ABANDONED. Sci-fi/fantasy about a woman who can change into a man

[Elizabeth]

Read this book in the 90's may be as old as the 70's tho.
Book about a dystopian future and the MC is a genetic experiment that can shift back and forth from woman to man using hypnosis.
He/she goes out into the world as a man and spreads his seed around the various towns and villages.
As a female she raises her own children/genetic experiments in the lab she was grown/born in.
Her children are able to shift at will and into other animals as well as change sex. This frightens and angers her.
I never finished it. It was a library book and I couldn't remember the name in order to get it again.
The cover had like half a butterfly on it (i think) and the title may have had something to do with butterflies or metamorphosis.

[Phil]

Cannot wait to hear the answer. Wish I had one for you!

[Elizabeth]

Bump for finding it.
Really want to finish reading it

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Morphodite series possibly? It was a trilogy and I think (but am not positive, since I didn't read it, just the first 2) that you are describing the third book.

[Elizabeth]

Not the morphodite although it does seem to have some similarities. Thanks though.

[Elizabeth]

I remember that while he/she could only go back and forth from man to woman and that had to be hypnotically induced from a computer (may have been AI) the children could shapeshift into other animals as well as humans.
I think towards the end it came out that she also had that same ability but was psychologically blocked due to her upbringing.
I also think the title was one word.
Hoping someone can help

[Michele]

one of Octavia Butler's books, perhaps (sorry, am on phone and can't do links)? kindred maybe

[Sue]

I thought Octavia Butler too, but possibly one of the Patternist series.

[Kris]

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - Michele's suggestion

Patternist series by Octavia E. Butler - Sue's suggestion - www.goodreads.com/series/55489-patter...

[Elizabeth]

No, I thought about Octavia Butler as I have read some of her books, but it's not her. I think this was a one off for the author, I had never heard of the author when I picked it up in the library. What's funny is that tho I can't remember the book, I know exactly where it was on the library shelves. It was in Sci-Fi/Fantasy near the end of the alphabet after S. If that helps any. Also I am pretty sure the cover was grey.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Elizabeth wrote: "I know exactly where it was on the library shelves."

Same.

I usually include a little bit on both ways, just in case I missed it by a bit. That helps narrow down the author's last name. I'd edit the first post to include this tidbit. Do you know the range? S-U? S-W? S-Z?

[Elizabeth]

The author was between s and z. I think it was v or w but not sure. I think the title was something like Chrysalis.

[Blue]

I remember this book but cannot remember the author or title either.

Now I too want to know what book this is.

[Elizabeth]

Blue wrote: "I remember this book but cannot remember the author or title either.

Now I too want to know what book this is."

@ Blue, do you have any additional details to add to mine? might help someone else remember author/title.

Thanx

[Blue]

Unfortunately no I don't. Everything you mentioned is what I can remember.

Other than I think the butterfly might have been purple in colour on the cover?

[Blue]

bump

[Ayshe]

The Silent City maybe? The second book's cover:In the Mother's Land may be the one you're remembering. I found it on this "Gender Change Fiction" list: https://www.datapacrat.com/Art/Fictio...

[Rainbowheart]

Still looking, Elizabeth?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Elizabeth (OP) was last active on the site in November 2021.