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Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler
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Patternmaster (edition 1979)

by Octavia E. Butler

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1,1152417,881 (3.68)57
In the far future, the human race is divided into two groups striving for power. The Patternmaster rules over all, the leader of the telepathic Patternist race whose thoughts can destroy or heal at his whim. The only threat to his power are the Clayarks, mutant humans created by an alien pandemic, who now live either enslaved by the Patternists or in the wild. Coransee, son of the ruling Patternmaster, wants the throne and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means venturing into the wild mutant-infested hills to destroy a young apprentice - his equal and his brother.… (more)
Member:stephiewonder
Title:Patternmaster
Authors:Octavia E. Butler
Info:Avon Books (Mm) (1979), Edition: First Thus, Paperback, 160 pages
Collections:Your library
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Tags:sci-fi

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Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler

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» See also 57 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 24 (next | show all)
Reading the conclusion and understanding the publication order of the series makes a lot of things clearer. The strange transformation of Anyanwu into Emma, the vague reference to Doro here, the unspecified nature of the Clayarks. I think the effect is still somewhat diminished, nevertheless; the series feels like it moves in the wrong direction. Wild Seed is an epic generational tale, Patternmaster instead is merely a vignette into the conflict and society that we expect to have been built up. It is fun to see how the powers shape the society but nevertheless seems somehow disappointing after all of the build-up. There is a balance between theme and worldbuilding, and the latter felt a little lacking. ( )
  Zedseayou | Jan 30, 2024 |
Now that I've read the whole series, I understand how it all leads up to this book. I had a little trouble getting into this book at first, because I wasn't a fan of how much the hierarchical society restricted things compared to the end of Mind of My Mind. I loved the character of Amber, and am impressed that Butler included a bisexual character and someone who completely accepted her queerness back in 1976. I kept rooting for Teray, even though it frequently felt hopless.

Overall, a great series to read. ( )
  BarnesBookshelf | Feb 23, 2023 |
Gave up on it. The world was just too bleak and none of the characters grabbed me. ( )
  bjsikes | Jan 30, 2023 |
This is the fourth book in the chronology of the Patternist series, though it was written first and then the history filled in later (an interesting choice). I read them in chronological order, thankfully, as this would be hard to digest without the backstory.

The story is of Teray, a new graduate of whatever passes for school in the Patternist community, and follows him as he heads to the house he has signed on to as an apprentice. The story takes place many generations after the formation of the Patternists, told in Mind of My Mind. Earth is basically split between the Patternists, telepathically connected super-humans formed as the result of a careful breeding program described in previous books, and Clayarks, human-alien hybrids whose origin story is told in Clay's Ark. Normal humans, or "mutes", are controlled by the Patternists through their telepathic abilities- if they come in contact with Clayarks they will be infected and turn into one of them.

Teray is essentially kidnapped by Coransee, a powerful Patternist lord and, it turns out, Teray's brother and the son of the current Patternmaster, who is ill and close to death. He is concerned that Teray will be a threat to him as he tries to take over the Pattern after the current Patternist's death. I won't spoil more of the plot.

Butler's writing is easy to read and gripping. The book is short. Butler is generally seen as a giant in science fiction, with stories characterized by metaphors to racial issues (the author was African American). But I didn't really see it in this book- we see the Patternists society as pretty ruthless, with power valued above all. There's no character in the book representing any kind of critique of the society, just a power struggle within it.

Enjoyable overall anyway, glad I read the series. ( )
  DanTarlin | Oct 14, 2022 |
I actually started with this book first, until I realized it was meant to be the last. I understood what was going on, but the other books really help develop the overall ideas. Slavery. It's a bad bad thing. Would you kill to survive? Sometimes you don't have a choice. But the choice to enslave others is a theme running throughout the books. It's bad. Human nature being what it is, cannot resist the temptation to control others if it can. ( )
  billycongo | Jul 22, 2020 |
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» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Butler, Octavia E.primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Caldwell, ClydeCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Edwards, LesCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Palencar, John JudeCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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In the far future, the human race is divided into two groups striving for power. The Patternmaster rules over all, the leader of the telepathic Patternist race whose thoughts can destroy or heal at his whim. The only threat to his power are the Clayarks, mutant humans created by an alien pandemic, who now live either enslaved by the Patternists or in the wild. Coransee, son of the ruling Patternmaster, wants the throne and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means venturing into the wild mutant-infested hills to destroy a young apprentice - his equal and his brother.

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"The combined mind-force of a telepathic race, Patternist thoughts can destroy, heal, rule. For the strongest mind commands the entire Pattern and all within it. Now the son of the Patternmaster craves this ultimate power. He has murdered or enslaved every threat to his ambition—except one. In the wild, mutant-infested hills, a young apprentice must be hunted down and destroyed because he is the tyrant's equal...and the Patternmaster's other son."
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