Imago

The Xenogenesis trilogy is the first Octavia Butler I've read and I don't know why it took me so long. Of the three, the second is my personal favorite but Imago is a fine finale to Butler's imaginative and unique story of an alien species "saving" the human race. Her voice is truly original & brilliant, her characters are not good nor evil, but wrought with conflict about themselves as individuals and collectively as a species. Also, her treatment of gender roles is so interesting & thought provoking throughout the series, it was ahead of it's time. Great sci-fi explores & questions our humanity in fantastic settings. This is great sci-fi.

The writing is good, typical of Butler. I have a problem with the aliens lack of respecting human consent when it comes to sex. It's not even seen as a problem in the book. The aliens drug the humans with endorphins and then rape them, that's how every one of the relationships start. This narrative perpetuates the incorrect notion that "it's not rape if they liked it."I'm not sure why more reviews don't mention this.

A portion of Jodahs’ family accompanies him away from their settlement, so that he has time to learn to control his metamorphosis without harming anyone. Exile is talked about as a possibility, or sending him back to the ship. As it is he’s been making dangerous changes to himself and the things he touches without even realizing he was doing it. As they travel, Nikanj teaches Jodahs control. But what it (‘it’ because ooloi have no gender) really needs is to find a pair of people to mate with, to help stabilize it. It meets up with Jesusa and Tomas, brother and sister. They’re fertile, even though humans who were sent back to earth were sterilized (cue “Life will find a way” quote). They’re also suffering from very noticeable tumors. Jodahs heals them, and they begin to care about it. Amongst the Oankali there’s nothing wrong with brother and sister becoming mates with an ooloi, because the actual DNA mixing happens in the ooloi, who can make changes to the DNA to prevent birth defects.Jodahs is an interesting character–closer to human than some of the other biracial children. It’s still young, but in the process of becoming an adult, and it’s interesting to watch it change and grow, and develop a relationship with Jesusa and Tomas. It uses some of the physically pleasurable abilities it has to try to bind Jesusa and Tomas to itself. It’s one of the core conflicts in the series–at what point are the Oankali giving humans what they want but don’t know they want, and at what point are they mind-controlling or coercing them? It puts the concept of consent in stark relief, and doesn’t provide any easy answers. It’s up to individual readers to figure out where they stand.I loved this series of books and recommend it to someone looking for a thoughtful science fiction novel that explores sexual taboos and the hot-button topic of consent.

I absolutely love Octavia Butlers writing. It provides a very different view of alien species, which in and of itself, made me love the species. The fact that humanity was able to influence that species and still almost wipe out our own is a great premise.Reading her prose is an experience that I want over and over. This trilogy is so unique and so beautifully written. It was flawless in its execution, and I almost cried when it was over. I will be recommending this trilogy to every sci-fi reader I know. They, like me, won't be disappointed.

I'm old, when I was young I read many hundreds of Sci-fi books. For the past fifty years I've only read nonfiction. I read this series in a couple of days. I gave it a four star because it had traces of earlier works I read in the late 50s and early 60s. Obviously, the author intended to start a new series from this ending. It's sad that she won't add to the tale.

This book was the third book in a trilogy. I really liked this series as I am a syfy nerd. This book was originally written I believe in the 1980 and it still seems relevant today. It is about an alien species called the Oankali that comes to earth after a nuclear war that has all but whipped out the human race. This final book shares how the Onakali and the Human have produced a hybrid race of "people" with special abilities of both races. It's is a very interesting book, but you need to read the 2 previous books to understand this one. If you are a syfy nerd like me, then you will very much enjoy this book along with its two previous books.

I loved this series of novels about be ings who arrive at a ruined earth to save the few survivors of a nuclear war in the northern hemispheres. The interweaving of alien and human concepts, feelings, and beliefs is marvelously written, tempting you to reread parts while also pulling you further into the story to learn what is around the corner. Loved the ending...quite satisfying and not predictable. I was left wishing there was a next sequel, to learn what the next generation became. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SERIES!!

So I read the entire series and this was definitely my least favorite. I kept waiting for the story to pick up! I was finally getting into it when they were in the human breeder village and then POOF! The book is over. I couldn't believe it was the end, so angry. He placed the seed on the ground, and it began to grow...... not even a "The End" so you know you're there. lol I felt really cheated with this book.

I have mixed feelings about this trilogy. The aliens are interesting, their biology and culture is fascinating, but they are also sympathetic characters, which is a problem given that their interaction with humans is effectively systemic rape. The series also seems to argue that Men Are Dangerous, and also Not To Be Trusted. While I must admit that historically speaking men have been, by and large, gigantic douchebags on the issue of gender relations, I don't like books that make me feel guilty shameful for simply having testicles. The stereotype that men are evil sexual predators is just as unfair and harmful as all the negative stereotypes our society has built about women.I want to give the series a lower rating for all the reasons mentioned above, but it is nonetheless an interesting series that explores interesting ideas with interesting characters. And I did choose to read all three books.

Perfect, a little of Jesus mixed in with modern day medical and DNA and you have a Today Science fiction that people look forward to achieve to have word peace. Now take that in your pipe and smoke it Robert J Sawyer.

Masterpiece of science-fiction. I had the blues for days after the read, wanting to go back to it.

Thought provoking Science Fiction or is it that far fetched ?