Patternmaster

Last updated
Patternmaster
PatternmasterNovel.jpg
First edition
Author Octavia Butler
Cover artistSteve Quay and Tim Quay
Series Patternist
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date
July 1976
Pages186
ISBN 0-385-12197-0
Followed by Mind of My Mind  

Patternmaster (1976) is a science fiction novel by American author Octavia E. Butler. Patternmaster, the first book to be published but the last in the series' internal chronology, depicts a distant future where the human race has been sharply divided into the dominant Patternists, their enemies the "diseased" and animalistic Clayarks, and the enslaved human mutes. The Patternists, bred for intelligence and psychic abilities, are networked telepaths. They are ruled by the most powerful telepath, known as the Patternmaster. Patternmaster tells the coming-of-age story of Teray, a young Patternist who learns he is a son of the Patternmaster. Teray fights for position within Patternist society and eventually for the role of Patternmaster.

Contents

Plot

The novel begins with the Patternmaster, Rayal, in bed with Jansee, his lead wife and sister. For a year, there have been no major attacks from the "Clayarks"; mutated humans the Patternists have been in constant battle against. Rayal and Jansee have two sons, Teray, the youngest, who is away at Redhill School, and Coransee. Patternists can connect with their children telepathically, and Jansee is concerned about her sons. To check on them, she thinks of sending a 'mute', a human without paranormal powers. Rayal disagrees, leading the couple to argue. Aside from Jansee, Rayal killed all of his siblings to become Patternmaster, and to lead the telepathic race through the powerful connections between the Patternists, known as the Pattern. The peaceful year ends as the Clayarks attack the Patternists. They shoot and kill Jansee and greatly injure Rayal, who then has to use his powers to save his own life instead of killing the Clayarks.

Many years later, Teray leaves the Redhill School with his wife, Iray. As the couple is leaving, they encounter two Patternists; Joachim, a Housemaster whom Teray is apprenticed to, and Jer, an outsider. The two inform Teray of the recent Clayark raid, and tell him of their plans to visit Coransee on their way to Joachim's house. Coransee challenges Teray and tries to read his thoughts. Although apprentices cannot legally be traded, Coransee negotiates with Joachim to trade the talented artist Laro, for Teray—who is revealed to be Coransee's brother. At dinner, the couple learns that the deal has been successful and that Teray will be an outsider. Outsiders cannot be married or have children and do not control where they live. Joachim promises to try to fix the situation.

After Joachim leaves, Coransee shows up at Teray and Iray's door, and telepathically fights and nearly kills Teray. Coransee informs him that they are full brothers and asks him, he being his only threat as Patternmaster, if he wants to control the Pattern. Teray only wants his freedom and his own House. Teray refuses Coransee's deal, because he wishes to implant controls on him, and he's made an outsider in charge of the mutes. Iray is no longer Teray's wife and helps him by becoming part of Coransee's household. Teray meets a mute woman named Suliana, badly beaten by an outsider named Jason, and calls in the resident healer, Amber, to heal her injuries. Teray plans to run away by educating himself about relevant terrains. Teray encounters a Clayark, but allows him to live and leave. Joachim brings a journeyman named Michael and others to Coransee's House to investigate two charges against him in an attempt to help Teray escape. Coransee escapes the charges by turning things around on Joachim, who could be charged for illegally trading an apprentice. Teray and Amber make plans to escape to Forsyth, where Michael has offered him sanctuary.

Teray tells Iray of his plans, but she is now committed to Coransee and cannot leave. Teray and Amber leave, and she teaches him a quicker way to kill the Clayarks. Teray asks Amber to be his lead when he has his own House, but she declines, wanting to have her own House. Coransee and a party of ten find the pair. Coransee wants to take Teray to Forsyth to be judged by Rayal. On their travels, Teray and Amber discover that she is pregnant with his child, and Coransee tries to force them to break their link. Coransee and Teray telepathically fight again, and because Coransee lowers his defenses, Teray kills him. Teray links with the other Patternists while preparing to lead them to the Patternmaster's House. After they kill thousands of Clayarks, Teray finds Rayal in the Pattern. Rayal informs Teray that he has been waiting for him for years and has planned for Teray to succeed him, because of his healer skills.

Themes

Class division and society

Butler creates a society in the Pattern where classes are distinctly ordered and defined. In the highest tier of society, are the Patternists headed by the Patternmaster, Rayal. Below the Patternmaster are Housemasters who control houses, or small communities. Within the houses, there are apprentices. Apprentices are Housemasters in training and have more freedom and power than lowlier people in the house. Outsiders are generally not allowed to become Housemasters and are usually relegated to servants and sometimes slaves. The Patternmaster's House includes journeymen who share equivalence with officials, but have limited power. Independents like the character Amber function outside the House and work in any House they choose.

Others like mutes have no power or status in society. They serve as workers and caregivers to Patternists. However, Patternists and mutes share a commonality: they fear Clayarks, who are horribly mutated humans who have human heads, but catlike animal bodies. Clayark society's sole focus is ensuring that their community has enough food and supporting the increasing numbers in their community. This is the only point of interest that Patternists and mutes share in trying to cripple their enemies. [1]

Power and responsibility

In the Pattern community, Patternists have more power than the mutes. There is also a hierarchy within the Patternist community. The Patternmaster, Rayal, holds the most power as he controls the Pattern. He allows his sons to quarrel in a power struggle, hoping that his son Teray will emerge victorious. Coransee uses his strengths to become Housemaster and self-proclaims himself as rightful heir. Coransee likes power, but does not want the responsibility. As a contrast, Butler presents Amber who seeks a balance between the two. In her profession as a healer, she sees qualities in power and responsibility. Teray becomes a muteherd (the role of directing the mutes of a House) and he understands that although his power in the household is small, he takes his responsibility seriously. Teray's strength along with his greater sense of responsibility than his brother, makes him the likelier and worthier candidate to become the Patternmaster, which he eventually accomplishes. [1]

Communication and community versus the individual

The reason that Patternists have control over mutes is their ability to mentally communicate with other Patternists. A Patternist's position in society is often linked to how strong they are able to telepathically connect with other characters. Characters like Amber and Teray have better communication skills because of their empathy and ability to heal. Butler also makes the distinction of the strength of the community over the individual in the contrast of the characters Joachim and Coransee. Coransee does not seek mental connections with others in the community unless seeking an opportunity to control others; however, Joachim values other Patternists in the community. Coransee's choice of individualism makes him quite a powerful character, but his choice to not seek connections with the community ultimately costs him the role as the Patternmaster. The role of Patternmaster is ultimately given to Teray because he accepts and understands the value of community and is able to triumph as Patternmaster. [1]

Reception

Patternmaster was generally well received by critics. Publishers Weekly noted, "The author carefully spells out the ground of her unique world, and the ensuing story of live, chase and combat is consistently attention-holding." [2] A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called the novel, "fine, old-fashioned [science fiction]," and that it represents "escape fiction in the best Patterned tradition." [3]

Some say the Patternmaster as one of the weaker novels in the series because of Butler's inexperience. T.G. Wagner from SF Reviews.net says that "Butler has yet to get a handle on how best to deliver the subtextual social commentary that would give the series its depth." [4] In 1992, Orson Scott Card rejects Patternmaster as ‘‘more magic romance than hard science fiction," but also praises her work for making the characters realistic and "touching on issues of freedom and slavery, power and responsibility that have made all her writings such vibrant studies of the ethics of power and submission." [5]

Related Research Articles

Octavia E. Butler American science fiction writer

Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction author and a multiple recipient of the Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, Butler became the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.

<i>Sign of the Unicorn</i>

Sign of the Unicorn is a fantasy novel by American writer Roger Zelazny, the third book in the Chronicles of Amber series. It was first published in serial format in Galaxy Science Fiction.

The Amtrak Wars is a series of novels written by British author Patrick Tilley. The series is a post-apocalyptic science fiction with some fantasy elements such as the existence of magic. Six novels and an illustrated companion guidebook were published between 1983 and 1990, with additional books planned but never completed. The books have been optioned by an Australian production company with the intent of turning them into a series of feature films.

<i>Slan</i> 1940 novel by A. E. van Vogt

Slan is a science fiction novel by American-Canadian writer A. E. van Vogt, as well as the name of the fictional race of superbeings featured in the novel. The novel was originally serialized in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. It was subsequently published in hardcover in 1946 by Arkham House, in an edition of 4,051 copies. In 2016, Slan was awarded the Retro-Hugo Award for Best Novel for 1941.

<i>No Escape</i> (1994 film) 1994 film

No Escape, released in some countries as Escape from Absolom and Absolom 2022, is a 1994 American science fiction action film directed by Martin Campbell. It stars Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen, Stuart Wilson, Kevin Dillon, Michael Lerner and Ernie Hudson. It was based on the 1987 novel The Penal Colony by Richard Herley. In a dystopian future, a former Reconnaissance Marine serves life imprisonment on an island inhabited by savage and cannibalistic prisoners.

In The Chronicles of Amber series of fantasy novels, The Pattern is an inscribed labyrinth which gives the multiverse its order. It granted characters walking through it "the ability to access a multitude of compossible worlds". Related to it is the Logrus, a shifting, three-dimensional maze which represents the forces of Chaos in the multiverse.

<i>Parable of the Sower</i> (novel) 1993 novel by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower is a 1993 science fiction novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler. It is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel that provides commentary on climate change and social inequality. The novel follows Lauren Olamina, a young woman who can feel the pain of others and becomes displaced from her home. Several characters from various walks of life join her on her journey north and learn of a religion she has crafted titled Earthseed. In this religion, the destiny for believers is to inhabit other planets. Parable of the Sower was the winner of multiple awards, including the 1994 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and has been adapted into a concert and a graphic novel. Parable of the Sower has influenced music and essays on social justice.

<i>Parable of the Talents</i> (novel) 1998 novel by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Talents is a science fiction novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler, published in 1998. It is the second in a series of two, a sequel to Parable of the Sower. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

<i>Liliths Brood</i>

Lilith's Brood is a collection of three works by Octavia E. Butler. The three volumes of this science fiction series were previously collected in the now out-of-print volume Xenogenesis. The collection was first published under the current title of Lilith's Brood in 2000.

<i>Patternist</i> series

The Patternist series is a group of science fiction novels by Octavia E. Butler that detail a secret history continuing from the Ancient Egyptian period to the far future that involves telepathic mind control and an extraterrestrial plague. A profile of Butler in Black Women in America notes that the themes of the series include "racial and gender-based animosity, the ethical implications of biological engineering, the question of what it means to be human, ethical and unethical uses of power, and how the assumption of power changes people."

<i>Kindred</i> (novel) 1979 novel by Octavia Butler

Kindred is a novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler that incorporates time travel and is modeled on slave narratives. First published in 1979, it is still widely popular. It has been frequently chosen as a text for community-wide reading programs and book organizations, as well as being a common choice for high school and college courses.

<i>Dzur</i> (novel) 2007 novel in the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust

Dzur is a fantasy novel by American writer Steven Brust, the tenth book of the Vlad Taltos series, originally published in 2006 by Tor Books. It takes place immediately after Issola, the previous novel. The novel was originally intended to be called Tiassa, after another Dragaeran House. The book entered The New York Times Bestseller list for Hardcover Fiction on August 22, 2006.

<i>Sole Survivor</i> (novel)

Sole Survivor is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, published in 1997. It is about a woman named Rose, who is being pursued by a company called Teknologik. It was adapted into the 2000 film Sole Survivor.

<i>Deceit</i> (novel) 1993 novel by Peter Darvill-Evans

Deceit is an original novel written by Peter Darvill-Evans and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Bernice. Also included is Doctor Who Magazine comic character Abslom Daak, in his first appearance outside DWM. A prelude to the novel, also penned by Darvill-Evans, appeared in Doctor Who Magazine #198.

<i>The Singer of All Songs</i>

The Singer of All Songs is the first novel in the Chanters of Tremaris trilogy by Kate Constable.

<i>Fledgling</i> (novel) 2005 novel by Octavia E. Butler

Fledgling is a science fiction vampire novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler, published in 2005.

<i>Survivor</i> (Octavia Butler novel) 1978 novel by Octavia E. Butler

Survivor is a science fiction novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler. First published in 1978 as part of Butler's "Patternist series", Survivor is the only one of Butler's early novels not to be reprinted after its initial editions. Butler expressed dislike for the work, referring to it as "my Star Trek novel."

<i>Wild Seed</i> (novel) 1980 science fiction novel by Octavia Butler

Wild Seed is a science fiction novel by American writer Octavia Butler. Although published in 1980 as the fourth book of the Patternist series, it is the earliest book in the chronology of the Patternist world. The other books in the series are, in order within the Patternist chronology: Mind of My Mind (1977), Clay's Ark (1984), Survivor (1978), and Patternmaster (1976).

<i>Mind of My Mind</i> 1977 novel by Octavia E. Butler

Mind of My Mind (1977) is a science fiction novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler. Mind of My Mind is the sequel to Butler's novel Patternmaster, and is the second novel in the Patternist series.

"Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand" is a science fiction short story by Vonda N. McIntyre. First published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact in October 1973, it was anthologized multiple times, and also formed the first chapter of McIntyre's 1978 novel Dreamsnake. Set after a nuclear holocaust, "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand" tells of Snake, a healer who uses the venom of three genetically engineered snakes to heal, and follows her effort to heal a nomad boy of a tumor. The story won the Nebula Award for Best Novelette in 1974. It was also nominated for the Hugo Award in the same category, and for the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction. Scholar Anne Hudson Jones called it a powerful story, and stated that its themes were "mythic and universal".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Constantakis, Sara (2010). "Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler". Novels for Students. Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Novels Volume 34 Volume 34. Detroit, Mich.: Gale. ISBN   978-1-414-44172-6. ISSN   1094-3552. OCLC   630110476.
  2. ↑ "Patternmaster". Publishers Weekly . 209 (24): 104. 14 June 1976.
  3. ↑ "Patternmaster". Kirkus Reviews . XLIV (10): 612. 15 May 1976.
  4. ↑ Wagner, Thomas M. (2003). "Patternmaster". SF Reviews. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Card, Orson Scott (January 1992). "Patternmaster and Survivor". Fantasy & Science Fiction: 52–54.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.