Anyanwu

Anyanwu, an immortal shape-shifter and healer, the novel’s protagonist. By manipulating her physical form, An-yanwu can change her gender, race, and species. She begins the novel in Africa in the guise of an elderly woman living alone, the mother of many children. She leaves her home when she encounters Doro, who promises her a safer existence in a new world (America) and children who will never die. To the powerful and immortal Doro, Anyanwu is “wild seed,” a freak of nature whose powers he wishes to use in building an immortal culture of people he will breed and rule. Anyanwu is drawn to Doro and the idea of immortal children. Doro abuses her until a war is begun between them that lasts more than 150 years and spans the course of the novel. Only after Anyanwu’s suicide attempt convinces Doro to treat her and all of his people with some respect can she care for him.

Doro

Doro, an immortal body-vampire, the novel’s antagonist. Doro lives eternally by invading other people’s bodies. Late in the novel, it is revealed that he wished to die when he discovered the brutal nature of his powers as a child. He has come to accept his fate and works to build a “superrace” through enslavement of and forced breeding of individuals with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Although his goals never change, he becomes less brutal through prolonged contact with Anyanwu.

Isaac

Isaac, Doro’s favorite son. Although he is not immortal, Isaac, a man of mixed racial heritage has telekinetic ability, the power to move things with his mind. He is promised Anyanwu as a mate by his father early in the novel, despite Doro’s sexual involvement with her. Though she resists at first, over time Anyanwu comes to find Isaac a loving and respectful husband. Isaac dies midway through the novel. His last words are a plea to his wife to forgive Doro for his cruelty; he loves his father and believes only Anyanwu can make him a decent man.

Thomas

Thomas, a Native American man used by Doro as a breeder. To punish Anyanwu for her resistance to his authority, Doro forces her to have sex with the physically and emotionally ill Thomas. He is a hateful and violent man but learns to care for Anyanwu after she heals him. Doro’s merciless response to this bond is to kill Thomas by taking over his body.

Nweke

Nweke, the daughter of Anyanwu and Thomas. Nweke, a central character during the middle section of the book, has powerful mental and physical abilities. They eventually drive her mad, causing her to attack her adoptive father, Isaac, who unknowingly kills the girl in an attempt to defend himself.

Wild Seed features two main characters. Doro and Anyanwu are almost like towering gods among less powerful individuals who also possess parapsychological abilities, as well as among ordinary humans who are almost like mental drones. Doro is nearly 4,000 years old, having been born in ancient Egypt. At the age of thirteen, he underwent "transition," which is akin to adolescence for Butler's parapsychological beings. In Mind of My Mind (1977), one of the four novels connected to Wild Seed , an explanation of Doro's power and vulnerability is given. He did not emerge from transition completely intact, despite his immense psychic abilities. Consequently, he was condemned to survive only by inhabiting the bodies of living humans, who essentially died as soon as Doro took over. He lacked a body of his own. He could be male or female, young or old....