Scan barcode
yomireads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, as a whole, this book is well written, and its clear that Octavia E Butler has a strong grasp of her craft. Anyanwu and Doror both are well shaped characters with strong wills that clash, neither bending easily to the other. The abilities and the exploration of these otherworldly abilities is captivating to be sure. The dark and keen look at slavery and the loss of autonomy is very intentional and poignant.
But God was I uncomfortable the entirety of this novel. I'm positive the discomfort is intentional, the fear, rage, and overall frustration simmering just below boiling from the start is intentional, but the obstinate refusal of the clearly villainous Doro to have any sort of real character growth for literal centuries made me want to chuck this book into an ocean.
The incest was obscene. Eugenics at its finest (most disturbing). And the strange pervasive nature of misogyny in characters who can shift their sex at will wildly frustrating.
But God was I uncomfortable the entirety of this novel. I'm positive the discomfort is intentional, the fear, rage, and overall frustration simmering just below boiling from the start is intentional, but the obstinate refusal of the clearly villainous Doro to have any sort of real character growth for literal centuries made me want to chuck this book into an ocean.
The incest was obscene. Eugenics at its finest (most disturbing). And the strange pervasive nature of misogyny in characters who can shift their sex at will wildly frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Cannibalism, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
rlgreen91's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Alright, so even though I finished this book over a month ago, life got in the way of jotting down some thoughts. And y'all, I promise I did have a lot of thoughts about Wild Seed, but honestly, that's par for the course when it comes to Butler's work. I have yet to come across a text she wrote that didn't expect you to think.
So...a month or so later, what thoughts continue to elbow their way to the front when I think of this book? For one, I really liked how Butler depicted Doro and Anyanwu as these nigh immortal, long-lived beings, especially in moments of boredom, without the depiction itself being boring and repetitive. It's hard to put my finger on it, but something about the characterization of Doro and Anyanwu seems more "lively" than your typical characterization of a god, or vampire, or person who accidentally becomes immortal, or what have you. And again, this perception exists, even in moments where Doro or Anyanwu are reflecting on the boredom and fatigue that accompanies living for so long. It's fascinating because it's so skillful.
The other thought that continues to come to the forefront of my mind is my appreciation for Anyanwu as a lead character whose skills and personality focus on healing and nurturing. This is partly due to a personal preference for shifting away from achievement as domination and competition to collaboration and care. But I also appreciate that, for all Doro could not see or imagine it, Anyanwu's efforts to heal, nurture, and care for the people around her was a choice. After all, it wasn't like Anyanwu wasn't capable of killing anyone or inflicting pain; we see her do just that a number of times in the book. There's no reason why Anyanwu couldn't have been more ruthless, more dangerous, more deadly, especially in societies that would assume she was powerless by default. But Anyanwu chose to do what she could to care, nurture, and heal the people around her and that is no small thing.
Overall, I really enjoyed Wild Seed, but I say that about everything I ready by Butler, so not that surprising. :) Looking forward to getting to Mind of My Mind soon-ish. 5 stars.
So...a month or so later, what thoughts continue to elbow their way to the front when I think of this book? For one, I really liked how Butler depicted Doro and Anyanwu as these nigh immortal, long-lived beings, especially in moments of boredom, without the depiction itself being boring and repetitive. It's hard to put my finger on it, but something about the characterization of Doro and Anyanwu seems more "lively" than your typical characterization of a god, or vampire, or person who accidentally becomes immortal, or what have you. And again, this perception exists, even in moments where Doro or Anyanwu are reflecting on the boredom and fatigue that accompanies living for so long. It's fascinating because it's so skillful.
The other thought that continues to come to the forefront of my mind is my appreciation for Anyanwu as a lead character whose skills and personality focus on healing and nurturing. This is partly due to a personal preference for shifting away from achievement as domination and competition to collaboration and care. But I also appreciate that, for all Doro could not see or imagine it, Anyanwu's efforts to heal, nurture, and care for the people around her was a choice. After all, it wasn't like Anyanwu wasn't capable of killing anyone or inflicting pain; we see her do just that a number of times in the book. There's no reason why Anyanwu couldn't have been more ruthless, more dangerous, more deadly, especially in societies that would assume she was powerless by default. But Anyanwu chose to do what she could to care, nurture, and heal the people around her and that is no small thing.
Overall, I really enjoyed Wild Seed, but I say that about everything I ready by Butler, so not that surprising. :) Looking forward to getting to Mind of My Mind soon-ish. 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Incest, Suicide, Body horror, Colonisation, and Slavery
rachbake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Child death, Murder, Grief, Trafficking, and Slavery
florapatricia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Rape
amerily123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror
megwilli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, and Incest
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
gardner0214's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have been a part of an Octavia Butler book club this year and this series is the last of her work we are reading. Additionally, prior to this we read the Lilith's Brood series. I should also say we are starting the Patternist series with this book so, I have not read the rest of the series yet.
Both this book and Lilith's Brood troubled me in the same way. One of Butler's themes in both works are power dynamics and the role they play in sexual relationships. In both Dawn (the first of the Lilith's Brood series) and Wild Seed the main protagonist is a woman who is essentially forced to sleep with and breed with whomever her captors (who physically and ethically repulse these women) send their way. This abuse continuously happens to these women despite how physically and mentally strong the characters are, they are both essentially reduced to serve the same function of cattle and breeding stock.
I am not saying that these aren't interesting themes, I believe they are worth the effort to diving into, especially given the way Butler expertly weaves gender and race dynamics into these Sci-Fi worlds within the novels. However, this kind of relationship and downright abuse is so constant in the books and it begins to wear me down about 3/4s of the way through the books. It makes me feel broken and I just want to scream for these women.
I guess what I am saying is my main critique is, for books that have the potential to cover so much fantastic, sci-fi ground, they dwell far to much on sexual abuse over and over again.
Both this book and Lilith's Brood troubled me in the same way. One of Butler's themes in both works are power dynamics and the role they play in sexual relationships. In both Dawn (the first of the Lilith's Brood series) and Wild Seed the main protagonist is a woman who is essentially forced to sleep with and breed with whomever her captors (who physically and ethically repulse these women) send their way. This abuse continuously happens to these women despite how physically and mentally strong the characters are, they are both essentially reduced to serve the same function of cattle and breeding stock.
I am not saying that these aren't interesting themes, I believe they are worth the effort to diving into, especially given the way Butler expertly weaves gender and race dynamics into these Sci-Fi worlds within the novels. However, this kind of relationship and downright abuse is so constant in the books and it begins to wear me down about 3/4s of the way through the books. It makes me feel broken and I just want to scream for these women.
I guess what I am saying is my main critique is, for books that have the potential to cover so much fantastic, sci-fi ground, they dwell far to much on sexual abuse over and over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Sexual violence
Moderate: Incest
abmochapman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this just confirms octavia butler is a FREAK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery
arithmetic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Child death, Trafficking, Slavery, Pedophilia, and Gore
cleansky7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Minor: Sexual content