Inferno (Book Review) - Revision history

Michael Bard at 17:41, 20 April 2008

2008-04-20T17:41:33Z

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	<poem>'''written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle'''		<poem>'''written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle'''

Michael Bard at 05:59, 26 March 2008

2008-03-26T05:59:42Z

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	''Sequels: None, though one is in the works''		''Sequels: None, though one is in the works''

	Pretty well everybody has heard of the first book of Dante's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy#Inferno ''Divine Comedy: Inferno'']. Very few have actually read it. But then, medieval Italian is not a common language, ~~but~~ there are various translations of it floating around. And, having been written in the 14th century, it is somewhat dated now--		Pretty well everybody has heard of the first book of Dante's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy#Inferno ''Divine Comedy: Inferno'']. Very few have actually read it. But then, medieval Italian is not a common language, though there are various translations of it floating around. And, having been written in the 14th century, it is somewhat dated now--

	Fortunately, this lack has been addressed! I'm willing to bet that Niven and Pournelle were sitting down together one day, or e-mailing, or talking by phone, or whatever, and one of them idly tossed out a sin that hadn't been around at the time of Dante. Whether that is the truth or not, the pair decided to address that deplorable lack.		Fortunately, this lack has been addressed! I'm willing to bet that Niven and Pournelle were sitting down together one day, or e-mailing, or talking by phone, or whatever, and one of them idly tossed out a sin that hadn't been around at the time of Dante. Whether that is the truth or not, the pair decided to address that deplorable lack.

Michael Bard: New page: Category:Michael Bard Category:Review {{DEFAULTSORT:Inferno}} '''written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle''' '''published by Pocket Books, 1976''' '''ISBN 0-671-41848-3'''<...

2008-03-25T19:43:04Z

New page: Category:Michael Bard Category:Review {{DEFAULTSORT:Inferno}} <poem>'''written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle''' '''published by Pocket Books, 1976''' '''ISBN 0-671-41848-3'''<...

New page

[[Category:Michael Bard]]
[[Category:Review]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inferno}}
<poem>'''written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle'''
'''published by Pocket Books, 1976'''
'''ISBN 0-671-41848-3'''</poem>

''Sequels: None, though one is in the works''

Pretty well everybody has heard of the first book of Dante's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy#Inferno ''Divine Comedy: Inferno'']. Very few have actually read it. But then, medieval Italian is not a common language, but there are various translations of it floating around. And, having been written in the 14th century, it is somewhat dated now--

Fortunately, this lack has been addressed! I'm willing to bet that Niven and Pournelle were sitting down together one day, or e-mailing, or talking by phone, or whatever, and one of them idly tossed out a sin that hadn't been around at the time of Dante. Whether that is the truth or not, the pair decided to address that deplorable lack.

Their modernized version of '''Inferno''' tells the story of one Allen Carpenter, more commonly known as the Science Fiction writer Allen Carpentier. He changed his last name to make it more distinctive. He died by getting drunk at a Science Fiction convention whilst sitting on a windowsill, and gagged and fell out, unnoticed as Isaac Asimov had just come into the room--

He wakes up in what appears to be the Christian Hell as defined by Dante. Of course, being a science fiction writer, Allen is not about to believe in magic! ''Obviously'' he was resurrected by aliens, or because saddened SF fans had his head frozen for future revival which occurred, or some other ''rational'' explanation, to be allowed to wander in the futuristic (or alien) amusement park of ''Infernoland''. There to greet him in a man who identifies himself as Benito, or ''Benny'' if Allen likes.

And Benito offers to lead Allen out of Hell.

From there, '''Inferno''' chronicles Allen's journeys and explorations through Hell. Or Infernoland. He meets people, both famous and mundane, from his past and his future. Step by step they advance, joined and abandoned, following Dante's journey as best they can, but without divine aid. Many sins that were popular in the 14th Century are abandoned, but they have been joined and overwhelmed by more modern sins. What happens to those fanatics who believe that ''all technology is bad'' even when they are offered proof that it isn't? That pollution is evil? That lied in congress to follow their party but betray their beliefs? And many, ''many'' more.

Through it, Allen works through his own beliefs, about why he became an atheist, and what possible purpose Hell could serve for a supposedly benevolent God. If it is the literal hell, and not an alien or futuristic construct.

One does not need to read Dante's ''Inferno'', or even know about it. Everything you need to get into this well written, slyly winking, narrative, is provided. Even though the transformational content is limited -- just the lizards and serpents in the ''Bolgia of Thieves'' in the Eighth Circle, this is a novel that makes you ''think''. It shows that transformation can be included, and not be the be-all and end-all of the story. It makes one examine morality, both personal and Christian. And it offers one answer to why there is a Hell given a supposedly benevolent and all-powerful divinity.

Highly recommended.