Adulthood Rites (1988) and Imago (1989), the second and the third books in the Xenogenesis trilogy, focus on the predatory and prideful tendencies that affect human evolution, as humans now revolt against Lilith's Oankali-engineered progeny. Set thirty years after humanity's return to Earth, Adulthood Rites centers on the kidnapping of Lilith's part-human, part alien child, Akin, by a human-only group who are against the Oankali. Akin learns about both aspects of his identity through his life with the humans as well as the Akjai. The Oankali-only group becomes their mediator, and ultimately creates a human-only colony in Mars. [23] In Imago, the Oankali create a third species more powerful than themselves: the shape-shifting healer Jodahs, a human-Oankali ooloi who must find suitable human male and female mates to survive its metamorphosis and finds them in the most unexpected of places, in a village of renegade humans. [7] [10] The Parable series: 1993–1998 [ edit ] Paul Titus is a human that has grown up among the Oankali but has chose to remain on their ship instead of return to Earth with the other humans. He is also the first human that Lilith interacts with since her Awakening. Nikanj arranges a meeting for the two during which the two are supposed to mate. Lilith is unwilling to have sex with Paul Titus, so he then beats and attempts to rape her. Tate Marah What had she lost or gained, and why? And what else might be done? She did not own herself any longer. Even her flesh could be cut and stitched without her consent or knowledge.”

Lilith does not know how many Oankali heard her exchange with Tate, but she does know that Nikanj will know in seconds. She thinks that this will give it enough time to call for Ahajas and Dichaan to help ease some of the discomfort following her and Joseph's departure. Joseph comes to talk to Lilith, and Lilith asks if he would leave without her. Joseph asks Lilith why she would stay. Lilith says that she'd stay because she knows that they are on a ship; Joseph responds that he needs to find that out for himself. She agrees to go. The next morning, Lilith and Joseph wait for a while beneath the breadnut tree and no one shows up. Lilith thinks that they are waiting to see if she is being followed by the Oankali. Eventually, Gabriel, Tate, Leah, Wray, and Allison appear, and they all head off together. They head upriver, away from camp, occasionally cutting their way through brush. The atmosphere is tense, and when Lilith steps aside to relieve herself, all eyes are on her. She asks them what is going on. Gabriel said that they are scared, and Lilith is receiving the brunt of their feelings because she is "different" (214). Joseph stands up for Lilith. Solarin, Ayoola (April 24, 2020). "A Graphic Novel Adapts Octavia Butler's Science Fiction Classic". Hyperallergic.Darrell Schweitzer, "Watching the Story Happen", Interzone 186 (February 2003): 21. Reprinted as "Octavia Butler" in Speaking of the Fantastic II: Interviews with the Masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2004. ISBN 978-1-4344-4229-1, pp.21–36. In "The Training Floor," the Oankali's power becomes even more salient. Lilith knows that they are watching the humans' every move and she is almost paranoid about how much they hear and see. Nikanj tells Lilith that the escaped humans are "'being watched,'" and Lilith knows that the Oankali will intervene if violence breaks out but not before then (205). Lilith is also the only human that knows the extent of the Oankali powers of observation. She notes that they see her hiding in a tree from several feet away: "From the tree, she saw two Oankali come out of the water. . . Both focused on her for a moment, then headed inland toward the settlement. She had watched them in utter silence, but they had known she was there" (206). When Lilith talks to the others about leaving the camp, she does not bother to hide her plans from the Oankali, knowing that it is impossible: "How many Oankali had heard the exchange? One? A few? All of them? No matter. Nikanj would know in minutes" (210). The wide-reaching surveillance of the Oankali on the humans is an extension of their incredible power aboard the ship. They have subjugated the humans completely, and the humans play directly into their plan. Part of this subjugation is psychological, as Lilith learns that there is no true escape from the Oankali as long as they can hear her every word and see her every move.

Schwab, Gabriele. "Ethnographies of the Future: Personhood, Agency and Power in Octavia Butler's Xenogenesis", in William Maurer and Gabriele Schwab (eds), Accelerating Possession, New York: Columbia University Press, 2006: 204–228.In 1983, Butler published "Speech Sounds", a story set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where a pandemic has caused most humans to lose their ability to read, speak, or write. For many, this impairment is accompanied by uncontrollable feelings of jealousy, resentment, and rage. "Speech Sounds" received the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. [23]