January Books 2012

Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler - This is a good book, but it's not my favorite in Butler's Patternist  series.  It's the semi-typical story about a hero on a journey to prove his manhood, which is a little unusual for Butler.  But then again, this was her first novel.  Butler is a fabulous character writer and I did love her character, Amber.  I especially appreciated the fact that Amber is bisexual.  It is so refreshing to read a science fiction book with a bisexual female character and not feel like the reason for her addition is to please the minds of men.  It was also refreshing that Amber was the one to teach Teray how to defend himself.  I love strong, complex female characters and Butler is the best author I know that provides them.  I might just have to reread some of her other novels for more!