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The Book of Paradox
A hypnotically fascinating Tarot adventure to a psychedelic nether realm of mysterious fantasy where lies are truths and truths have no meaning...where terror is real and reality is always questionable...and where a valiant hero must become The Fool to succeed on a perilous quest for love through changing worlds of eternal night. Myth, mystery and magic abound in a mesmerizing novel of considerable imaginative talent.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
151 people want to read
About the author
Louise Cooper
154 books233 followersLouise Cooper was born in Hertfordshire in 1952. She began writing stories when she was at school to entertain her friends. She hated school so much, in fact—spending most lessons clandestinely writing stories—that she persuaded her parents to let her abandon her education at the age of fifteen and has never regretted it.
She continued to write and her first full-length novel was published when she was only twenty years old. She moved to London in 1975 and worked in publishing before becoming a full-time writer in 1977. Since then she has become a prolific writer of fantasy, renowned for her bestselling Time Master trilogy. She has published more than eighty fantasy and supernatural novels, both for adults and children. She also wrote occasional short stories for anthologies, and has co-written a comedy play that was produced for her local school.
Louise Cooper lived in Cornwall with her husband, Cas Sandall, and their black cat, Simba. She gained a great deal of writing inspiration from the coast and scenery, and her other interests included music, folklore, cooking, gardening and "messing about on the beach." Just to make sure she keeps busy, she was also treasurer of her local Lifeboat station.
Louise passed away suddenly from a brain aneurysm on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. She was a wonderful and talented lady and will be greatly missed.
She continued to write and her first full-length novel was published when she was only twenty years old. She moved to London in 1975 and worked in publishing before becoming a full-time writer in 1977. Since then she has become a prolific writer of fantasy, renowned for her bestselling Time Master trilogy. She has published more than eighty fantasy and supernatural novels, both for adults and children. She also wrote occasional short stories for anthologies, and has co-written a comedy play that was produced for her local school.
Louise Cooper lived in Cornwall with her husband, Cas Sandall, and their black cat, Simba. She gained a great deal of writing inspiration from the coast and scenery, and her other interests included music, folklore, cooking, gardening and "messing about on the beach." Just to make sure she keeps busy, she was also treasurer of her local Lifeboat station.
Louise passed away suddenly from a brain aneurysm on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. She was a wonderful and talented lady and will be greatly missed.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2017
The Book of Paradox by Louise Cooper
Aloethe’s life is taken by a jealous prince; Aloethe’s love, Varka, serves as a scapegoat to the murder. Sentenced to sacrifice at the temple of the Darxes, Lord of the Underworld, Varka awakens and is encouraged to find Aloethe in Limbo … if he can find the place. Varka is also empowered with the Book of Paradox, a magical book with pages/verses are cryptic, dynamic, and crucial to understand.
The actual Book of Paradox has 22 chapters, each named/influenced by the Major Arcana of the Tarot. A forward by the author’s first husband Gary Cooper explains the design: “The Book of Paradox represents the journey of the Fool through the initiations of the various cards. This is Varka’s fated quest, and one which leads him and the reader through many strange lands, into contact with many strange people, as will the Tarot itself.”
Louise Cooper was only twenty years old when her debut novel came out, and she was graced with a breath-taking Frank Frazetta cover (called “Paradox”). Each chapter has a frontispiece with an illustration by Barbara Nessim of the card influence in the current chapter along with a paragraph explaining the interpretation. Many mini-stories span 2-to-3 cards/chapters; for instance, the cover of Varka approaching vampire women is a scene from a story spanning (a) Chapters VII: The Chariot (Reversed) and (b) VIII: Fortitude.
This is a trippy adventure into an underworld that is more dream-like than it is horrifying. It is short and reads fast. The pacing and style is reminiscent of Michael Moorcock (known for his Elric novels) and there are some echoes of Jack Vance (1926-2013) and his Dying Earth series--iconic in RPG/D&D history since the naming of Items and Spells was simple: Magic Items such as Expansible Egg, Scintillant Dagger, and Live Boots...and Spells such as Excellent Prismatic Spray, Phandaal's Mantle of Stealth, Call to the Violent Cloud, Charm of Untiring Nourishment. There is an echo of Vance flare here, in that Louise Cooper offers location and titles similarly: Castle Without parallel, Queen of Blue, the Cave of Souls Passing, and the titular Book of Paradox.
The Tarot design is interesting but not obviously crucial/integral for the story; i.e., the Book of Paradox carried by Varka begged for a stronger connection to the Tarot cards, but the connection, if any, was not obvious. Nonetheless, it is a fun tale. Louise seems better known for her Time Master and Indigo series, which I plan to read.
The Initiate and Nemesis
“An occult odyssey through the Tarot to an inner world beyond the portals of Death”
Aloethe’s life is taken by a jealous prince; Aloethe’s love, Varka, serves as a scapegoat to the murder. Sentenced to sacrifice at the temple of the Darxes, Lord of the Underworld, Varka awakens and is encouraged to find Aloethe in Limbo … if he can find the place. Varka is also empowered with the Book of Paradox, a magical book with pages/verses are cryptic, dynamic, and crucial to understand.
“You are indeed a thing of paradox,”[Varka] muttered under his breath, addressing the Book. “When I need you most, you tell me nothing, and when you are useful your words are impossible to understand.”
The actual Book of Paradox has 22 chapters, each named/influenced by the Major Arcana of the Tarot. A forward by the author’s first husband Gary Cooper explains the design: “The Book of Paradox represents the journey of the Fool through the initiations of the various cards. This is Varka’s fated quest, and one which leads him and the reader through many strange lands, into contact with many strange people, as will the Tarot itself.”
Louise Cooper was only twenty years old when her debut novel came out, and she was graced with a breath-taking Frank Frazetta cover (called “Paradox”). Each chapter has a frontispiece with an illustration by Barbara Nessim of the card influence in the current chapter along with a paragraph explaining the interpretation. Many mini-stories span 2-to-3 cards/chapters; for instance, the cover of Varka approaching vampire women is a scene from a story spanning (a) Chapters VII: The Chariot (Reversed) and (b) VIII: Fortitude.
This is a trippy adventure into an underworld that is more dream-like than it is horrifying. It is short and reads fast. The pacing and style is reminiscent of Michael Moorcock (known for his Elric novels) and there are some echoes of Jack Vance (1926-2013) and his Dying Earth series--iconic in RPG/D&D history since the naming of Items and Spells was simple: Magic Items such as Expansible Egg, Scintillant Dagger, and Live Boots...and Spells such as Excellent Prismatic Spray, Phandaal's Mantle of Stealth, Call to the Violent Cloud, Charm of Untiring Nourishment. There is an echo of Vance flare here, in that Louise Cooper offers location and titles similarly: Castle Without parallel, Queen of Blue, the Cave of Souls Passing, and the titular Book of Paradox.
The Tarot design is interesting but not obviously crucial/integral for the story; i.e., the Book of Paradox carried by Varka begged for a stronger connection to the Tarot cards, but the connection, if any, was not obvious. Nonetheless, it is a fun tale. Louise seems better known for her Time Master and Indigo series, which I plan to read.
The Initiate and Nemesis
September 6, 2013
Pretty good fantasy story about a man journeying through the underworld to rescue his lost love, currently residing in Limbo.
I think the best part of the book is near the beginning, when the protagonist, Varka, meets Darxes, the king of the underworld. Their chemistry is good and Darxes is just a really good character, and his spooky companions are intriguing. Kinda wish there had been a lot more of that, or at least a lot more of that kind of character interaction. But all in all, an intriguing fantasy world that, outside of the underworld, I would not mind visiting again.
I think the best part of the book is near the beginning, when the protagonist, Varka, meets Darxes, the king of the underworld. Their chemistry is good and Darxes is just a really good character, and his spooky companions are intriguing. Kinda wish there had been a lot more of that, or at least a lot more of that kind of character interaction. But all in all, an intriguing fantasy world that, outside of the underworld, I would not mind visiting again.
September 17, 2014
Varka did not know what the women had seen in the temple below the ground, but he knew that they had not seen him in his clumsy disguise. He had been something other than human, something possessed, something all-powerful. Now he stood in the small clearing, and he raised his stolen sword in salute to the howling wind. The wind laughed anew, long and loud, and parted the tops of the great trees so the bland face of the moon shone down and turned the dull sword into a streak of silver fire.
When Varka is unjustly convicted of murdering the woman he loves, he is sentenced to be sacrificed to Darxes the Lord of the Underworld. But Darxes takes pity on him and sends him on a quest to find Limbo and return Aloethe to the land of the living, giving him the Book of Paradox to guide him on his journey.
The book is divided into 22 chapters, each named for one of the cards of the Major Arcana, beginning with the Magician (Reversed) and ending with the Fool. Each chapter begins with a description of the card's symbolism of the Tarot card, and if the card is reversed it explains how that changes its symbolism, so the reader has a general idea of how Varka's quest is going to go and who he will meet along the way. This is an unusual way of telling a story, and quite different from the way Tarot cards are used to tell stories in "The Castle of Crossed Desires" by Italo Calvino. Varka meets with paradoxes throughout his journey and the story ends with the biggest (and most intriguing) paradox of all.
This is the most interesting fantasy book I have read in a long time.
When Varka is unjustly convicted of murdering the woman he loves, he is sentenced to be sacrificed to Darxes the Lord of the Underworld. But Darxes takes pity on him and sends him on a quest to find Limbo and return Aloethe to the land of the living, giving him the Book of Paradox to guide him on his journey.
The book is divided into 22 chapters, each named for one of the cards of the Major Arcana, beginning with the Magician (Reversed) and ending with the Fool. Each chapter begins with a description of the card's symbolism of the Tarot card, and if the card is reversed it explains how that changes its symbolism, so the reader has a general idea of how Varka's quest is going to go and who he will meet along the way. This is an unusual way of telling a story, and quite different from the way Tarot cards are used to tell stories in "The Castle of Crossed Desires" by Italo Calvino. Varka meets with paradoxes throughout his journey and the story ends with the biggest (and most intriguing) paradox of all.
This is the most interesting fantasy book I have read in a long time.
May 3, 2008
Some books, though the details of which are hazy in my memory, remain notable simply because I remember that I enjoyed reading them at the time. Louise Cooper's The Book of Paradox is one such novel. Perhaps, someday, I will read it again to see if it has managed to weather the test of time. Luckily, I shall not have to hunt for a copy. I have kept the copy I read over a quarter-century ago because I enjoyed it so much "back in the day".
Maybe 2012 will be a good year for revisiting selected old favorites.
Maybe 2012 will be a good year for revisiting selected old favorites.
November 12, 2015
I bought this book when it first came out for the Frank Frazetta cover. Then I read it and found it to be quite entertaining.
April 28, 2015
I read this book because I found it while working as a page in my high school library back in about 1977. It was definitely, without doubt, the strangest book I have ever read! No science fiction book, no fantasy book, has ever approached this in it's strangeness. During a conversation, I somehow recalled it and was talking about it. Now, I've got a used copy and am re-reading it. Yes, it's absolutely as strange as I recalled. I'm enjoying the second read after a 35 year wait.
August 30, 2013
This was an interesting book. It was given to me as a gift from a friend. It mixes discussion on the meaning of tarot cards with an ongoing quest to rescue the woman the main character loves. It is most definitely worth a read.
May 10, 2020
Was really hoping for some more tarot-specific stuff, and the ending was kind of confusing? But overall it was fun to read!
March 23, 2025
“I once played Poker with a deck of Tarot cards. I got a Full House and four people died.” -Stephen Wright
So according to my dictionary, a paradox is a seeming internal contradiction which somehow turns out to be true. I found this book among my collection of vintage SFF, and since I have been encouraged to read fantasy written by women, I decided to take this on. The story is wrapped in a very clever overview of the Tarot, with a brief introductory explanation of the Tarot itself, and each chapter beginning with a line drawing of each card and a brief explanation of its meaning, both upright and obverse (See? Paradox). The action in each chapter is in the context of its card.
The story itself seems a standard one of the hero, Varka, whose wife is killed, and whom he wishes to retrieve from the Underworld, specifically the Lord of the Underworld. Upon entering the Underworld, he is given the Book of Paradox as a guide, but its pages are blank, requiring the protagonist to write his own guide. Along his journey, Varka meets all manner of dangerous, seductive, confusing and at times wonderful characters and situations.
As I said, despite the fancy wrapping, the story itself seemed fairly standard, and I kept wondering what it was about this book that merited a cover illustration by the great Frank Frazetta…until the last chapter, indeed the last page (Don’t look, it’ll spoil the surprise!), which was a shocker and was the Ultimate Paradox. Ms. Cooper has presented a masterful work, which I highly recommend for all you Fantasy fans out there. Five big stars.
So according to my dictionary, a paradox is a seeming internal contradiction which somehow turns out to be true. I found this book among my collection of vintage SFF, and since I have been encouraged to read fantasy written by women, I decided to take this on. The story is wrapped in a very clever overview of the Tarot, with a brief introductory explanation of the Tarot itself, and each chapter beginning with a line drawing of each card and a brief explanation of its meaning, both upright and obverse (See? Paradox). The action in each chapter is in the context of its card.
The story itself seems a standard one of the hero, Varka, whose wife is killed, and whom he wishes to retrieve from the Underworld, specifically the Lord of the Underworld. Upon entering the Underworld, he is given the Book of Paradox as a guide, but its pages are blank, requiring the protagonist to write his own guide. Along his journey, Varka meets all manner of dangerous, seductive, confusing and at times wonderful characters and situations.
As I said, despite the fancy wrapping, the story itself seemed fairly standard, and I kept wondering what it was about this book that merited a cover illustration by the great Frank Frazetta…until the last chapter, indeed the last page (Don’t look, it’ll spoil the surprise!), which was a shocker and was the Ultimate Paradox. Ms. Cooper has presented a masterful work, which I highly recommend for all you Fantasy fans out there. Five big stars.
January 8, 2023
Another re-read from my childhood and again, the way I remember it isn't quite how it really was (I think I have conflated it with a Greek Myth).
February 12, 2019
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Being a Tarot reader I think hindered my enjoyment. The Tarot connection was so strong at first, The Hierophant chapter was genius, and then it got more and more remote. At The Moon chapter I stopped sympathizing with the main character or his quest. I think part of the problem with the journey was using so many reversals, so many failures. It’s a tactic but not the best one for a journey through the major arcana story I’ve seen. Some good ideas, some good moments, and a good concept, but for me they were moments instead of the whole. I really think were I not so attached to the Tarot I would have enjoyed it more. I also personally have a strong aversion to stories about quests for great love where the romantic hero can’t keep it in his pants but again that’s a personal preference.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews