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The Monster on Hold
They were known simply as the Nine. Grim and ancient rulers who discovered the key to eternal life thirty-thousand years ago, and ever since have held the world secretly in thrall. These dark manipulators control the destinies of billions, including the formidable Doc Caliban, Champion of Justice. Once, Doc had been their servant and had shared their secrets. Now, appalled by their tyranny, he and his half-brother, Lord Grandrith—bastard son of Jack the Ripper—have turned against the Nine, daring to challenge their centuries-old supremacy.
In the eighteenth century, the Nine had been faced with a similar revolt and, in desperation, summoned a thing from another dimension—a thing with the power to touch the subconscious and cause nightmares. And that thing—Shrassk—was held in abeyance in a deep cavern complex below New England.
Now, Shrassk and her Children have awakened.
Caliban, suffering from recurring nightmares in which he sees somebody much like himself—and who in these visions seems to be dreaming of Caliban—gathers his closest allies for a final showdown. Together with longtime associates Pauncho van Veelar and Barney Banks, and his titian-haired cousin, Trish Wilde, whose superhuman skills match his own, Doc descends deep into the subterranean complex to confront an infinite evil, the unspeakable dweller lurking at the threshold between two universes…
In the eighteenth century, the Nine had been faced with a similar revolt and, in desperation, summoned a thing from another dimension—a thing with the power to touch the subconscious and cause nightmares. And that thing—Shrassk—was held in abeyance in a deep cavern complex below New England.
Now, Shrassk and her Children have awakened.
Caliban, suffering from recurring nightmares in which he sees somebody much like himself—and who in these visions seems to be dreaming of Caliban—gathers his closest allies for a final showdown. Together with longtime associates Pauncho van Veelar and Barney Banks, and his titian-haired cousin, Trish Wilde, whose superhuman skills match his own, Doc descends deep into the subterranean complex to confront an infinite evil, the unspeakable dweller lurking at the threshold between two universes…
292 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2021
10 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Philip José Farmer
592 books884 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 17, 2021
[Disclaimer: I was supplied with an uncorrected pre-publication ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.]
In order to understand the importance of "The Monster on Hold", I want to give a little background
on how it came to be.
It was the summer of 1969. I went into the Bookmaster's bookstore on Times Square and I found an odd paperback book with an odd cover in the Scifi section depicting two naked men - one a large dusky colored man with a pronounced widows peak and the other a light colored man with long black hair. The author was Philip José Farmer - a well known science fiction author whose work always seemed somewhat scary to me. But the dusky naked man looked a lot like Doc Savage and I was one of the biggest Doc Savage fans on the planet. The blurb on the back of the book mentioned Doc Caliban and Lord Grandrith. It immediately occurred to me that this was a pastiche about a Doc Savage-like character and a Tarzan-like character. The title was "A Feast Unknown." It would depict a world ruled by a secret cabal of prehistoric Immortals called the Nine who had an elixir of youth with which they lured contemporary people to serve them. I was hooked. I bought the book and my life was never the same afterwards.
Phil Farmer had just initiated his 'Pulp Period' by the deconstruction of the 2 archetypal characters of modern adventure fiction: the Man of Tomorrow and the Jungle Lord. He would follow this initial foray into Pulp fiction with two sequels to "Feast" ("The Mad Goblin"" and "Lord of the Trees" in an Ace double). He also wrote a stand-alone novel entitled "Lord Tyger", a biography of the actual man on whom Tarzan was based ("Tarzan Alive"), and a biography of the actual man on whom Doc Savage was based ("Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic life"). He wrote several novels and shorter fiction in the same vein. Mr. Farmer was also granted permission to write an authorized Doc Savage novel ("Escape from Loki") and an authorized Tarzan novel ("The Dark Heart of Time").
In the Tarzan biography, he introduced the concept of the Wold Newton Family based on a meteor that had fallen in England on December 13, 1795 which he alleged granted powers to certain persons and their descendants all of whom became heroes in subsequent literature and adventure fiction. This led to crossover stories, other pastiches, and even the creation of new pulp characters. In essence, Phil Farmer helped to bring about the recent New Pulp movement and the resurgent interest in the work of the original pulp authors including Lester Dent, Walter Gibson, and H.P. Lovecraft.
Mr. Farmer had a fervid imagination and planned several other works but time and age caught up with him and he was not able to accomplish these goals. Most notable was a novel he announced at the World Fantasy Convention, Chicago, October 28-30, 1983 entitled "The Monster on Hold" which was to be the climax of the "Secrets of the Nine" story arc featuring Doc Caliban. But it would be more than that. It was also intended to be an homage to the last published Doc Savage story "Up Earth's Center" with links to the ideas of H. P. Lovecraft, and a way of connecting the 'real' Doc Savage to the world of the Nine. Mr. Farmer did a reading of a short except from the outline of the novel. Sadly, we heard no more about the story from him. He passed away in 2009.
But Phil Farmer was blessed with a talented and committed fan base who worked hard to keep his legacy alive and in fact collaborated with him in completing several literary works before he left us. This group whom (I call the Four Horsemen of Farmercon) continued to edit and publish Mr. Farmer's work. In some cases with permission from his estate they were privileged to extend his literary legacy using his notes in what came to be known as 'The Magic Filing Cabinet.'
One work which all of Mr. Farmer's hardcore fans were hoping to see completed was "The Monster on Hold." Eventually Win Scott Eckert was granted permission to complete the novel and it is being published now by Meteor House. I have waited 38 years for this story to be told, and it was worth the wait. Win has done a magisterial job with this story and I know Phil Farmer must be smiling down on him.
The story hits the ground running with Doc Caliban and his companions assaulting the underground fortress of one of the Nine and the action is everything any pulp fan could hope for. The opening battle comes to a well crafted conclusion but the momentum of the story does not let up. We find Doc Caliban and his crew continuing to battle with the Nine and their servants over the next few decades.
Throughout, Win has peppered 'Easter eggs' into the story from many sources. For someone who has followed the Wold Newton Universe this was a great treat. But the story is so well done that it can be enjoyed even by those who are not that familiar with all the books. (I would recommend that the interested reader consider reading "A Feast Unknown", "The Mad Goblin", and "Lord of the Trees.")
I wanted to especially compliment Win Eckert on his handling of the Doc Caliban character and 'the Other' Doc who represents the 'real' Doc Savage from Farmer's biography who is from a separate universe. Win does GREAT Doc. The bronze man is never overbearingly powerful but he is given his due and there is a good balance between his physical and intellectual prowess. Doc in either form is everything I would expect him to be and more.
The denouement of the story takes place in the caverns below Maine where in 1948, both Doc Caliban and 'the Other' confronted alleged demons and lost souls in a Dantesque scenario which was billed as Hell itself complete with the Devil. The true identity of the Devil is dually revealed in this story as actually someone (something?) even more terrifying!
Overall, this is a rollicking adventure which comes to a satisfying conclusion that Farmer fans are sure to embrace as definitive.
But there are several plot threads that are still left open. Lord Grandrith does not appear in the story. Grandrith's wife wife Clio is still missing. A few of the Nine are still loose in the world. In short, there is the potential for several other stories in the future. One can only hope...
"The Monster on Hold" is a classic pulp adventure with connections to the Wold Newton Universe, the 'Secrets of the Nine' series, Farmer's two biographies, and to "Up Earth's Center." No pulp fan - new or old - can afford to miss it. Treat yourself to a exciting story with depth of character and connections to the wider literature of the last 200 years which is the culmination of the literary genius of Philip José Farmer.
Arthur C. Sippo MD, MPH
In order to understand the importance of "The Monster on Hold", I want to give a little background
on how it came to be.
It was the summer of 1969. I went into the Bookmaster's bookstore on Times Square and I found an odd paperback book with an odd cover in the Scifi section depicting two naked men - one a large dusky colored man with a pronounced widows peak and the other a light colored man with long black hair. The author was Philip José Farmer - a well known science fiction author whose work always seemed somewhat scary to me. But the dusky naked man looked a lot like Doc Savage and I was one of the biggest Doc Savage fans on the planet. The blurb on the back of the book mentioned Doc Caliban and Lord Grandrith. It immediately occurred to me that this was a pastiche about a Doc Savage-like character and a Tarzan-like character. The title was "A Feast Unknown." It would depict a world ruled by a secret cabal of prehistoric Immortals called the Nine who had an elixir of youth with which they lured contemporary people to serve them. I was hooked. I bought the book and my life was never the same afterwards.
Phil Farmer had just initiated his 'Pulp Period' by the deconstruction of the 2 archetypal characters of modern adventure fiction: the Man of Tomorrow and the Jungle Lord. He would follow this initial foray into Pulp fiction with two sequels to "Feast" ("The Mad Goblin"" and "Lord of the Trees" in an Ace double). He also wrote a stand-alone novel entitled "Lord Tyger", a biography of the actual man on whom Tarzan was based ("Tarzan Alive"), and a biography of the actual man on whom Doc Savage was based ("Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic life"). He wrote several novels and shorter fiction in the same vein. Mr. Farmer was also granted permission to write an authorized Doc Savage novel ("Escape from Loki") and an authorized Tarzan novel ("The Dark Heart of Time").
In the Tarzan biography, he introduced the concept of the Wold Newton Family based on a meteor that had fallen in England on December 13, 1795 which he alleged granted powers to certain persons and their descendants all of whom became heroes in subsequent literature and adventure fiction. This led to crossover stories, other pastiches, and even the creation of new pulp characters. In essence, Phil Farmer helped to bring about the recent New Pulp movement and the resurgent interest in the work of the original pulp authors including Lester Dent, Walter Gibson, and H.P. Lovecraft.
Mr. Farmer had a fervid imagination and planned several other works but time and age caught up with him and he was not able to accomplish these goals. Most notable was a novel he announced at the World Fantasy Convention, Chicago, October 28-30, 1983 entitled "The Monster on Hold" which was to be the climax of the "Secrets of the Nine" story arc featuring Doc Caliban. But it would be more than that. It was also intended to be an homage to the last published Doc Savage story "Up Earth's Center" with links to the ideas of H. P. Lovecraft, and a way of connecting the 'real' Doc Savage to the world of the Nine. Mr. Farmer did a reading of a short except from the outline of the novel. Sadly, we heard no more about the story from him. He passed away in 2009.
But Phil Farmer was blessed with a talented and committed fan base who worked hard to keep his legacy alive and in fact collaborated with him in completing several literary works before he left us. This group whom (I call the Four Horsemen of Farmercon) continued to edit and publish Mr. Farmer's work. In some cases with permission from his estate they were privileged to extend his literary legacy using his notes in what came to be known as 'The Magic Filing Cabinet.'
One work which all of Mr. Farmer's hardcore fans were hoping to see completed was "The Monster on Hold." Eventually Win Scott Eckert was granted permission to complete the novel and it is being published now by Meteor House. I have waited 38 years for this story to be told, and it was worth the wait. Win has done a magisterial job with this story and I know Phil Farmer must be smiling down on him.
The story hits the ground running with Doc Caliban and his companions assaulting the underground fortress of one of the Nine and the action is everything any pulp fan could hope for. The opening battle comes to a well crafted conclusion but the momentum of the story does not let up. We find Doc Caliban and his crew continuing to battle with the Nine and their servants over the next few decades.
Throughout, Win has peppered 'Easter eggs' into the story from many sources. For someone who has followed the Wold Newton Universe this was a great treat. But the story is so well done that it can be enjoyed even by those who are not that familiar with all the books. (I would recommend that the interested reader consider reading "A Feast Unknown", "The Mad Goblin", and "Lord of the Trees.")
I wanted to especially compliment Win Eckert on his handling of the Doc Caliban character and 'the Other' Doc who represents the 'real' Doc Savage from Farmer's biography who is from a separate universe. Win does GREAT Doc. The bronze man is never overbearingly powerful but he is given his due and there is a good balance between his physical and intellectual prowess. Doc in either form is everything I would expect him to be and more.
The denouement of the story takes place in the caverns below Maine where in 1948, both Doc Caliban and 'the Other' confronted alleged demons and lost souls in a Dantesque scenario which was billed as Hell itself complete with the Devil. The true identity of the Devil is dually revealed in this story as actually someone (something?) even more terrifying!
Overall, this is a rollicking adventure which comes to a satisfying conclusion that Farmer fans are sure to embrace as definitive.
But there are several plot threads that are still left open. Lord Grandrith does not appear in the story. Grandrith's wife wife Clio is still missing. A few of the Nine are still loose in the world. In short, there is the potential for several other stories in the future. One can only hope...
"The Monster on Hold" is a classic pulp adventure with connections to the Wold Newton Universe, the 'Secrets of the Nine' series, Farmer's two biographies, and to "Up Earth's Center." No pulp fan - new or old - can afford to miss it. Treat yourself to a exciting story with depth of character and connections to the wider literature of the last 200 years which is the culmination of the literary genius of Philip José Farmer.
Arthur C. Sippo MD, MPH
January 21, 2022
Disclaimer: I was supplied with an uncorrected pre-publication ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Philip Jose Farmer's Secrets of the Nine series has long been one of my favorite works by him, with the first book in particular, A FEAST UNKNOWN, being my third-favorite book by the late Science Fiction Grandmaster. Farmer began writing the fourth book, THE MONSTER ON HOLD, in the 1980s, but sadly never finished it. Luckily, Meteor House, a publisher whose main focus is new editions of, and new fiction based on, Farmer's work, took up the gauntlet, and chose Win Scott Eckert to complete it. Anyone familiar with Eckert's work knows he is eminently qualified for the role. For over two decades, he has been one of the leading proponents of Farmer's Wold Newton Family tree, a genealogy tying together dozens of literary and pulp heroes and villains who can trace their remarkable abilities to their ancestors' exposure to the radiation of a meteor that struck in Wold Newton, Yorkshire in 1795 (a very real event by the way). Too, Eckert previously completed Farmer's novel THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE, and did a superb job. As with that book, it is sometimes not easy to see here where Farmer's text ends and Eckert's begins, so seamless is the transition. The two authors tell a thrilling story, with fascinating cosmic ideas. An aspect of the book that many readers will find intriguing is Doc Caliban's encounters with his parallel universe counterpart, referred to as "the Other" and "Lacewing," whom sharp-eyed pulp and Farmer fans will likely recognize even before his real surname appears in the text. There are also a number of nods to other works of fiction, including many of Farmer's other novels and stories. These references enhance rather than detract from the story, and enrich both the Nine Universe and what Eckert in 1997 dubbed the Wold Newton Universe, giving the reader a fuller appreciation of the interconnectivity of both. I also cannot stress enough how gorgeous the cover by the great Douglas Klauba is. If you consider yourself a Farmer fan, you cannot miss this novel! I waited years for it to be finished, and it was very much worth the wait!
Philip Jose Farmer's Secrets of the Nine series has long been one of my favorite works by him, with the first book in particular, A FEAST UNKNOWN, being my third-favorite book by the late Science Fiction Grandmaster. Farmer began writing the fourth book, THE MONSTER ON HOLD, in the 1980s, but sadly never finished it. Luckily, Meteor House, a publisher whose main focus is new editions of, and new fiction based on, Farmer's work, took up the gauntlet, and chose Win Scott Eckert to complete it. Anyone familiar with Eckert's work knows he is eminently qualified for the role. For over two decades, he has been one of the leading proponents of Farmer's Wold Newton Family tree, a genealogy tying together dozens of literary and pulp heroes and villains who can trace their remarkable abilities to their ancestors' exposure to the radiation of a meteor that struck in Wold Newton, Yorkshire in 1795 (a very real event by the way). Too, Eckert previously completed Farmer's novel THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE, and did a superb job. As with that book, it is sometimes not easy to see here where Farmer's text ends and Eckert's begins, so seamless is the transition. The two authors tell a thrilling story, with fascinating cosmic ideas. An aspect of the book that many readers will find intriguing is Doc Caliban's encounters with his parallel universe counterpart, referred to as "the Other" and "Lacewing," whom sharp-eyed pulp and Farmer fans will likely recognize even before his real surname appears in the text. There are also a number of nods to other works of fiction, including many of Farmer's other novels and stories. These references enhance rather than detract from the story, and enrich both the Nine Universe and what Eckert in 1997 dubbed the Wold Newton Universe, giving the reader a fuller appreciation of the interconnectivity of both. I also cannot stress enough how gorgeous the cover by the great Douglas Klauba is. If you consider yourself a Farmer fan, you cannot miss this novel! I waited years for it to be finished, and it was very much worth the wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
(This review is based on reading an advance readers copy.)
It's rather incredible to read a book that has been in the making since before you were born. I was born in 1994, and Philip José Farmer had been working on The Monster on Hold at least a decade before that. Now, thanks to Win Scott Eckert (whose excellent books Hunt the Avenger and Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar will flank my copy of this story), this astonishing addition to Farmer's Secrets of the Nine series will finally see the light of day. Fans of this series, which sees analogues of pulp heroes Tarzan and Doc Savage battle against the sinister immortals known as the Nine, have been richly reward for their patience, for this book is a more than worthy addition to Farmer's exciting, terrifying, and moving trilogy.
This book stands out to me because it appeals to two of my favorite things: the occult, and the Wold Newton Universe. I'll deal with that latter subject first since it serves as a way to introduce some of the background of the book. In addition to serving as a sequel to Farmer's Doc Caliban and Lord Grandrith series, The Monster on Hold also serves as a sequel to Farmer's other seminal Doc and Tarzan texts, Tarzan Alive and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, which launched the Wold Newton theory that many later writers, including Eckert, have expanded on. In this theory, many of fiction's great heroes and villains are related by blood and marriage, being descended from a band of individuals who were mutated by the meteor which struck Wold Newton, England, in 1795. The Wold Newton Universe has become a platform through which many hundreds of fictional universes have intersected to form a cohesive whole. Because much of the WNU is based on pulp fiction, one can often expect Wold Newton works--including this one--to feature huge servings of exciting action, fascinating villains, and hideous monsters. Eckert brings all of these things to life vividly, creating a pulse-pumping story more than equal to the original pulp works of the 1930s. However, this book stands apart from other New Pulp works, in that it deals with the most important part of Doc Savage, and consequently, Doc Caliban: his mind.
This is easily one of the most cerebral pulp works I've read in a while--a lot of time is spent exploring Doc Caliban's innermost thoughts and feelings, as well as other, more surreal realms of the mind. This is not a problem that fists and guns can solve, and even for someone like Doc, whose mind is one of the most finely honed in the world, the evil afoot is a deep intellectual challenge. Farmer's sci-fi ideas, realized by Eckert, come into play in very original ways, which has always been one of his strengths--Farmer's sci-fi always deals with complex topics, either scientific or philosophically, which grants them the literary qualities I love so much. This may sound like a turn-off to many pulp fans, but none of the intellectual or emotional aspects of this book are done in a melodramatic or forced way. Nothing is over-explained. In fact, if there is one weakness of the prose, it is that it is perhaps occasionally too slim, too narrowed-down--but then, this allows the reader to parse things out on their own, and sit with the individual moments without being led along. The natural rhythm of the writing draws one into the work so much that the occasional terseness becomes part of the world, fully organic.
In dealing strongly with the mental dimensions of Doc Savage/Doc Caliban, this book brings Doc in touch with the one thing he cannot reckon with: the occult. For on top of being a sequel to many of Farmer's stories, it is also a follow-up to the supremely ambiguous final entry of the original Doc Savage series, Up from Earth's Center. Again, I wish to avoid spoilers, but I will say that Farmer and Eckert seemingly draw on many real-life beliefs to construct the mysticism of their world. This is demonstrated in the religious symbolism of the Nine, who inspired many of humanity's god-figures, but also in the Kabbalistic nature of the text. Doc Caliban is, through a Kabbalistic lens, a Qlippothic Doc Savage; both of them have obtained a form of enlightenment in the form of eternal life, but they have obtained this differently. While Doc Savage has attained this form of enlightenment through his good works and good qualities, Doc Caliban has become immortal through the violence and sexual depravity instilled in him by the Nine. He has been "enlightened" by evil, by the empty husks that make up the Kabbala's Tree of Death, which parallels the Tree of Life and its virtues. This is a story about the parallels between the characters, reflecting the dualistic nature of the Kabbala and the Qlippoth; it represents the fractured nature of Caliban's soul, broken by the trauma of his life under the Nine. On top of the Kabbala, the book takes a Buddhist tilt at times, suggesting in different ways that perhaps all of reality is but an illusion concealing something far less material and far more mystical than can be comprehended. This invocation, deliberate or not (and I feel it's deliberate), really helps make the story Magickal in that special and truly mystical way. And yet, again, this doesn't make the story itself pretentious in any way. It's just that it's a thrilling story which also allows pretentious people like me to project upon it.
I have prattled on for some time, but in sum, this book is awesome. If you love adventure fiction, in any of its forms, this is the book for you. Check it out!
It's rather incredible to read a book that has been in the making since before you were born. I was born in 1994, and Philip José Farmer had been working on The Monster on Hold at least a decade before that. Now, thanks to Win Scott Eckert (whose excellent books Hunt the Avenger and Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar will flank my copy of this story), this astonishing addition to Farmer's Secrets of the Nine series will finally see the light of day. Fans of this series, which sees analogues of pulp heroes Tarzan and Doc Savage battle against the sinister immortals known as the Nine, have been richly reward for their patience, for this book is a more than worthy addition to Farmer's exciting, terrifying, and moving trilogy.
This book stands out to me because it appeals to two of my favorite things: the occult, and the Wold Newton Universe. I'll deal with that latter subject first since it serves as a way to introduce some of the background of the book. In addition to serving as a sequel to Farmer's Doc Caliban and Lord Grandrith series, The Monster on Hold also serves as a sequel to Farmer's other seminal Doc and Tarzan texts, Tarzan Alive and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, which launched the Wold Newton theory that many later writers, including Eckert, have expanded on. In this theory, many of fiction's great heroes and villains are related by blood and marriage, being descended from a band of individuals who were mutated by the meteor which struck Wold Newton, England, in 1795. The Wold Newton Universe has become a platform through which many hundreds of fictional universes have intersected to form a cohesive whole. Because much of the WNU is based on pulp fiction, one can often expect Wold Newton works--including this one--to feature huge servings of exciting action, fascinating villains, and hideous monsters. Eckert brings all of these things to life vividly, creating a pulse-pumping story more than equal to the original pulp works of the 1930s. However, this book stands apart from other New Pulp works, in that it deals with the most important part of Doc Savage, and consequently, Doc Caliban: his mind.
This is easily one of the most cerebral pulp works I've read in a while--a lot of time is spent exploring Doc Caliban's innermost thoughts and feelings, as well as other, more surreal realms of the mind. This is not a problem that fists and guns can solve, and even for someone like Doc, whose mind is one of the most finely honed in the world, the evil afoot is a deep intellectual challenge. Farmer's sci-fi ideas, realized by Eckert, come into play in very original ways, which has always been one of his strengths--Farmer's sci-fi always deals with complex topics, either scientific or philosophically, which grants them the literary qualities I love so much. This may sound like a turn-off to many pulp fans, but none of the intellectual or emotional aspects of this book are done in a melodramatic or forced way. Nothing is over-explained. In fact, if there is one weakness of the prose, it is that it is perhaps occasionally too slim, too narrowed-down--but then, this allows the reader to parse things out on their own, and sit with the individual moments without being led along. The natural rhythm of the writing draws one into the work so much that the occasional terseness becomes part of the world, fully organic.
In dealing strongly with the mental dimensions of Doc Savage/Doc Caliban, this book brings Doc in touch with the one thing he cannot reckon with: the occult. For on top of being a sequel to many of Farmer's stories, it is also a follow-up to the supremely ambiguous final entry of the original Doc Savage series, Up from Earth's Center. Again, I wish to avoid spoilers, but I will say that Farmer and Eckert seemingly draw on many real-life beliefs to construct the mysticism of their world. This is demonstrated in the religious symbolism of the Nine, who inspired many of humanity's god-figures, but also in the Kabbalistic nature of the text. Doc Caliban is, through a Kabbalistic lens, a Qlippothic Doc Savage; both of them have obtained a form of enlightenment in the form of eternal life, but they have obtained this differently. While Doc Savage has attained this form of enlightenment through his good works and good qualities, Doc Caliban has become immortal through the violence and sexual depravity instilled in him by the Nine. He has been "enlightened" by evil, by the empty husks that make up the Kabbala's Tree of Death, which parallels the Tree of Life and its virtues. This is a story about the parallels between the characters, reflecting the dualistic nature of the Kabbala and the Qlippoth; it represents the fractured nature of Caliban's soul, broken by the trauma of his life under the Nine. On top of the Kabbala, the book takes a Buddhist tilt at times, suggesting in different ways that perhaps all of reality is but an illusion concealing something far less material and far more mystical than can be comprehended. This invocation, deliberate or not (and I feel it's deliberate), really helps make the story Magickal in that special and truly mystical way. And yet, again, this doesn't make the story itself pretentious in any way. It's just that it's a thrilling story which also allows pretentious people like me to project upon it.
I have prattled on for some time, but in sum, this book is awesome. If you love adventure fiction, in any of its forms, this is the book for you. Check it out!
December 5, 2022
With "The Monster on Hold" we finally get the long-teased continuation of Philip José Farmer's parallel Wold Newton story. I haven't been waiting for this story as long as many others, but from the moment I discovered the Wold Newton concept, I've been in love with it, trying to read as much as I can and always trying to fit the puzzle together as I can. As far as the novel itself goes, the story grabs from page one until the very end and sheds some light onto the about the history and nature of the Doc Caliban and Lord Grandrith universe. Win Scott Eckert had an incredible task in front of him, and he stuck the landing 100%. I really hope that this isn't the end of him playing in Farmer's sandbox, but if it is, he gave us the ending we deserved and then some.
October 12, 2021
(This review is based on reading an advance readers copy.)
Oh, my.
This may seem an odd way to begin a book review… especially one for a volume I’ve been waiting roughly half my life to read. But it seemed appropriate to me, because these were literally the first words out of my mouth when I finished reading “The Monster On Hold.” You can ask my son; he was there, he heard it.
Some backstory is necessary before I continue:
Fans of Philip José Farmer are fond of talking about what fellow PJF expert Christopher Paul Carey has referred to as the “Farmerian Monomyth” - that vast tapestry of novels and stories and essays that revolve around what has come to be known as the Wold Newton Universe. It is, in my opinion, the most complex and entertaining literary epic ever produced, encompassing not only Farmer’s work but that of so many other writers - from Jane Austin, Jules Verne and Arthur Conan Doyle to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lester Dent and Harlan Ellison.
I have written in the past of how I discovered Farmer and his Wold Newton mythos as a 12-year-old in 1975 who became engrossed in the Bantam Books paperback edition of Farmer’s “Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.” Engrossed, and enamored, because upon completing that book I suddenly found myself actively seeking out every Farmer title I could get my hands on, from the Riverworld and World of Tiers series to the other Wold Newton-related volumes such as “Tarzan Alive,” “Time’s Last Gift” and the “Ancient Opar” books. Sometimes it took multiple readings for me to see how some of these books were related to one another, but that was part of the joy of reading Farmer; the world he created was so vast that there was always something new to discover, even after he left us for Riverworld and it fell to other writers to carry on the legacy.
Of particular interest to me as a teenager who had already counted Tarzan and Doc Savage as two of my favorite heroes for years, I was particularly interested in Farmer’s famous entry in the Ace Double Novel series: “Lord of the Trees” and “The Mad Goblin.” I recognized the protagonists - Lord Grandrith and Doc Caliban, respectively - as alternate versions of Tarzan and Doc Savage. I only began to realize just how “alternate” they were when I finally got around to reading the first book in Farmer’s trilogy about The Nine, the infamous “A Feast Unknown.” And as my exposure to Farmer’s work grew I became aware of a fourth book he had planned but had never finished…
Which brings us, at last, to “The Monster On Hold.”
All too often, when I’ve found myself waiting for a period of years or even decades to finally read a book or see a movie that has sparked my interest, the results have proven to be disappointing. Not so with “The Monster on Hold,” a posthumous collaboration between Farmer and Win Scott Eckert, a talented writer who has stood at the forefront of keeping PJF’s legacy alive after the Grand Master’s passing. It is impossible to tell exactly where Farmer’s fragment ends and Eckert’s continuation begins - and that is exactly how it should be. Other writers have played in Farmer’s sandbox - myself included, a time or two - but Eckert captures Farmer’s voice in a way few others have. For that reason alone I think Farmer would be proud of what Eckert has accomplished here: taking an unfinished PJF fragment and turning it into not just the long-awaited fourth book in a series but, in fact, a loving and stunningly authentic summation of Farmer’s life’s work.
There is not a single aspect of the Monomyth - from the three preceding titles in this particular series to other Wold Newton tales both by Farmer and other writers - that is not touched upon in “The Monster On Hold.” Questions I have had for years have finally been answered - but in true Farmerian fashion I find that a few new questions have been raised along the way. It says something about the sheer power of the storytelling that I completed the book in a single sitting - something I’ve not done in a good long time - and came away feeling like I was once again that 15-year-old discovering Doc Caliban for the first time.
Whenever I write a book review I am always hesitant to delve too much into the actual plot, because I am always afraid of robbing other readers from the joy of reading the book for themselves. This is more true than ever in the case of “The Monster On Hold,” because in my zeal to share my enthusiasm for the novel I fear I will give something away that isn’t mine to give. So I will say this: “The Monster On Hold” is a marvelously crafted, well-told adventure tale that combines 1930s pulp derring-do, Lovecraftian mysticism and pseudo-religious retribution and enlightenment, all tossed together in a Homerian Shake-and-Bake bag to create an epic the likes of which can only be imagined upon actually reading.
As the kids these days are fond of saying, “My head exploded.” And oh, what marvelous thunder that explosion created.
Long story short: READ THIS BOOK!
Oh, my.
This may seem an odd way to begin a book review… especially one for a volume I’ve been waiting roughly half my life to read. But it seemed appropriate to me, because these were literally the first words out of my mouth when I finished reading “The Monster On Hold.” You can ask my son; he was there, he heard it.
Some backstory is necessary before I continue:
Fans of Philip José Farmer are fond of talking about what fellow PJF expert Christopher Paul Carey has referred to as the “Farmerian Monomyth” - that vast tapestry of novels and stories and essays that revolve around what has come to be known as the Wold Newton Universe. It is, in my opinion, the most complex and entertaining literary epic ever produced, encompassing not only Farmer’s work but that of so many other writers - from Jane Austin, Jules Verne and Arthur Conan Doyle to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lester Dent and Harlan Ellison.
I have written in the past of how I discovered Farmer and his Wold Newton mythos as a 12-year-old in 1975 who became engrossed in the Bantam Books paperback edition of Farmer’s “Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.” Engrossed, and enamored, because upon completing that book I suddenly found myself actively seeking out every Farmer title I could get my hands on, from the Riverworld and World of Tiers series to the other Wold Newton-related volumes such as “Tarzan Alive,” “Time’s Last Gift” and the “Ancient Opar” books. Sometimes it took multiple readings for me to see how some of these books were related to one another, but that was part of the joy of reading Farmer; the world he created was so vast that there was always something new to discover, even after he left us for Riverworld and it fell to other writers to carry on the legacy.
Of particular interest to me as a teenager who had already counted Tarzan and Doc Savage as two of my favorite heroes for years, I was particularly interested in Farmer’s famous entry in the Ace Double Novel series: “Lord of the Trees” and “The Mad Goblin.” I recognized the protagonists - Lord Grandrith and Doc Caliban, respectively - as alternate versions of Tarzan and Doc Savage. I only began to realize just how “alternate” they were when I finally got around to reading the first book in Farmer’s trilogy about The Nine, the infamous “A Feast Unknown.” And as my exposure to Farmer’s work grew I became aware of a fourth book he had planned but had never finished…
Which brings us, at last, to “The Monster On Hold.”
All too often, when I’ve found myself waiting for a period of years or even decades to finally read a book or see a movie that has sparked my interest, the results have proven to be disappointing. Not so with “The Monster on Hold,” a posthumous collaboration between Farmer and Win Scott Eckert, a talented writer who has stood at the forefront of keeping PJF’s legacy alive after the Grand Master’s passing. It is impossible to tell exactly where Farmer’s fragment ends and Eckert’s continuation begins - and that is exactly how it should be. Other writers have played in Farmer’s sandbox - myself included, a time or two - but Eckert captures Farmer’s voice in a way few others have. For that reason alone I think Farmer would be proud of what Eckert has accomplished here: taking an unfinished PJF fragment and turning it into not just the long-awaited fourth book in a series but, in fact, a loving and stunningly authentic summation of Farmer’s life’s work.
There is not a single aspect of the Monomyth - from the three preceding titles in this particular series to other Wold Newton tales both by Farmer and other writers - that is not touched upon in “The Monster On Hold.” Questions I have had for years have finally been answered - but in true Farmerian fashion I find that a few new questions have been raised along the way. It says something about the sheer power of the storytelling that I completed the book in a single sitting - something I’ve not done in a good long time - and came away feeling like I was once again that 15-year-old discovering Doc Caliban for the first time.
Whenever I write a book review I am always hesitant to delve too much into the actual plot, because I am always afraid of robbing other readers from the joy of reading the book for themselves. This is more true than ever in the case of “The Monster On Hold,” because in my zeal to share my enthusiasm for the novel I fear I will give something away that isn’t mine to give. So I will say this: “The Monster On Hold” is a marvelously crafted, well-told adventure tale that combines 1930s pulp derring-do, Lovecraftian mysticism and pseudo-religious retribution and enlightenment, all tossed together in a Homerian Shake-and-Bake bag to create an epic the likes of which can only be imagined upon actually reading.
As the kids these days are fond of saying, “My head exploded.” And oh, what marvelous thunder that explosion created.
Long story short: READ THIS BOOK!
April 26, 2022
As expected, Win Scott Eckert's completion of Farmer's previously unfinished fourth Secrets of the Nine book is a rollicking adventure from start to finish. It's also a deep rumination on the nature of identity, of how we center who we are versus who the world sees, and how we address the dichotomies within our nature.
Farmerphiles will also be intrigued by the connections Eckert makes between the Nine books and other Farmer works.
Farmerphiles will also be intrigued by the connections Eckert makes between the Nine books and other Farmer works.
April 25, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The writing style is phenomenal, so fast paced and engaging. The characters were all fully realized and fun to read, and I was really happy we go to see the more human side of Doc Caliban in this story. I really like this series and I sincerely hope that there will be a fifth novel coming out sometime in the near future! I can only hope that Eckert chooses to keep going and continue this series to the end.
January 16, 2023
A kaleidoscopic and entertaining ride through universes of pulp. It is great to see this completion of Farmer's series, adding to the lore and spinning out many more fractal narrative possibilities. Somehow it is both the adult, revisionist Doc of PJF's imagination and the heroic figure of the pulps. Fabulous fun.
April 18, 2022
Win Scott Eckert deserves all of our thanks for keeping this world alive. You won't be disappointed!
October 4, 2022
Yes, a five star review, spoiler free, with one significant complaint that I'll explain.
You see, this is such an amazing book. As others have said, I've been waiting for it for more than half my life, and the anticipation and expectations here were, I would keep telling myself, impossible to achieve.
However, Win Scott Eckert did the impossible.
Other reviews have done a fine job of explaining the history here, the three prior books, the shady history of the first volume's publication, and the confusion of the follow-up books being produced as an Ace Double. And finally the portions of this story that Philip Jose Farmer released years prior to his death.
A master of Farmer's work, and a legendary connections chronologer, Eckert blew away expectations producing not only a suitable follow-up to the series (note I don't say resolution, as there are hints and I have hope for more connected stories to come) but a new work of art that subtly delights the pulp enthusiast, defines a new phase for the epic, and disturbs the senses in a way that I'm sure would make Farmer proud.
It is obvious that Eckert has gone above and beyond a simple completion of the scrap Farmer left him. He's digging deep into the mythos, digging up new gems and polishing them to a wondrous shine. This is an extension to what has gone before, and he draws on other Farmer progressive storytelling styles to give us an emotional ride along with the thrills. There are so many Easter eggs here that it feels like Easter egg is begging to be supplanted with a new term that would evoke the image of a field of glistening painted eggs waiting to be picked-up and examined.
And that's where I raise my complaint. I need a searchable ebook version to go along with previously purchased ebook editions of the Secrets of the Nine. I want to exhaustively search for each instance of terms, people, references, and implications that Eckert has carefully boiled, painted, and laid in this pulp science fiction adventure field of green.
However, that's for the second reading. Buy this book now as it stands and enjoy it, and then you too can make an informed request for a searchable ebook version.
You see, this is such an amazing book. As others have said, I've been waiting for it for more than half my life, and the anticipation and expectations here were, I would keep telling myself, impossible to achieve.
However, Win Scott Eckert did the impossible.
Other reviews have done a fine job of explaining the history here, the three prior books, the shady history of the first volume's publication, and the confusion of the follow-up books being produced as an Ace Double. And finally the portions of this story that Philip Jose Farmer released years prior to his death.
A master of Farmer's work, and a legendary connections chronologer, Eckert blew away expectations producing not only a suitable follow-up to the series (note I don't say resolution, as there are hints and I have hope for more connected stories to come) but a new work of art that subtly delights the pulp enthusiast, defines a new phase for the epic, and disturbs the senses in a way that I'm sure would make Farmer proud.
It is obvious that Eckert has gone above and beyond a simple completion of the scrap Farmer left him. He's digging deep into the mythos, digging up new gems and polishing them to a wondrous shine. This is an extension to what has gone before, and he draws on other Farmer progressive storytelling styles to give us an emotional ride along with the thrills. There are so many Easter eggs here that it feels like Easter egg is begging to be supplanted with a new term that would evoke the image of a field of glistening painted eggs waiting to be picked-up and examined.
And that's where I raise my complaint. I need a searchable ebook version to go along with previously purchased ebook editions of the Secrets of the Nine. I want to exhaustively search for each instance of terms, people, references, and implications that Eckert has carefully boiled, painted, and laid in this pulp science fiction adventure field of green.
However, that's for the second reading. Buy this book now as it stands and enjoy it, and then you too can make an informed request for a searchable ebook version.
December 6, 2022
Great ending to Philip Jose Farmer’s Secrets of the Nine series! Win Scott Eckert put the finishing touches on Farmer’s series, and did a great job with those touches. This is a heady, complex story that requires a lot of literary knowledge, Farmer, Wold Newton, Lovecraft, and others I’m sure I missed. I got a little lost in parts, but the authors pulled it all together and I found my way in the end, sort of in conjunction with the heroes finding their way. This has been a wide-ranging, epic journey of a series, and Farmer and Eckert put a definite exclamation point at the end of it. Highly recommended (after you read the first three books). Go get it!
July 23, 2022
The title is actually a double entendre, as this was a book teased decades ago by Grandmaster Philip Jose' Farmer that his fans, and fans of the "Secrets of the Nine" series thought we'd never get!
Author Win Scott Eckert took what Farmer wrote along with notes, and finished the novel with fantastic results!
Rollicking adventure, mind expanding concepts and connections into a larger, universe of literature both classic and pop culture.
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!!!
Highly recommend!!!
Author Win Scott Eckert took what Farmer wrote along with notes, and finished the novel with fantastic results!
Rollicking adventure, mind expanding concepts and connections into a larger, universe of literature both classic and pop culture.
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!!!
Highly recommend!!!
July 28, 2022
Disclaimer - don’t read more if you haven’t read the book as I will remark on parts of the story.
Disclaimer #2 - I have been awaiting this book eagerly for more than 20 years. At some point I thought it would be me writing it, based on Phil’s old notes. I even contacted the people managing Phil’s estate to inquire of any script or notes located in the Magic Filing Cabinet, but it seems nothing had been found at the time or was held back for a better writer to step forward.
I give the book 8 out 10.
I give the actual writing and prose 10 out of 10. The reason for this is that Winn almost exactly matches Phil’s style and prose. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought Phil wrote the entire book.
I love Phil’s way of writing above almost anything else I’ve read over the years, and I’ve read a lot. This - combined with the hugely creative, imaginary, and audacious storylines of Phil is the main reason I regularly reread all his works.
I have read all the works of Phil that have been finished by others over the years, and I have never seen anyone match Phil’s writing as well as Winn. Great achievement!
I give the storyline 7 out of 10. I generally liked the storyline all the way up to the end but there were some elements I didn’t appreciate that much. Winn has put in a significant number of references to other works of Phil and himself. Phil wouldn’t have done this so to me it detracts from the book. I don’t like it. It breaks the flow of the book.
My main gripe with the book, however, is the ending - disclaimer, disclaimer - where XauXaz is brought back from death as a magical plot device to wrap up all the loose ends. Well, as if one XauXaz wasn’t enough, two are brought in. And if that still isn’t enough, XauXaz is even merged with Baron von Hessel. It’s too much. And I guess it may be a symptom of the (nerdish?) trend of Wold Newton crossover attempts dominating the PJF legacy for the last 10-15 years.
Phil was always extremely careful with not introducing convenient plot devices and respecting the internal consistency of the story. I doubt (but have no way to find out) that this was the ending desired by PJF.
Anyhow, I rank Monster on Hold as the best collaborative efforts since Phil’s death and the best use of the magical filing cabinet so far.
Disclaimer #2 - I have been awaiting this book eagerly for more than 20 years. At some point I thought it would be me writing it, based on Phil’s old notes. I even contacted the people managing Phil’s estate to inquire of any script or notes located in the Magic Filing Cabinet, but it seems nothing had been found at the time or was held back for a better writer to step forward.
I give the book 8 out 10.
I give the actual writing and prose 10 out of 10. The reason for this is that Winn almost exactly matches Phil’s style and prose. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought Phil wrote the entire book.
I love Phil’s way of writing above almost anything else I’ve read over the years, and I’ve read a lot. This - combined with the hugely creative, imaginary, and audacious storylines of Phil is the main reason I regularly reread all his works.
I have read all the works of Phil that have been finished by others over the years, and I have never seen anyone match Phil’s writing as well as Winn. Great achievement!
I give the storyline 7 out of 10. I generally liked the storyline all the way up to the end but there were some elements I didn’t appreciate that much. Winn has put in a significant number of references to other works of Phil and himself. Phil wouldn’t have done this so to me it detracts from the book. I don’t like it. It breaks the flow of the book.
My main gripe with the book, however, is the ending - disclaimer, disclaimer - where XauXaz is brought back from death as a magical plot device to wrap up all the loose ends. Well, as if one XauXaz wasn’t enough, two are brought in. And if that still isn’t enough, XauXaz is even merged with Baron von Hessel. It’s too much. And I guess it may be a symptom of the (nerdish?) trend of Wold Newton crossover attempts dominating the PJF legacy for the last 10-15 years.
Phil was always extremely careful with not introducing convenient plot devices and respecting the internal consistency of the story. I doubt (but have no way to find out) that this was the ending desired by PJF.
Anyhow, I rank Monster on Hold as the best collaborative efforts since Phil’s death and the best use of the magical filing cabinet so far.
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