In this second installment of Octavia Butler's Patternmaster/Patternist series (but written second after 1976's Patternmaster (#3 in the series)), we see that Doro's breeding/inbreeding program has continued, and his efforts are now focused on his daughter Mary, a biracial woman from a poor neighborhood whose telepathic ability surpasses even Doro's expectations. Doro has Mary wed Karl Larkin*, another telepath, whose abilities are strong, but don't quite equal Mary's. (*I'd be curious to know if there is any significance to Larkin being both this character's last name and the protagonist's daughter in Parable of the Talents.

After enjoying Wild Seed, I admit that the jump in time left me a bit disappointed because I really wanted to continue the story of Anyanwu and Doro, and while the former is present in this book, her story is no longer centered. However, there is a nice parallelism in how Mary gains the upper hand (NOT with the same ramifications) as Anyanwu does in the first book. Anyanwu compromised and interrogated Doro's status as the antagonist at times, and that happens less in Mind of My Mind, although the characters are have the trademark multidimensionality that Butler did so well. We briefly meet one of the characters who is a significant reference in the next book in the series, Clay's Ark, which I've already read.

Robin Miles's performance offers a certain even-handedness that serves the narrative well, as well as the characters of Mary and Doro. There were times where things felt a little too flat, but also underscored the amount of mind control happening at any given moment.

Overall it is a worthy sequel to Wild Seed and while I have not read the entire series, I think it is likely an important "origin story" that explains the "Patternists" who are one of the major groups featured in Patternmaster, the last book chronologically (though published first). ( )

Thought provoking, so current and fresh despite being written in 1970s ( )

I'm kind of sad that Anwanyu/Emma wasn't more included in this story and that she kind of seemed like a defeated afterthought but as I think about it I wonder if that was the point?

I really love how Butler continuously discusses family dynamics in really brilliant ways. Always with the themes of power, control, coercion and eventual loving defeat. I don't think any other writer writes family so perfectly and honestly.

I read this book years ago for a class, but it was interesting to read it again as I work my way through the Patternist series. There were several things I forgot, like the fact that the story is told from more than one pov. I liked it just as much as I did before, especially the growth that Mary has. I'm excited to see what new topics and perspectives thr next book brings. ( )

Slow start but fantastic ending ( )