A Far Sunset

by Edmund Cooper

[Back Cover]

"A VERY FAR SUNSET FROM HOME...
The -Gloria Mundi-, bound for the distant planet Altair Five, was the third starship to leave Earth in the 21st century. The six pairs of human beings aboard included Paul Marlowe---the ship's psychiatrist---and his wife. Upon arrival on Altair, exploratory expeditions were quickly arranged---from which no one returned. When the remaining three crew members were captured and sent to Baya Nor, one immediately committed suicide, another went insane.

Only Paul, now named Poul Mer Lo by the natives, attempted to adapt himself to life on the new planet. But even he found conditions on Altair Five---a place where an ancient myth was still curiously alive---far lonelier and stranger than he had ever dreamed..."

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Aliens, Adventure, Fantasy

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Excerpted from wikipedia:
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image (later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).
In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.

Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain

Reviews

[Lostaccount · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Edmund Cooper's A Far Sunset the crew of the Gloria Mundi, a spaceship that has travelled for twenty years with the crew in suspended animation to a planet called Altair five (wasn't there an Altair planet in Star Trek?) go missing shortly after touchdown, presumed dead, the only survivor being Paul Marlowe (Poul Mer Lo), who discovers the place is inhabited by a barbaric race of human-like beings with three fingers, meets the boy king Enka Ne (whom he befriends after he's lobbed off his little fingers!), becomes a native of the city called Baya Nor, and after faffing about with his lady concubine (the "noia"), goes on a voyage with some of the Bayani to a mountainous region after hearing of a vision by one of the Bayani he appears to have all but adopted. There's lots of alien culture lore, bit of Haggard adventure, and a fairly decent story.

Edmund Cooper was recommended by a friend, who turned out to be right about him.
Cooper is a better writer than people give him credit for - he has a great prose style, lots of imagination, and it's obvious his intention was always to show us the story instead of blandly telling it. Cooper unapologetically shows us how Marlowe feels about the beings of Baya Nor when he could easily have told us how Marlowe viewed them as primitive and then told us how he grew to respect them. Instead, he shows us graphically: in the beginning, Marlowe violently abuses his personal "noia" (given to him as a companion/servant, as is the Baya Nor custom) for just repeatedly mispronouncing his name. He sees the Bayani as inferior until he gradually comes to know them and we see his treatment of his "noia" change, and later during the voyage to the mountains we see how fond he has grown of the Bayani, one of whom is a telepath (what old school scifi wouldn't be complete without a telepath?).

Cooper occasionally has a poetic turn of phrase, and his descriptive powers are great. And yes, we do learn that Marlowe's "noia" loves him for his "thanu" ... "He was also very much a man; for she, who had experienced many vigorous Bayani as a priestess in the Temple of Gaiety, had found to her surprise that she could only accommodate his thanu with difficulty"... but what's good for Clive Barker is good for Edmund Cooper. Haha. It's scifi after all not literature. For the latter, read Ulysses.

Overall, the writing is engaging and fast and there are plenty of twists and turns, and the ending is worth waiting for, so won't spoil it. It you don't work it out long before the end, though. Kind of gives the game away, if you're watching closely.

I'd definitely recommend this for adults who enjoy sci-fi about other planets, other worlds and want a good adventure story. Stick with it, it gets better.

*******
note: not recommended for adolescent-minded idiots who throw a knee-jerk reaction at the word "colonisation" because they don't know the difference between that and planetary colonisation in scifi (too much CRT brainwashing at college methinks).
I'll explain: planetary colonisation is a common theme in science fiction, often with elements of dystopia/nightmare, characters finding themselves on other planets, encountering alien races with different customs/religions/rituals and seeing the characters either fall foul of things or thrive by virtue of their knowledge or skill or whatever. Think of books like The Planetfall series and of course the Star Trek TV series.

Lose the labels, lose the brainwashing, and open your mind....nuff said. :)

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first science fiction books I bought (the earlier ones I borrowed since I had no idea what I was getting myself in to). It was part of a selection of Edmund Cooper titles which I read voraciously. Now years later on one of my random sorties in to the depths of my collection I find it again and sit down once more to read it.
The story is a fascinating one for me simple because not only do I enjoy the story all over again but I remember my feeling as I read it for the first time. The amazing feeling of such a story and from and English writer ( you would have to forgive me I had not really found Clarke and as such till then I felt that all SF came out of American), that certain events stick in my mind and how I got to really empathise with the main character Paul Marlowe.
Years later I read more about the author and I must admit he is a creation of his time often using his fiction as a way of vocalising his concerns and opinions - now I am not one for being lectured and at times some of his work does feel that with every book purchased there is a free "orange crate" ready for use by the author to preach and berate you but not here - this book is all story and no lecture

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edmund Cooper was one of a group of U.K. authors who wrote some pretty good sf adventures that fell somewhere between the group of new wave modernists Moorcock assembled in New Worlds and after the group of classicists like Wyndham, Taine, and, of course, Clarke. Like Kenneth Bulmer and E.C. Tubb, Cooper explored sociological questions without becoming pedantic or sacrificing fast plots and the traditional sf big-concept tropes. It's a fun read, perhaps not sophisticated by current standards (and his depiction of women is certainly not politically correct), but it's still a good old adventure story.

[Skjam! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paul Marlowe is apparently the last survivor of the Gloria Mundi, a starship commissioned by the United States of Europe to explore the Altair star system. The fifth planet of Altair turned out to be inhabitable and inhabited by humanoid aliens, but the crew of the Gloria Mundi vanished in clumps. Marlowe and the remaining members were captured by the native Bayani, and while they were held, the ship self-destructed as a security measure.

Now known as Poul Mer Lo, the stranded Earthman must find a way to survive in an alien civilization, and find a new purpose in life. He has many ideas he could use to uplift the primitive Bayani, but his attempt to introduce the wheel results in 137 deaths, and Enka Ne, the god-king who has tolerated Poul Mer Lo’s presence, is soon to pass on.

Paul Marlowe must gamble everything he has left on an expedition to the Temple of the White Darkness, seat of the god Oruri. Are the secrets there worth the cost?

This 1967 novel posits the use of cryogenic suspension to make starships viable by 2012 (and also to treat mental illness!) The Americans and Russians (_not_ the Soviet Union, despite naming their ship the Red October) launch their own expeditions, which are irrelevant except for spurring the USE to put together the Gloria Mundi. Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands each contribute a married couple to the crew; psychologist Paul marries medical doctor Ann as an arrangement so they’ll be eligible. Hilariously, the wedding is broadcast on Eurovision.

During their waking times on the twenty-year voyage, Paul and Ann get along okay, but Paul never falls in love with her. That, and his belief that he is now a widower, means that Poul Mer Lo doesn’t feel terribly guilty about availing himself of the services of Mylai Tui, a former temple prostitute assigned by Enka Ne to be his servant. For her part, Mylai Tui mentions more than once how impressed she is with her master’s large thanu, and wants to bear his child to prove her worthiness.

The narrative smacks more than a little of colonialism, with the cultured Englishman stranded among dark-skinned natives who desperately need uplifting by his superior technological and cultural knowledge. He even assumes a position of power in their government by the end. By comparison, the sexism is downright subtle; Mylai Tui’s character arc is far more about “native servant worships English master” than about “woman is subservient to man.”

The highlight of the book is the perilous voyage to the Temple of the White Darkness, and Marlowe’s meeting with Oruri. It turns out Earth is not the first planet to send expeditions to Altair Five, and reading between the lines, the destruction of Atlantis might have been the best thing that ever happened to the human race. This section is exciting and full of wonder.

While the book is not badly written, it’s not well written enough to overcome the colonialist attitudes embedded in the narrative; I would not recommend it except to someone who’s studying pro-colonialist literature in speculative fiction.

[Alien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Expedition nach Altair trifft auf einen scheinbar paradiesischen Planeten. Doch die Erkundungen enden in einem Desaster. Die Erkundungs- und Suchparteien verschwinden. Die letzten 3 Mitglieder der Mannschaft, darunter der Psychologe Paul, werden von Eingeborenen gefangen genommen. Paul überlebt als einziger. Inzwischen wurde das Selbstzerstörungsprogramm des Raumschiffs aktiviert, also ist er hoffnungslos gestrandet. Die Eingeborenen sind humanoid und haben eine Theokratie nach Muster der Mayas. Inklusive Menschenopfer.

Wie würde sich ein moderner Mensch in einer "rückständigen" Gesellschaft schlagen? Immer wieder ein interessantes Szenario. Cooper hat das Thema recht glaubwürdig hingekriegt. Der Schluss hat mir dann allerdings nicht so sonderlich gefallen und das ganze präsentiert sich letztendlich doch auf eine etwas zu einfache und undifferenzierte Art und Weise.
3.5/5

[Elijah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A space ship lands on an undiscovered planet with signs of intelligent life. Disaster strikes, and one astronaut finds himself captured and exposed to a strange culture. He must find a way to survive while navigating the customs of the less civilized people.

The worldbuilding is believable and immersive. The introspective journey of the main character throughout the novel is the best reward.

Some ideas are dated, but it is to be expected from a novel that is almost 60 years old.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great classic science fiction from one of the authors who was a trailblazer in the early years of the genera: Cooper was English rather than American and perhaps because of this he is not quite as well known as some of the other greats of sci-fi that were working in the mid 60's when A Far Sunset was published.

One of the things about this era of classic sci-fi is that the stories written then are rarely still considered 'science fiction' today and this one is no exception. In the far,far distance future of 2012, several star ships set off for distant places, the Americans send one, and so do the Russians. But our story is about the outcome of the Gloria Mundi, built by the United States of Europe on it's way to Altair carrying (two by two) Germans, French, Italians, Swedish, Dutch and, of course, English. This accounts for the 'sci-fi' appellation when it was written, but these days it would more likely be regarded as fantasy or speculative fiction, because there is little or no 'hard science' about it.

Paul Marlow, the English male of the contingent comes to be isolated in a primitive culture on the planet. I won't spoiler how that came about, but the majority of the book is much more about his response to the culture and how he deals and integrates with it.

The people of Baya Nor have a pre-industrial culture based on a heavily deified social strata, a god emperor who reins for a single year, a lot of human (or at least Baya Nor) sacrifice, Jungle backdrop and stone cities with extensive and beautiful carvings. Is anyone else getting the feeling, as I did, that at the time Cooper must have been very intrigued by the old civilisations of South America? I certainly got that vibe.

I enjoyed this one as much as I have enjoyed all of Cooper's work that I have read. The way in which early sci-fi explored options, the 'speculative fiction' part was one of the things that got me into the genera back in my teenage years. Paul Marlow suffers from dissociation of trying to make anew home among people who do not know him, he is slow to realise that religious priests do not like change or challenge to their authority and suffers some disasters due to this but his friendship with the god/king ensures his survival. He makes some amazing discoveries about the world. And the ending, while.... odd is consistent with the story in good ways.

The normal Cooper warnings should apply; he is consistently known for liking 'unconventional' male heroes and for throwing them into unfamiliar and remote environments. This is certainly true for this book. His version of 'unconventional male hero' is often (if not always) misogynistic, dense, opinionated, self-centered and yet strangely likable and relateable. That is this hero to a T. At least by modern standards, compared to many 60's males he is an open-minded, feminist, humanitarian equalist, but that's another discussion.

Would recommend this to other lovers of Classic Science Fiction.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: Paul Marlowe is stranded on Altair Five after the somewhat primitive natives attack, and allow the ship's self destruct to kick in. Stranded and alone on an alien world, Marlowe tries to make a new life while finding out what happened to his crewmates.

Science: Cooper uses the light speed barrier, so they do the cryo-sleep thing, which is described as essential to society. The expedition is one of 5 (the European one... the Americans and Russian have their own, of course), and leaves in 2012 *sigh*

Analysis: Fun, page-turning story. It hurt my head some the the 'aliens' were basically African tribal Pygmies that somehow had and Aztec culture and Chinese names. Worse, the society was consistently referred to as 'medieval' when it was pre-Columbian, perhaps even Stone Age (no wheel, no writing, only fire and barges for boats). The government was unique and interesting, though, and the twists along the way, while typical of the 60s, were fun.... reminded me of the Dragonriders books, actually (perhaps since I just read an Anne McCaffrey book)

[Nikolis Asimakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an old sci fi story. Taking place in the far... 2012 at first and in the farther 2032 then, it follows the story of an englishman, part of a space mission, last survivor of his crew on a distant planet inhabited by human-like species living in a kind of medieval society. The plot is intriguing, with some clever twists. I didn't particularly care for the characters, especially the protagonist, which, for this kind of books, is not good. Furthermore, the chapters had a feeling like each chapter was a short story, so some things (like the status of the character) were constantly repeated.

All in all, a worthwhile read, but I would think, only once/twice in a lifetime.

[S.j. Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with the other Edmund Cooper book, sexism and poor character development are rampant. Our protagonist, Paul Marlowe, is a psychiatrist/astronaut who embarks on a journey to find habitable planets. He's accompanied by his wife (of convenience) Ann, and 5 other couples, each from a different country. Actual scientific references are few, extremely lame interpersonal connections are many, and thanks to cryogenic sleep chambers our intrepid explorers are able to make the long journey without aging more than a few years even though they've been flying for about 21 years. Our crew finds an earthlike planet and lands. A explorer party is lost, another search party is lost and the last of the crew, Paul and two other men, are captured by a very strange and primitive natives. Now, here's where the real irritating storytelling begins. Paul, being a psychiatrist and a scientist, SHOULD be able to handle his predicament with wonder and interest. Instead he and his two fellow humans are whiney, fatalistic crybabies and they can't handle what's going on. Eventually Paul ends up the only survivor, learns the language, and tries to fit into this society of primitives. They are a superstitious, brutal race, complete with a weird religion, human sacrifices and totalitarian rule. After a time, Paul has made peace with his predicament, being stranded on a strange planet. The ship they came in has self destructed thanks to an ill thought out computer order. Paul becomes less unlikable, until he decides he has to follow the river to explore a mythical "white darkness" which is actually a snow covered mountain. Here is where he finds the answers to life, the universe, and everything. Literally. And it isn't that big of a deal, since the knowledge will not do him any good here with the savage society he lives in. This is only the second Cooper novel i've read, but this one wraps up with a really big finish just like the other. Outlandishly timed, implausible coincidences and then kind of a cliff hanger still. I nearly gave up reading in the beginning, Paul Marlowe was such a horrible person, but i was curious how it would unfold. Fun but largely forgettable and full of plot holes.

[Ken Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when humans land on another world, a world with intelligent, humanoid life? This question is answered in various ways, sometimes with a philosophical/religious question about how species would interact, harm and help each other during this first contact. Like the novel, The Sparrow (by Mary Doria Russell), in this novel the first contact is a disastrous one. Can good come out of this painful interaction.

Cooper's novel was published in 1967, thirty years before Russell's, and models, in some way, first contact between Europeans and some indigenous cultures. The human struggles to survive and fit in, indeed thrive in the new society, all the while aware that human society of the 21st century has much to offer this alien civilization -- if he survives.

[Dakin Burdick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stay away! This one is truly awful. This is the tale of Paul Marlowe, sole survivor of an Earth expedition to the planet of small humanoids who love sex with big Earthmen because of the size of Terran genitalia. Paul becomes the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and teaches the ignorant savages all about wheels and other wonderful things, leading them into an industrial paradise. Oh, the Martians show up as well because it can't be science fiction if you don't have Martians in it. People say this book is typical of Edmund Cooper's work, so I shudder to think of what else he has written.

[Paulo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another typical Cooper book, surely dated, with a straightforward simple plot (and prose) full of cardboard side characters, but somehow like the other previous Cooper books I read it keeps you glued to the pages wanting to know what happens next. Since his books are usually short you reach the end before you know it. On this one Cooper gave it a more philosophical vibe. First half of the story was below average, the second half it improved and I enjoyed it more. 3 stars.

[Andrew Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper’s A Far Sunset was a good read, with adventure, peril, growth. The overall plot could be considered stereotypical, but only in that it is old enough to be around at the founding of some of those stereotypes (if not actually responsible for them). There is almost an element of Apocalypse Now to the story, definitely an air of Planet of the Apes. A fun easy read.

[Ivan da Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma vez mais Edmund Cooper brinda-nos com um magnífico livro de ficção científica. Um livro de leitura fácil onde a acção decorre de forma fluida e bastante natural. Uma mensagem muito poderosa e bastante atual.
Aconselho vivamente não só a fãs de F.C. mas a todo o tipo de leitores.
Um autor que infelizmente não teve a notoriedade de outros escritores , mas que merece a atenção de todos.

[S.Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is interesting but fairly sad. It is the story of humanity's first space travel to another star. The central character Paul Marlowe, is the last survivor of the star-ship Gloria Mundi. They landed on an inhabited world, however the society they entered was at best medieval. Many shocks and finally great enlightenment await Paul, as he integrates into the Mayan civilisation

[Elle Beedub · Rating 2 out of 5]

A product of its time is the nicest description, but ticks the bingo card for:
- hero gets given a wife
- hero solves a culture's barbaric problems
- hero is great inventer when he used to be a normal person

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time sf favorites. An astronaut is treated like
a god by the simple inhabitants of another planet. When he
learns the reason, he is astounded.

Cooper's books are hard to find now. They should be reprinted.

[Jonny Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times and never tire of the world that Edmund Cooper created here. A Far Sunset transports you to a place far from reality and yet from the first page you are a participant in a truly epic adventure.

[Sérgio Azevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embora a história não tenha muita originalidade está bem conseguida e é cativante.
A história evolui a bom ritmo e tem leitura rápida.

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1982 grade C

[Eric Freh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetna opowieść w klasycznym scfi świecie, nie rozumiem czemu ten autor nie jest szerzej znany ale napisał naprawdę solidną powieść.

[adrianoates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ideas of sentinel beings precede Arthur C Clarke's 2001 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

[Sean882 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read,a hidden science fiction gem.