Wild Seed

The Patternist Series, Book 1

By: Octavia E. Butler

Narrated by: Robin Miles

As the acclaimed Patternist science-fiction series begins, two immortals meet in the long-ago past - and mankind's destiny is changed forever.

For a thousand years, Doro has cultivated a small African village, carefully breeding its people in search of seemingly unattainable perfection. He survives through the centuries by stealing the bodies of others, a technique he has so thoroughly mastered that nothing on Earth can kill him. But when a gang of New World slavers destroys his village, ruining his grand experiment, Doro is forced to go west and begin anew. He meets Anyanwu, a centuries-old woman whose means of immortality are as kind as his are cruel. She is a shape-shifter, capable of healing with a kiss, and she recognizes Doro as a tyrant. Though many humans have tried to kill them, these two demi-gods have never before met a rival. Now they begin a struggle that will last centuries and permanently alter the nature of humanity.

©1980 Octavia E. Butler (P)2020 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Richly evocative...particularly striking.” (Chicago Tribune)

A Tough Review To Write...

First, let me say that I consider myself an Octavia Butler fan all day long. However, on the days I read “Wild Seed,”… let’s just say... they were challenging ones. Although the writing was top-notched and unparalleled (it's Octavia Butler, after all), this book irritated the heck out of me. Octavia Butler is always a 5-star read. Alas, here we are. It’s nearly unbelievable that I’m giving this story a 4- a 3, is just inconceivable (but probably more indicative of my true feelings).

Given Anyanwu’s stunning gifts, I was expecting a whole other kind of story. I didn’t get that. At least not in my opinion. Instead, I got the story of a woman playing the role of the “savior-negro”. Apologies for the term, but that's just how annoyed I was while reading this book. There just seemed to be way too much of Anyanwu spending her time coddling men, bearing their children, or saving them from certain disasters. I kept expecting her to rise up against Doro regardless of what she thought he might do to her. I at least expected her to realize that he was not a man (or thing) of his word and know that whatever she thought she was doing to protect her people was irrelevant. I nearly stopped listening during the conversation between Anyanwu and Isaac. There, he convinces her-easily in my opinion- to indenture (enslave?) herself to his father for the rest of her life. All this while expecting her to be “shared” by him and his father.

Anyanwu could have done anything-gone anywhere. At this point in the story, there were no children for her to protect from Doro. There was nothing for him to use against her. So what does she do? She allows the enabler Isaac to convince her that she needs to stay-to essentially help his father become a better... whatever. Anyanwu idolizes Isaac, reveres him, and he was no better than his father was.

This character could have done anything. The book just goes on and on about the many instances of her being subservient to a maniac. Nothing changed even after many years (centuries?) when she was the mistress of her own home. She had even topped on a few more abilities to make her even more dynamic!

I’m sure that I missed the point Ms. Butler was going for with this story. She’s a literary genius after all. I’d like to gain a different perspective and move forward to the other titles in the series. I think I’ll need to build up a lot more tolerance for the storyline before I do.

Lovely read with realistic Afrocentric narration

All of Octavia Butler’s books are classics. The way she plays with time and ability and power is masterful.

Great story

A wonderful story that embraced so many themes while still telling a compelling tale. It's the kind of story I'd like to tell someday.

Great Story

A great story that goes through centuries. A wonderful balance of power, desire and weakness.

Futuristic Love Story

really love the complexity of this love story told in a futuristic Type of Way set in the past

More relavent than ever

Wild Seed is a classic of humanist, feminist, anti-racist science fiction, and we need it more now than ever before. Butler‘s prose sings, and Robin Miles helps us hear the aria flawlessly. Listen.

Engrossing

Fine book, Looking forward to next one in the series. The narration was also good.

Firsttimereader

Great read with recommend to anyone. Characters are well developed storyline well developed and can’t wait until the next book. 

Fantastic original fantasy with lineages I can trace!

I love the historical reimagining of the colonial past of the Unite States. I can clearly see where in Butler’s characters there are lineages of past science fiction influences. A complete masterpiece that could only be told properly through the lens of a Black Woman in America!

Understated and Impressionable!

Epic!

A Beautiful and amazing story that spans time and cultures. An unexpected hard science fiction novel.