Wild Seed
July 27, 2008
Anyanwu has the gift of a healer, able to change herself to defy death. Doro, a man who can change bodies to do the same, finds her in 17th century Africa. Using persuasion and threats, Doro brings Anyanwu into his breeding family.
The book works on many levels. If one could live essentially forever, what would you want? The answer in this book is company, someone who could match your longevity.
Doro attempts to breed the special qualities that might lead to a being like himself. Anyanwu, on the other hand, seeks no more than a consistency of family and community.
The historical perspective is also interesting. The novel traverses almost 200 years, and provides long view perspective on the slave trade in Africa and a glimpse into the lives of those slaves and later freedmen in America.
I've tagged this as science fiction, though it might be better termed fantastic. Butler is well known for her SF, and I don't like to get hung up on sub-genres. Having read another of her books, Lilith's Brood, I'll just say that you could do worse than to read Octavia Butler.
Author: Octavia Butler
Published: 1980
Anyanwu has the gift of a healer, able to change herself to defy death. Doro, a man who can change bodies to do the same, finds her in 17th century Africa. Using persuasion and threats, Doro brings Anyanwu into his breeding family.
The book works on many levels. If one could live essentially forever, what would you want? The answer in this book is company, someone who could match your longevity.
Doro attempts to breed the special qualities that might lead to a being like himself. Anyanwu, on the other hand, seeks no more than a consistency of family and community.
The historical perspective is also interesting. The novel traverses almost 200 years, and provides long view perspective on the slave trade in Africa and a glimpse into the lives of those slaves and later freedmen in America.
I've tagged this as science fiction, though it might be better termed fantastic. Butler is well known for her SF, and I don't like to get hung up on sub-genres. Having read another of her books, Lilith's Brood, I'll just say that you could do worse than to read Octavia Butler.
Comments
Living forever alongside a
Living forever alongside a companion is a romantic ideal, so long as the reality of him leaving his socks lying around for a hundred and fifty years never interfered:) Sounds like a good read.
Good Point
Not to mention alternating domestic chores every few decades.
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