Book 37 - Helpless Lust and Unreasonable Anxiety (A Modern Epidemic)

Title: Imago (Book 3 of Lilith's Brood) Author: Octavia Butler Genre: coming-of-age sci fi

And finally, the conclusion to the psychedelic, gender- and expectation-bending chronicles of the Oankali and the Human race is upon us!

We meet the first ooloi construct, the non-gendered product of human and Oankali genetics. The usual raving from the previous books (Dawn and Adulthood Rites) applies (Butler is amazing blah blah creepy but seductive and sweet blah blah blahhh), but what really hit me in this story was the growing pains of the main character, Jodahs. The reader absolutely feels how conflicted it is (Jodahs is ooloi so although it does feel like a male character, technically it is an it), how absolutely sold on its convictions it is while also being confused by its own self.

SOUND FAMILIAR??

Welcome to human teenager-hood and puberty, Jodahs.

But not only is Jodahs a teenager, it's the first teenager of its kind. Imagine sprouting hair on your face or breasts on your chest, and your parents shrugging and being like, "I dunno. You're on your own for this one." Ummm...shit.

Imagine coming into yourself with no guidebook, no Chicken Soup for the Teenagers Soul, no peers at the tips of your fingers - just your own internal desires and compass guiding your confused, hormone-soaked brain.

As Butler says, "helpless lust and unreasonable anxiety [are] just part of growing up".

Rating: 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎/5