When you read Pat Cadigan's stories, you'll swear she's been 1) a psychopath 2) a pimp 3) a junkie 4) to Mars, because she can write so well of places you don't ever want to visit and people you never ever ever want to meet. She hasn't been any of those things; what she is is another typical beautiful genius foulmouthed Supermom from K.C. whose works cause me to bite holes in my desk every time I read a new one.
-- Howard Waldrop, author of Them Bones.
Patterns is a short story collection by Pat Cadigan. It was published in 1989.
In Pat Cadigan's tales, social issues morph into monstrous fantasy-like the what happens to Milo, the kid who's always left out, in the chilling Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie. The story Heal will keep the likes of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker awake at night, pale and unblinking in their beds. Particularly harrowing is the tale My Brother's Keeper, in which a girl's struggle to rescue her brother from heroin addiction uncovers something far uglier going on in the dark recesses of the inner city.
Patterns is reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's short stories, but with malevolent twists and psychotic turns that leave the reader waiting on tenterhooks for the final punch line. Fans of Cadigan's work will particularly enjoy the introductions she has written for each story. Those wanting to read her for the first time may find her novels a better introduction.
Contents
- Introduction by Bruce Sterling
- Patterns
- Originally published in Omni, August 1987), Eenie Meenie, Ipsateenie by Pat Cadigan. Also contained in the anthology Shadows 6 edited by Charles L. Grant, 1983.
- Vengeance is Yours
- The Day the Martels Got the Cable
- Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, December 1982.
- Roadside Rescue
- Originally published in Omni, July 1985... also contained in the anthology Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow.
- Rock On
- Excerpt from Synners... also contained in : Mirrorshades edited by Bruce Sterling; Storming the Reality Studio edited by Larry McCaffery; Light Years and Dark edited by Michael Bishop.
- Heal
- Another One Hits the Road
- Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 1984.
- My Brother's Keeper
- Pretty Boy Crossover
- Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, January 1986. Also contained in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection, and in Simulations: 15 Tales of Virtual Reality edited by Karie Jacobson, 1993.
- Two
- Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 1988.
- Angel
- Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, May 1987. Winner of the 1988 Locus Award. Also contained in the anthology Best of the Year edited by Gardner Dozois.
- It Was the Heat
- Also contained in the anthology Tropical Chills edited by Timothy Sullivan.
- The Power and The Passion
