This is a collection of four novels that make up Butler’s Patternist series: Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay’s Ark and Patternmaster. I found this to be the weakest of Butler’s works yet. The third in the series, set in a near-future similar to that of Parable of the Sower, was my favorite of the lot: dark, violent and ultimately rather hopeless. Still, none of the novels felt really complete or satisfying. It was clear that Butler was still honing her chops with these early efforts. All that being said, even her mediocre books are fast and entertaining reads.

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