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Scavenger #2
Pattern
K.J. Parker’s SHADOW began a ground-breaking new series that takes fantasy into remarkable new territory. Now, with PATTERN, the extraordinary story of Poldarn takes a new shape.
In a world he does not know, Poldarn’s future is uncertain. Pursued by invisible enemies, and haunted by the demons of his past, nobody can be trusted - not even himself, it seems. Attempting to piece together his own life from whatever scattered fragments he can find and dreams that hide as much as they reveal has brought him nothing but trouble. Now all he craves is peace. But will he find it on the island he believes to be his childhood home? Or will this place hold more terrors for him to confront?
In a world he does not know, Poldarn’s future is uncertain. Pursued by invisible enemies, and haunted by the demons of his past, nobody can be trusted - not even himself, it seems. Attempting to piece together his own life from whatever scattered fragments he can find and dreams that hide as much as they reveal has brought him nothing but trouble. Now all he craves is peace. But will he find it on the island he believes to be his childhood home? Or will this place hold more terrors for him to confront?
577 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2002
49 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Parker
134 books1,692 followersK.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 2, 2022
In the last volume, 'Poldarn', the amnesiac main protagonist of the series returns to his birthplace, albeit one he does not remember. Turns out the dreaded 'raiders' or 'pirates'-- the scourge of the Empire, come from an island far off the coast of the Empire. Originally they were 'rebels' of a sort, desiring to break their homelands from the Empire, but the revolution failed and they were cast off in flotilla of boats; ostracized if you will. They did (finally) end up on the island, and after a few generations or so, were able to return to the Empire as raiders, and this has been going on for generations.
The raiders/islanders are basically farmers, however, living in large homesteads in something of a primitive communist lifestyle. While we do have various heads of each household, they are more leaders by proxy than anything else. Parker plays with this, giving the farmers a sort of telepathy, where they can read each other and also always know what needs to be done around the farm. The entire volume here is on the island and primarily deals with the day to day existence there. I can definitely see why some may find this quite boring, but I loved the details! How they managed to forge various farm implements is perhaps the highlight here, and Parker really did his homework here.
While there are some reveals here regarding Poldarn's past, via dreams/flashbacks from his past and future, the 20 odd years between when Poldarn left the island (he kinda needed to; we find out why at the very end here) and when he returned are still basically blank; we know, however, that he led a mercenary company in the Empire and married the daughter of the Emperor's cousin or something. Clearly, the last volume will either fill in the blanks or take us further!
In Pattern, Parker gives us a detailed look at something akin to a viking culture, but Poldarn just does not seem to fit; he is like a round peg in a square hole. Unlike the others in his grandfather's homestead, he lacks the minor telepathy that allows them to communicate without spelling everything out. He was 'destined' to be a blacksmith (all the household leaders are one) before his father died while raiding the empire; indeed, his mother was his father's rape victim who ended up killing him (his grandfather came back for the baby the following year's raids. So, Poldarn mopes around and bangs some metal around, but he feels rather useless all in all. Yet, somethings start to come back, like his ability to forge steel, and glimpses of his past life here. Finally, just when things seem to be settling in, Poldarn with his new, young wife and a homestead of his own, the dormant volcano decides to blow and things get ugly...
Pattern is another ambitious work by Parker, with metaphor wrapped around metaphor. This is more of a mind bender than an action novel for sure, and again, if you are expecting big battles and such, you will be disappointed. Yet, I found this much more philosophical than his other works and not just in an existentialist way. Yes, we have that-- are we 'tainted' from birth comes up again and again for example-- but really more about what it means to live in a tight knit community, a self-sufficient one, lacking violence for the most part. Really looking forward to the conclusion, but I may need a break first from Parker's mind fuckery. 4.5 stars!!
The raiders/islanders are basically farmers, however, living in large homesteads in something of a primitive communist lifestyle. While we do have various heads of each household, they are more leaders by proxy than anything else. Parker plays with this, giving the farmers a sort of telepathy, where they can read each other and also always know what needs to be done around the farm. The entire volume here is on the island and primarily deals with the day to day existence there. I can definitely see why some may find this quite boring, but I loved the details! How they managed to forge various farm implements is perhaps the highlight here, and Parker really did his homework here.
While there are some reveals here regarding Poldarn's past, via dreams/flashbacks from his past and future, the 20 odd years between when Poldarn left the island (he kinda needed to; we find out why at the very end here) and when he returned are still basically blank; we know, however, that he led a mercenary company in the Empire and married the daughter of the Emperor's cousin or something. Clearly, the last volume will either fill in the blanks or take us further!
In Pattern, Parker gives us a detailed look at something akin to a viking culture, but Poldarn just does not seem to fit; he is like a round peg in a square hole. Unlike the others in his grandfather's homestead, he lacks the minor telepathy that allows them to communicate without spelling everything out. He was 'destined' to be a blacksmith (all the household leaders are one) before his father died while raiding the empire; indeed, his mother was his father's rape victim who ended up killing him (his grandfather came back for the baby the following year's raids. So, Poldarn mopes around and bangs some metal around, but he feels rather useless all in all. Yet, somethings start to come back, like his ability to forge steel, and glimpses of his past life here. Finally, just when things seem to be settling in, Poldarn with his new, young wife and a homestead of his own, the dormant volcano decides to blow and things get ugly...
Pattern is another ambitious work by Parker, with metaphor wrapped around metaphor. This is more of a mind bender than an action novel for sure, and again, if you are expecting big battles and such, you will be disappointed. Yet, I found this much more philosophical than his other works and not just in an existentialist way. Yes, we have that-- are we 'tainted' from birth comes up again and again for example-- but really more about what it means to live in a tight knit community, a self-sufficient one, lacking violence for the most part. Really looking forward to the conclusion, but I may need a break first from Parker's mind fuckery. 4.5 stars!!
March 20, 2019
TL;DR: 3.5 - Good writing. Many questions from book 1 answered. Nothing much happens.
Oh, this book. This is the second book in the first trilogy I've read from my current favorite "fantasy" author, KJ Parker. First book was five stars. But maybe it should have been a standalone?
The writing, as always, is excellent. There is a single POV character, an awesome decision that would improve a great number of fantasy novels. Many, many questions from book one are answered. The group-mind thing the farmers have going on is interesting. Parker's playing with some interesting ideas. Still could make an argument that this is a non-magical world and the narrator is just batshit crazy. (Love that about some of Parker's stuff.)
But...
You know how, when you're young and your favorite celebrity crush is in a movie and you'll just happily sit there for 2-3 hours mooning at them like a dumbass? Doesn't really matter what the movie's about? I'm too old for that shit. Ten minutes in and I'm like, This is boring. Somebody needs to die.
And to be fair, a good number of people die in this book. But you won't really care. I'm more upset about all the crows he killed. They were good crows. Just trying to eat his crops, big deal. No call to go killing em all.
As I mentioned, I do like Parker's writing. And despite his crow murdering ways, I did like Poldarn. But that doesn't mean I want to follow him around the farm for 500 pages.
A lot of people grumble about Parker's long-winded digressions on technical stuff, like the blacksmithing work in this book. What the hell, people? Those weren't long-winded, and those were some of the least boring bits in this book!
There were some other disputes, but they're presented in a very non-dramatic way. Like some of the most heated arguments were about how their arguments weren't heated enough.
The ending is kind of, well... messy, but you had to see that coming.
Stuff people will have problems with besides the crow killing: there's a torture scene, and the big one: Yuck-o.
Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad, there's good here, but way too many pages. This is a fiting interlude between book one and book three, where I imagine he'll go back to the empire and end the world or become emperor or something. Who knows. But this could have been a few chapters, a novella maybe. Sure as hell not 576 pages.
Yes. I will read the third one.
Eventually...
Oh, this book. This is the second book in the first trilogy I've read from my current favorite "fantasy" author, KJ Parker. First book was five stars. But maybe it should have been a standalone?
The writing, as always, is excellent. There is a single POV character, an awesome decision that would improve a great number of fantasy novels. Many, many questions from book one are answered. The group-mind thing the farmers have going on is interesting. Parker's playing with some interesting ideas. Still could make an argument that this is a non-magical world and the narrator is just batshit crazy. (Love that about some of Parker's stuff.)
But...
You know how, when you're young and your favorite celebrity crush is in a movie and you'll just happily sit there for 2-3 hours mooning at them like a dumbass? Doesn't really matter what the movie's about? I'm too old for that shit. Ten minutes in and I'm like, This is boring. Somebody needs to die.
And to be fair, a good number of people die in this book. But you won't really care. I'm more upset about all the crows he killed. They were good crows. Just trying to eat his crops, big deal. No call to go killing em all.
As I mentioned, I do like Parker's writing. And despite his crow murdering ways, I did like Poldarn. But that doesn't mean I want to follow him around the farm for 500 pages.
A lot of people grumble about Parker's long-winded digressions on technical stuff, like the blacksmithing work in this book. What the hell, people? Those weren't long-winded, and those were some of the least boring bits in this book!
There were some other disputes, but they're presented in a very non-dramatic way. Like some of the most heated arguments were about how their arguments weren't heated enough.
The ending is kind of, well... messy, but you had to see that coming.
Stuff people will have problems with besides the crow killing: there's a torture scene, and the big one: Yuck-o.
Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad, there's good here, but way too many pages. This is a fiting interlude between book one and book three, where I imagine he'll go back to the empire and end the world or become emperor or something. Who knows. But this could have been a few chapters, a novella maybe. Sure as hell not 576 pages.
Yes. I will read the third one.
Eventually...
July 5, 2020
One of the more unusual fantasy tales I’ve read in recent years. Intriguing, complicated, mostly slow paced and, I have to agree with another GR friend’s review, “a most twisted, f****d up ending...”! Seriously weird.
In book 1 of this trilogy we’ve met our main POV, Poldarn, who’s lost his memory, almost seems to discover who he is but then realises from the bits he finds out that maybe he’s better off not knowing what/who he once was!
In this volume Poldarn has at least found his homeland, a large island, home to farmer-raiders who periodically pillage the distant Empire from which Poldarn now returns after having spent many years living there. The story is rather slow paced. Poldarn re-discovers the rather unusual people to which he belongs, their strange interactions and their routine agricultural lifestyle. As sometimes happens in a Parker novel we’re given educational, researched lessons as part of the world building, and I’ve again learnt a great deal more about metal work, farming and construction of wooden farm buildings!
There’s not too much action, despite some unexpected violence and an erupting volcano but it’s mostly farm life with Poldarn showing every sign of becoming a settled farmer and family man.
We discover more about Poldarn’s history than we’ve learnt previously, often through his dreams which could also be seen as memory returning but there’s still a lot of detail missing, and a mystical strand. And then comes a jaw dropping ending!
I’m up for the final volume. Maybe only 4* this time for one of my favourite authors. It is deep, fascinating and mysterious but perhaps this volume is just a little slower paced than I like.
In book 1 of this trilogy we’ve met our main POV, Poldarn, who’s lost his memory, almost seems to discover who he is but then realises from the bits he finds out that maybe he’s better off not knowing what/who he once was!
In this volume Poldarn has at least found his homeland, a large island, home to farmer-raiders who periodically pillage the distant Empire from which Poldarn now returns after having spent many years living there. The story is rather slow paced. Poldarn re-discovers the rather unusual people to which he belongs, their strange interactions and their routine agricultural lifestyle. As sometimes happens in a Parker novel we’re given educational, researched lessons as part of the world building, and I’ve again learnt a great deal more about metal work, farming and construction of wooden farm buildings!
There’s not too much action, despite some unexpected violence and an erupting volcano but it’s mostly farm life with Poldarn showing every sign of becoming a settled farmer and family man.
We discover more about Poldarn’s history than we’ve learnt previously, often through his dreams which could also be seen as memory returning but there’s still a lot of detail missing, and a mystical strand. And then comes a jaw dropping ending!
I’m up for the final volume. Maybe only 4* this time for one of my favourite authors. It is deep, fascinating and mysterious but perhaps this volume is just a little slower paced than I like.
September 10, 2024
Poldarn , still with no memory, finds himself taken in by a community that claims he's one of theirs. Yet, he feels that he's an outsider and doesn't really fit in as he struggles with their way of life. So, who is he? Well, by the end of the book, we do get a reveal that gives us a more fixed idea of his identity.
This was, for me, a transitional book and very much a slow burn without a great deal of action. Much of the jeopardy being provided by an active volcano.
However, K.J Parker is an engaging writer, and I still enjoyed Pattern , despite the slower tempo from the last book. The author certainly provides an alternative take on the Fantasy genre. Very much looking forward to the final volume.
This was, for me, a transitional book and very much a slow burn without a great deal of action. Much of the jeopardy being provided by an active volcano.
However, K.J Parker is an engaging writer, and I still enjoyed Pattern , despite the slower tempo from the last book. The author certainly provides an alternative take on the Fantasy genre. Very much looking forward to the final volume.
May 16, 2015
2 Stars
I only made it 12% into this one. I loved book one of the Scavenger Trilogy even though it is not an easy read. I reviewed book one before starting this one and was looking forward to it. Unfortunately this book has been way too slow for me at this time. Nothing has happened. Zero, zilch, nada...
I will make my way back to this when my attention span can handle the glacier pacing. until then...
I only made it 12% into this one. I loved book one of the Scavenger Trilogy even though it is not an easy read. I reviewed book one before starting this one and was looking forward to it. Unfortunately this book has been way too slow for me at this time. Nothing has happened. Zero, zilch, nada...
I will make my way back to this when my attention span can handle the glacier pacing. until then...
September 18, 2018
Volcanoes, blacksmithing, and dreams encompass almost 600 pages of excellence. It's a slow burn, as you might imagine, but foreshadowing and metaphor spur you on (for the puzzle's sake, if nothing else). There's a passage in this book that uses scrap iron and a forge to create one of the most beautiful metaphors of human love and loss I've ever read.
The ending is almost Hellenistically tragic, and it pays dividends for your patience. The entire trilogy can be likened to the old tragedies: a man whose intentions are innately good loses all memory of who he is, and spends his time discovering who he was and trying to redeem himself for acts he cannot even remember. Poldarn learns how much of who we are is choice, and how far intentions go when set beside results; what does it mean to change who we are, and can it even be done? What makes a good person: their intent, or their accomplishment? If intent, are we then absolved for evil results? If accomplishment, can a bad man be called good if his actions have favorable consequences, or a good man be called bad if his choices lead to disaster?
Whatever Parker's intent with the Scavenger Trilogy, the result is a fine one. Highly recommended.
The ending is almost Hellenistically tragic, and it pays dividends for your patience. The entire trilogy can be likened to the old tragedies: a man whose intentions are innately good loses all memory of who he is, and spends his time discovering who he was and trying to redeem himself for acts he cannot even remember. Poldarn learns how much of who we are is choice, and how far intentions go when set beside results; what does it mean to change who we are, and can it even be done? What makes a good person: their intent, or their accomplishment? If intent, are we then absolved for evil results? If accomplishment, can a bad man be called good if his actions have favorable consequences, or a good man be called bad if his choices lead to disaster?
Whatever Parker's intent with the Scavenger Trilogy, the result is a fine one. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2020
If I could sit and have a drink (I don’t drink but would make an exception in this case) with one author I admire, it would definitely be Parker (Holt). Hands down.
Edit 2nd read: And the award for the most twisted, fucked up ending goes to.....
Edit 2nd read: And the award for the most twisted, fucked up ending goes to.....
December 19, 2022
The whole book was actually filler!
I guess book 3 actually continues the story we started with book 1?
What a waste of time it was reading this.
I guess book 3 actually continues the story we started with book 1?
What a waste of time it was reading this.
April 26, 2020
It's funny how Parker can write nearly 600 pages of life on a farm and still make it interesting. I mean, sure, there's some background intrigue going on, but not nearly on the level of anything from, say, The Two of Swords, and while it's useful to fill in the character of Poldarn, it doesn't feel like the point of the book. Sure, it's a little slow, but knowing Parker, I knew there were bigger things at play than just a simple life on the farm, and besides, a slow burn doesn't equal boring.
A Parker novel is also all about the details. Here, we learn much about building houses, blacksmithing, and killing crows, and in true Parker style, all of those things are metaphors for the larger story. I find it brilliant, and I look forward to seeing how he pulls the end of this trilogy together.
A Parker novel is also all about the details. Here, we learn much about building houses, blacksmithing, and killing crows, and in true Parker style, all of those things are metaphors for the larger story. I find it brilliant, and I look forward to seeing how he pulls the end of this trilogy together.
May 17, 2009
Great sequel to Shadow; Poldarn back home, householder, farmer and soon to be married, and death, disaster and mayhem follows despite his best intentions; just great
December 30, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4.
So, shockingly, this dreary slog turned out to be my favorite of the entire trilogy for 3 reasons.
1) it has little to do with the plot of the series at large
2) it is reminiscent of THE HAMMER, which I loved.
3) Chapter 22 remains one of the funniest things I've read of Parker. It shows off exactly why he is one of my favorite authors. I even explained the situation to my wife and read it to her and she, too, thought it was funny. I can see how some wouldn't, but I have not stopped thinking about Parker's cart narration for a month.
So, shockingly, this dreary slog turned out to be my favorite of the entire trilogy for 3 reasons.
1) it has little to do with the plot of the series at large
2) it is reminiscent of THE HAMMER, which I loved.
3) Chapter 22 remains one of the funniest things I've read of Parker. It shows off exactly why he is one of my favorite authors. I even explained the situation to my wife and read it to her and she, too, thought it was funny. I can see how some wouldn't, but I have not stopped thinking about Parker's cart narration for a month.
July 30, 2018
I'd really liked the first book in this trilogy (Shadow), and this was was probably even better, though very different. It's very slow-paced, detailed, and focused on 'slice-of-life'. Poldarn is trying to get back to how his life used to be, despite his amnesia, and a lot of the story is the day-yo-day life and him trying to fit in with the locals. It is told so well that it doesn't feel boring, even when there's just a page of blacksmithing, or descriptions of them building a house. There are still hints at his past life, which are doled out by other people, or by his dreams/flashbacks which are suitable confusing on the first read, but begin to make sense as more is revealed.
Things are revealed that make throwaway lines in the first book have way more meaning, and there is some incredibly subtle forshadowing that was great when it paid off. My only quibble is that a lot of the characters felt very similar (although there is a very good reason for this), but it did make Poldarn stand out more.
Things are revealed that make throwaway lines in the first book have way more meaning, and there is some incredibly subtle forshadowing that was great when it paid off. My only quibble is that a lot of the characters felt very similar (although there is a very good reason for this), but it did make Poldarn stand out more.
January 9, 2013
For some reason, this series gets a lot of hate in the reviews - most of the negative reviews fixate on the "complexity" and difficulty in following the story. I'm glad I ignored the haters on this one.
My personal experience is that I read the first in the series some years ago, loved it, and stumbled upon the remaining bits in the trilogy in a used bookstore. After finishing the second, I immediately picked up the third because the series is that damn good. I picked up the necessary back story as needed and the mechanic of dreams from multiple contexts is fascinating and bot that difficult to grasp.
The humor is dark and dry, just like I like it. It reminds me of Abercrombie's work. If you liked The First Law series, you will probably dig this series as well.
My personal experience is that I read the first in the series some years ago, loved it, and stumbled upon the remaining bits in the trilogy in a used bookstore. After finishing the second, I immediately picked up the third because the series is that damn good. I picked up the necessary back story as needed and the mechanic of dreams from multiple contexts is fascinating and bot that difficult to grasp.
The humor is dark and dry, just like I like it. It reminds me of Abercrombie's work. If you liked The First Law series, you will probably dig this series as well.
Read
March 13, 2011A very worthy sequel: In the first book of The Scavenger Trilogy, Shadow, many things were discovered about the main character Poldarn, from the scattered memories of his past which returned to him in fragmented form in his dreams. But many more things were revealed about K.J.Parker, the most obvious being this man is a major new talent in the fantasy genre, and has assured himself a place in my personal must-read list from here on; another discovery about him is that he loves to toy with his reader. Shadow was littered with false clues and hints, leading the reader to constantly rework their theories over who Poldarn really was. This was one of the book's strongest and most intriguing parts.
It is even more strongly the case in the sequel, Pattern. Poldarn's past is by no means decided as he arrives at his childhood home and meets his estranged family. This book takes a different tack to the first, with Poldarn remaining essentially in the same place and having to deal with the other characters around him rather than wandering the hills and taking life as it comes (or, more likely, punches him in the face). This is a welcome change and adds diversity to the Poldarn's story; the dreams also return and with them a plethora of new suspicions and ponderings over who he has been in his forgotten life. And now he is surrounded by people who know something of his past and aren't telling him, so much can be gleaned (perhaps falsely, however) from their reactions to him.
It is even more strongly the case in the sequel, Pattern. Poldarn's past is by no means decided as he arrives at his childhood home and meets his estranged family. This book takes a different tack to the first, with Poldarn remaining essentially in the same place and having to deal with the other characters around him rather than wandering the hills and taking life as it comes (or, more likely, punches him in the face). This is a welcome change and adds diversity to the Poldarn's story; the dreams also return and with them a plethora of new suspicions and ponderings over who he has been in his forgotten life. And now he is surrounded by people who know something of his past and aren't telling him, so much can be gleaned (perhaps falsely, however) from their reactions to him.
The most enjoyable aspect of Parker's works, I think, is the cynically realistic tone he maintains throughout his novels, a pessimistic, or realistic perhaps, take on life which grounds his characters in a more believable world than the typical fantasy heroes and heroines of the genre. There really wasn't a poor quality sentence in the whole book (and in a side note, it was incredibly well proof read, with only a couple of missing speech marks to be seen).
It's surprisingly difficult to review this book, because there is so much to commend it which is hard to describe. As this is the second book in a trilogy, I would assume that you have read Shadow, and therefore are familiar with what made Shadow an excellent book; all that can easily be said from that basis is that Pattern keeps up that supreme quality, but moves both Poldarn and the plot forward. It gets a little complicated in the sometimes (intentionally) conflicting dreams and memories he has, and had me keeping some notes to stay on track with the revelations...all to little avail because there is a magnificently surprising twist in the final pages.
To bring that rambling to an end - buy this book. It deserves attention and acclaim, and I look forward to both the final instalment and K.J. Parker gaining the true status as a superb fantasy writer that he has proven he richly deserves with both Shadow and Pattern.
August 27, 2018
Disclaimer: I am a HUGE fan of Tom Holt / K.J. Parker and I think the man is a genius.
Unlike "Shadow", everything that Parker sets up within the narrative of "Pattern" is paid off by the end. However, my only quibble with this novel is that it is indeed paced very slowly. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. Farm life and volcanoes are both rather dull until something bad happens.
Our protagonist, Poldarn, starts transitioning from his reactive nature in "Shadow" to a more proactive temperament. The typical Parker poetics are spectacular as always, and when things start to heat up in the narrative the storytelling becomes very gripping.
The real reason behind why "Pattern" is slower than "Shadow" is because Parker decided to make the rather uncharacteristic choice of not having any other POV characters besides Poldarn. With the narrative device of changing characters, Parker is usually capable of telling very briskly paced stories. However, with just one POV, we have to live with Poldarn through everything, whether it be compelling leadership during crises or monotonous farm life.
But in truth, these are minor objections. The book is written quite beautifully and there are times where the author's depiction of ancient blacksmithing or farming made me want to go try and learn metalworking.
You will NOT regret reading this book, but I'd recommend taking it slow and reading a chapter every day or two. After all, contemplating the divine takes time.
Unlike "Shadow", everything that Parker sets up within the narrative of "Pattern" is paid off by the end. However, my only quibble with this novel is that it is indeed paced very slowly. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. Farm life and volcanoes are both rather dull until something bad happens.
Our protagonist, Poldarn, starts transitioning from his reactive nature in "Shadow" to a more proactive temperament. The typical Parker poetics are spectacular as always, and when things start to heat up in the narrative the storytelling becomes very gripping.
The real reason behind why "Pattern" is slower than "Shadow" is because Parker decided to make the rather uncharacteristic choice of not having any other POV characters besides Poldarn. With the narrative device of changing characters, Parker is usually capable of telling very briskly paced stories. However, with just one POV, we have to live with Poldarn through everything, whether it be compelling leadership during crises or monotonous farm life.
But in truth, these are minor objections. The book is written quite beautifully and there are times where the author's depiction of ancient blacksmithing or farming made me want to go try and learn metalworking.
You will NOT regret reading this book, but I'd recommend taking it slow and reading a chapter every day or two. After all, contemplating the divine takes time.
June 22, 2015
Revised comments now that I've finished Memory.
Easy to see why this one divides Parker/Holt-fans:
It's an unusual novel for him. While the first novel in the Scavenger-trilogy, Shadow, follows Poldarn and plays (or should I say, intentionally confuses the reader) with events in the present and at various times and places in the past, this one is all Poldarn, all straight forward, all one location.
Though marketed as 'fantasy' there is no a fantastic element here (as in all of Parker's novels so far) while a great deal of space is given to even minute details of work in a forge and during the construction of a timber-frame house.
Simply for the sake of comprehension you could just skip this second part and would not miss much regarding the main storyline - but please don't! Pattern is well worth reading. It takes place in one location and is told in a straight forward-style, almost linear, with a different cast of characters. It's not your typical weak second part at all, but it is the odd one out.
Easy to see why this one divides Parker/Holt-fans:
It's an unusual novel for him. While the first novel in the Scavenger-trilogy, Shadow, follows Poldarn and plays (or should I say, intentionally confuses the reader) with events in the present and at various times and places in the past, this one is all Poldarn, all straight forward, all one location.
Though marketed as 'fantasy' there is no a fantastic element here (as in all of Parker's novels so far) while a great deal of space is given to even minute details of work in a forge and during the construction of a timber-frame house.
Simply for the sake of comprehension you could just skip this second part and would not miss much regarding the main storyline - but please don't! Pattern is well worth reading. It takes place in one location and is told in a straight forward-style, almost linear, with a different cast of characters. It's not your typical weak second part at all, but it is the odd one out.
January 7, 2020
Poldarn/Ciartan has safely returned to his raider/farmer people across the sea, but he's still an outsider of sorts, still amnesic, and still has a closed mind in a land full of telepaths. The sharing of consciousness informs everything they do and Poldarn's presence is sand in the gears.
There are hints of some terrible deed he committed before he left for the Empire some 20 years previous. His new brother-in-law hates and fears him and neighboring farmers keep stopping by to meet him and can't hide their relief that his memory is truly gone.
When the island's volcano erupts for the first time in local memory, Poldarn discovers a talent for leadership and crisis management as well as an inexplicable understanding of geothermal acitivity. He repeatedly saves lives, making him as respected as he is feared and avoided.
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We finally get a straightforward account of this nation of telepaths, ferocious raiders who flock like birds, from the eyes of a nonplussed non-telepath. And strangely, they're just people. When they're not slaughtering, they raise crops and build barns and make tools. Not what I expected.
Pattern is positively STEEPED in metaphor. Fire erasing memory of metal in the forge = the volcano erasing the memory of a civilization = death erasing memory of a person. Knowledge of pattern is essential to killing crop-destroying crows, and to winning battles, and to forging tools, and so on. Memory is evident in the shape of a weapon or tool, in the traditions of a community, in the habits of the farmer. Parker ponders these things at great length in Pattern.
Poldarn/Ciartan's history is as big a puzzle as ever. It jumps between timelines, or realities, or bodies; he speaks in visions, or dreams, or memories with dead people, or the mountain, or perhaps a god, or perhaps he IS a god. The multitude of hints were tantalizing but in the end I was just as confused as when I started. Is Poldarn/Ciartan reborn periodically or is he just the current avatar of Poldarn-the-god? He supposedly "remembers" things that are going to happen; is that just a way of describing the experience of omniscience or have these events actually happened in the past? If events ARE repeating, is that a literal recurrence or just broad strokes: civilizations rising and falling, cities being sacked, buildings burned, etc? It's possible that Parker intends to answer these questions in the final book of the trilogy, but I get the sense that he explained everything to his satisfaction at the end of Pattern. But not to mine.
There are hints of some terrible deed he committed before he left for the Empire some 20 years previous. His new brother-in-law hates and fears him and neighboring farmers keep stopping by to meet him and can't hide their relief that his memory is truly gone.
When the island's volcano erupts for the first time in local memory, Poldarn discovers a talent for leadership and crisis management as well as an inexplicable understanding of geothermal acitivity. He repeatedly saves lives, making him as respected as he is feared and avoided.
----------------------------------
We finally get a straightforward account of this nation of telepaths, ferocious raiders who flock like birds, from the eyes of a nonplussed non-telepath. And strangely, they're just people. When they're not slaughtering, they raise crops and build barns and make tools. Not what I expected.
Pattern is positively STEEPED in metaphor. Fire erasing memory of metal in the forge = the volcano erasing the memory of a civilization = death erasing memory of a person. Knowledge of pattern is essential to killing crop-destroying crows, and to winning battles, and to forging tools, and so on. Memory is evident in the shape of a weapon or tool, in the traditions of a community, in the habits of the farmer. Parker ponders these things at great length in Pattern.
Poldarn/Ciartan's history is as big a puzzle as ever. It jumps between timelines, or realities, or bodies; he speaks in visions, or dreams, or memories with dead people, or the mountain, or perhaps a god, or perhaps he IS a god. The multitude of hints were tantalizing but in the end I was just as confused as when I started. Is Poldarn/Ciartan reborn periodically or is he just the current avatar of Poldarn-the-god? He supposedly "remembers" things that are going to happen; is that just a way of describing the experience of omniscience or have these events actually happened in the past? If events ARE repeating, is that a literal recurrence or just broad strokes: civilizations rising and falling, cities being sacked, buildings burned, etc? It's possible that Parker intends to answer these questions in the final book of the trilogy, but I get the sense that he explained everything to his satisfaction at the end of Pattern. But not to mine.
June 5, 2025
In the last book Poldarn discovered that he's actually a man called Ciartan, and comes from a remote island. He returns home with his people, who immediately turn from ruthless raiders into ordinary and slightly dim farmers.
This book has very good writing and no plot. Poldarn tries blacksmithing (badly); gets hitched to the neighbor's daughter; and is constantly bewildered by the strange behavior of his kin -- but they think the same of him. The prose is as good as in K.J. Parker's previous novels, which is the only reason I finished this book, because there's very little excitement. Parker continues his habit of describing primitive crafts in great detail, including many types of blacksmith projects; how to raise a timber house; and how to kill crows. (Yes, the crows are still omnipresent.)
Well, there's one intermittent source of excitement: the nearby volcano. It erupts a few times, and Poldarn helps to save the small village from ash and lava. It's supposed to be some metaphor, idk. Everything's a metaphor if you try hard enough, including comparing pattern welding to human memory.
Toward the end of the book Poldarn gets into a feud with one of the other islanders, and then things get a bit more interesting. But I'll be honest: reading this book is like watching paint dry. It's the best paint, richly drawn, highly textured, but nevertheless.
This book has very good writing and no plot. Poldarn tries blacksmithing (badly); gets hitched to the neighbor's daughter; and is constantly bewildered by the strange behavior of his kin -- but they think the same of him. The prose is as good as in K.J. Parker's previous novels, which is the only reason I finished this book, because there's very little excitement. Parker continues his habit of describing primitive crafts in great detail, including many types of blacksmith projects; how to raise a timber house; and how to kill crows. (Yes, the crows are still omnipresent.)
Well, there's one intermittent source of excitement: the nearby volcano. It erupts a few times, and Poldarn helps to save the small village from ash and lava. It's supposed to be some metaphor, idk. Everything's a metaphor if you try hard enough, including comparing pattern welding to human memory.
Toward the end of the book Poldarn gets into a feud with one of the other islanders, and then things get a bit more interesting. But I'll be honest: reading this book is like watching paint dry. It's the best paint, richly drawn, highly textured, but nevertheless.
February 7, 2025
I tend to read at a somewhat fast, not very diligent pace and tend to miss details. If I am able to predict important plotpoints, two possible reasons exist.
a) I am very very smart and have read all possible plotpoints before. (not likely)
b) The foreshadowing plotpoints are the best, most obvious explanation for the puzzle pieces, to the point that no mystery remains even before the reveal. (more likely, I guessed big reverse oedipus reveal about halfway into the book)
If the second option was taken with intention (instead of bad writing), the only explanation that comes to mind for me, is that figuring out of the reveal at the halfway point of the book, should impart the reader with a feeling of dread: there is a sword of Damocles hanging over the main character that threatens to rip down everything that is built up during the book (and it predictably does so at the end of course)
I will read the last book at some point this year, only to get answers to the many unsolved questions.
a) I am very very smart and have read all possible plotpoints before. (not likely)
b) The foreshadowing plotpoints are the best, most obvious explanation for the puzzle pieces, to the point that no mystery remains even before the reveal. (more likely, I guessed big reverse oedipus reveal about halfway into the book)
If the second option was taken with intention (instead of bad writing), the only explanation that comes to mind for me, is that figuring out of the reveal at the halfway point of the book, should impart the reader with a feeling of dread: there is a sword of Damocles hanging over the main character that threatens to rip down everything that is built up during the book (and it predictably does so at the end of course)
I will read the last book at some point this year, only to get answers to the many unsolved questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2018
Pattern is the second book in a pretty weird fantasy series. It's completely readable and interesting, but, although we're starting to get clues about what's going on, by the end of this book, we're still as lost as Poldarn the main character.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
September 1, 2017
Second in the series, continuing to unravel the past of our memory-less "hero," who is now back on his island of origin but still largely unable to remember anything about his past--and yet his actions play out familiar patterns, and he finds himself unexpectedly gifted at certain tasks, many of them involving violence. Explores similar themes as Iain M. Banks's Use of Weapons, but narratively this works very differently, and the ostensible focus is on whether we are the sum of our actions or something else. Shot through with mordant humor and philosophical asides.
October 24, 2024
3.5. I thought it was amazing for a while, mysterious and interesting. It began getting a bit tedious but I still enjoyed the writing and story. Did anything happen in the book? Not really. It was more about his internal dialog but I found a lot of the thinking about smithing and patterns and crows philosophically interesting. I can’t imagine recommending it to anyone else but I am glad I read it.
August 25, 2021
More like 4.5 stars, I enjoyed the first one slightly more. The plotting is top notch, so is the writing (one particular metaphor stopped me in my tracks). The reveals were great, with enough left over to keep the third book intriguing.
August 26, 2022
I'm SO GLAD that I finally finished reading this last year. It was never the quality of the book that kept me stalling out on it, only my own struggle to keep up with it. By the time I was finally done, it was one of my favorites. Few books have surprised and delighted me as much as this one.
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October 24, 2023Me ha gustado mucho la obra posterior del autor, pero esta novela, a pesar del atractivo que tiene referente a la forja de metales, parece una british soap opera y por ahora tengo cosas más interesantes que (re)leer.
April 10, 2024
kind of reminded me of robin hobb’s books in that it digs deep into the minutiae of its world, though sometimes that’s not a good thing. in fact this whole book is basically just a guy living on a farm. granted, it’s the same guy from the first book so he has amnesia and may or may not be a god.
August 22, 2017
I am so confused but I can't stop reading.
August 26, 2022
Just brilliant. Do yourself a favour and read Parker's novels if you haven't already.
December 8, 2025
Everyone is Poldarn but especially the Volcano
July 10, 2012
Our confused and amnesia suffering Poldarn (who knows what is name is anymore!) has finally made it home on an Island that he spent his childhood. His people have abilities he has long forgotten how to use and that makes him the outcast, something they keep reminding him that he was before he left as well, so nothing much has changed really. He tries to settle though, but starts peering up at the mountain that has been named Poldarn's Forge, a Volcano. He spends most of his time having flash backs, trying to take up his trade of a Blacksmith by making nails, surviving mud ash slides from the Volcano erupting and marrying someone young. He acts like a dick at his wedding games, murders a few people and keep alienating himself further from the people who are supposed to be his kin.
After a few days after I finished the book I thought a lot of paper had been wasted on nothing, but a lot happens. Its slow paced and interesting, obscure and you can't decide wether you like the guy or not, he is (as I discussed with a friend who recommended the series) the ultimate anti-hero. Lovable and distasteful at the same time. I can't wait to see what he gets up to in the next book. Hopefully some major revelation of his identity will be revealed in a spectacular way.
After a few days after I finished the book I thought a lot of paper had been wasted on nothing, but a lot happens. Its slow paced and interesting, obscure and you can't decide wether you like the guy or not, he is (as I discussed with a friend who recommended the series) the ultimate anti-hero. Lovable and distasteful at the same time. I can't wait to see what he gets up to in the next book. Hopefully some major revelation of his identity will be revealed in a spectacular way.
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