Skip to main content
Digital Audiobook
Imago by Octavia E. Butler

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

Imago

Narrator
Ron Butler
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Publish Date
30 May 2023
Run Time
7 hours 50 minutes
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

Log in to see your price

Gift

What to expect

After the near-extinction of humanity, a new kind of alien-human hybrid must come to terms with their identity—before their powers destroy what is left of humankind, in this thought-provoking science fiction novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Parable of The Sower.

Since a nuclear war decimated the human population, the remaining humans began to rebuild their future by interbreeding with an alien race—the Oankali—who saved them from near-certain extinction. The Oankalis' greatest skill lies in the species' ability to constantly adapt and evolve, a process that is guided by their third sex, the ooloi, who are able to read and mutate genetic code.

Now, for the first time in the humans' relationship with the Oankali, a human mother has given birth to an ooloi child: Jodahs. Throughout his childhood, Jodahs seemed to be a male human-alien hybrid. But when he reaches adolescence, Jodahs develops the ooloi abilities to shapeshift, manipulate DNA, cure and create disease, and more. Frightened and isolated, Jodahs must either come to terms with this new identity, learn to control new powers, and unite what's left of humankind—or become the biggest threat to their survival.

Critics Review


  • "An internationally acclaimed science fiction writer whose evocative, often troubling, novels explore far-reaching issues of race, sex, power and, ultimately, what it means to be human."—New York Times
  • "A revolutionary voice in her lifetime, Butler has only become more popular and influential . . . A generation of younger writers cite her as an influence, from Jemisin and Tochi Onyebuchi to Marlon James and Nnedi Okarafor . . .She is now praised as a visionary who anticipated many of the issues in the news today, from the coronavirus to climate change to the election of President Donald Trump."—Associated Press
  • "Butler is one of the finest voices in fiction-period . . . A master storyteller with a voice that cradles and captivates, Butler casts an unflinching eye on racism, sexism, poverty and ignorance, and lets the reader see the terror and beauty of human nature."—Washington Post
  • "Wild Seed is a book that shifted my life . . . It is as epic, as game-changing, as moving and brilliant as any science fiction novel ever written."—Viola Davis
See more reviews
  • "If we're talking must-read authors like Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison, the one-and-only Octavia Butler needs be a part of the conversation. The groundbreaking sci-fi and speculative fiction author was a master of spinning imaginative tales that introduced you to both the possibilities -- and dangers -- of the human race, all while offering lessons on tribalism, race, gender, and sexuality."—O, The Oprah Magazine
  • "Brilliant, endlessly rich...pairs well with 1984 or The Handmaid's Tale."—John Green, New York Times (on Parable of the Sower)
  • "In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched."—New Yorker (on Parable of the Sower)

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details

Author
Octavia E. Butler
Narrator
Ron Butler
Duration
7 hours 50 minutes
Release Date
30 May 2023
ISBN
9781668637852
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Genre
Science fiction: apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, Dystopian and utopian fiction, Science fiction: cyberpunk / biopunk, Science fiction: aliens / UFOs

Synopsis

After the near-extinction of humanity, a new kind of alien-human hybrid must come to terms with their identity—before their powers destroy what is left of humankind, in this thought-provoking science fiction novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Parable of The Sower. Since a nuclear war decimated the human population, the remaining humans began to rebuild their future by interbreeding with an alien race—the Oankali—who saved them from near-certain extinction. The Oankalis' greatest skill lies in the species' ability to constantly adapt and evolve, a process that is guided by their third sex, the ooloi, who are able to read and mutate genetic code. Now, for the first time in the humans' relationship with the Oankali, a human mother has given birth to an ooloi child: Jodahs. Throughout his childhood, Jodahs seemed to be a male human-alien hybrid. But when he reaches adolescence, Jodahs develops the ooloi abilities to shapeshift, manipulate DNA, cure and create disease, and more. Frightened and isolated, Jodahs must either come to terms with this new identity, learn to control new powers, and unite what's left of humankind—or become the biggest threat to their survival.

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.