‘Patternmaster’ by Octavia E. Butler

When I meet a woman who attracts me, I prefer women. When I meet a man who attracts me, I prefer men.

‘Patternmaster’ by Octavia E. Butler is the final book in her Patternist series but also works as a standalone novel. Set some hundred years in the future, the story takes place in a world divided into three groups: Patternists, who are telepaths connected to each other through the pattern; Clayarks, who are animal-like descendants of humans carrying a highly infectious disease; and mutes, who are humans without telepathic abilities.

In this world, Teray leaves school to become an apprentice to Housemaster Joachim. He wants to learn more so that he can become a Housemaster too. However, on his first day out of school, Teray learns that he is the son of the Patternmaster—the most powerful telepath—and that his older brother, Coransee, will stop at nothing to prevent him from becoming the next Patternmaster. Coransee has decided that this position is reserved for him.

Although the book was published in 1976 (it was the first in the series but the last chronologically), Butler still created a beautiful queer character.

The entire series is worth your time! Personally, I liked Clay's Ark the least, but that has nothing to do with the excellent writing. (I just don't enjoy alien stories.)

CW: systems of domination and control, power imbalance and manipulation, sexual coercion, ableism, violence and death, eugenics themes