Book Series Guide

Octavia E. Butler · novel series

Xenogenesis books in order

A trilogy about humanity's post-nuclear-war encounter and genetic exchange with the Oankali.

completed3 books

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Reading order

Only reading orders present in the catalog are shown. Optional novellas and companion works can be hidden without changing the underlying sequence.

Publication order

  1. 1
    Dawn

    Book 1 · novel · 1987

    Lilith Iyapo has just lost her husband and son when atomic fire consumes Earth—the last stage of the planet’s final war. Hundreds of years later Lilith awakes, deep in the hold of a massive alien spacecraft piloted by the Oankali—who…

  2. 2
    Adulthood Rites

    Book 2 · novel · 1988

    The second book in the Lilith's Brood trilogy, this story takes place years after the arrival of Oankali aliens in the first book. Now, the Oankali have established some colonies on Earth, where they live and breed with humans. Other…

  3. 3
    Imago

    Book 3 · novel · 1989

    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…