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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. Just incredible. One of the best books I've read for ages!
dark
reflective
i can't recommend this book but i think i enjoyed it
This is the first novel in the Patternist series, blending science fiction, fantasy, and themes of power, control, and identity. The story spans centuries from Africa to the “New World”, following two immortal beings—Doro, a power-hungry entity who has the ability to possess and control others, and Anyanwu, a shape-shifting healer with deep moral convictions. Doro seeks to create a race of superhumans by breeding humans with extraordinary abilities, while Anyanwu, who has her own powers, resists his manipulative tactics.
Butler explores complex themes such as the ethics of power, the consequences of immortality, and the clash between survival and morality. The novel's pacing is deliberate, allowing for rich character development, especially in the conflict between Doro’s ruthless pursuit of dominance and Anyanwu’s resistance. Wild Seed is both an exploration of human nature and a meditation on the nature of power and manipulation, set against a backdrop of supernatural abilities.
I loved the book’s intricate world-building, complex characters, and its ability to blend speculative elements with profound questions about society and self. It’s an excellent piece of work from Butler and sets the stage for my movement into the sequels in the Patternist series. I am looking forward to the journey!
Butler explores complex themes such as the ethics of power, the consequences of immortality, and the clash between survival and morality. The novel's pacing is deliberate, allowing for rich character development, especially in the conflict between Doro’s ruthless pursuit of dominance and Anyanwu’s resistance. Wild Seed is both an exploration of human nature and a meditation on the nature of power and manipulation, set against a backdrop of supernatural abilities.
I loved the book’s intricate world-building, complex characters, and its ability to blend speculative elements with profound questions about society and self. It’s an excellent piece of work from Butler and sets the stage for my movement into the sequels in the Patternist series. I am looking forward to the journey!
This book challenged me, which was welcome. Enjoyed the character development on part of the female protagonist.
This is a great book. This is my first Octavia Butler book and I'll read more. I was disappointed that it seemed more about a two people's personal relationship than the larger pattern in which they fit.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder
Moderate: Incest, Physical abuse, Stalking
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I appreciate this book for the new ideas it was exploring when it came out in 1980. (The afterward in the edition I read helped me to understand this). As a reader today, however, I felt Butler was just glossing over lots of big ideas (the limits of immortality, mutant species, the ethics of eugenics, what does it mean to be a slave, etc). Also, the ending seemed rather abrupt—and the transformation of the villain seemed odd to me. I also found it personally difficult reading a novel about people constantly capitulating to a narcissistic sociopath with unlimited power, even to the point of loving him. The novel compares this to Job’s relationship with God, which I found thought-provoking.