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A review by micksland
Clay's Ark by Octavia E. Butler
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Of all the books in Butler’s “Patternist” universe, this is my favorite. It’s the last in publication order but third in the series’s internal chronology. “Clay’s Ark” is a true horror novel and story of survival, taking cues from “The Andromeda Strain” as well as Butler’s earlier woks. This novel is a pandemic story, and it concerns the arrival of the Clay’s Ark organism which will eventually impact the story in “Patternmaster”.
All of Butler’s novels include a high level of body horror, violence, and sexuality, but setting these motifs in the context of a brain-altering disease ratchets up the level of discomfort for the reader. Much like the real-life Cordyceps and Leucochloridium organisms, Clay’s Ark microbes change the behavior of their hosts in order to spread the disease. This leads to a conflict between the behaviors mandated by the disease and the “free will” of the infected characters.
As always, Butler’s vision of a post-apocalyptic United States is horrifyingly rooted in reality, with a focus on income inequality, climate change, and a failure of the social contract that resonates deeply despite the fact that this novel was published in the 1980s.
Terrifying and timely, highly recommended for fans of dystopian horror with strong stomachs.
All of Butler’s novels include a high level of body horror, violence, and sexuality, but setting these motifs in the context of a brain-altering disease ratchets up the level of discomfort for the reader. Much like the real-life Cordyceps and Leucochloridium organisms, Clay’s Ark microbes change the behavior of their hosts in order to spread the disease. This leads to a conflict between the behaviors mandated by the disease and the “free will” of the infected characters.
As always, Butler’s vision of a post-apocalyptic United States is horrifyingly rooted in reality, with a focus on income inequality, climate change, and a failure of the social contract that resonates deeply despite the fact that this novel was published in the 1980s.
Terrifying and timely, highly recommended for fans of dystopian horror with strong stomachs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Torture, Rape, Incest, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Terminal illness, Murder, and Medical content
Minor: Racism