Seed to Harvest [Paperback]

I found this title while browsing around Amazon's New in Fiction January list, and was quite excited about the prospect of a new Butler book. Unfortunately, it is a compilation of books I've already read...bummer! I echo the comment left before me -- if you're new to Butler, great series to read.

Compilation includes the following novels: Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay's Ark, and Patternmaster.

I was extremely excited to learn that Octavia Butler had written a final book before her departure, and as she was my favorite author I rushed out to get this last work. Unfortunately, its a trick because its only a compilation of her pre-existing work and contains NO NEW MATERIAL! So, unless you're new to Butler, don't bother picking this one up. If you are new to Butler, its an excellent read and saves room on the bookshelf!

Think Sherri Tepper at her height (not the preachiness she's descended to). Think Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Think the moral dilemna's and characterization of Robin Hobb. When you think of these things you're close to understanding this series by Octavia Butler. Being a black woman I was initially intrigued by the idea of afro-centric science fiction. But this is soooo much more than that. Octavia Butler is one of the most talented sci fi writers I've read in god knows how long. Her characters may be racially African-American (and sometimes just African, and usually a mix of a lot of different races) but this book has nothing really to do with that. It does lightly explore racial inequalities, but focuses more on social inequalities, the plight of the impoverished. Even better than that the REAL focus of the book is the science fiction. It's not just a social commentary with a touch of the extraordinary. It's true hard core sci/fi fantasy, and it is extraordinary.
The book follows a race of mentally gifted individuals of all ethnicities forward in time from the pre-slavery era to around 2225. These individuals are breed like cattle to be the companions, family, science project and ultimately FOOD of the scariest super villian you ever want to read about....Doro. Doro is a superbeing, a soul-vampire. He is immortal in that he jumps bodies but not like the rather kindly Lestat in Anne Rices series. He has to jump bodies, it's how he feeds. He likes it. And the more mentally talented the person is the better the food tastes to him. He also has the ability of tracking a person that he's met anywhere, across continents and across time. You cant escape him, and the last thing you want to do is kill him. That would only precipitate him jumping into YOUR body. Doro, collects mentally gifted individuals and breeds them together for his own amusement and as a source of food. I don't want to tell you much more becuase it would ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say that because of his tampering he breeds a race of humans that become a bit much to handle in later years.
The description I've just given you is pretty clinical. THe great thing about this book is that Octavia's superb writing allows you to live in these peoples lives, experience their powers and their terrible limitations. She puts the slave collar on your own neck and lets the blisters rise on your own skin. You can see, feel and taste their world.
I strongly reccomend this book to anyone who likes the writers I listed in the first paragraph. My advice to you is to be mentally ready...you're about to go on a real rollor coaster ride.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 15 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars