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Inferno #1
Inferno
After being thrown out the window of his luxury apartment, science fiction writer Allen Carpentier wakes to find himself at the gates of hell. Feeling he's landed in a great opportunity for a book, he attempts to follow Dante's road map. Determined to meet Satan himself, Carpentier treks through the Nine Layers of Hell led by Benito Mussolini, and encounters countless mental and physical tortures. As he struggles to escape, he's taken through new, puzzling, and outlandish versions of sin--recast for the present day.
237 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1975
166 people are currently reading
3526 people want to read
About the author
Larry Niven
686 books3,299 followersLaurence van Cott Niven's best known work is Ringworld (Ringworld, #1) (1970), which received the Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics. The creation of thoroughly worked-out alien species, which are very different from humans both physically and mentally, is recognized as one of Niven's main strengths.
Niven also often includes elements of detective fiction and adventure stories. His fantasy includes The Magic Goes Away series, which utilizes an exhaustible resource, called Mana, to make the magic a non-renewable resource.
Niven created an alien species, the Kzin, which were featured in a series of twelve collection books, the Man-Kzin Wars. He co-authored a number of novels with Jerry Pournelle. In fact, much of his writing since the 1970s has been in collaboration, particularly with Pournelle, Steven Barnes, Brenda Cooper, or Edward M. Lerner.
He briefly attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (with a minor in psychology) from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, in 1962. He did a year of graduate work in mathematics at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has since lived in Los Angeles suburbs, including Chatsworth and Tarzana, as a full-time writer. He married Marilyn Joyce "Fuzzy Pink" Wisowaty, herself a well-known science fiction and Regency literature fan, on September 6, 1969.
Niven won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for Neutron Star in 1967. In 1972, for Inconstant Moon, and in 1975 for The Hole Man. In 1976, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for The Borderland of Sol.
Niven has written scripts for various science fiction television shows, including the original Land of the Lost series and Star Trek: The Animated Series, for which he adapted his early Kzin story The Soft Weapon. He adapted his story Inconstant Moon for an episode of the television series The Outer Limits in 1996.
He has also written for the DC Comics character Green Lantern including in his stories hard science fiction concepts such as universal entropy and the redshift effect, which are unusual in comic books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larryn...
Niven also often includes elements of detective fiction and adventure stories. His fantasy includes The Magic Goes Away series, which utilizes an exhaustible resource, called Mana, to make the magic a non-renewable resource.
Niven created an alien species, the Kzin, which were featured in a series of twelve collection books, the Man-Kzin Wars. He co-authored a number of novels with Jerry Pournelle. In fact, much of his writing since the 1970s has been in collaboration, particularly with Pournelle, Steven Barnes, Brenda Cooper, or Edward M. Lerner.
He briefly attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (with a minor in psychology) from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, in 1962. He did a year of graduate work in mathematics at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has since lived in Los Angeles suburbs, including Chatsworth and Tarzana, as a full-time writer. He married Marilyn Joyce "Fuzzy Pink" Wisowaty, herself a well-known science fiction and Regency literature fan, on September 6, 1969.
Niven won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for Neutron Star in 1967. In 1972, for Inconstant Moon, and in 1975 for The Hole Man. In 1976, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for The Borderland of Sol.
Niven has written scripts for various science fiction television shows, including the original Land of the Lost series and Star Trek: The Animated Series, for which he adapted his early Kzin story The Soft Weapon. He adapted his story Inconstant Moon for an episode of the television series The Outer Limits in 1996.
He has also written for the DC Comics character Green Lantern including in his stories hard science fiction concepts such as universal entropy and the redshift effect, which are unusual in comic books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larryn...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 439 reviews
February 16, 2021
Dante lite
Pretty good take on Dante's inferno by two sci-fi greats. On his way through the circles of hell searching for a way out, Allen Carpentier mets some really interesting people as varied as Billy the Kid and Hammurabi. The identity of his guide Benny comes as a shock to Carpentier and a surprise to most readers. At least to those who have avoided spoilers. Good fun but still an exploration of serious issues.
Pretty good take on Dante's inferno by two sci-fi greats. On his way through the circles of hell searching for a way out, Allen Carpentier mets some really interesting people as varied as Billy the Kid and Hammurabi. The identity of his guide Benny comes as a shock to Carpentier and a surprise to most readers. At least to those who have avoided spoilers. Good fun but still an exploration of serious issues.
June 7, 2016
Very entertaining SF/F revision of Dante's Inferno with Mussolini as guide through the underworld.
Written in 1976, this apparently caused quite a stir back then, but many of Niven's fresh ideas have dulled since. Still very creative and imaginative and leaves the reader wondering who is better: Benito Mussolini or a science fiction writer?
Written in 1976, this apparently caused quite a stir back then, but many of Niven's fresh ideas have dulled since. Still very creative and imaginative and leaves the reader wondering who is better: Benito Mussolini or a science fiction writer?
January 4, 2023
mannyrayner: Write a passage in Italian, in the style of Dante, where Dante and Virgil meet Donald Trump in one of the circles of the Inferno.
ChatGPT: Oh, misero me! Chi è questo uomo dalla carnagione pallida e dalle guance cadenti, con la testa rasata e gli occhi infuocati d'ira? È forse un demonio inviato dai regni oscuri a tormentarmi ulteriormente?
"Non temere, Dante," rispose il mio guida, Virgilio. "Questo è Donald Trump, l'ex presidente degli Stati Uniti. Ha trovato la sua giusta dimora in uno dei cerchi dell'Inferno, a pagar per i suoi peccati e i suoi errori."
"Peccati? Quali peccati?" chiesi, sbigottito. "Era forse un ladro o un assassino?"
"No, Dante," rispose Virgilio con tristezza. "Il suo peccato più grande è stato quello di mettere se stesso e i suoi interessi personali al di sopra del bene del popolo che aveva giurato di servire. Ha mentito e diffamato, ha fomentato la divisione e l'odio, e ha abusato del suo potere per perseguire vendette personali. E ora paga il prezzo in questo luogo di dolore eterno."
Trump gridò in risposta, con la voce rauca dalla disperazione: "Non è giusto! Non merito di essere punito così duramente! Sono stato il più grande presidente di tutti i tempi!"
Ma le sue parole caddero nel vuoto, e noi proseguimmo il nostro cammino, lasciandolo alle sue pene.
__________________
[A couple of weeks later, ChatGPT seems to have become a little better at imitating a given author's style. I didn't think it did nearly as well with Dante as with Saint-Exupery, but it was interesting to see who it put in Hell and how it punished them when I gave it a free choice:]
Nel cerchio degli ingannatori, dove i falsari
sono condannati a patire eternamente,
Dante e Virgilio incontrarono dei viventi.
Erano uomini famosi, con il loro vestito
elegante e le facce sorridenti,
che avevano ingannato il mondo intero.
"Chi siete voi, che camminate per l'Inferno
come se foste stati dei grandi leader?",
chiese Dante, stupito di vedere questi famosi.
"Siamo politici, risposero quelli,
condannati per aver mentito e ingannato,
per aver promesso ciò che non potevamo mantenere."
"Ahimè", disse Dante, "che triste sorte
è la vostra, o Berlusconi, che devi patire
l'eterna vergogna di vedere il tuo volto
ripetutamente colpito da cacche di
volatili, o Bush, che devi camminare
in eterno con il tuo stesso testone
infilzato su una picca, o Putin, che devi
nuotare per sempre in un lago di feccia
putrescente, o Maduro, che devi mangiare
in eterno i tuoi stessi escrementi,
o Kim Jong-un, che devi portare
in eterno un cappello fatto di spine
che ti penetrano il cervello.
E così Dante e Virgilio continuarono
il loro viaggio nell'Inferno, incontrando
altre anime perdute nei cerchi più profondi.
ChatGPT: Oh, misero me! Chi è questo uomo dalla carnagione pallida e dalle guance cadenti, con la testa rasata e gli occhi infuocati d'ira? È forse un demonio inviato dai regni oscuri a tormentarmi ulteriormente?
"Non temere, Dante," rispose il mio guida, Virgilio. "Questo è Donald Trump, l'ex presidente degli Stati Uniti. Ha trovato la sua giusta dimora in uno dei cerchi dell'Inferno, a pagar per i suoi peccati e i suoi errori."
"Peccati? Quali peccati?" chiesi, sbigottito. "Era forse un ladro o un assassino?"
"No, Dante," rispose Virgilio con tristezza. "Il suo peccato più grande è stato quello di mettere se stesso e i suoi interessi personali al di sopra del bene del popolo che aveva giurato di servire. Ha mentito e diffamato, ha fomentato la divisione e l'odio, e ha abusato del suo potere per perseguire vendette personali. E ora paga il prezzo in questo luogo di dolore eterno."
Trump gridò in risposta, con la voce rauca dalla disperazione: "Non è giusto! Non merito di essere punito così duramente! Sono stato il più grande presidente di tutti i tempi!"
Ma le sue parole caddero nel vuoto, e noi proseguimmo il nostro cammino, lasciandolo alle sue pene.
__________________
[A couple of weeks later, ChatGPT seems to have become a little better at imitating a given author's style. I didn't think it did nearly as well with Dante as with Saint-Exupery, but it was interesting to see who it put in Hell and how it punished them when I gave it a free choice:]
Nel cerchio degli ingannatori, dove i falsari
sono condannati a patire eternamente,
Dante e Virgilio incontrarono dei viventi.
Erano uomini famosi, con il loro vestito
elegante e le facce sorridenti,
che avevano ingannato il mondo intero.
"Chi siete voi, che camminate per l'Inferno
come se foste stati dei grandi leader?",
chiese Dante, stupito di vedere questi famosi.
"Siamo politici, risposero quelli,
condannati per aver mentito e ingannato,
per aver promesso ciò che non potevamo mantenere."
"Ahimè", disse Dante, "che triste sorte
è la vostra, o Berlusconi, che devi patire
l'eterna vergogna di vedere il tuo volto
ripetutamente colpito da cacche di
volatili, o Bush, che devi camminare
in eterno con il tuo stesso testone
infilzato su una picca, o Putin, che devi
nuotare per sempre in un lago di feccia
putrescente, o Maduro, che devi mangiare
in eterno i tuoi stessi escrementi,
o Kim Jong-un, che devi portare
in eterno un cappello fatto di spine
che ti penetrano il cervello.
E così Dante e Virgilio continuarono
il loro viaggio nell'Inferno, incontrando
altre anime perdute nei cerchi più profondi.
June 7, 2016
Okay first a quick word for you who aren't interested in my "thoughts" on this book and it's predecessor. Not a bad read with "our hero" making his way through "Hell". Readable, well executed...enjoy.
I must mention here that I have for many years (since becoming an adult Christian I suppose would be the time line) I've had a somewhat bad taste in my mouth about The Divine Comedy specifically The Inferno. Most of what people think of today as "Hell" comes from that poem instead of the Bible. The Bible actually says very little about Hell. In the New Testament it's mentioned. Mostly it's a place we want to avoid. The poem is considered a classic but I suppose it's been the source of more misinformation in Christian circles than pretty much any other work of literature.
So, here we are...again. Carpenter...I mean Carpenteri is taking basically the same trip Dante took...only he's got a different guide.
So, as I said not bad but not great. I've read many books by the writer(s) that I've liked better. I'd say see if you like it. The protagonist is a bit annoying at times. he continues with the denial point of view way too long. I was tired of the that long before he finally came to the point he could no longer carry on with it. His actions don't seem to make sense as often as they do. There's a lot of..."now why did he do that?" moments.
All in all...for my money, it's okay but not great.
I must mention here that I have for many years (since becoming an adult Christian I suppose would be the time line) I've had a somewhat bad taste in my mouth about The Divine Comedy specifically The Inferno. Most of what people think of today as "Hell" comes from that poem instead of the Bible. The Bible actually says very little about Hell. In the New Testament it's mentioned. Mostly it's a place we want to avoid. The poem is considered a classic but I suppose it's been the source of more misinformation in Christian circles than pretty much any other work of literature.
So, here we are...again. Carpenter...I mean Carpenteri is taking basically the same trip Dante took...only he's got a different guide.
So, as I said not bad but not great. I've read many books by the writer(s) that I've liked better. I'd say see if you like it. The protagonist is a bit annoying at times. he continues with the denial point of view way too long. I was tired of the that long before he finally came to the point he could no longer carry on with it. His actions don't seem to make sense as often as they do. There's a lot of..."now why did he do that?" moments.
All in all...for my money, it's okay but not great.
May 26, 2010
I first read this book as a young teenager, and enjoyed it tremendously. It is possible that if I had first read it today, I would only give it four stars...
Allen Carpenter is a science fiction writer. After he dies in a drunken accident he wakes up in the "vestibule" of Hell, a Hell largely matching the description found in Dante's Inferno. Carpenter is a rationalist and a non-believer, so at first he tries find rational explanations for his new environment---his fans had his body frozen after his death and he has been revived in a Disneyland-like reconstruction of Dante's Inferno, built by a civilization vastly more advanced than ours. But as Carpenter descends the concentric circles of Hell, he is slowly forced to accept that he really is in Hell.
Like Dante, Carpenter meets many damned souls in his descent through the Inferno. During this journey, he has to come to grips with the apparent cruelty of whoever or whatever condemned these souls the their eternal fates. For many of the damned are suffering fates that seem vastly out of proportion to their earthly crimes. Why, Carpenter wonders, would a moral God need to create such torment?
I enjoyed this book on three levels. First, it is a fun story---our hero has lots of adventures trying to escape from Hell. Second, I was fascinated by the description of Dante's Inferno, with each category of sinner carefully segregated and given a punishment that fits their crime. Along the way, the authors update many of the sins and punishments with modern touches. When I first read the book, this aspect was doubly interesting, as I hadn't yet read Dante. Finally, Carpenter's inner struggle to understand the purpose of Hell adds a bit of intellectual interest to the story. This isn't deep theology, but it adds a level to the book that makes it more than just a straight-forward fantasy adventure.
Allen Carpenter is a science fiction writer. After he dies in a drunken accident he wakes up in the "vestibule" of Hell, a Hell largely matching the description found in Dante's Inferno. Carpenter is a rationalist and a non-believer, so at first he tries find rational explanations for his new environment---his fans had his body frozen after his death and he has been revived in a Disneyland-like reconstruction of Dante's Inferno, built by a civilization vastly more advanced than ours. But as Carpenter descends the concentric circles of Hell, he is slowly forced to accept that he really is in Hell.
Like Dante, Carpenter meets many damned souls in his descent through the Inferno. During this journey, he has to come to grips with the apparent cruelty of whoever or whatever condemned these souls the their eternal fates. For many of the damned are suffering fates that seem vastly out of proportion to their earthly crimes. Why, Carpenter wonders, would a moral God need to create such torment?
I enjoyed this book on three levels. First, it is a fun story---our hero has lots of adventures trying to escape from Hell. Second, I was fascinated by the description of Dante's Inferno, with each category of sinner carefully segregated and given a punishment that fits their crime. Along the way, the authors update many of the sins and punishments with modern touches. When I first read the book, this aspect was doubly interesting, as I hadn't yet read Dante. Finally, Carpenter's inner struggle to understand the purpose of Hell adds a bit of intellectual interest to the story. This isn't deep theology, but it adds a level to the book that makes it more than just a straight-forward fantasy adventure.
September 5, 2015
-Humor, ajuste de cuentas cariñoso y, a su manera, entretenido.-
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. El escritor de Ciencia-Ficción Allen Carpentier muerte al caer desde una ventana mientras hacía cosas imprudentes en una convención de Ciencia-Ficción. Cuando despierta, tras un tiempo aparentemente atrapado en algún lugar, cree hallarse en algún tipo de parque temático muy avanzado que homenajea al Infierno de Dante, por mucho que Benito, otro de sus habitantes que se ofrece a acompañar a Allen, le diga que realmente están en el infierno.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. El escritor de Ciencia-Ficción Allen Carpentier muerte al caer desde una ventana mientras hacía cosas imprudentes en una convención de Ciencia-Ficción. Cuando despierta, tras un tiempo aparentemente atrapado en algún lugar, cree hallarse en algún tipo de parque temático muy avanzado que homenajea al Infierno de Dante, por mucho que Benito, otro de sus habitantes que se ofrece a acompañar a Allen, le diga que realmente están en el infierno.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
January 29, 2010
3.5 stars. Clever, well thought out re-telling of Dante's Inferno.
Nominee: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1976)
Nominee: Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1976)
Nominee: Nebula Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1977)
Nominee: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1976)
Nominee: Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1976)
Nominee: Nebula Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1977)
May 26, 2014
Maybe it's just me, as I've seen many positive reviews of this book here. But,I think the the writing juvenile,the characters cardboard cutouts. For a story that deals with a trip through Hell,it all seems very lighthearted,almost comic. The horrific punishments don't horrify.
For a book that I was really looking forward to,it was a big disappointment. I say pass.
For a book that I was really looking forward to,it was a big disappointment. I say pass.
July 20, 2020
Major Edit. Changed from 2 Stars to 3 Stars. Sometimes I have to set on brain on ponder mode for somemtime before I am more certain of what I want to write in a review.
New Review July 2020
What irritated me about this book. What I have to say here is small of me. Ohhh I am so human.
1. The mannish talk irritated me. Hey, a writer chooses intended audience. And the narrator chooses too. Not for me to say.
2. The 1970's-style narration irritated me. I know how to read for the meaning and not for style.
Doubly Petty. My apologies.
What works for me.
1. Niven/narrator allows for the forgiving nature of the Divine.
2. Niven/narrator allows for Source's exhaling and inhaling Creation.
3. Niven/narrator allows for cyclic nature of life and death.
Liking this Niven novel more. When next year I read Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri, I will be open to reading Mevin's second book as well.
----------
Previous Review written April 2020
Very little that expanded or deepened my understanding of Dante's Inferno. I see the science fiction, but it is not fresh or helpful to me. The agnostic narrator Allen Carpentier found his journey into Hell worthwhile as he came to realize something of the power and the mystery of the Divine. Since I have those two clues as to what God might be, I found this book to be easy reading. I told some GR friends that I would read it, and I have.
New Review July 2020
What irritated me about this book. What I have to say here is small of me. Ohhh I am so human.
1. The mannish talk irritated me. Hey, a writer chooses intended audience. And the narrator chooses too. Not for me to say.
2. The 1970's-style narration irritated me. I know how to read for the meaning and not for style.
Doubly Petty. My apologies.
What works for me.
1. Niven/narrator allows for the forgiving nature of the Divine.
2. Niven/narrator allows for Source's exhaling and inhaling Creation.
3. Niven/narrator allows for cyclic nature of life and death.
Liking this Niven novel more. When next year I read Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri, I will be open to reading Mevin's second book as well.
----------
Previous Review written April 2020
Very little that expanded or deepened my understanding of Dante's Inferno. I see the science fiction, but it is not fresh or helpful to me. The agnostic narrator Allen Carpentier found his journey into Hell worthwhile as he came to realize something of the power and the mystery of the Divine. Since I have those two clues as to what God might be, I found this book to be easy reading. I told some GR friends that I would read it, and I have.
December 15, 2015
omg, you guys, gnats are so annoying they're probably in hell. HAHAHAHAHA! And you know what else? Lawyers and ad execs are annoying, so they're probably in hell, too. AHAHAHAHA! And sci-fi writers are so pedantic and skeptical, I bet they wouldn't believe they were in hell until they investigated every other possible explanation.I bet they would annoy the demons! AHAHAHAHA! And what about that Mussolini...
A sci-fi convention joke that's probably best served as a sci-fi convention joke. Go home, Larry and Jerry. You're drunk.
A sci-fi convention joke that's probably best served as a sci-fi convention joke. Go home, Larry and Jerry. You're drunk.
February 5, 2012
Inferno
By Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Publisher: Orb Books
Published In: New York, NY
Date: 1976
Pgs: 237
Summary:
Imagine not being able to feel anything...not being able to see anything. And it goes on...and on...seemingly forever. Until you call out to God, and you feel the bottle open and you are poured out from your own private Hell into Hell. Benito has rescued you. And he has a plan. All you have to do is follow him downward through the deeper and darker sections of Dante’s Hell in search of the way out. All you have to do is follow...and not fall victim to the guilt that you belong in any of those lower depths with the damned souls trapped there. That’s all.
Genre:
Science fiction, quest, good vs. evil
Main Character:
Allen Carpenter
Favorite Character:
Allen Carpenter is us. We walk through Hell in his shoes.
Least Favorite Character:
This was a rare book where I liked all the characters.
Favorite Scene:
When Lucifer looks down at Allen and asks him the question.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
This is pretty tightly plotted and the OOC moments are thin.
Last Page Sound:
Mmmmm...that’s good. I just hope that the recently produced sequel is as good.
Author Assessment:
They are tremendous together.
Disposition of Book:
Keeping it and re-reading it. Possibly sooner rather than later. It’s a rich tapestry of a story.
By Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Publisher: Orb Books
Published In: New York, NY
Date: 1976
Pgs: 237
Summary:
Imagine not being able to feel anything...not being able to see anything. And it goes on...and on...seemingly forever. Until you call out to God, and you feel the bottle open and you are poured out from your own private Hell into Hell. Benito has rescued you. And he has a plan. All you have to do is follow him downward through the deeper and darker sections of Dante’s Hell in search of the way out. All you have to do is follow...and not fall victim to the guilt that you belong in any of those lower depths with the damned souls trapped there. That’s all.
Genre:
Science fiction, quest, good vs. evil
Main Character:
Allen Carpenter
Favorite Character:
Allen Carpenter is us. We walk through Hell in his shoes.
Least Favorite Character:
This was a rare book where I liked all the characters.
Favorite Scene:
When Lucifer looks down at Allen and asks him the question.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
This is pretty tightly plotted and the OOC moments are thin.
Last Page Sound:
Mmmmm...that’s good. I just hope that the recently produced sequel is as good.
Author Assessment:
They are tremendous together.
Disposition of Book:
Keeping it and re-reading it. Possibly sooner rather than later. It’s a rich tapestry of a story.
October 29, 2022
I thought I’d really like this book, but I didn’t enjoy it much. It picks up a little in the second half, but most of the time I was bored. It wasn’t funny or thoughtful, I felt we were just going through the motions to get to the end. I didn’t warm to the writing style either.
I’d decided to listen to the audiobook version, even though I have the unread paperback on my shelf. I think if I had actually been reading it, I would have given up after several chapters. The most interesting details here are actually taken from Dante’s original poem, so, in a sense, the two stars I’ve given are really for Dante, not Niven & Pournelle. This was a good idea, but it fell flat in the end.
I’d decided to listen to the audiobook version, even though I have the unread paperback on my shelf. I think if I had actually been reading it, I would have given up after several chapters. The most interesting details here are actually taken from Dante’s original poem, so, in a sense, the two stars I’ve given are really for Dante, not Niven & Pournelle. This was a good idea, but it fell flat in the end.
August 17, 2024
I was hoping for more horror, looking at the title and cover for this, I know don’t judge a book…Ever since I read A Short Stay In Hell, been trying to find more books that take place in hell- mark this off the list. It read more like a Disney fantasy and comedic madcap race through hell with Dante’s Inferno being the template. It has some horrific elements, it just didn’t really move me, although it was entertaining enough to make it through to the end.
May 19, 2007
A fun look at a re-adaptation of Dante w/ Mussolini as your guide.
July 23, 2017
A retelling of Inferno by Dante, through the eyes of science fiction writer Allen Carpentier. Our protagonist meets his untimely end while trying to impress science fiction fans at a con meetup by mixing an overly large alcohol bottle and a balcony ledge.
Nominated in 1976 for both the Hugo and Nebula awards, this is a humorous take on a traditionally somber trip through hell. While the overlay of Dante's world is apparent, newer additions were sprinkled throughout would, such as hoarders against the obsessive compulsive, and developers against activists, fighting each other for eternity. My personal favorite being the shear amount of paperwork involved in transitioning between circles.
Allen deems the area "INFERNOLAND" because even in death he sees the fantastical, but when his body is broken in an escape attempt with someone from his future (a space shuttle pilot, when the shuttle program didn't start until 1981), he finally begins to accept the information around him as what it actually is... hell.
While a lot of what made this book more controversial for it's time is no longer sensationalist, it's a very quick fun read and you'll recognize some of the guests along the way...
... SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES ....
Nominated in 1976 for both the Hugo and Nebula awards, this is a humorous take on a traditionally somber trip through hell. While the overlay of Dante's world is apparent, newer additions were sprinkled throughout would, such as hoarders against the obsessive compulsive, and developers against activists, fighting each other for eternity. My personal favorite being the shear amount of paperwork involved in transitioning between circles.
Allen deems the area "INFERNOLAND" because even in death he sees the fantastical, but when his body is broken in an escape attempt with someone from his future (a space shuttle pilot, when the shuttle program didn't start until 1981), he finally begins to accept the information around him as what it actually is... hell.
While a lot of what made this book more controversial for it's time is no longer sensationalist, it's a very quick fun read and you'll recognize some of the guests along the way...
... SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES SO IT GOES ....
April 30, 2021
A thought provoking, enjoyable, modern day (1970s) retelling of Dante's Inferno.
September 10, 2021
Me time: growing up I leaned more to the left and socialist side of things, which in general has been a devastating blow in my relationship with the sci fi canon, which I consider awfully conservative, condescending and extremely short sighted in its social commentary. I dislike Larry Niven quite a lot, Pournelle was a hardcore militaristic fan (and writer). And I love Inferno.
For once both writers made their intentions clear: create a world where they send to hell everyone that is on any other side of their discourse. But they do it in a fun, short way, with a main character which is a bit based on both but mostly based on any "liberal" scifi writer from then on. But they do really well on the nightmare sights, on explaining why each character is condemned, construct a hero trip narrative out of it and just tell a simple super fun story. It is way better than their other bloated pieces, it knows the characters it describes for once and makes a bit of an effort of understanding them, and the horror premise of someone trying to make a reasonable explanation of something non reasonable just works beautifully. It is one of their most politically charged books, and it is also their best.
I still dislike these guys though. I am a total enemy for them.
For once both writers made their intentions clear: create a world where they send to hell everyone that is on any other side of their discourse. But they do it in a fun, short way, with a main character which is a bit based on both but mostly based on any "liberal" scifi writer from then on. But they do really well on the nightmare sights, on explaining why each character is condemned, construct a hero trip narrative out of it and just tell a simple super fun story. It is way better than their other bloated pieces, it knows the characters it describes for once and makes a bit of an effort of understanding them, and the horror premise of someone trying to make a reasonable explanation of something non reasonable just works beautifully. It is one of their most politically charged books, and it is also their best.
I still dislike these guys though. I am a total enemy for them.
June 6, 2009
I've always been a fan of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, having read it multiple times for pleasure and never once as an assignment, and so I was intrigued by the "reimagining" of Dante's trek through Hell on the way to salvation.
This time around, the pilgrim is a science-fiction writer (and insufferable douche) named Allen Carpenter, who finds himself in the Vestibule of Hell after a drunken stunt at a sci-fi convention for the benefit of unappreciative fans goes unfortunately wrong. He is discovered by an erstwhile guide who just happened to be a war criminal in life, and together they take a tour of the damned as they attempt to escape.
The book relies heavily on Dante's map of the underworld, directly referencing Dante's story more than once, and some of the reworked torments resonate with irony and dark humor. However, I just didn't like Allen enough to sympathize with him. He spends most of the journey attempting to rationalize what he is seeing through the lens of the stories he writes, and this goes on for much too long in this short book. It starts to feel almost self-referential on the part of Niven and Pournelle, which gets irritating and distracting. Allen's guide is an interesting character, though, and by the end of the book the relationship between him and Allen (and the purpose for their little sightseeing adventure) becomes satisfyingly clear.
Inferno is a quick, interesting, and fun read, though it really just made me want to read Dante again. That being said, it made Dante's version of Hell a little more believable to my modern sensibilities. I might just check out the recent sequel to see where they go from here.
This time around, the pilgrim is a science-fiction writer (and insufferable douche) named Allen Carpenter, who finds himself in the Vestibule of Hell after a drunken stunt at a sci-fi convention for the benefit of unappreciative fans goes unfortunately wrong. He is discovered by an erstwhile guide who just happened to be a war criminal in life, and together they take a tour of the damned as they attempt to escape.
The book relies heavily on Dante's map of the underworld, directly referencing Dante's story more than once, and some of the reworked torments resonate with irony and dark humor. However, I just didn't like Allen enough to sympathize with him. He spends most of the journey attempting to rationalize what he is seeing through the lens of the stories he writes, and this goes on for much too long in this short book. It starts to feel almost self-referential on the part of Niven and Pournelle, which gets irritating and distracting. Allen's guide is an interesting character, though, and by the end of the book the relationship between him and Allen (and the purpose for their little sightseeing adventure) becomes satisfyingly clear.
Inferno is a quick, interesting, and fun read, though it really just made me want to read Dante again. That being said, it made Dante's version of Hell a little more believable to my modern sensibilities. I might just check out the recent sequel to see where they go from here.
April 18, 2017
Having read this as a teenager--yeah, it's been that long--I found myself rereading it recently and got caught up in the world as imagined--and riffed from Dante Alighieri himself--by Niven and Pournelle. Allen Carpentier nee Carpenter--yes, biblical allusion, don'tcha know--dies accidentally and wakes up in Hell. He meets a guy, a chunky, dumpy sort, doesn't get that he's Mussolini until three-quarters of the way through the book--and journeys through all the levels until he's reached the center of Hell and meets Satan himself.
And, he performs the ultimate act of self-sacrifice while watching...okay, won't go there.
What Inferno has going for it, then as now, is the sheer power in very simple language to make the reader imagine he or she is undertaking that very same trip. We see the sins updated, fancifully so, see our MC attempt to get out or die--although you really can't as you're already dead--trying, meet an assortment of colorful characters, some of which were invented...I guess Hell has upgrades...and witness a variety of torments visited upon the hapless souls that make you wonder, but never completely gross you out.
Time and circumstances may have dulled Nivens' and Pournelle's writing style, but this, along with Lucifer's Hammer, is an excellent portrayal of them at their very best. As they write--paraphrasing--if Hell won't make a man yell for help, what will?
Highly recommended for any sci-fi/fantasy buff.
And, he performs the ultimate act of self-sacrifice while watching...okay, won't go there.
What Inferno has going for it, then as now, is the sheer power in very simple language to make the reader imagine he or she is undertaking that very same trip. We see the sins updated, fancifully so, see our MC attempt to get out or die--although you really can't as you're already dead--trying, meet an assortment of colorful characters, some of which were invented...I guess Hell has upgrades...and witness a variety of torments visited upon the hapless souls that make you wonder, but never completely gross you out.
Time and circumstances may have dulled Nivens' and Pournelle's writing style, but this, along with Lucifer's Hammer, is an excellent portrayal of them at their very best. As they write--paraphrasing--if Hell won't make a man yell for help, what will?
Highly recommended for any sci-fi/fantasy buff.
August 3, 2012
What I liked about it?
- Dante's Inferno, but better. Dante was never afraid of his journey through hell - Allen Carpentier (our protagonist) most definitely is. He has a lot more riding on it, and that makes it much more captivating.
- Cameos from history's most infamous characters
- Gory, but funny as hell (pun intended).
What I didn't like about it?
- It ended.
Should you read it?
Hell yes. Ha! It was morbidly hilarious, and indulged my twinge for the dark side of religion, complete with scary demons, gory mishaps and witty conversations. It was well-paced, and enticed me to keep reading just to find out what was next on their freaky tour of the bottomless pit.
- Dante's Inferno, but better. Dante was never afraid of his journey through hell - Allen Carpentier (our protagonist) most definitely is. He has a lot more riding on it, and that makes it much more captivating.
- Cameos from history's most infamous characters
- Gory, but funny as hell (pun intended).
What I didn't like about it?
- It ended.
Should you read it?
Hell yes. Ha! It was morbidly hilarious, and indulged my twinge for the dark side of religion, complete with scary demons, gory mishaps and witty conversations. It was well-paced, and enticed me to keep reading just to find out what was next on their freaky tour of the bottomless pit.
December 30, 2023
Really weird in like somewhat of a good way. Idk I was like not familiar with the extensive lore of hell so definitely appreciate the introductions. The main character was soooooo annoying at the beginning trying to convince himself he was in a hell themed Disney but like just a weird short read from a guy who was definitely weird.
January 29, 2010
First of all I’ll admit of not having actually read Dante’s INFERNO, the book on which this book is based. Therefore some of the references mean little to em. But this version of INFERNO is nonetheless a compelling read which works on two levels. First, as the straightforward horror story, the tale of an innocent man (but is he really innocent?) descending into the seven circles of Hell and discovering all manner of suffering and pain on his way down.
There are many memorable horrific images in this book, all vividly described by the authors. Murderers stand forver in a sea of boiling blood, the depth of the blood depending on how evil they are (a hit and run murderer might stand ankle deep while a child murder might be up to his eyebrows). As each of the circles is completely different to the rest, the book is episodic in nature and contains a wealth of description and intrigue.
There are also many memorable characters in the story. The narrator, a science fiction writer who accidentally dies at a convention, starts off rather irritating as he refuses to believe he is actually in Hell but instead in a giant theme park (what?). But our warmth for the character grows as the story progresses and he achieves a transformation through his experience.
The supporting characters, from demons and balrogs to even Benito Mussolini (an excellent touch), who is now repenting for his life of evil, are all portrayed very well. INFERNO is as gruesome as the synopsis sounds, with the sufferers unable to die and eventually healing from all wounds. On a visceral level it will satisfy even the hardest horror fan.
Beyond the engaging action-adventure plotline, we also find a number of themes. Our narrator questions the existence of Hell and of a God who sends sufferers there for minor sins when perhaps they do not really belong. There are themes of redemption, loss and injustice running throughout and the story really makes you think in places, becoming profound. The ending is also an excellent way to conclude the tale and really satisfying. INFERNO is really a one-of-a-kind tale and should be read as a warning by anyone with an imagination.
There are many memorable horrific images in this book, all vividly described by the authors. Murderers stand forver in a sea of boiling blood, the depth of the blood depending on how evil they are (a hit and run murderer might stand ankle deep while a child murder might be up to his eyebrows). As each of the circles is completely different to the rest, the book is episodic in nature and contains a wealth of description and intrigue.
There are also many memorable characters in the story. The narrator, a science fiction writer who accidentally dies at a convention, starts off rather irritating as he refuses to believe he is actually in Hell but instead in a giant theme park (what?). But our warmth for the character grows as the story progresses and he achieves a transformation through his experience.
The supporting characters, from demons and balrogs to even Benito Mussolini (an excellent touch), who is now repenting for his life of evil, are all portrayed very well. INFERNO is as gruesome as the synopsis sounds, with the sufferers unable to die and eventually healing from all wounds. On a visceral level it will satisfy even the hardest horror fan.
Beyond the engaging action-adventure plotline, we also find a number of themes. Our narrator questions the existence of Hell and of a God who sends sufferers there for minor sins when perhaps they do not really belong. There are themes of redemption, loss and injustice running throughout and the story really makes you think in places, becoming profound. The ending is also an excellent way to conclude the tale and really satisfying. INFERNO is really a one-of-a-kind tale and should be read as a warning by anyone with an imagination.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2008
Dante Alighieri gets a makeover and his journey to hell is led by a science fiction writer named Carpentier whose fans let him accidently kill himself at a sci-fi convention. Carpentier, at first, has some ethical and practical questions about being dead—mainly how he is capable of thinking about being dead if he is dead. Before slipping off a window sill with a half emptied bottle of rum he mentions the name of God to his adoring fans. It’s this utterance that places him in limbo after his reckless deed and supplies his guide to the underworld. Orpheus and Virgil move over. The new guide through the Infernoland Theme Park is none other than Benito Mussolini. Oh, yes, it is sin 20th century style.
Each level contains an updated quality of sin—although the dynamic-duo run across a few historic characters along the way. Hell is forever, don’t forget. There is a special place for lawyers—rightly so. But my favorite scene was when Carpentier ran across a ‘hoarder and collector’ who in life had amassed the definitive collection of the authors books. And then allowed them to rot away because he had no money for upkeep and couldn’t decide which to sell. In the manner of Dante, Voltaire, Bunyan, the satire is clever and biting.
Each level contains an updated quality of sin—although the dynamic-duo run across a few historic characters along the way. Hell is forever, don’t forget. There is a special place for lawyers—rightly so. But my favorite scene was when Carpentier ran across a ‘hoarder and collector’ who in life had amassed the definitive collection of the authors books. And then allowed them to rot away because he had no money for upkeep and couldn’t decide which to sell. In the manner of Dante, Voltaire, Bunyan, the satire is clever and biting.
September 22, 2025
I still think is the best science fiction book I have ever read.
Writer Allen Carpentier finds himself in Hell following a hard night of drinking with his fans. Of course, he can't accept it's Hell, he develops numerous hypothesis about what it could be using the science fiction stories he wrote as a basis. Still the place does bear a close resemblance to Dante's Inferno, a book he read in college, and his guide Benito, is Italian.
As Allen travels the nine circles of Hell, he comes to terms with what a sin is, what it isn't, and how the refusal to examine your life and make changes is what truly damns your soul.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's fabulous.
Writer Allen Carpentier finds himself in Hell following a hard night of drinking with his fans. Of course, he can't accept it's Hell, he develops numerous hypothesis about what it could be using the science fiction stories he wrote as a basis. Still the place does bear a close resemblance to Dante's Inferno, a book he read in college, and his guide Benito, is Italian.
As Allen travels the nine circles of Hell, he comes to terms with what a sin is, what it isn't, and how the refusal to examine your life and make changes is what truly damns your soul.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's fabulous.
March 7, 2022
Very fascinating concept of a modern Dante's Inferno, with a hell that changes over time, by adding new sins when culture and technology changes. The novel's characters questions the logic of this hell that seems to have no sense of justice. People that seems to be good go to hell because of minor moral brakes and suffer for all eternity. It implies that God is a cruel and sadistic being
But in this novel there is not much more than philosophical pondering on the logicists ans morality of the Christian hell. The characters are boring and the twist is predictable
But in this novel there is not much more than philosophical pondering on the logicists ans morality of the Christian hell. The characters are boring and the twist is predictable
December 19, 2017
A writer falls through a window waking up at the entrance to hell. He sees a golden opportunity for a book and using Dante's map sets for on an information gathering excursion. But is more difficult than he envisioned.
February 28, 2024
The damned are 700000 times more interesting than the living. *Takes a bubble bath in boiling blood*
February 27, 2017
While I generally like the idea of turning Dante's Inferno into a SciFi pulp novel, Niven's and Pournelle's interpretation of the great Italian classic is not without its flaws. After the hilarious opening sequence at a fan convention, the protagonist and science fiction writer Alan Carpentier starts wandering through hell with good old Virgil being replaced by none other than infamous Italian fascist Benito Mussolini. And this is basically where the problems begin: The authors jump from one place to the next, hardly giving the reader time to soak in the atmosphere or let his fantasy process the imagery, making the novel feel more like a brainstorming of ideas loosely knitted together and that have never been truly fleshed out. While some of them are smart and/or funny some others appear rather dull and should have been left on the cutting room floor in order to tighten things up and put emphasis on the aspects that actually do work. Unfortunately this and the rather non-existent character development (also mainly due to the episodic nature of the book) leave us with an enjoyable but not spectacular read and quite a lot of wasted potential. Whether Niven and Pournelle managed to get their stuff together with the follow-up I do not know as of now, but I am planning to find out soon. ;-)
December 10, 2009
Christian mythology is a rich source of fiction. It's a great deal of fun to re-interpret mythology and add a new twist, a new perspective. This isn't a new trend either; it's been going on since there was a Christianity to mythologize. Few figures have drawn as much attention as the Devil, also known as Satan, Lucifer, What Have You. In the Bible, he is a serpent and a trickster. Milton made him sympathetic (although I suspect he was copying the Rolling Stones). Although Dante's Inferno from the Divine Comedy is more about Dante's journey through Hell than it is about the Devil, the same idea applies: it's one man's interpretation of a mythology that has shaped entire societies.
Now we have Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's take on Inferno—a re-interpretation of a re-interpretation of Christian mythology (at least, the Hell part). Niven and Pournelle (I'm going to call them N&P from hereon if that's fine; I don't know which wrote more of if that's applicable here, so I'll laud and lament them collectively) draw heavily from their source material. However, you don't need to have read the original before tackling this Inferno. I haven't yet tackled the Divine Comedy, but I'm aware of enough of the basic plot to see the parallels here: a writer dies and finds himself in Hell. He ventures deeper and deeper into Hell's concentric circles, each one featuring punishments for different types of sinners. The narrator receives a guide—in Dante's case, Virgil; in Carpenter's, Benito Mussolini. The goal of this journey is an escape from Hell found at its very centre. The ending of the book, as well as in some of its particulars, differs from the original. This is more a work "inspired by" Dante's than a straight "updated" version.
The Hell of N&P's Inferno is one of horrors and punishments that seem just but, as Carpenter puts it, "much too late." At first, Carpenter can't believe he's in Hell. As a science fiction writer and an agnostic, Carpenter tries to rationalize Hell. He calls it "Infernoland," a sadistic amusement park created by advanced humans or aliens. As he goes deeper into this setting, however, he encounters stranger and more unsettling sights that call this theory into question. The problem is not that Carpenter is unable to believe in God (and thus in Hell) but that he can't reconcile a God with a "private torture chamber" with the largely benevolent God depicted in Christianity. In fact, any Inferno is somewhat of a deconstruction of the Christian mythos, since attempts to depict the nature of punishments in Hell inevitably evoke this sort of reaction: why would God do this? By the end of the book, Carpenter believes he has arrived at an answer, one that requires him to stay in Hell and help others escape while Mussolini goes on to the next stage (presumably Purgatory).
N&P break the monotony of Carpenter and Mussolini's relationship with several transitory characters, including Billy the Kidd, an astronaut named Jeremy Corbett, and for a moment, Jesse James. As much as the idea is a good one, I have to question the choice of companions. Really, Billy the Kidd? Maybe I'm just a bag o' no fun, but these people aren't examples of what I'd call interesting historical personages (now Mussolini is definitely on that list). And these companions are with the main characters for such a short time that it's hard to develop any attachment to them. Just as I begin to warm up to Corbett, N&P pull him back to his place in Hell, leaving Carpenter and Mussolini alone once again. Almost all the characters save these two are underdeveloped, more one-liner jokes ("What are you in for?") than actual people.
My problem with the bureaucratic episode is similar. I loved the parody of bureaucracy—I love parodies of bureaucracy in general, and N&P include a good one here. It's just too short (although maybe this is necessary in order to keep such parodies fresh and funny). All of these short sketches of punishments in Hell give Carpenter the opportunity to reflect on his past life, but without much of an idea of Carpenter's life, there's very little in the way of pathos.
In addition to the bureaucracy parody, there are plenty of lighter moments in Inferno. N&P make plenty of references to popular science fiction authors at the time, delivering tips of the hat or vaguely disguised mockery to Asimov, L. Ron Hubbard, Robert A. Heinlein, A.E. van Vogt, etc. Carpenter as a character and his entire Infernoland theory is as much a comment on the cult of science fiction as it is a deconstruction of Christian Hell. A good deal of what we know about Carpenter we learn from how he describes his relationship with his fans. He feels like he's a more approachable, more open author than some of the more prestigious authors who are winning Hugos and, like Asimov, publishing far more in a year than he'll output in a lifetime. As Carpenter speculates about the fantastic mechanisms that must operate Infernoland, we get the idea that he clings to this theory long past its expiry not because he genuinely believes in it because it's all he has. He has spent so long being just a science fiction writer, with few if any other attachments, that science fiction is all he has left of any sense of "normal" (and Infernoland is certainly not normal).
Inferno is at times very much a piece of genre fiction, almost meta in the way Carpenter interjects with his interpretation of Hell. It has elements of both satire and seriousness in it, but in this instance they don't mesh satisfactorily. Part of me really liked it, but overall I feel . . . underwhelmed. This is a usually a sign that a book has lots of little good ideas (like Benito Mussolini as the guide to Hell) but never really coheres.
Now we have Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's take on Inferno—a re-interpretation of a re-interpretation of Christian mythology (at least, the Hell part). Niven and Pournelle (I'm going to call them N&P from hereon if that's fine; I don't know which wrote more of if that's applicable here, so I'll laud and lament them collectively) draw heavily from their source material. However, you don't need to have read the original before tackling this Inferno. I haven't yet tackled the Divine Comedy, but I'm aware of enough of the basic plot to see the parallels here: a writer dies and finds himself in Hell. He ventures deeper and deeper into Hell's concentric circles, each one featuring punishments for different types of sinners. The narrator receives a guide—in Dante's case, Virgil; in Carpenter's, Benito Mussolini. The goal of this journey is an escape from Hell found at its very centre. The ending of the book, as well as in some of its particulars, differs from the original. This is more a work "inspired by" Dante's than a straight "updated" version.
The Hell of N&P's Inferno is one of horrors and punishments that seem just but, as Carpenter puts it, "much too late." At first, Carpenter can't believe he's in Hell. As a science fiction writer and an agnostic, Carpenter tries to rationalize Hell. He calls it "Infernoland," a sadistic amusement park created by advanced humans or aliens. As he goes deeper into this setting, however, he encounters stranger and more unsettling sights that call this theory into question. The problem is not that Carpenter is unable to believe in God (and thus in Hell) but that he can't reconcile a God with a "private torture chamber" with the largely benevolent God depicted in Christianity. In fact, any Inferno is somewhat of a deconstruction of the Christian mythos, since attempts to depict the nature of punishments in Hell inevitably evoke this sort of reaction: why would God do this? By the end of the book, Carpenter believes he has arrived at an answer, one that requires him to stay in Hell and help others escape while Mussolini goes on to the next stage (presumably Purgatory).
N&P break the monotony of Carpenter and Mussolini's relationship with several transitory characters, including Billy the Kidd, an astronaut named Jeremy Corbett, and for a moment, Jesse James. As much as the idea is a good one, I have to question the choice of companions. Really, Billy the Kidd? Maybe I'm just a bag o' no fun, but these people aren't examples of what I'd call interesting historical personages (now Mussolini is definitely on that list). And these companions are with the main characters for such a short time that it's hard to develop any attachment to them. Just as I begin to warm up to Corbett, N&P pull him back to his place in Hell, leaving Carpenter and Mussolini alone once again. Almost all the characters save these two are underdeveloped, more one-liner jokes ("What are you in for?") than actual people.
My problem with the bureaucratic episode is similar. I loved the parody of bureaucracy—I love parodies of bureaucracy in general, and N&P include a good one here. It's just too short (although maybe this is necessary in order to keep such parodies fresh and funny). All of these short sketches of punishments in Hell give Carpenter the opportunity to reflect on his past life, but without much of an idea of Carpenter's life, there's very little in the way of pathos.
In addition to the bureaucracy parody, there are plenty of lighter moments in Inferno. N&P make plenty of references to popular science fiction authors at the time, delivering tips of the hat or vaguely disguised mockery to Asimov, L. Ron Hubbard, Robert A. Heinlein, A.E. van Vogt, etc. Carpenter as a character and his entire Infernoland theory is as much a comment on the cult of science fiction as it is a deconstruction of Christian Hell. A good deal of what we know about Carpenter we learn from how he describes his relationship with his fans. He feels like he's a more approachable, more open author than some of the more prestigious authors who are winning Hugos and, like Asimov, publishing far more in a year than he'll output in a lifetime. As Carpenter speculates about the fantastic mechanisms that must operate Infernoland, we get the idea that he clings to this theory long past its expiry not because he genuinely believes in it because it's all he has. He has spent so long being just a science fiction writer, with few if any other attachments, that science fiction is all he has left of any sense of "normal" (and Infernoland is certainly not normal).
Inferno is at times very much a piece of genre fiction, almost meta in the way Carpenter interjects with his interpretation of Hell. It has elements of both satire and seriousness in it, but in this instance they don't mesh satisfactorily. Part of me really liked it, but overall I feel . . . underwhelmed. This is a usually a sign that a book has lots of little good ideas (like Benito Mussolini as the guide to Hell) but never really coheres.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
Picked this one off the sci-fi shelves a couple of nights ago. Interesting enough so far, but NOT sci-fi.
So ... it's been an interesting, if somewhat unpleasant journey thus far, and the sci-fi angle has been strengthened.
- I'm somewhat reminded of that weird Robin Williams movie "What Dreams May Come"
And so to the final half... and I'm finding this to be a bit tedious and pointless. The sci-fi angle is tepid at best and our travelers seem to be going nowhere fast. If things don't pick up we might be looking at a 2* rating.
- There's a bit of resemblance between the Hell of this book and the Fairyland of The Girl/Boy Who series by Catherynne M. Valente. Fairyland is much more fun. Hell is just stinky, hot, gross and seemingly endless and pointless, except as a celebration of suffering and punishment.
- "faggots"?
- The demons remind one of Tolkien's orcs.
The sci fi and religious speculations continued to be lame to the end. If I'd been consulted I'd have advised against this "project." But... the ending was kind of cool as Benito climbs toward Purgatorio after meeting up with a gigantic three-headed Shaitan.
- 2.75* rounds up to 3*.
So ... it's been an interesting, if somewhat unpleasant journey thus far, and the sci-fi angle has been strengthened.
- I'm somewhat reminded of that weird Robin Williams movie "What Dreams May Come"
And so to the final half... and I'm finding this to be a bit tedious and pointless. The sci-fi angle is tepid at best and our travelers seem to be going nowhere fast. If things don't pick up we might be looking at a 2* rating.
- There's a bit of resemblance between the Hell of this book and the Fairyland of The Girl/Boy Who series by Catherynne M. Valente. Fairyland is much more fun. Hell is just stinky, hot, gross and seemingly endless and pointless, except as a celebration of suffering and punishment.
- "faggots"?
- The demons remind one of Tolkien's orcs.
The sci fi and religious speculations continued to be lame to the end. If I'd been consulted I'd have advised against this "project." But... the ending was kind of cool as Benito climbs toward Purgatorio after meeting up with a gigantic three-headed Shaitan.
- 2.75* rounds up to 3*.
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