Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Really great, probably the second best in the series? Def better than Clay’s Ark. It was the first to be written, and there’s a fascinating paragraph in the middle of the book that basically acts as an exposition dump for this book, but having read the rest of the series, you see the seeds that she planted here which grew into the other three books. It was exhilarating to read, and so impressive that Butler was able to take such minute details and spin such an elaborate world out of them.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This final book in the Pattermaster series attempts to redeem the Clay's Ark storyline deviation by incorporating elements from it into the original storyline from the first two (great) books; it doesn't work. As a finale, this was a total flop and added nothing to the overall story arc. The first two books tell a complete tale, read them and stop there.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m so glad that I pushed through Clay’s Ark so I could read this book and finish the series. I will be honest and admit that this is probably my favorite because it has a (somewhat) happy ending.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest
Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
First in the publication order, last book in the series in the chronological order puts this book in a very interesting place. Having spent a few days binging the three previous book to get to the book that started it all, I had expectations of reading something truly epic - but this book isn't that. Being one of Butler's earlier published novels it's clear she hasn't quite honed her craft to what it would eventually be, and the story itself is quite simple and small. I feel like later on she would have explored the clayarks much more - in here they are simple animals that Patternists give no thought to except to kill, even though they're clearly intelligent being able to speak and use sophisticated strategy and weapons. I'm sure that was the reason she went back to write Clay's Arc eight years later, though I would have been also interested in reading one book after this one.
It's a little unclear if it takes place on earth or a future colony, but technologically it seems very degenerated - there are firearms, but there are no cars for example, and travel happens on horseback. The Patternist society echoes the setup we see start to born in [b:Mind of My Mind|116254|Mind of My Mind (Patternmaster, #2)|Octavia E. Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389676159l/116254._SY75_.jpg|111957] where society is divided into Houses that are ruled by almost godlike Housemasters who rule over life and death of everyone in their house, Patternists and mutes alike. Main character is uncharacteristically for Butler a male, and rather an uninteresting and unsympathetic one at that, and Amber as the side character takes the place of this reader's focus.
All in all - an interesting if a little uneven series from Butler. I would definitely recommend reading in chronological order, even though Clay's Arc seems a little out of place in that order it's worth it by the time you come to Patternmaster. It plays with themes that were prevalent in scifi in the 70s like telepathy and the idea that mutations would occur normally and would be the next step in human evolution (I guess back then it was difficult to imagine technological advances that would happen in the next 50 years). Apart from that, many of the themes are still staggeringly relevant. Having said that, this series is definitely not for everyone and I wouldn't maybe generally recommend it - it constantly deals with heavy themes like eugenics, incest, sexual slavery and rape, slavery, racism and classism. But read especially in the context of when it was written and by whom, it gives a fascinating look into it's own time and creator.
Themes: slavery, control, class
It's a little unclear if it takes place on earth or a future colony, but technologically it seems very degenerated - there are firearms, but there are no cars for example, and travel happens on horseback. The Patternist society echoes the setup we see start to born in [b:Mind of My Mind|116254|Mind of My Mind (Patternmaster, #2)|Octavia E. Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389676159l/116254._SY75_.jpg|111957] where society is divided into Houses that are ruled by almost godlike Housemasters who rule over life and death of everyone in their house, Patternists and mutes alike. Main character is uncharacteristically for Butler a male, and rather an uninteresting and unsympathetic one at that, and Amber as the side character takes the place of this reader's focus.
All in all - an interesting if a little uneven series from Butler. I would definitely recommend reading in chronological order, even though Clay's Arc seems a little out of place in that order it's worth it by the time you come to Patternmaster. It plays with themes that were prevalent in scifi in the 70s like telepathy and the idea that mutations would occur normally and would be the next step in human evolution (I guess back then it was difficult to imagine technological advances that would happen in the next 50 years). Apart from that, many of the themes are still staggeringly relevant. Having said that, this series is definitely not for everyone and I wouldn't maybe generally recommend it - it constantly deals with heavy themes like eugenics, incest, sexual slavery and rape, slavery, racism and classism. But read especially in the context of when it was written and by whom, it gives a fascinating look into it's own time and creator.
Themes: slavery, control, class
i was really excited for this one because i love the rest of the series, and i knew that this was the book that started it all. i struggled with the patternist society and found Teray quite annoying. still interesting but i think i like mind of my mind and wildseed better