Join Wanderers of Colour for our next Book Club social, covering Wild Seed by Octavia Butler

We chose this book following a vote by our Book Club Whatsapp community, which you are welcome to join with the link provided in the FAQ section below.

We will be meeting at the Royal Festival Hall Ballroom Cafe. The cafe provides options to purchase food or drinks if you wish. The exact location will be be shared around 10-15 mins before the start (the organisers will get there early to find a large enough seating area).

"Wild Seed," a novel by Octavia E. Butler, explores the intricate relationship between two immortal beings: Doro, a powerful entity capable of transferring his essence into other bodies, and Anyanwu, an Onitsha-Ibo woman with extraordinary healing abilities and shape-shifting powers. Spanning from 1690 to 1840, the narrative unfolds in three distinct sections—"Covenant," "Lot's Children," and "Canaan"—each depicting different phases of their complex bond. Doro seeks to create a lineage of immortals, while Anyanwu grapples with the moral implications of his often cruel methods, leading to conflict and resistance.

The novel delves into themes of gender and racial oppression, particularly as experienced by women of color. Butler's characters endure significant struggles and sacrifices, reflecting the harsh realities of their historical contexts, including the transatlantic slave trade. The story emphasizes the importance of survival and resilience against systemic oppression, portraying a world where confrontation rather than separation is necessary for coping with adversity. Through its blend of fantasy and social commentary, "Wild Seed" challenges readers to engage with the enduring legacies of cultural survival and the complexity of human relationships amidst strife.

Summary taken from EBSCO entry for "Wild Seed"

Whether you have completed the book, or are curious about the topics, you are welcome to join our meetup where we will have an open discussion led by one of our organisers. 

Further details on the book and purchasing options below:

Content warnings: 

Graphic: Slavery, Incest, Death

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Racism

• Borrow:
  https://libbyapp.com or your local library may stock the book already
• Some places where you can buy: 
  • World of Books (used)
  • Abe Books (used)
  • Better world books (used)
  • Bookshop (new)

• Audiobooks: https://www.audiobooks.co.uk/audiobook/wild-seed/455217
  Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Wild-Seed-Audiobook/1980019363

Details

Date: Saturday, August 22nd 2026

Address:

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Level 2 Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom

The exact location in the Royal Festival Hall will be be shared around 10-15 mins before the start (the organisers will get there early to find a large enough seating area).

Accessibility:

• Transport via tube: Waterloo station (Jubilee, Bakerloo, Northern & Waterloo & City lines) is the closest station with step-free access. Embankment station (District & Circle lines) is further away but also listed as step-free nearby.
• Transportation via car: The venue has no dedicated on-site public car park for general users with only a few free Blue Badge spaces on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip-road. If you plan to arrive by car you will need to find alternative locations and either use nearby private car parks or on-street parking.
• Toilets: The café has accessible toilets available on every level. The eating area is step-free and accessible via wheelchair or other mobility aids

Who can come?

All Black, Asian, and People of Colour welcome! Any under 18s will need to be accompanied by an adult. We are happy for you to join whether you have completed the book or not!

Nervous about coming alone?

No worries! We understand how daunting it can be coming to an event on your own. Most of our attendees come to our event solo, and you can join our Whatsapp group to connect with others ahead of the event. You can also reach out by email via wanderersofcolour@gmail.com, or Instagram.

Photography

Our team try to take a couple of photographs and videos during events to help promote other events and showcase what we do publicly. Please let the a member of the team know when you arrive if you'd rather not be photographed at all.

FAQs

How much does this event cost?

• This event is free to attend! You can purchase refreshments or snacks at the Southbank Cafe

• We also welcome donations to cover the cost of running the Wanderers of Colour community. Donations help us in covering admin costs, and offering free and subsidised places.

• For the book, there are options to buy a physical copy from bookshop.org or other shops. Amazon also provides a Kindle e-book option and audiobook option at a reduced price. The audiobook version can be free under an initial 30-day trial with Audible (which can be cancelled within that period to avoid charge).

• Local libraries may also have it in stock for borrowing, or other individuals may be able to lend a copy.

If you have any questions please reach out to us!

Whatsapp Group community link: https://www.wanderersofcolour.com/join-the-community

Email: wanderersofcolour@gmail.com

Instagram.