ceciltheme's Full Review: Octavia E. Butler - Wild Seed
In this book, Octavia Butler brings out the humanity of Doro, her evil male immortal predator who survives by devouring the psychic souls of humans and wearing their bodies like a newly found suit. She has him reluctantly fall in love with Anwanyu, an immortal shape-shifter healer whom he finds when she is 300 years old and living in Africa in the 1600's. Anwanyu becomes special to him because she is the only other immortal being who has lived anywhere near as long as he has, and she also has the power to destroy him. Doro's humanity is also shown in the love that he has for his favored offspring. One of his "sons", Isaac, even gets elevated to the status of confidante.
This book is a good take on the Doro villian because it shows him having the same longing for human comfort that normal people have. The reader also gets to learn more about his origins. One thing I particularly liked about the book is the historical science fiction. Butler really captures the mindset of someone who is encountering the European slavemasters for the first time and has her immortal characters adapt to the changes that imperialism brings over the centuries.
With "Wild Seed" Butler brings about a confrontation and battle with the omnipotent Doro in a realm that even his power and predatory strength cannot conquer; Doro and Anwanyu have to battle with the issues of love, loneliness, and the preservation of the human soul in a lifetime that spans centuries. There are even hints at bisexuality on the parts of both Doro and Anwanyu, due to her shape-changing ability and his ability to enter a male or female host at whim.
Typical Butler elements are still present: 1) strong black female leads 2) truly objective views of interracial interactions 3) the seductively evil male and his willingly enthralled victims, of both genders 4) sparse but effective imagery and 5) a strong tale with a good build of suspense and irony, even up until the last page. I would say it was a more difficult read than "Clay's Ark" simply because Butler does the periods Anwanyu spends in animal form some justice. However, none of the shapeshifting details detract; they add to the tale in every way.
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