reviews
Jun 16, 2007
Shane
rated it: 
So I finally finished the patternmaster series. Not really a series, as there's no big finale but all the books are linked. I have heard that Butler didn't like this book and didn't want it to be printed again. I'm not sure why.
The only problem I had with it was the changing narrator. She went from 1st person with a human, to 1st person with an alien, and then to 3rd person. It was a bit jarring at times. Sometimes she would label the chapter with the narrators name but then sh More...
The only problem I had with it was the changing narrator. She went from 1st person with a human, to 1st person with an alien, and then to 3rd person. It was a bit jarring at times. Sometimes she would label the chapter with the narrators name but then sh More...
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Jun 08, 2009
Lawana
rated it: 
Wow, I didn't know this book existed, and then it was virtually impossible to find a copy without paying $100 or more. I finally got it through ILL from UCLA. It was so worth the trouble. I enjoyed evey page. It tied in nicely with Patternmaster and Clay's Ark.
I felt the main character's angst. Finally fitting in. Finding love and peace. Being an individual. Hard choices. Loyalties divided.
I felt the main character's angst. Finally fitting in. Finding love and peace. Being an individual. Hard choices. Loyalties divided.
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Jan 04, 2008
Cindywho
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 04, 2010
Meghan
rated it:
Survivor lies tangential to the rest of the Patternist books, which I recently read in internal chronological order. When you tease them back into published order, with Patternmaster being published first, all the subsequently-published Patternists books exist to explain it.
Survivor isn't as weird as Patternmaster, as promising as Mind of My Mind, as twisted as Clay's Ark or as brilliant as Wild Seed, so I suppose that in that way it is also the odd book out of the Patternist cycle, More...
Survivor isn't as weird as Patternmaster, as promising as Mind of My Mind, as twisted as Clay's Ark or as brilliant as Wild Seed, so I suppose that in that way it is also the odd book out of the Patternist cycle, More...
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Apr 23, 2008
Rob
rated it:
As always, Butler's character-driven plotting and alien-while-still-poignantly-human worlds keep me hooked. This is a pleasant read, full of thought provoking social commentary and plain old-fashioned awe. Plus references to her earlier work, Clay's Ark.
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Mar 22, 2009
Kim
rated it:
This book is in the Patternist series, chronologically fourth, but has very little in common with the others. A group of humans has left Earth in an attempt to escape the Clayark disease, but have arrived on a new planet only to find themselves smack dab in the middle of alien clan wars. This is a story of how intolerance and prejudice will bring a people down while acceptance of differences can lead to strength and happiness. As always, Butler is the master of complex relationships and alien
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Dec 17, 2007
Marsha
rated it:
I'm a bit addicted to Octavia lately. Sci fi on the dark side, but not hopelessly grim.
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Aug 04, 2009
Sandi
rated it:
I had my first encounter with Octavia Butler last March when I read Wild Seed, the first book in the Patternist series. I was completely blown away by her storytelling and her imagination. I promptly went out and purchased the omnibus version of the series, Seed to Harvest. I thoroughly enjoyed all the books. Somewhere along the way, I learned that there was one book in the series that had been left out of the collection, Survivor. Butler hated the book so much, she never allowed it to be r
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Aug 08, 2011
Malika
rated it:
OK, now that I have read the entire Patternmaster Series, I have learned the Octavia's books don't always run end-to-end. There are large gaps of time between, almost as if because of "that" act, the conditions were set for "this" to happen now.
I really enjoyed with book, and was compelled by the connection between Diut and Alanna. But I'm troubled by the beating of women that is found in the Patternmaster Series.
I really enjoyed with book, and was compelled by the connection between Diut and Alanna. But I'm troubled by the beating of women that is found in the Patternmaster Series.
Jan 10, 2009
Cindy
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 21, 2011
Tim
rated it:
It was kind of weird reading this book after reading about Octavia Butler's ultimate dislike for this novel. While I was enjoying the story, I kept thinking about why she later wished she hadn't published it. I could see flaws in it, but it's no more flawed than many sci fi stories. So the human-alien interaction isn't believable--ever heard of Jandar of Callisto or John Carter of Mars? Overall, I'd have to say it's a worthwhile read... but definitely not among the best of Ms. Butler's works
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Aug 21, 2008
Judy
rated it: 
This book was awful by OEB's standards. It was still better than a lot of sci-fi out there, but that's not saying much. Luckily, it was a very early novel and she clearly improved her technique later on. There were some really interesting ideas and, as always, she made parallels to social issues we deal with today. There was so much confusing lingo that wasn't explained in a timely manner that it took the fun out of the story. That's another thing: there was no fun in the story--no beauty,
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Nov 26, 2011
Not-just-yeti
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Feb 01, 2010
Gewbook
rated it:
It was good. I don't know that it was worth disowning, but I didn't write it. It was very much a re-examination of the themes from Seed to Harvest and I think my saturation of those themes may account for the 3 star rating.
Feb 27, 2010
King Monkey
rated it:
This was on my unread/unloved/on-the-way-to-the-charity-shop pile for ages, when I picked it up on a whim and was hooked straight away.
An excellent examination of what it means to be the 'other' in a variety of situations, and how to survive them.
An excellent examination of what it means to be the 'other' in a variety of situations, and how to survive them.
Jan 18, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
Too short and not developed enough ,but a good sci fi read-- focuses on religion and prejudice, as well as culture and family.
Sep 11, 2008
Jodi
rated it:
One of Octavia Butler's earlier novels. After reading Survivor I could see how Butler developed some of her ideas for her later novels, like Lilith's Brood.
Jul 13, 2008
Blackbook
rated it: 
Octavia Butler's books were companions when I was a young woman. We hitchhiked across the country along with Dorothy L. Sayers, Zora Neale Hurston, Honore de Balzac, and Thomas Mann.
Apr 14, 2008
See http://www.reason.com/news/show/36688.ht... for an obituary of Octavia E. Butler by my friend Amy Sturgis.
Sep 16, 2008
Warner
rated it:
A different kind of sci-fi. This takes place in the 2030's.And it seems more like our own time period.
Feb 11, 2012
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