Becoming the Protégé Of My Favorite Fictional Character : Anyanwu of Wild Seed | Hive Book Club Community Contest #10

Hello Hive Book Club Community members. This is my first participation in the Community's book club contests. I'm happy to join in this Community Contest #10 : What Would You Do if You Met Your Favorite Fictional Character? as it gives me a chance to showcase my love of science fiction and fantasy genre female characters. I thank @kemmyb for the invitation.

I invite @deeanndmathews @grocko and @wrestlingdesires to join in.

This month's theme:

What Would You Do if You Met Your Favorite Fictional Character?

When I think about my favorite fictional character, I immediately think of science-fiction and fantasy. In these genres, from my readings, I feel females are explored thoroughly that reveal their emotional and leadership qualities. Stepping out of the constraints of their physical worlds in terms of strength, these women are extraordinary in their approach to small and large scale problems in their fantasy realms. One such female that stands out and whose light shines brilliantly for me is "ANYANWU".

Anyanwu is an amazing female fictional character who encompasses not only physical strength, but transformative and healing abilities. I was enthralled by her character while reading, "Wild Seed" and immersed into the fantasy world of immortality.

Wild Seed is part of the Patternist series (also known as the Patternmaster series or Seed to Harvest) of science fiction novels by Octavia E. Butler. Octavia is a world renown best selling prize winning author. ²

The series detail a secret history from the Ancient Egyptian period to the far future that involves telepathic mind control and an extraterrestrial plague. The series deals with the early concept of "eugenics" or breeding for specific purposes to produce superior beings. ²

Wild Seed is not the first book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. It is the story of two immortal Africans, one male, one female, who battles for control. One to do evil; the other, good.

The protoganist, a female named Anyanwu, is a unique human who was born in West Africa around the 13th or 14th century. She is bestowed with not only immense healing powers, but also immortality.

At the age of twenty, she discovers she has stopped aging. As far as she knows, she is the only human of her kind with this ability. Secrecy is the key to her survival as she has lived over 300 years. She rarely shows her true young age.

Anyanwu has special powers, such as transformation into any other human, no matter the race or gender. She has transformed into men and ultimately fathered children. Another unique transformation is that she has the ability to transform herself into any animal she wishes, and is endowed with the powers they possess. This ability the author calls shape-shifting.

In addition to these powers, she has the ability to heal herself and others from fatal wounds and illnesses.

She is portrayed as a kind and caring woman who loves the concept of preserving humanity, the family unit, protecting those who are vulnerable and helpless, and aiding her neighbors.

She is also portrayed as a gentle soul. The only time she exhibits brutality and her true strength is to protect her family and friends. She usually lives on the outskirts of villages wherever she dwells. In that environment, she can practice her healing powers.

She lives her life in anonymity until that fateful day in her 300th year, she is discovered by the only other immortal she has met.

His name is Doro. A super powerful vengeful spirit who, at the age of 12 and dying, took over his mother and father's bodies. He's successfully transferred his spirit during his 3,000 year life, having been born during the reign of the Pharaohs in Egypt.

While canvassing his specially bred seed colonies in African villages, he discovers Anyanwu. She's the sole survivor of a slaughter in her remote village. The moment he senses her abilities, he sets in motion his plan to force her to accompany him to America. His ultimate goal is to breed her to produce a super race of people with unique abilities.

I would not like to meet Anyanwu during this period, as her and Doro's relationship was tumultuous. Sensing her abilities nearly matching his, their over one hundred year relationship is fraught with anger, desire, domination, and her submission.

I would like to have met Anyanwu during the period when she escapes from Doro by transforming into an animal and runs away. He can't detect her in animal form. Consequently she is able to live for 100 years in peace on her own plantation in Louisiana.

As she locates other people with special abilities and gathers them into her villages, she is successful in cultivating a peaceful society of like-minded people.

It is during this period, I could learn about her and others' special abilities and how to utilize them for good intentions to help mankind. Perhaps locating a place where they could remain undetected from Doro or other invading forces. However, what I'm most interested in is learning about Anyanwu and her heritage, together with healing abilities and advanced knowledge of the human body.

Wild Seed is a fascinating book that encompasses numerous themes related to relationships and world views about humanity. The two immortals' relationship takes you on a journey between two continents. It embodies the concepts of slavery during the slave trade. For this reason, Doro chooses to inhabit the bodies of Caucasian men so that he can move easily among the Southern slave states without question and own a plantation. ³

Perhaps with my knowledge from the future and her powers, I could assist in helping her in her village.

She's so frustrated she can't extract herself from Doro that she contemplates ending her life. All works out in the end, as Doro realizes his feelings for her and that she is his equal, thus commiting to humanitarian efforts instead of destructive means.