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Wild Seed
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Wild Seed Hardcover - 1980

by Butler, Octavia E


About this book

Wild Seed is the first book chronologically in the Patternist series, although it is the fourth published. The story centers around the main characters of Doro and Anyanwu, two immortals living in Africa. Doro is a spirit who can inhabit other people's bodies but kills them recklessly. He is breeding a race of superhumans, along with his son Issac. Anyanwu is a shapeshifting healer and one of the only beings Doro can't sense when she changes into an animal. Doro is compelled and threatened by her power, but she becomes repulsed by his callous murders. If they can work together, they have the true power to change the world. Butler's novel explores eugenics, the ethics of controlled evolution, and the creation of a black superrace through the same means colonists and enslavers used to promote white supremacy. Butler also portrayed a strong black female protagonist when they were nearly nonexistent in American literature. 

First Edition Identification

Doubleday published the first edition of Wild Seed in 1980. It has "Stated First Edition" on the copyright page and Code K23 on page 246. The original cover was designed by John Cayea, an artist for Doubleday best known for his iconic cover of Stephen King's The Stand. The illustration on the first edition of Wild Seed portrays Anyanwu, the novel's female shapeshifter protagonist, transforming from an infant into a young adult. 

Details

  • Title Wild Seed
  • Author Butler, Octavia E
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 1st UK Edition
  • Publisher Sidgwick & Jackson, London
  • Date 1980
  • ISBN 9780283985928
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More Copies for Sale

Wild Seed

Wild Seed

by Butler, Octavia

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used
Edition
First British edition (& 1st printing)
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780283985928 / 0283985925
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Farway, Colyton, Devon, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€340.34
€14.21 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sidgwick & Jackson: London, 1980. First British edition (& 1st printing). Hardcover. Part of the Patternmaster sf series. In Pringle: Science Fiction, The best 100 novels no 92. Wonderful wraparound colour cover art by Peter Bowman. This UK edition is much more uncommon than the Doubleday hardcover (and better cover art). Fine copy in a fine dustjacket (as new).
Item Price
€340.34
€14.21 shipping to USA
Wild Seed
More Photos

Wild Seed

by Butler, Octavia E.

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
1st UK Edition 1st Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780283985928 / 0283985925
Quantity Available
1
Seller
West Linn, Oregon, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€279.72
€5.13 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sidgwick & Jackson, 1980. 1st UK Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Peter Bowman. The book has a review slip included. First Edition stated. Unclipped dust jacket (L6.95)
Item Price
€279.72
€5.13 shipping to USA