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The Other in the Mirror
The Other in the Mirror brings together three classic novels by Philip José Fire and the Night, Jesus on Mars, and Night of Light. All three are united by one of SF s central tropes, that of The Other.
Fire and the Night is a mainstream novel so rare that even many of Farmer's most dedicated fans have never read it. First published in 1962, it is also one of the author's most daring works, exploring the issue of racial Otherness in a mesmerizing tale of temptation and entrapment in a small industrial Midwestern town.
In Jesus on Mars, Richard Orme and the crew of the Barsoom embark on the first manned mission to the Red Planet, intent on investigating what seemed to be evidence of life beamed back to Earth by a robotic survey satellite. But Orme discovers in the hollowed-out Martian caverns what he and the scientists back home least a group of aliens, as well as humans transplanted from first century A.D. Earth, led by a being who claims to be Jesus of Nazareth Himself. Soon Orme and his crew are shocked to find that The Other they face is made all that more alien because of its similarity to humanity's past.
Night of Light is not only one of Farmer's most psychologically gripping SF tales, it is also the novel which inspired Jimi Hendrix s psychedelic rock classic Purple Haze. John Carmody is a fugitive from Earth, condemned to exile for brutally murdering his wife. Hired by the galactic Church on a mission to squelch a burgeoning rival religion, Carmody must take the Chance on the planet Dante's Joy and risk his worst nightmares becoming reality. But that s not the worst of the Fathers of Algul and the Fathers of Yess have their own plans for the conscienceless Carmody for to the inhabitants of Dante's Joy, Carmody himself is The Other...and they need his alien flesh to give birth to God.
Fire and the Night is a mainstream novel so rare that even many of Farmer's most dedicated fans have never read it. First published in 1962, it is also one of the author's most daring works, exploring the issue of racial Otherness in a mesmerizing tale of temptation and entrapment in a small industrial Midwestern town.
In Jesus on Mars, Richard Orme and the crew of the Barsoom embark on the first manned mission to the Red Planet, intent on investigating what seemed to be evidence of life beamed back to Earth by a robotic survey satellite. But Orme discovers in the hollowed-out Martian caverns what he and the scientists back home least a group of aliens, as well as humans transplanted from first century A.D. Earth, led by a being who claims to be Jesus of Nazareth Himself. Soon Orme and his crew are shocked to find that The Other they face is made all that more alien because of its similarity to humanity's past.
Night of Light is not only one of Farmer's most psychologically gripping SF tales, it is also the novel which inspired Jimi Hendrix s psychedelic rock classic Purple Haze. John Carmody is a fugitive from Earth, condemned to exile for brutally murdering his wife. Hired by the galactic Church on a mission to squelch a burgeoning rival religion, Carmody must take the Chance on the planet Dante's Joy and risk his worst nightmares becoming reality. But that s not the worst of the Fathers of Algul and the Fathers of Yess have their own plans for the conscienceless Carmody for to the inhabitants of Dante's Joy, Carmody himself is The Other...and they need his alien flesh to give birth to God.
- GenresScience Fiction
496 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2009
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Philip José Farmer
620 books882 followersPhilip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 29, 2024
A nicely done collection. Three short novels. All very different from each other, but sharing the theme of ‘the other’. Whether the other is the pro- or antagonist is not always clear.
Fire and Night is Farmer’s only mainstream novel. It’s set in a steel mill during the second world war. With so many men at war they are back-filling positions with African-American women. That’s ok with Danny, college educated, as he’s as woke as you like and he knows it. Unfortunately for Danny we can see inside his head and can examine at leisure his discomfiture and unconscious biases. Pretty soon he’s going to be subjected to a plot that will force him to confront those biases. A much better novel that I expected it to be, though it is a bit over-written at times. I get the impression Farmer knew he had one chance to get a mainstream career going.
In Jesus on Mars a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, and an atheist land on the red planet. Something unexpected has been seen on the surface. What they find is a society of Orthodox Messianic Jews living in an artificial cavern system. None of the Earthlings is exactly practising the faith of their forebears. Essentially, they are all in a state of doubt. The Martians have no such difficulty because apparently Jesus lives in the giant lightbulb that illuminates the cavern. It’s a clever set-up, and soon everyone will be subjected to a plot.
In Night of Light Mars is switched out for the planet of Dante’s Joy. Every seven years their sun emits certain radiations and by a process that doesn’t matter causes the unconscious thoughts of the inhabitants to become flesh. They’re a religious people, and the radiation means that their religion is physically true. Into this situation comes John Carmody, an Earthling. We’re told he’s a psychopath, but we the reader can see that he just hates himself. He’s a stranger to himself. Either literally or figuratively he has killed his wife, his mother; himself and god. There’s more going on character-wise than is usual in Farmer’s work. There’s also a plot.
Fire and Night is Farmer’s only mainstream novel. It’s set in a steel mill during the second world war. With so many men at war they are back-filling positions with African-American women. That’s ok with Danny, college educated, as he’s as woke as you like and he knows it. Unfortunately for Danny we can see inside his head and can examine at leisure his discomfiture and unconscious biases. Pretty soon he’s going to be subjected to a plot that will force him to confront those biases. A much better novel that I expected it to be, though it is a bit over-written at times. I get the impression Farmer knew he had one chance to get a mainstream career going.
In Jesus on Mars a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, and an atheist land on the red planet. Something unexpected has been seen on the surface. What they find is a society of Orthodox Messianic Jews living in an artificial cavern system. None of the Earthlings is exactly practising the faith of their forebears. Essentially, they are all in a state of doubt. The Martians have no such difficulty because apparently Jesus lives in the giant lightbulb that illuminates the cavern. It’s a clever set-up, and soon everyone will be subjected to a plot.
In Night of Light Mars is switched out for the planet of Dante’s Joy. Every seven years their sun emits certain radiations and by a process that doesn’t matter causes the unconscious thoughts of the inhabitants to become flesh. They’re a religious people, and the radiation means that their religion is physically true. Into this situation comes John Carmody, an Earthling. We’re told he’s a psychopath, but we the reader can see that he just hates himself. He’s a stranger to himself. Either literally or figuratively he has killed his wife, his mother; himself and god. There’s more going on character-wise than is usual in Farmer’s work. There’s also a plot.
Displaying 1 of 1 review