The Darkness on Diamondia

by A.E. van Vogt

Colonel Morton was sent to Diamondia to report on the war between Earth-descended colonists and the guerilla warriors of the inhuman Irsk. Because something was going terribly wrong - a darkness was setting in, mental confusion was epidemic, and there was evidence of outside interference.
The Darkness was impartial, and Morton's encounters with it were the most disturbing events of his career. For it seemed as if the Outside were deliberately stirring up the planetary pot, mixing minds with minds, and personalities with personalities. But when Morton realized that the only solution might be to find and use the incalculable power of the Lositeen Weapon, he realized also that the decision was too great for any one man - even for all men together - to make.
It is loosely based on the short story "Humans, Go Home!" from 1969.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, Roman

254 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Alfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-born science fiction author regarded by some as one of the most popular and complex science fiction writers of the mid-twentieth century—the "Golden Age" of the genre.

van Vogt was born to Russian Mennonite family. Until he was four years old, van Vogt and his family spoke only a dialect of Low German in the home.

He began his writing career with 'true story' romances, but then moved to writing science fiction, a field he identified with. His first story was Black Destroyer, that appeared as the front cover story for the July 1939 edtion of the popular "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine.

Reviews

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Fred Pohl who, for better or worse in 1964, when he was editor of Galaxy, Worlds of If and Worlds of Tomorrow, persuaded me to write science fiction again. - Van Vogt dedicated this novel to Frederik Pohl

A.E. Van Vogt was a polarizing writer. No doubt about that. From the way he structured his writing, to the themes he wrote about, he seemed destined to be the black sheep of the Grand Masters. And in fact, he had his detractors, who tried hard to sully his reputation through public criticism of his writing (a severe case of sour grapes, if you were to ask me), notably during the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction writing (+-1940s to 1950s give or take).

But he also had his champions, those who lauded his work, such as John W. Campbell Jr. and Harlan Ellison. The most important, arguably, of these was Philip K. Dick, who cited Van Vogt as his biggest influence, and defended him against criticism, notably that of Damon Knight.

So what does all of the above have to do with The Darkness on Diamondia? It is one of Van Vogt’s later works, having been published in the 1970s, and let’s just say that time did not temper the bizarreness of his writing. In fact, this might just be one of the more bonkers of his books that I have read. A divisive, or polarizing book, in other words. Although, since this is one of the author’s lesser known works, even that statement is up for debate.

Van Vogt actually works with a pretty interesting concept here. The nature of the Darkness, and the protagonist’s approach to solving the Diamondian puzzle makes for good Science Fiction. The way it is all presented, though, will cause issues for readers who aren’t used to reading Van Vogt. It’s an elaborately disjointed affair, but fascinating in its absurdity. In other words: Van Vogt to the nth.

Van Vogt seemed to have a lot in common with the New Wave, even though he arguably “belongs to” the Golden Age. He was also quite enamored with systems of logic (ironically, given the structures of his novels, although it is probably telling that he would make up systems of his own, which were often contrary to commonly held beliefs or disciplines). In The Darkness on Diamondia he presents us with Finite Logic and Modern Logic, the main difference appearing to be the acceptance of sets versus the disregard of sets. I know, don’t ask, but it’s integral to the plot.

3.5 stars, rounded up because it is delightfully loopy and will piss off some readers no end.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I gave it until halfway but then I had to give up, I just couldn’t get in to the storyline or care about any of the characters one bit. Disappointing. I had high hopes.

[Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not get this "later" van Vogt novel at all. Some time ago, I challenged myself to read all of van Vogt's work. I find him to be the most peculiar "Golden age" scifi writer of them all. I liked Beagle, Slan, Rogue Ship, Null-A and even Thousand Names, plus many others in various degrees, but this one goes into the "I'm either to dense to understand what he is driving at, or it is just a downright loopy book" category. Colossal was pretty bad, Renaissance was absolutely strange but I think this one takes the prize as most "what the..." book of his career.

The protagonist "Morton" is from the Negotiating Committee, he is sent to Diamondia to report on the war between the human descended Diamondians and the aboriginal Irsk. The Darkness is the result of the Lositeen Weapon or was that what caused metals to fling up hundreds of feet into the air then come crashing down... Somehow "the Darkness" makes one leave his body and enter that of another randomly (even people back on Earth). There are systems here at play: "Finite Logic - Modern Logic System," "Mahala System," which are only briefly demonstrated as organizing events or embellishing one's abilities... there is much hypnotizing and ESP going on... the women are almost all prostitutes for some reason... the Irsk have become recently docile as they embrace human foods and lifestyle and therefore become assimilated, but then there is another entity with a glowing "egg-shaped" head that comes around every two thousand years to... to... I forgot, sorry.

It took a long time to read this 254 page confused novel, and it isn't even a fix-up novel (made up of previously - related or not - published short stories like "Beagle", "Rull", "Beast," "Quest for the Future" or "Mixed-Men.") It should have been much shorter and to the point. It was supposedly based on an earlier work called "Humans, Go Home". Perhaps after I read that everything will come into light from the Darkness.

[Geldar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The following is LITERALLY written on the "teaser" page of the book:

------------------

THE DIAMONDIAN PUZZLE

Given the following statements as premises

(1) If Colonel Charles Morton and Lieutenant Lester Bray are both a park of the darkness, and Isolina Ferraris does take the road to Damascus, and the Lositeen Weapon is released, the the D.A.R. building will fight the darkness, and
(2) If Captain James Marriot is self-seeking, or if Major Luftelet successfully maintains his pride, then the D.A.R. building does not fight for Morton

is it valid to conclude

(Q1) that if David Kirk becomes Colonel Morton, then (a) the Irsk and the Diamondians accept Morton's peace terms, and (b) some Diamondian prostitutes become Colonel Morton
(Q2) that if Captain Marriott gains control, then (a) the Lositeen Weapon is zeroed out, and (b) Isolina Ferraris becomes Colonel Morton
(Q3) that if the D.A.R. building fights, then (a) the darkness survives, and (b) all men are Morton.

ANSWERS

(Q1) Yes (Q2) Yes (Q3) Yes

------------------

I defy even the most die-hard of problem solvers to become excited by this "puzzle." Even after having read the book, this is still nearly unintelligible babble.

Like all Van Vogt novels, this book is full of incredible ideas and novel concepts, presented in a ridiculous fashion. Unfortunately, parts of it are nearly unreadable, except by the most patient and eccentric. Sadly, the teaser is a good representation of the experience of reading this book. Consider yourself teased!

[Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A.E. van Vogt was ahead of his time. So far ahead of his time, in fact, that I think he hasn’t been as appreciated as much as he deserves. Take for example his 1972 book The Darkness on Diamondia. I can certainly understand that this book was not well received in its day, and consequently has been overlooked by later generations. This is unfortunate, because it is dealing with issues that are directly relevant now.

That said, I can understand why science fiction aficionados would pass over this one. The technology aspect of this book is muted at best."

Read the rest here: "https://www.patheos.com/blogs/schaeff..."

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a fit of fun, far from flawless but with a lot of that really inspirational concept structure that I think is very characteristic of A. E. van Vogt.

The back of this book was thoroughly un-useful btw, I would avoid that and go straight for reading.

Diamondia was settled by humans despite the fact that there is an indigenous race which is sapient, intelligent and technological. Now, some time later, the federation is planning to withdraw it's troops. The human Daimondian's are certain that they will all be overrun and killed if that happens, by the native 'Irsk' rebels. Not all Irsk are opposed to humans though, so right there we have at least four factions. There is pretty hard core, excellent world building throughout, not always consistent but always pretty great.

Our initial protagonist, Colonel Morton is some kind of federal intelligence, he is there as part of a negotiant team. His brief is to keep things quiet until the troops are withdrawn, which is difficult because the troops don't want to and the Diamondians are opposing the notion. For the first 80 odd pages, the narrative mostly progresses through Morton being repeatedly kidnaped by various factors.

Later the plot progresses to his second in command, Bray being repeatedly kidnaped by different factions. While I did enjoy this book quite a lot it was frequently a bit mystifying and exceptionally weird. It has terrible, dated, wince-worthy gender issues which I will not mention further here.

Despite all issues, and an odd insistence on 'Finite Logic' which is... odd. There are also a few strange social dynamic descriptions which I STILL suspect tie in to Dianetics.

I thought the Irsk, physical and social were fantastic aliens. Hydrostatic skeletons will always make me happy. Their strange, hive mind psychic web is also quite fascinating.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really fascinating and inventive book, but holy it is a slog to read through. Strange turns of phrase and off grammar meant that I had to reread sections repeatedly.

Saved by the fact that the entire the premise is mindblowingly cool sci fi.

[Brodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok plot, terrible ending. Probably the worst writing I’ve ever endured, whole paragraphs were incomprehensible.

[John Tetteroo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Het gebeurt niet vaak dat ik gefascineerd een boek uitlees in de hoop dat het ergens in dat proces een geniaal boek blijkt te zijn, omdat plotseling alle puzzelstukje op hun plaats zullen gaan vallen. Het gebeurt bijna nooit dat mijn verwarring aan het slot net zo groot is als aan het begin van het verhaal.

Duisternis over Diamondia wekt de indruk één van twee gevallen te zijn:
a: Een geniaal boek dat volledig boven mijn pet uitstijgt;
b: Geraaskal van een krankzinnige onder invloed van een cocktail aan geestverruimende middelen.
Ik neig zeer sterk naar optie b.

A.E. van Vogt was mijn eerste echte kennismaking met SF. ik herinner mij een zomervakantie waar ik in een campingwinkel De tovenaar van Linn uit een boekenrekje haalde en in een paar dagen gefascineerd uitlas. Daarna las ik de Nul-A romans, Slan, De arsenalen van Isher en nooit had ik het idee dat de inhoud op enige wijze verwarrend was. Natuurlijk genoot ik ook van de pulp van Perry Rhodan, wat ik nu ook niet meer echt leesbaar vind, maar toch moet er iets van een navolgbaar plot in hebben gezeten. Zo niet in deze roman. Waar we het moeten doen met een vermoeden van een plot.

De blurb op de omslag van nr.6 in de reeks van Scala SF schreeuwt enthousiast dat het hier gaat om de roman van het jaar! en de grote nieuwe Van Vogt. Vervolgens volgt er een beschrijving van de inhoud die doet vermoeden dat de omslagschrijver het na enkele pagina's heeft opgegeven en toen van wanhoop zijn eigen draai eraan heeft gegeven. Of was het de vertaler die in opperste verwarring de laatste zin heeft vertaald en daarna maar iets uit zijn mouw geschud heeft dat de lading beschrijft maar niet dekt. Trouwens het vermoeden is sterk dat er heel veel informatie "lost in translation" is. Maar ik voel mij nauwelijks gemotiveerd het verhaal in het Engels te herlezen als ik de engelstalige reviews hier zie.

De meeste reviewers delen mijn mening dat ze te maken te hebben met een onbegrijpelijke Van Vogt. Of het nu geniaal is of gewauwel, dat maakt dan niet heel veel uit voor het genieten van deze roman. In het eerste geval wordt je bevangen door afkeer van de klaarblijkelijke arrogantie van de schrijver, in het tweede geval door meewarigheid over de ongetwijfeld vroeg intredende alzheimer. Damon Knight, bekend van zijn schrijverstrainingen en zelf begenadigd SF auteur vond Van Vogt maar een prutser, die niet in staat was om plotvast te schrijven. Met dit boekje in de hand heb ik zeker begrip voor die mening.

Er is nog een laatste verklaring mogelijk die ik hier en daar op het wereldwijde web ben tegengekomen. Mogelijk heeft Van Vogt het bedoeld als een mysterie of puzzelboek. Iets dat alleen voor een zekere incrowd of zeer oplettende en doordenkende lezer goed te interpreteren valt. Zo ben ik ook lezers tegengekomen die meerdere lagen en logicasystemen in deze warreling van paragrafen en hoofdstukken menen te ontwaren. Al moet ik zeggen dat de aan de uitleg dan ook weer dusdanig een steekje los is dat deze al gauw net zo onnavolgbaar wordt.

Misschien dat men in de zeventiger jaren toch meer experiment gewend was. In die tijd (en uit die tijd) heb ik ook romans gelezen die mij heden ten dage nog steeds volledig in het duister doen tasten. Geschreven door schrijvers die in die tijd als geniaal bejubeld werden. Misschien dat van Vogt in die tijd wel heel erg bevangen was door Logicasystemen of nog steeds onder invloed van Hubbard en Scientology. Ik hield het meestal bij SF omdat het genre mij aanstond en de plot meestal rechtlijnig en kristalhelder was, lectuur als fast food. Literatuur als de onbegrepen minimal cuisine, zoiets.

Ok, waarom dan toch twee sterren in plaats van één of geen ster? Omdat deze hele constructie mij de afgelopen dagen intenser in zijn greep had dan andere romans dat deden. Ik heb er meer over nagedacht en ik heb er inspiratie uit opgedaan. Het heeft mij ongemakkelijk doen voelen en boos laten worden. Ik heb het weggesmeten en weer opgepakt. Hoewel ik er nauwelijks genoegen aan beleefd heb, moet ik zeggen dat het wel iets in mij losgemaakt heeft, al was het maar dat ik nu met sterk gemengde gevoelens een review zit te schrijven waarin ik het meer heb over het effect van de roman op mijzelf dan over de inhoud van de roman. Geniaal en gek. Ik breng het lekker weg naar de mini-bieb, voor deze surrogaat necronomicon nog meer macht over mij kan uitoefenen.

[Mitch PITEO · Rating 3 out of 5]

"most of the things that a syllogism could prove everybody knew. What it couldn't prove everybody knew too. So in ancient day learned men, having nothing else, used the method wherever it applied. Life was kind of simple. Grim but simple. And so the human brain bridged the gap wetween the system and the reality. The 'modern' logic that succeeded the syllogistic system in the 20th century was bravely named. Sort of like here, finally, is the truth.....only It wasn't. It was an either-or idea. Most useful in the great switching systems of computers and such......but there was a day in the 21st century when every machine everywhere stopped. Obviously that was not literally true. But that was the way it looked. For a day or more science confronted the nightmare product of a logic system that was based upon mathematics which stated that there is such a thing as a dozen eggs or a dozen duplicate transisters - in short, a "set" of eggs or of anything. Not true.
On that day of total stoppage, every egg and every transister on Earth stood up and said, in effect, "I too am an individual."

[Bruce E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vaan Vogt sometimes serms obsessed with thought systems and logic structures. In this one, he uses something called "finite logic" to endow a character with abilitties beyond the mundane. I question whetherr this is aactually necessary am
nd whether the plot might be advanced in other ways. I find it mildlyy distracting to try to puzzle out the operating structure of "finite logic", null-A or what hhave you.

[Larry Wegman · Rating 1 out of 5]

His later writings, including this one, just aren't as good as his earlier ones. In this one, human colonists and the native sentients are locked in a struggle, partially for territory, but mostly for the culture of their shared society. And there's a conscious magnetic field around the planet, which does weird stuff to both. And the attitude of human men toward women, while partially explained, is still just bizarre.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing sci-fi pulp that did not hold my attention. Well, at least it was sexist and outdated. I taught a sci-fi/fantasy class this year and I assigned random classic sci-fi/fantasy to my students. I gave myself this one and only finished it to set an example for my students about plowing through even bad books.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I suppose I followed about half of that...so I guess I'm doing pretty well for Van Vogt (lol). That goofy caveman thing with the women somehow reminded me of Barbara Luna in the "Spock's Beard" Star Trek...

[Brett]

Science Fiction

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1982 grade C-

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://gnomeship.blogspot.com/2015/12...

[Marko]

I have the german edition: Chaos uber Diamantia

[Jim Standridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth the read. Maybe just me. Confusing. Weird. Couldn't grasp the story line.