Imago

About “Imago”

The Oankali are traveling galactic genetic traders who view the human species as a genetic failure and a threat to life in the universe. They take away humanity's ability to reproduce. The first "Constructs," genetic hybrids of Oankali and humans, try to mediate but fail. Despite the desperate situation of Earth's people and the collapse of their civilization into barbarism, they cling to their hatred of the unknown, seeing their paranoia as patriotism and courage. Jodahs, the first Ooloi construct, a hybrid of Oankali and human, possesses the ability to heal genetically. He has a human-like appearance and gains the trust of Earth's people, helping them overcome their fear of the foreign. His Oankali heritage gives him the strongest weapon in the universe: sexual attraction. The novel was published by Octavia Butler in 1989.