different kind of future than we usually imagine for ourselves. Butler was a great writer, and the first book bowled me over. The second book challenged me to reimagine he human condition, and the third swept me away into a very different vision of what we might become. Readers who are looking for science fiction at its best, imaginative, challenging, and complex will love this trilogy and look for more of Octavia Butler's superb stories of about who we are and what we might become.

This book was my favorite of the Xenogenesis series. I felt for Jodahs' fear that its elders were considering going over its head and making important decisions on its health that could threaten its health and happiness. I was invested and genuinely worried for its kin when it was looking for a mate. I was glad that there felt to be more mutuality between the Oankali and humans in this book.

Imago is the concluding volume in Octavia Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy and one thing that should be apparent by the time the readers gets more than a handful of pages into Imago is that Octavia Butler has written a trilogy in the more classic sense of the term. Butler's trilogy is a collection of three novels which tell otherwise complete stories that while they expand on the previous novel, each novel does not depend on the other to stand. Octavia Butler's trilogy is three stand alone novels telling three stories related in theme and setting and that builds an overall story arc as well as three smaller story arcs.

Imago is the story of Jodahs, the latest Oankali / human hybrid child of Lilith Iyapo. An interesting thing about the Oankali child is that as a child their gender is not set, so depending on the stimulation and experiences given to the child, the child may develop into a male, female, or ooloi (a third gender). Up until this point no construct (hybrid) children have been permitted to develop into ooloi because the Oankali have had concerns about how they would develop and it was only recently that male hybrids were permitted to develop. Jodahs, of course, develops into an ooloi hybrid rather than the male he, or it, was intended to be.

The story of Jodahs is one of isolation and dependence and the reader gets to experience the anxiety Jodahs feels and experiences from his community (an ooloi always needs to find a new home because of sensory differences with those in the home it was raised in).

We are now at least several decades, perhaps longer, from the events of Dawn and Adulthood Rites so Butler reveals some of how the Earth has developed and how the Oankali / human project has progressed. We learn that the Mars colony that was proposed in Adulthood Rites is a success and giving humanity the only chance to survive unchanged.

Imago is written with a strong sense of character and Butler describes the alien culture in such a way that it feels authentic and the hybrids in a way that we can see why some humans would never accept them, but also why others have accepted the Oankali.

As always, Imago and the Xenogenesis trilogy is an examination about race, differences, fear, prejudice, the future, and identity. As always, Octavia Butler does an excellent job with her storytelling. And, as is the case with the two previous Xenogenesis novels, Imago is a very strong work of fiction but somehow less outstanding than some of her other work.

-Joe Sherry

Jodahs is a young Human-Oankali construct. One of Lilith Iyapo's many children with both Human and Oankali mates. Jodahs is the first of its kind, a Human-Oankali construct ooloi...the sexless version of the Oankali that is able to heal others, facilitate the melding of genetic information from others to produce offspring, and is the storehouse for all of the Oankali's vast biological knowledge.

Because Jodahs is the first ooloi of its kind, his Oankali brethren are unsure how to respond...there were not supposed to be ooloi constructs for quite some time. But, Jodahs manages to find his way in an often hostile world, finding mates of his own, and helping others to do the same.

Imago is a fitting end to a superlative trilogy. Besides being a well-construed tale of human-alien interaction, Imago (and, indeed, the entire trilogy) is also a character study in gender roles. What does it mean to be male? Female? Butler's character Jodahs blends both male and female traits as an ooloi...aggressive when it needs to be, but often nurturing and deeply caring of others as well. Butler has a lot to say about what it means to be not only Human, but also man or woman.

The only real peeve I have with the story is that, like the previous Adulthood Rites, and unlike the first tale in the trilogy, Dawn, Imago (and Adulthood Rites) at times merely loosely hangs on to the reader where Dawn grabbed you and reading was compulsory. In short, the pacing could have been better at some points.

Nonetheless, Imago is highly recommended as the culmination to a beautifully drawn trilogy. These books are more than worth picking up.

This is my favourite book in this series. I want to be an ooloi human construct. An ooloi is a third sex. It's not male or female, but its own sex. It can shape DNA strand by strand. It can heal. It has the power to destroy so having a human construct one is something everyone fears.

Jodah has a metamorphosis into this powerful third sex. Watch as it comes to terms with who it is, finds and seduces all it comes in contact with using its fascinating alien beauty.

You need to read this book, but start off with Dawn and then Adulthood Rites. Octavia Butler is a writer more people need to know about.

The last book in the Lilith's Brood trilogy was not as exciting as I'd hoped. The first two books were very gripping, and I could not put them down. This one, however, was so much the same as the previous book in the series that I was almost bored. It was like I'd seen it all before, so it didn't have the intensity or novelty to keep me interested. Butler is a fantastic writer, and her prose is a joy, but without a compelling story, pretty writing just isn't enough. What I wanted was something new instead of the same world she'd been writing about for the past two books. If she'd finished the series with a book on the humans' colony on Mars instead of yet another book about the alien colonies on Earth, I would have been far more interested. Again, this wasn't a bad book; it was just redundant.

How does Butler do it? Her novels get better as the series advances! Usually, they degenerate, like movies sequels, where you get more of the same as the auteur tries to milk it (Remember that sorry Planet of the Apes?).

This is the story of the emergence of the third human sex, an ooloi, the product of genetic mixing with an alien species that has taken over the Earth, saving it from destruction at man's hands. The ooloi is an extremely dangerous development, a catalyst for genetic manipulation who if undisciplined threatens to create plagues and disrupt entire ecosystems. In appearance female, the ooloi is extremely seductive and becomes a peacemaker with the human resistance to the aliens, almost a saint. As weird as it sounds, it is completely believable and fabulously written.

Butler develops her vision and concepts, leaving the reader with a feeling of wonder at the universe. Only the best novelists do this: her talent goes far far beyond the confines of the sci fi genre. Indeed, I wonder if she is not revitalising the novel as a form of art, pointing new directions. She deserved her MacArthur prize.

"Dawn", the first book in the trilogy dealt with the definition of humanity. " Adult Rites" examined understanding things that are alien, as well as giving hope where only disaster is predicted. "Imago" illustrates reactions to a new and powerful species, even though it was created, can be strongly xenophobic.

Imago focuses on the first ooloi born to a human. Jodahs is the first human-Oenkali mix to metamorphosis into an ooloi. It wasn't intentional, so everyone was surprised. Oankali consensus decided Jodahs was too dangerous for the Oankali on Earth. It was exile to the wilderness or exile to the ship. Jodahs' extended family went with it to the wilderness where Jodahs learned to control its genetic manipulation. Later, another mix child changed into an ooloi in Jodahs' family and scared everyone again.

The story talks about Jodahs' journey through maturity and beyond. It examines familial reactions to her groundbreaking capabilities, to her unique features and to her differences. It also contrasts this with human reaction to Jodahs and how that confounds her family and society. When you are new and different, as well as powerful, reactions tend to be negative, even when you only do good things. It is much a reaction to something new, as it is a resistance to change. Some revel in new things, where others reject it.

Butler writes prose that tackles difficult concepts and themes with an eloquence that makes this trilogy a significant contribution to science fiction. This is cultural sci-fi at its best. To get the overarching messages and themes, start with Dawn and read the entire trilogy. It is worth every penny.

Highly Recommended!

The complexities of Oankali sexuality are fully revealed as Butler introduces Jodhas, the first construct ooloi. Butler addresses unanswered questions such as why Lilith never left Nikanj, how ooloi get and keep mates - some that don't want them, etc. In addition, human sexuality is brought to the fore with the construct ooloi-human relationships and taboos such as incest are touched upon. That Butler is able to introduce these topics without causing her readers to cringe is a testament to her storytelling ability.

Readers receive snippets about the Mars colony and human emigration. Butler also allows her readers to truly feel what ooloi's experience when they need a mate. She does a wonderful job of retelling the story of a construct's life on Earth (previously told in Book 2) while still keeping the story fresh, exciting, and interesting. Jodahs is introduced as his metamorphosis begins and, as the first construct ooloi, we are taken with him as he discovers his ooloi and construct abilities. Jodahs is a captivating character and, as we are pulled along on his journey, we cannot help but care about the outcome for him. The only issue I had with this final book is the series was:

1. There was no follow-up on Akin and the Mars colony. Akin was such a well-crafted character that I wanted to follow him to Mars to see how he fared. The way this book was written makes Book 2 seem incomplete.

Overall, it is a good story and I would recommend it.

Ms Butler outdid herself and everyone else with this trilogy. I must say that, in the final pages, I was ready to be finished with it yet when the last page was read I found I wanted more. My suggestion is to take a break between segments and try to wrap an understanding around what has just happened before proceeding.
The series stretches the imagination to the point of breaking yet doesn't fail to allow belief in the unbelievable.

Book three of the Xenogenesis series--right after Adulthood Rites--tells us a story from an alien point of view. Not only does the protagonist have alien blood, but it is a member of the aliens' strange third sex. The whole thing creeps me out a little to tell you the truth, but I think that's what's so good about this author--she makes it gritty and not all nice-nice, because after all it makes sense that integrating an alien species into humanity would get a bit, erm, messy. Highly recommended!

Extremely well written and containing so many fascinating concepts and ideas... Fully developed characters that you wind up caring about, both alien and human. Best science fiction I've read in years (though I'm not normally a big fan). You want to follow them through many more centuries and beyond the stars. Read it; you won't regret the time spent!

i read all three in the series back to back. the story was very unique and kept me wondering. i was rooting for them all. there didnt appear to be good guys or bad guys just biengs trying to live happy, super long lives. i found this refreshing as i usually read about paranormal romance including shifters, vamps, witches etc. ooloi dont have a category but i loved them anyway. it was nice to see humans get a happy ending

I read this book before I read the other two even though this one came last. I didn't realize it was part of a series (the end part at that!) until I finished it and looked at the cover. Butler brought back things that happened in the other books without a terrible amount of exposition and a reader who didn't read the other two expects the world to be different anyway. I found this one to be more enjoyable than the first because there was no exposition, she assumed you knew what was happening because you read the other books but mentioned some things, like Akin's metamorphosis and Lilith's cancer to give it some continuity. I believe it is the mark of a great writer that someone can read the last book of a series and not even realize that it's part of a series. I don't think anyone could read a Harry Potter book after the first one without having that fact continually pounded over their head.

Butler is one of the few scifi writers to win literary prizes outside the narrow confines of scifi, as well as the McArthur "genius" grant. This series of three books is genuinely original in conception. I can't think of anything else like it and, after several decades of serious scifi reading, I've read just about everything. If you did not read her work when it was most visible, in the late 70's, this is a good time to make up for it.

it's hard to be sure, she wrote so many fine stories, but this one, I think, is my favorite. it's the third in the series so it'd be best if you read Dawn and Adulthood Rites first, but it probably will work as a stand alone novel. I think it's the hero, it may just be the way Ms. Butler communicates his world in her writing; whatever it is, I absolutely love it.

Octavia Butler always challenges her readers to consider what it means to be human, and this novel is no exception. Both the plot and characters are well-developed and believable. (Something that cannot be said for a lot of science fiction.) She brings you into the interior life of her characters, and makes you care about individuals you otherwise might not consider "human".

This final book is not as good as the first two, but perhaps my familiarity with the story led me to expect more. Its not so much an ending to the trilogy as it is another part of the overarching story. It is still worth the time to read.

After reading all three of the xenogenesis series books by Octavia Butler I find I am hungry for more. She has created an entire species of aliens for us that are both friendly and menacing at the same time. She leaves us with both a brilliant and a bleak future for humanity. However, it feels unfinished. Is there a sequel planned that will let us know more about the Mars colony, the fertile humans on earth, and the space-faring constructs?

I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was part of a series, but it stands alone quite well. The story concerns an alien/human hybrid who has the ability to change genetic matter. He becomes the savior of a group of people stricken with a hereditary affliction and begins to transform them. Jodahs is a unique character. I'll be going back to read the rest of the series immediately.

Imago was one of the first Butler books I've read. The only disappointing part was that I read it too quickly. Eventually, I'll go back and read it again; it was that intriguing.
Amazingly the more books, written by Butler, that I read, the more I wonder just how in tuned she may be with my vision of human reality and future.
In every book is the common theory of change; and how we as arrogant, "galactically-supreme" terrestrials believe we are invincable. So much so that we look change in the face and outright deny that it exists or has to be adhered to.
In life, the only thing that remains constant is that all things must change. I received it in a card from a close friend one day, then years later I read essentially the same thing in one of Butler's books.
Imago is enteraining, suspensefuly and delightful to read. Be careful though, you'll get so wrapped up in it, that you'll wish she was sitting across from you (when you finish) so you could ask her a ton of questions.

Before I selected an omnibus called Xenogenesis from the Sci Fi Book club (containing: Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago), I had never heard of Octavia Butler.
Am I glad I selected this accidentally when I joined the club (Mainly because it said it had three books in it). While most of the free books I received were average to no good, The Xenogenesis Series was exceptionally great!

By focusing down on one character, more or less, this third book in the series provides the greatest entertainment and the greatest means of connection between characters, situations and reader. Of course the book cannot not stand on its own, generally a sign of greatness in a book, but in series that is to be expected.

I love to read & when I find something I like, I devour it. That's what I did with this trilogy. I had to pause a lot because some of it was so shocking & or disturbing that I had to pause & listen again!! It's different & I'll read everything Ms Butler's written & make sure I'm buckled in good! Also the narrator is top notch. Winning combination.

An outstandingly fine story! This is the third and final book of Xenogenesis, also published as "Lilith's Brood" (all 3 books in one cover; cheaper than buying them separately). See "Lilith's Brood" for reviews of the entire series.

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If you love watching scfi and not reading the books this is the writer to start with. The first in the xenogenesis series is Dawn I could not put the book down if you could image the earth been destroyed by nuclar war then a alien race comes and saves human kind. The second book Adulthood Rites answer's the question what will the future look like for human kind as a race then the third book Imago shows you what you will become. If you have not read these books you are missing some great writing from a different point of view.

I just wanted to bring the rating for this book up a little. It is definately a great book - the best of the series in my opinion - it took me the least amount of time to read it because it was so addicting. I can't wait for another one.

More inbreeding issues.

A third novel in this series that is basically the same quality as the one preceding it, and adds little more to what is going on, or more of the same. Aliens remove breeding, then want to hybridise and cross-breed, and it turns out they may need some human breeding after all. DOH.

Or, aliens can be stupid and make scientific mistakes when conquering, too.

2 out of 5