Lilith's Brood (Xenogenesis, #1-3)

by Octavia E. Butler

“My people never had a chance! They didn’t make the war. They didn’t make the Oankali. And they didn’t make themselves sterile! But you can be damn sure that everything they did make was good and it worked and they put their hearts into it. Hey, I thought, ‘If we made a town, the … traders … must have made a city!’ And what do I find? A village of huts with primitive gardens. This place is hardly even a clearing!” His voice had risen again. He looked around with disapproval. “You’ve got kids to plan for and provide for, and you’re going to let them slide right back to being cavemen!” A Human woman named Leah spoke up. “Our kids will be okay,” she said. “But I wish we could get more of your people to come here. They’re as close to immortal as a Human being has ever been, and all they can think of to do is build useless houses and kill one another.” “It’s time we offered the resisters a way back to us,” Ahajas said. “I think we’ve been too comfortable here.” Several Oankali made silent gestures of agreement. “Leave them alone,” Tino said. “You’ve done enough to them! I’m not going to tell you where they are!”