Hiddensci-fi
Cover of Imago by Octavia E. Butler
Exploring from

Imago

Octavia E. Butler

Book page

Find similar books by

Combine common axes

← Back to graph Explore

Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for Imago. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: hybrid protagonist, genderless protagonist, nonbinary character, firstborn outsider, exiled outsider, mistrusted child, alienated protagonist, shape-shifter, healer, genetic manipulator

Relationships labels used: family bonds, found family, parent-child, sibling bond, mate bonding, sexual dependency, power imbalance, coercive intimacy, cross-species relationship, community conflict, resistance

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization + relationships embeddings are close.

Exclude same author Exclude same listed series
No limit
Cover of Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler

Adulthood Rites

Octavia E. Butler · 1988 · Xenogenesis

A hybrid child raised between humans and aliens grows toward adulthood while both species fight over humanity's future.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: hybrid child · child prodigy · mediator · bridge character · resister humans · alien species · outsider · maturing protagonist · sympathetic protagonist · violent humans

Relationships labels: parent-child · family bonds · interspecies kinship · hybrid family · community conflict · captor-captive · resistance movement · cross-cultural tension · dependency · power imbalance · consensual tension · coerced reproduction

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1292

Continue from here
Cover of Lilith's Brood by Octavia E. Butler

Lilith's Brood

Octavia E. Butler · 2000 · Xenogenesis

A post-apocalyptic trilogy about humanity’s survival bargain with aliens who demand genetic and social transformation.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female protagonist · black female protagonist · outsider protagonist · human survivor · alien construct · hybrid child · alien collective · moral ambiguity · humanity as flawed · alien as uncanny · strong woman · nonhuman perspective

Relationships labels: human-alien relationship · hybrid family · parent-child · inter-species mating · consent conflict · power imbalance · paternalism · community tension · resistance vs assimilation · found family · coercive intimacy · genetic kinship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1335

Continue from here
Cover of The Book of Flora by Meg Elison

The Book of Flora

Meg Elison · 2019 · The Road to Nowhere

In a brutal post-plague world, Flora travels between fragile communities while battling oppression, identity, and a looming threat.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: trans woman · trans man · non-binary character · intersex character · genderfluid character · bisexual character · queer cast · female protagonist · adoptive mother · survivor · outsider · prickly character · resilient character · damaged childhood

Relationships labels: found family · adoption · mother-child · same-sex relationship · polyamory · lover relationship · friendship · community conflict · power imbalance · slavery · betrayal · protective bond

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1399

Continue from here
Cover of Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson

Sister Mine

Nalo Hopkinson · 2013

A young woman from a family of gods seeks independence, then must face a missing father and her own buried magic.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young adult protagonist · impulsive protagonist · snarky protagonist · immature protagonist · likable heroine · dysfunctional family members · demigod characters · trickster figure · Death personification · musician character · outcast character · disabled characters · queer characters · genderfluid characters · child medium

Relationships labels: sisterhood · twin bond · sibling rivalry · family dysfunction · parent-child conflict · romantic relationship · queer relationship · betrayal · dependency · reconciliation · extended family · intergenerational conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1409

Continue from here
Cover of Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Phoenix Extravagant

Yoon Ha Lee · 2020

A nonbinary painter in an occupied homeland is forced to animate war machines, then risks everything with a dragon.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: artist protagonist · nonbinary protagonist · pacifist protagonist · ordinary person protagonist · naive protagonist · reluctant collaborator · underdog · oblivious protagonist · morally gray characters · sentient dragon · duelist · older sister · revolutionary sibling

Relationships labels: sibling conflict · sibling bond · enemies to lovers · romantic subplot · queer relationship · polyamorous relationship · poly parents · human-dragon bond · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1413

Continue from here
Cover of Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis

Axiom's End

Lindsay Ellis · 2020 · Noumena

A young woman pulled into a government alien-coverup becomes the only human able to communicate with an extraterrestrial.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: college dropout · whistleblower daughter · estranged father · passive protagonist · young adult protagonist · curious protagonist · reluctant intermediary · alien individual · broody alien · unlikable protagonist · underdeveloped side characters · stubborn protagonist

Relationships labels: father-daughter conflict · family estrangement · inter-species friendship · inter-species romance · dependency · trust-building · co-dependent bond · translator bond · government custody · romantic tension

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1437

Continue from here
Cover of The Human Son by Adrian J. Walker

The Human Son

Adrian J. Walker · 2020

A nonhuman scientist raises the first human child in centuries to determine whether humanity deserves a second chance.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: logical protagonist · emotionless lead · analytical narrator · unprepared caregiver · scientist protagonist · nonhuman protagonist · parental arc · emotional awakening · community outsider · child protagonist · transhuman beings · cold rationality

Relationships labels: parent-child · found family · mother-son · caregiver bond · community conflict · species conflict · mentor-child · parenting · love after experiment · social isolation

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1472

Continue from here
Cover of Portalmania: Stories by Debbie Urbanski

Portalmania: Stories

Debbie Urbanski · 2025

A genre-bending short story collection where portals, marriages, and identity crises expose the costs of escape and desire.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: asexual protagonist · unlikable characters · difficult characters · mothers · wives · husbands · children · neurodivergent child · autistic child · complex women · isolated characters · trapped characters

Relationships labels: marital conflict · abusive marriage · parent-child conflict · mother-son relationship · mother-daughter relationship · queer relationships · power imbalance · sexual coercion · betrayal · dependence · estrangement

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1493

Continue from here
Cover of The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Beginning Place

Ursula K. Le Guin · 2005

Two troubled young adults find a doorway to a twilight world, where escape, fear, and love become a single test.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: disaffected young man · young woman · stuck protagonist · outsider protagonist · gatekeeper · traumatized character · abusive family survivor · emotionally dependent mother · abusive stepfather · baffled hero · shy protagonist · strong female character

Relationships labels: romance · forbidden romance · dependency · parent-child conflict · abusive family · mother-son conflict · mother-daughter conflict · rivalry · trust · partnership · companionship · community outsider

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1502

Continue from here
Cover of Saga, Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughan

Saga, Volume 8

Brian K. Vaughan · 2017 · Saga

After devastating loss, Hazel's family seeks a dangerous solution on a strange frontier world while old allies return.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young protagonist · maturing child · pregnant mother · grieving parents · supporting character spotlight · trans character · robot character · outsider

Relationships labels: parent child · family bond · found family · romantic pairing · interspecies relationship · coparenting · mentor child · friendship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1509

Continue from here
Cover of More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon

More Than Human

Theodore Sturgeon · 1979

Misfit children with psychic gifts form a shared consciousness and must decide what power, identity, and humanity mean.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: outcasts · misfits · children · young adults · disabled characters · psychic characters · genius child · simpleton · caregiver figure · morally compromised character · damaged characters · lonely characters · abused children · gifted outsiders · sympathetic antagonists

Relationships labels: found family · group bonding · dependency · psychic link · parent-child conflict · caretaking · community formation · collective identity · betrayal · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1512

Continue from here
Cover of Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren

Weave a Circle Round

Kari Maaren · 2017

A quiet teen’s life unravels when strange neighbors arrive next door and pull her into a mythic time-travel mystery.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: introverted protagonist · angsty teen · angry teen · invisible girl · relatable teen · awkward teen · deaf character · geeky sibling · genius sibling · eccentric outsider · mischievous characters · morally ambiguous characters · immortal characters · character growth

Relationships labels: blended family · step-siblings · sibling rivalry · absent parents · family tension · friendship · power imbalance · romance-free · community tension

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1519

Continue from here
Show more