My first Octavia E. Butler novel. 
 I was surprised that this novel has plot elements similar to some of my other favorite modern work like Sense8 and Demon. (But better: Wild Seed's plot moves faster than Sense8's, and it has no suspension-of-disbelief-killing puerile conceits like Demon's (view spoiler)[army of peg-legged men and conjoined twins.(view spoiler)[) 
 Since it is set in the past, there's no occasions for the book to mis-predict future technology. I was surprised to learn after finishing it that it was written way back in 1980. It holds up very well. 
 I'm an idiot for having never before given Butler's work a try. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]