Imago

After nuclear war nearly destroys humanity, the surviving humans rebuild by interbreeding with the Oankali, an alien race that rescued them from extinction. The Oankali possess a unique ability to adapt and evolve, guided by their third sex, the ooloi, who can read and mutate genetic code. For the first time, a human mother gives birth to an ooloi child: Jodahs. During childhood, Jodahs appears to be a male human-alien hybrid. Upon reaching adolescence, Jodahs develops ooloi abilities including shapeshifting, DNA manipulation, and the capacity to cure and create disease. Frightened and isolated by these emerging powers, Jodahs must learn to control them and come to terms with this new identity. The outcome will determine whether Jodahs can unite humanity's remnants or become their greatest threat.