Wild Seed cover art

Wild Seed

The Patternist Series, Book 1

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Wild Seed

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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About this listen

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 Fiction Genre Fiction Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

“Richly evocative...particularly striking.” (Chicago Tribune)
All stars
Most relevant
One of Octavia’s best! philosophically fascinating with ethics entwined in the story like a blooming 🪴

wonderful

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This is science fiction as I’ve never known it before. It’s dark, it’s sexy, it’s historical, it’s black. I knew nothing about the story going in, and I recommend you do the same. Let yourself be caught off guard.

Groundbreakingly good

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This is such an amazing book, so we’ll written and powerful. Highly highly highly recommend

So good

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Butler was absolutely brilliant in so many ways and many of her books stay with me. This one though gets into my heart and soul in ways I cannot explain. An absolutely beautiful, wise and soulful book.

One of my favourite books by Octavia Butler

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