While reading “Imago,” I was continually struck by the growing resemblances between the Oankali and Humans. And I am not referring to the Humans that lived with Oanklai, but rather the Humans who had refused to assimilate with the aliens. I first noticed an Oankali acting uncharacteristically human when Jodahs and his family must leave their village. Nikanj has to be assured that Lilith brought her machete. Jodahs narrates, “It could not have gotten more attention if it had screamed. I focused on it to the exclusion of everything, felt pulled around to face it.