Akin is the first male human-Oankali construct, appearing almost completely human but possessing a gray, sensory-rich tongue. He lives in the settlement of Lo, where he forms bonds with his multiple parents and studies his surroundings. His unique biology allows him to sample the cellular makeup of objects and people. He experiences profound isolation and curiosity, constantly seeking to understand both the human and alien parts of his heritage.

Tate is a human woman living in the resister settlement of Phoenix. The Oankali cured her Huntington's disease, yet she prefers to live independently from their direct control. She tends a garden and actively challenges the aggressive behaviors of other humans. She offers care to those who need it, acting as a protective figure in a fearful community.

Lilith is a nuclear apocalypse survivor who acts as a biological and cultural connection between humanity and the Oankali. Living in Lo, she faces the difficult reality of raising a hybrid child while retaining memories of her pre-war human life. She works to keep her village safe, deliberately breaking weapons to prevent violence, and passes down human history to her descendants.

Tino is a human man who leaves his resister parents to seek a different way of life. He integrates into the settlement of Lo, forming a bond with Lilith and accepting the Oankali presence. He assumes a paternal role in Akin's life, offering the child firsthand exposure to typical human behavior and thought processes.

Gabe lives in the human resister village of Phoenix, where he works and performs in community theater. He harbors deep suspicions about the Oankali and their genetic interventions. His fear of the unfamiliar often dictates his reactions, making him hesitant to trust outsiders or accept drastic changes to his environment.

Nikanj is an ooloi, the third gender of the Oankali species, and one of Akin's parents. Nikanj possesses the ability to manipulate genetic material and acts as the central emotional and physical bridge for the family unit in Lo.

Ahajas is an Oankali female parent to Akin. She carries the physical responsibility of growing Oankali offspring and provides a safe space for Akin to communicate with his unborn sibling.

Dichaan is one of Akin's male Oankali parents. He holds traditional Oankali views on development and decides when Akin must begin learning about his alien heritage on the home ship.

Tiikuchahk is Akin's younger sibling. Because Akin is abducted and raised among humans during their early life, the two suffer from a lack of necessary sibling bonding, causing emotional distress for both.

Galt is a red-haired human who participates in Akin's abduction. He exhibits a mix of pragmatism and occasional kindness, standing out slightly from the other captors by refraining from immediately punishing the child for accidents.

Iriarte is one of the human men who abducts Akin. He views the hybrid child as a commodity for trade but also sees him as a painful reminder of his own lost children, leading to conflicting behaviors.

Damek is a violent resister who holds a deep hatred for the Oankali and those associated with them. He participates in the abduction of Akin and shows outright hostility toward the child during their travels.

Mateo is a grieving father from a resister village. He searches for answers regarding his missing son and channels his emotional pain into sudden, extreme aggression against those he holds responsible.

Neci is a human resister who harbors extreme prejudice against the Oankali and their hybrid offspring. She advocates for physical violence against anything she perceives as alien, actively attempting to rally other salvagers to her cause.

Stancio is a human resister who travels with the salvagers. He acts as a voice of restraint against the extreme measures proposed by others in his group, refusing to endorse the torture of children.

Amma is an older construct child brought to the resister village. She relies on her human-like appearance for survival while hiding her alien attributes from hostile villagers, eventually forcing her to plan an escape.

Shkaht is a young construct child who faces extreme danger in human resister settlements due to their developing alien features. They rely entirely on their sibling and friends to survive in hostile environments.

Sabina is a resident of Phoenix who interacts with Akin during his time living among the resisters. She represents the everyday humans attempting to understand the unusual behaviors of a hybrid child without immediate hostility.

Dehkiaht is an ooloi student residing on the Oankali home ship, Chkahichdahk. They assist in the genetic and emotional bonding processes between individuals and act as a sympathetic listener for Akin's unusual plans for humanity.

Yori serves as a doctor in the resister village of Phoenix. She provides medical care using limited resources and observes the biological differences between humans and constructs with clinical interest.

Gilbert Senn is a resistant human who suspects any plans involving the Oankali are elaborate tricks. He embodies the persistent skepticism and paranoia of humanity toward external intervention.