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The Unreasoning Mask
A novel of alien gods, monsters, and galactic destruction from the New York Times–bestselling author of the Riverworld series. Captain Ramstan commands the crew of one of the only alaraf-drive vessels capable of instantaneous travel between two points of space. While on an official scientific surveillance expedition, he revises their mission to join the search for a missing ship. But instead of the spacecraft, they discover a planet in its death throes, decimated by meteors that have been launched with extreme velocity from just outside of its atmosphere. The ultimate source of the destruction, however, is beyond anyone’s imagination . . . Ramstan may be the only man who can stop the world-destroying entity known as the “Chaos-Monster” before it follows in their footsteps to Earth. A stolen alien idol offers aid—though at a price. But there are those who hear his warnings as nothing but the rantings of a delusional madman, and Ramstan will have to put his career—and life—on the line to prove that, though he might not be the savior the universe wants, he’s exactly the one it needs. Praise for Philip José Farmer “An excellent science fiction writer.” —Isaac Asimov “[Farmer’s work is a] blend of intellectual daring and pulp fiction prose.” —The New York Times “Farmer offers his audience a wide-screen adventure that never fails to provoke, amuse, and educate. . . . His imagination is certainly of the first rank.” —Time on The World of Tiers “The greatest science fiction writer ever.” —Leslie A. Fiedler, author of Love and Death in the American Novel
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1981
33 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Philip José Farmer
604 books878 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 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 21, 2012
I've read all of Philip José Farmer's books, and of his stand alone sf novels, this is one of his best. Apparently I'm not alone in thinking this. Interzone editor David Pringle included The Unreasoning Mask in his book, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, and sf author Ian Watson called it "a masterpiece, Farmer's finest."
This novel might be viewed as a thinking person's version of Star Trek's "The Doomsday Machine" or "The Immunity Syndrome"; but it's really much more than that, with its metaphysical themes and implications, as well as its well-conceived world building of alien cultures and psychological examination of human motivations.
Captain Ramstan commands a rare alaraf drive starship which allows it to jump instantaneously to distant regions of space. Just as Ramstan sets off an interstellar incident by stealing the god-idol of an alien world (called the glyfa), he is alerted that one of the alaraf ships has disappeared, a victim of a world-killer called a "bolg." What is the mysterious connection between the glyfa and the bolg, and why does Ramstan begin to have waking visions of a mystical being from his long extinguished Muslim faith? Ramstan, chased by the aliens who worship the stolen god, races across the pluriverse to find the answers.
The Unreasoning Mask is a gripping, captivatingly disturbing book. Even at his most fantastic, Farmer manages to entrance with a compelling degree of realism, in particular in regard to his portrayal of human nature, which in his fiction seems to carry at least as much bad as it does good. Don't miss this darkly riveting sf adventure.
This novel might be viewed as a thinking person's version of Star Trek's "The Doomsday Machine" or "The Immunity Syndrome"; but it's really much more than that, with its metaphysical themes and implications, as well as its well-conceived world building of alien cultures and psychological examination of human motivations.
Captain Ramstan commands a rare alaraf drive starship which allows it to jump instantaneously to distant regions of space. Just as Ramstan sets off an interstellar incident by stealing the god-idol of an alien world (called the glyfa), he is alerted that one of the alaraf ships has disappeared, a victim of a world-killer called a "bolg." What is the mysterious connection between the glyfa and the bolg, and why does Ramstan begin to have waking visions of a mystical being from his long extinguished Muslim faith? Ramstan, chased by the aliens who worship the stolen god, races across the pluriverse to find the answers.
The Unreasoning Mask is a gripping, captivatingly disturbing book. Even at his most fantastic, Farmer manages to entrance with a compelling degree of realism, in particular in regard to his portrayal of human nature, which in his fiction seems to carry at least as much bad as it does good. Don't miss this darkly riveting sf adventure.
September 5, 2020
This is one of the later books written by Philip Jose Farmer (1918-2009), published in 1981. It is, well, Farmeresque, which doesn't mean anything to you if you haven't read anything by Farmer. It's an adventure story which veers into the mystical. We have our hero, Captain Ramstan, raised as a Muslim, no longer a believer, but influenced by his former beliefs. He is a reflective man wondering if there is a God or a purpose to the Pluralverse ( all the universes together). We will get some answers as the adventure unfolds.
Ramstan discovers that there is a monster called the "bolg" moving through the Pluralverse destroying planets with sentient life. It looks like Ramstan may be the man who can stop the entity. Is this going to be a Captain Ahab going after Moby Dick-type scenario?
I like the world-building Farmer does in this story and I like the character of Ramstan-- and even like all the monologues he indulges in...like I said, Farmeresque.
Ramstan discovers that there is a monster called the "bolg" moving through the Pluralverse destroying planets with sentient life. It looks like Ramstan may be the man who can stop the entity. Is this going to be a Captain Ahab going after Moby Dick-type scenario?
I like the world-building Farmer does in this story and I like the character of Ramstan-- and even like all the monologues he indulges in...like I said, Farmeresque.
August 15, 2015
While reading The Unreasoning Mask by Philip Jose Farmer I was reminded of a science fiction novel from the preceding century, Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. In Verne's novel the powerful character of Captain Nemo and his mighty submarine, The Nautilus, develop a relationship that may have been inspiration for Captain Ramstan and his living space ship, al-Buraq. I have no evidence of this connection, but Farmer's vision in creating Ramstan is on a level worthy of the comparison. It is this vision that makes The Unreasoning Mask stand above most space operas; for in addition to the Captain and his ship there is a plot that literally encompasses the nature of our universe and others as well. In the future the fate of the universe rests upon this man's shoulder -- Ramstan. a thoughtful and moral man, becomes a fascinated yet reluctant pawn in the hands of the strange forces which rise to fight the deadly destroyer. Ultimately Ramstan is the one man who, in a fearful race against time, can stop the destruction. But what price must he pay for becoming the savior of intelligent-kind?
In this exceptional race to save the Universe the protagonist is one Hud Ramstan, Muslin captain of an extraordinary space ship known as al-Buraq. The ship is a living entity capable of changing shape and seemingly embodying affection for its master as evidenced by walls that quiver with excitement. The connection between the Captain and his ship, with its special abilities which include an instantaneous drive called alaraf, is a key aspect of one of the most exciting action sequences in the plot of the novel. However, the main action of the book is on another scale--one that is metaphysical in nature with Ramstan dealing with god through an intermediary called the glyfa which is a sentient egg-shaped object that is older than the universe. Ramstan's dealings with the glyfa, are aided by three aliens called the Vwoordha that are almost stranger than the glyfa. The imaginative nature of this metaphysical plot is beyond my descriptive capabilities and I would not spoil the story even if I could, but the plot was able to keep this reader on edge with wonder at what mysterious complications would ensue next. The story was leavened with supporting characters whose relationship with Ramstan provided depth for both his character and the nature of the world in which he was living. One of these, a Dr. Toyce, commented, "You can't turn around in this world without bumping into a question."(p 222) This could be taken in both a serious and a light-hearted way, at least until the ultimate enemy, known simply as the Bolg, appeared.
Few novels this short (less than two-hundred-fifty pages) have as many intriguing ideas, complex discussions about the fate of universes, and fascinating alien entities. There is even a mystic named Benagur who is Ramstan's bete noir and who succeeds in making his trials even more difficult. The novel combines aspects of an archetypal heroic journey with the action of a metaphysical space opera. In doing so The Unreasoning Mask becomes a masterpiece that provides both the serious and amateur interested in Science Fiction with an above average reading experience.
In this exceptional race to save the Universe the protagonist is one Hud Ramstan, Muslin captain of an extraordinary space ship known as al-Buraq. The ship is a living entity capable of changing shape and seemingly embodying affection for its master as evidenced by walls that quiver with excitement. The connection between the Captain and his ship, with its special abilities which include an instantaneous drive called alaraf, is a key aspect of one of the most exciting action sequences in the plot of the novel. However, the main action of the book is on another scale--one that is metaphysical in nature with Ramstan dealing with god through an intermediary called the glyfa which is a sentient egg-shaped object that is older than the universe. Ramstan's dealings with the glyfa, are aided by three aliens called the Vwoordha that are almost stranger than the glyfa. The imaginative nature of this metaphysical plot is beyond my descriptive capabilities and I would not spoil the story even if I could, but the plot was able to keep this reader on edge with wonder at what mysterious complications would ensue next. The story was leavened with supporting characters whose relationship with Ramstan provided depth for both his character and the nature of the world in which he was living. One of these, a Dr. Toyce, commented, "You can't turn around in this world without bumping into a question."(p 222) This could be taken in both a serious and a light-hearted way, at least until the ultimate enemy, known simply as the Bolg, appeared.
Few novels this short (less than two-hundred-fifty pages) have as many intriguing ideas, complex discussions about the fate of universes, and fascinating alien entities. There is even a mystic named Benagur who is Ramstan's bete noir and who succeeds in making his trials even more difficult. The novel combines aspects of an archetypal heroic journey with the action of a metaphysical space opera. In doing so The Unreasoning Mask becomes a masterpiece that provides both the serious and amateur interested in Science Fiction with an above average reading experience.
March 1, 2019
Great short story by one of my top 5 writers. Very recommended
August 11, 2010
If you like speculative fiction ideas, explanations and descrptive worlds and dont mind a dated writing style, this would be a good little read. The Unreasoning Mask takes you for a ride on a new experimental living ship that has feelings like a dog for its master, a soft spot for its captain, and a type of hyper/warp drive that Farmer calls Alaraf drive. The ship is very cool and seems to be able warp its living tissue into many different forms. Its crew's purpose is one of scientific exploration. Farmer lets loose exploring some epic and grandiose ideas of a multiverse which also accounts for the use of his alaraf drive.
The ship's captin is Hud Ramstan, a tough ambitious captain with a clean image and of a middle eastern backgroud, he is a cold and detached, uncomprimising character. Unwittingly, and perhaps due to forces that he cannot control, Hud breaks his own high morals and is thrown into a situation where he must sacrifice his career and risk his entire crew for his own survival. Paranoia and secrecy seeps in as Hud does his best to hide his intentions from the crew until he can figure out what the forces are that are guiding him.
The book also runs through a few quotes from other writers on perception and the mind. Most well known is the Moby Dick quote on Ahab's obssession for the white whale. It is here that we find the origin of Farmer's vague title, The Unreasoning Mask, which the character Ahab uses to describe is irrational behaviour and satiating need to find the white whale, and how man's deed is in his actions, while the outward appearance is nothing but a pasteboard mask. I also felt a possible connection with the ideas of the metaphysical - that affecting the outside world and making your mark required breaking through certain walls to obtain ones goals.
From the Moby Dick quote, I was able to draw similarities between the two stories - both involving ships tasked for one purpose, but hijacked by its own captain for his own purposes to chase something that possibly does not exist and is based on irrational ideas and disembodied voices. I think from this book I had an idea of Ahab's perspective, such as paranoia of mutiny, hidden agendas, power struggles with ship mates etc. Conversely, while reading this book, I had an idea of what a passenger on Hud's ship would be thinking during the voyage by thinking of Ishmael and Queequeg in their own little world of tasks and trials. Perhaps if I understood Farmer's other quotes, I would gain further insight into his tale, but I will leave that to those more widely read.
Farmer's descriptions of strange worlds is always enjoyable. However, I didnt like it when Farmer would jam massive descriptions into hasty dialogue - it both downplays the beautiful world Farmer created, and it just doesnt seem realistic for a captain to be spouting how the multiverse was created while being attacked. Apart from that, not a bad little read.
The ship's captin is Hud Ramstan, a tough ambitious captain with a clean image and of a middle eastern backgroud, he is a cold and detached, uncomprimising character. Unwittingly, and perhaps due to forces that he cannot control, Hud breaks his own high morals and is thrown into a situation where he must sacrifice his career and risk his entire crew for his own survival. Paranoia and secrecy seeps in as Hud does his best to hide his intentions from the crew until he can figure out what the forces are that are guiding him.
The book also runs through a few quotes from other writers on perception and the mind. Most well known is the Moby Dick quote on Ahab's obssession for the white whale. It is here that we find the origin of Farmer's vague title, The Unreasoning Mask, which the character Ahab uses to describe is irrational behaviour and satiating need to find the white whale, and how man's deed is in his actions, while the outward appearance is nothing but a pasteboard mask. I also felt a possible connection with the ideas of the metaphysical - that affecting the outside world and making your mark required breaking through certain walls to obtain ones goals.
From the Moby Dick quote, I was able to draw similarities between the two stories - both involving ships tasked for one purpose, but hijacked by its own captain for his own purposes to chase something that possibly does not exist and is based on irrational ideas and disembodied voices. I think from this book I had an idea of Ahab's perspective, such as paranoia of mutiny, hidden agendas, power struggles with ship mates etc. Conversely, while reading this book, I had an idea of what a passenger on Hud's ship would be thinking during the voyage by thinking of Ishmael and Queequeg in their own little world of tasks and trials. Perhaps if I understood Farmer's other quotes, I would gain further insight into his tale, but I will leave that to those more widely read.
Farmer's descriptions of strange worlds is always enjoyable. However, I didnt like it when Farmer would jam massive descriptions into hasty dialogue - it both downplays the beautiful world Farmer created, and it just doesnt seem realistic for a captain to be spouting how the multiverse was created while being attacked. Apart from that, not a bad little read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
What makes Philip Jose Farmer’s Unreasoning Mask interesting is his visualization of the universe and god as the same thing. The universe is god, an unknowing, uncomprehending super-entity which is comprised of different universes—its cells—and we the inhabitants are part of god, yet parasitic. The god-universe is unaware of itself, like a baby, and it is up to us to parent it, teach it to talk, assist it to grow and mature. However, we are only able to know the god-universe, it is also unaware of us as sentient beings. The story runs at a frantic pace as Hûd jumps from world to world escaping not only the Tolt who are trying to regain their egg-shaped god (the glyfa), but also the bolg, a massive planet-killing “antidote” against the humanoid “parasites.” To the novel’s detriment, almost all of these fascinating points are delivered via monologue at points where even the other characters have been restrained and forced to listen; I would have preferred that it was delivered via dialogue. Great conceptual novel, a little unevenly delivered.
May 29, 2014
If I were to rate this book solely on creativity, I'd give it five stars. However, the meandering plot-line and the fact that the story feels like it ends prematurely left me wanting. Also, the character development is rather shallow for my tastes. I don't regret having read this book, but I won't be reading it again.
February 15, 2025
In The Unreasoning Mask, we are following a spaceship captain named Ramstan - a former Muslim who renounced his faith following his father's death when he was a child. The vessel he captains is a biological ship with a fleshy hull that is capable of reacting to vocal and physical stimulus as well as 'growing' or reabsorbing new modules as they're required. Early into the novel he finds himself compelled to steal a mysterious egg-shaped artefact known as the glyfa from the sacred ruins of an alien race. This artefact starts to speak to Ramstan, adopting the familiar voices of his father, mother and crewmates. He is also seeing visions of a green-cloaked figure that he speculates is Al-Khidr, a prophetic figure from Arabic folklore.
As Ramstan and his crew are fleeing the alien race pursuing them to retrieve the stolen glyfa, they encounter an enormous entity referred to as the bolg which is decimating entire planets and civilisations. He must determine where to place his allegiances while trying to make sense of this world-destroying entity before Earth itself is lost.
Philip Jose Farmer pens a story here with a high degree of strangeness, weaving in elements of mysticism and religious symbolism. I think he does a pretty poor job of establishing the world, characters and plot of this novel in the opening sections, resulting in an experience that is initially confusing and frustrating. Once you get into the actual space opera segments, however, I found the book to be enjoyable through some fleeting moments of greatness. Some bizarre alien races and a central theory about the universe which has an enormous scope are the key highlights. I appreciate Farmer attempting to craft something unique and interesting, although I'm not sure that he's a good enough writer to bring it all together in a way that feels truly satisfying. I enjoyed The Unreasoning Mask slightly more than this star rating suggests and if you are looking for a space opera tale which does things slightly differently to most, this might be worth your time.
As Ramstan and his crew are fleeing the alien race pursuing them to retrieve the stolen glyfa, they encounter an enormous entity referred to as the bolg which is decimating entire planets and civilisations. He must determine where to place his allegiances while trying to make sense of this world-destroying entity before Earth itself is lost.
Philip Jose Farmer pens a story here with a high degree of strangeness, weaving in elements of mysticism and religious symbolism. I think he does a pretty poor job of establishing the world, characters and plot of this novel in the opening sections, resulting in an experience that is initially confusing and frustrating. Once you get into the actual space opera segments, however, I found the book to be enjoyable through some fleeting moments of greatness. Some bizarre alien races and a central theory about the universe which has an enormous scope are the key highlights. I appreciate Farmer attempting to craft something unique and interesting, although I'm not sure that he's a good enough writer to bring it all together in a way that feels truly satisfying. I enjoyed The Unreasoning Mask slightly more than this star rating suggests and if you are looking for a space opera tale which does things slightly differently to most, this might be worth your time.
read-don-t-count-in-challenge
August 15, 2023I read about 70% but could not finish this book. The story was odd but somewhat engaging until around halfway. Then for me it rapidly went downhill and wasn't worth finishing.
April 3, 2018
Un romanzo di fantascienza, uno dei più noti di Farmer. E a ragione: una space-opera che fa viaggiare la mente, apre nuovi orizzonti. Un'esperienza quasi psichedelica. Ok, esagero, ma non troppo.
Di cosa parla il libro? Il protagonista è il capitano di una nave spaziale, che viene investito di una missione più grande di lui. Divinità, o "semplici" esseri immportali, gli parlano. Un grande pericolo minaccia il Multiverso.
Non tutto viene spiegato, non siamo dentro CSI: permane il mistero, alcuni passaggi sono dei deus ex machina, ma va bene così.
Di Farmer avevo letto altre cose, più dei divertissements fantasy. Qui siamo dalle parti di una serietà quasi metafisica. Libro importante, per chi ama la fantascienza.
Di cosa parla il libro? Il protagonista è il capitano di una nave spaziale, che viene investito di una missione più grande di lui. Divinità, o "semplici" esseri immportali, gli parlano. Un grande pericolo minaccia il Multiverso.
Non tutto viene spiegato, non siamo dentro CSI: permane il mistero, alcuni passaggi sono dei deus ex machina, ma va bene così.
Di Farmer avevo letto altre cose, più dei divertissements fantasy. Qui siamo dalle parti di una serietà quasi metafisica. Libro importante, per chi ama la fantascienza.
April 6, 2018
and the reader is left wondering, "Where's the rest of the book?"
Nicely written, kept me going and about 2./3s through I started wondering, "How's he going to wrap this all up?" Amazingly unsatisfying. Not recommended, except to Farmer scholars.
Nicely written, kept me going and about 2./3s through I started wondering, "How's he going to wrap this all up?" Amazingly unsatisfying. Not recommended, except to Farmer scholars.
June 28, 2008
Farmer is best known for the 'Riverworld' series, this book does not belong in that series, but it is a major work of sci-fi. It centers around Hud Ramstan, the Muslim captain of the remarkable bio-ship Al-Buraq. The action takes place in many universes that actually make up the body of an infantile God. Though the novel can be dry at times, it is an excellent read, and a very exciting story.
April 18, 2021
I have read nearly all of Farmer‘s books and consider it his best. The reference to Moby Dick is fitting. I also liked the religious references in the whole setting (remember Effinger‘s‘s ‚When Gravity fails‘?) Widely imaginativere. A masterpiece
March 21, 2021
Romanas, kuris buvo sudominęs jau prieš kelerius metus, pradėtas skaityti, bet tada numestas dėl laiko stokos. Anuomet pasirodė, kad bus gan intelektualus religinių motyvų ir space opera žanro derinys. Na, bet dabar paėmiau vėl, suskaičiau nuo pradžios iki galo ir ne viskas čia jau taip gerai beatrodo.
Tolima ateitis, tarpgalaktinės kelionės jau tapusios kasdienybe. Vieno žemiečių erdvėlaivio kapitonas nušvilpia tolimos kosminės rasės tenoltų dievą ir deda į kojas. Tenoltai, aišku, supyksta ir pradeda žemiečius gaudyti. Romanas daugmaž apie tai - vieni bėga, kiti gaudo. Kol žemiečiai bėga, sužinom visokių dalykų: pasirodo tas tenoltų dievas, vadinamas glyfu, pats suviliojo žemiečių kapitoną Ramstaną jį nukniaukti, pažadėdamas (ką gi daugiau?) nemirtingumą. Taip pat paaiškėja, kad visatai gresia didis pavojus, nes aplink skraido toks ale death staras , niokojantis planetas viena po kitos, na, o tada išgirstam pranašystę, pagal kurią reikia skubiai lėkti į kažkokią tolimą planetą, kur auga didelis medis. Po tuo mežiu gyvena trys master yodos ar kažkas panašaus. Na, ir nepamirškim bombos vaginoje, kaip be šito.
Kas patiko? Romanas prifaršituotas tikrai įdomių idėjų. Dabar jau dalis jų nebeatrodo labai originalios, bet įsivaizduoju, kad kaip 1981 m., čia visai neblogai prifantazuota. Matom ateitį, kurioje lyg ir nebėra tautų, o žemiečiai tarpusavyje susikalba bendrine Žemės kalba, tačiau niekur nedingo religijos. Tas savaime įdomi prielaida. Taip pat buvo įdomūs bandymai paaiškinti kaip įmanomos tarpgalaktinės kelionės, įdomi multivisatos kaip sąmoningo augančio organizmo samprata, buvo puikus pasažas, kur aprašoma kaip žmogaus veikla gali būti desktruktyvi visatos atžvilgiu, tuo pačiu nurodant kad įmanomas ir darnus santykis, buvo tikrai įdomių konceptų, pvz. "slysti Dievo mintimis".
Kas nepatiko? Visų pirma, pasakojimas - surašyta tarsi skubant, jokio dėmesio detalėms, su veikėjais visai nesusipažįstam, nauja pastraipa dažnai pradedama kaip nors taip: "Po septynių dienų...". Nieko neįvyko per tas septynias dienas, ką būtų galima paminėti? Ne? Ok.
Galvoju, ar buvo romane bent vienas realistiškai skambantis dialogas, turbūt ne. Pvz., ta vieta, kur pasakoja apie tarpgalaktines keliones ir kaip veikia jas įgalinantis alarafo variklis pateikiama kaip Ramstano žiauriai ilgos motyvacinės kalbos savo įgulai dalis. Jiems tikrai reikia pasakoti tokius dalykus, jie nedirba su tuo motoru kiekvieną dieną?
Dar buvo ir tokių tiesiog absurdiškų dalykų: kapitonas Ramstanas, žinia, yra žiauriai mačo bičas ir jokia moteris jam gi negali atsispirti, o kai viena pasako ne, tai ne todėl, kad nenorėtų, o todėl, kad turi bombą vaginoje ir bijo, kad ji sprogs sueities metu. Tiesiog LOL.
Bendrai, stilius - visiškas čyzas, primena aštuoniasdešimtųjų fantasy animaciją, kur raktiniai žodžiai - prophecy ir the chosen one.
Galvojau, su kuo palyginti, tai gal visai patiktų „Penktojo elemento“ gerbėjams.
Tolima ateitis, tarpgalaktinės kelionės jau tapusios kasdienybe. Vieno žemiečių erdvėlaivio kapitonas nušvilpia tolimos kosminės rasės tenoltų dievą ir deda į kojas. Tenoltai, aišku, supyksta ir pradeda žemiečius gaudyti. Romanas daugmaž apie tai - vieni bėga, kiti gaudo. Kol žemiečiai bėga, sužinom visokių dalykų: pasirodo tas tenoltų dievas, vadinamas glyfu, pats suviliojo žemiečių kapitoną Ramstaną jį nukniaukti, pažadėdamas (ką gi daugiau?) nemirtingumą. Taip pat paaiškėja, kad visatai gresia didis pavojus, nes aplink skraido toks ale death staras , niokojantis planetas viena po kitos, na, o tada išgirstam pranašystę, pagal kurią reikia skubiai lėkti į kažkokią tolimą planetą, kur auga didelis medis. Po tuo mežiu gyvena trys master yodos ar kažkas panašaus. Na, ir nepamirškim bombos vaginoje, kaip be šito.
Kas patiko? Romanas prifaršituotas tikrai įdomių idėjų. Dabar jau dalis jų nebeatrodo labai originalios, bet įsivaizduoju, kad kaip 1981 m., čia visai neblogai prifantazuota. Matom ateitį, kurioje lyg ir nebėra tautų, o žemiečiai tarpusavyje susikalba bendrine Žemės kalba, tačiau niekur nedingo religijos. Tas savaime įdomi prielaida. Taip pat buvo įdomūs bandymai paaiškinti kaip įmanomos tarpgalaktinės kelionės, įdomi multivisatos kaip sąmoningo augančio organizmo samprata, buvo puikus pasažas, kur aprašoma kaip žmogaus veikla gali būti desktruktyvi visatos atžvilgiu, tuo pačiu nurodant kad įmanomas ir darnus santykis, buvo tikrai įdomių konceptų, pvz. "slysti Dievo mintimis".
Kas nepatiko? Visų pirma, pasakojimas - surašyta tarsi skubant, jokio dėmesio detalėms, su veikėjais visai nesusipažįstam, nauja pastraipa dažnai pradedama kaip nors taip: "Po septynių dienų...". Nieko neįvyko per tas septynias dienas, ką būtų galima paminėti? Ne? Ok.
Galvoju, ar buvo romane bent vienas realistiškai skambantis dialogas, turbūt ne. Pvz., ta vieta, kur pasakoja apie tarpgalaktines keliones ir kaip veikia jas įgalinantis alarafo variklis pateikiama kaip Ramstano žiauriai ilgos motyvacinės kalbos savo įgulai dalis. Jiems tikrai reikia pasakoti tokius dalykus, jie nedirba su tuo motoru kiekvieną dieną?
Dar buvo ir tokių tiesiog absurdiškų dalykų: kapitonas Ramstanas, žinia, yra žiauriai mačo bičas ir jokia moteris jam gi negali atsispirti, o kai viena pasako ne, tai ne todėl, kad nenorėtų, o todėl, kad turi bombą vaginoje ir bijo, kad ji sprogs sueities metu. Tiesiog LOL.
Bendrai, stilius - visiškas čyzas, primena aštuoniasdešimtųjų fantasy animaciją, kur raktiniai žodžiai - prophecy ir the chosen one.
Galvojau, su kuo palyginti, tai gal visai patiktų „Penktojo elemento“ gerbėjams.
January 9, 2019
Written in 1981, this sci fi novel attempts to explain the Universe or rather the Pluriverse. I think it was a way too ambitious of a goal. Multiverse is popular now, but it was new back then. So many possibilities, too many for this novel. Strangely, it was a chase story, instead of cars, space ships. All done by a new type of propulsion system. The alaraf drive. Never heard of that one before have you? Al Arafat is the seventh sutra in the Qu’ran. The seventh verse. I get it. One of the pluriverses. The alaraf drive works to move space craft around in the Universe but no one knows how it does it. Is it a time machine or does it jump to different pluriverse? It is never made clear. The drive is also untraceable but it isn’t, thus the car chase plot. Who would ride in something they didn’t understand? Everyone one in this book. I get the time machine explanation. The ship moves in time but not space. The Universe though moves around the ship. But that might just take a spacecraft to different Universes? How would that work? Doesn’t really matter though, it all seems controlled by a non-sentient God. Or somebody out there. And there is a big bad killing sphere that just suddenly appeared here and there. The Bolg. Someone had to make it. Obviously, it was a non-sentient God? The story is meant to be confusing and tries to explain the devices in the story by simply stating the existence of an unexplained technology. God’s voice maybe? The title gives away the point. It is not supposed to be rational. That might be true, unfortunately, stil, none of the characters were likeable. I didn’t care if they lived or died. When they died there was no emotion. I liked Farmer’s Riverworld series. This book though just missed its mark. If there was a target. Oh well. Read something else.
May 18, 2024
This book relates the story of Hud Ramstan, the Muslim captain of the remarkable bio-ship Al-Buraq. The story starts right away, without much explaining of the reasons for the present situation and then, it starts unfolding. The writing style of Philip José Farmer is easy to follow and grabs your interest pretty quickly. I really like it and think that I will be reading more from Farmer in the future. The Unreasoning Mask was written in 1981 and I feel it has aged well, it is still a good read in 2024 and the concept of Al-Buraq being a bio-ship is well presented.
The thing I did not like about the book is the turn of the events at about 2/3 of the books. I read a couple of reviews of people who dropped the book and did not continue reading further and I can relate to them. To me the story had so much additional potential. Unfortunately, I believe Farmer just dropped the ball, it seems like he did not give much thought to it. I pretty much lost interest on the story line, I just went on reading because I was curious about the ending and because I enjoyed Farmer's writing style. Does that make sense?
As other reviewers have said, Philip José Farmer deals with religious topics, in a great way I believe. For once I am happy to see that the hero is Muslim (just an FYI I am Catholic myself and respectful of other religions). Some other characters are Jews, Christians, and Agnostics... just what you would find the crew of a big space ship to be in the future (...maybe missing some non-human crew members here?)
The thing I did not like about the book is the turn of the events at about 2/3 of the books. I read a couple of reviews of people who dropped the book and did not continue reading further and I can relate to them. To me the story had so much additional potential. Unfortunately, I believe Farmer just dropped the ball, it seems like he did not give much thought to it. I pretty much lost interest on the story line, I just went on reading because I was curious about the ending and because I enjoyed Farmer's writing style. Does that make sense?
As other reviewers have said, Philip José Farmer deals with religious topics, in a great way I believe. For once I am happy to see that the hero is Muslim (just an FYI I am Catholic myself and respectful of other religions). Some other characters are Jews, Christians, and Agnostics... just what you would find the crew of a big space ship to be in the future (...maybe missing some non-human crew members here?)
May 13, 2022
I've been a fan of Farmer since I was just a boy, and I'm sorry to say that this is definitely one of his lesser works. The Unreasoning Mask reads like he wrote an episode of Star Trek and then changed every concept just enough to avoid getting sued. Some of those changes resulted in interesting ideas, but none of them are fleshed out - most are barely more than sketches.
The same is true of the characters, the plot, and even the structure of the book. Only the main character gets any development at all, and his is scanty, while all the rest are barely more than cardboard cutouts. The story is a classic "our protagonist, the captain of a starship, is a pawn in a game between higher beings", and the big twist at the end comes out of nowhere. Perhaps worst of all, the book commits one of the cardinal sins of storytelling, repeatedly holding back key information that should absolutely have been available to the reader, for the sole purpose of having a Shymalan-esque twist. There's also some strange, classic 1970's SF, sexuality that doesn't bear close examination - it's just kinda gross.
The same is true of the characters, the plot, and even the structure of the book. Only the main character gets any development at all, and his is scanty, while all the rest are barely more than cardboard cutouts. The story is a classic "our protagonist, the captain of a starship, is a pawn in a game between higher beings", and the big twist at the end comes out of nowhere. Perhaps worst of all, the book commits one of the cardinal sins of storytelling, repeatedly holding back key information that should absolutely have been available to the reader, for the sole purpose of having a Shymalan-esque twist. There's also some strange, classic 1970's SF, sexuality that doesn't bear close examination - it's just kinda gross.
June 21, 2022
This was my first Philip Jose Farmer. I actually own several of his books, because they're easy to come by and most have attractive premises (and art :P). I liked the competency of his writing at first, but didn't care as much for the more traditional sci fi elements (describing alien races, the back and forth of a ship's crew on and off the ship, etc). That said, the book grew on me more and more as I read, and by the end I was totally in its grasp. I thought it was awesome that the protagonist was a former/nonpracticing muslim and other crew characters had various faiths and nationalities without it coming off as forced, and it actually plays into the narrative.
Basically, it went like:
[1/4 of the way through the book]: Oh, it's like a well written episode of Star Trek. I like Star Trek
[3/4 of the way through]: Oh Jesus, this is fuckin epic. The interweaving of sci-fi and religious tradition that I always seek out. Why didn't this come out front and center earlier?
Then the last page, which was a natural culmination of the ending up till then, felt like a Gainax anime and sent a shockwave of goosebumps over my body. Great stuff!!
Basically, it went like:
[1/4 of the way through the book]: Oh, it's like a well written episode of Star Trek. I like Star Trek
[3/4 of the way through]: Oh Jesus, this is fuckin epic. The interweaving of sci-fi and religious tradition that I always seek out. Why didn't this come out front and center earlier?
Then the last page, which was a natural culmination of the ending up till then, felt like a Gainax anime and sent a shockwave of goosebumps over my body. Great stuff!!
April 30, 2019
All in all, a pretty fun read, but definitely no masterpiece.
I think the author bit off a little more than he could chew with the metaphysics of this story, so that the story had a bit of a Star Trek effect where a truly disturbing revelation was treated more like a problem of the week-type thing. I love Star Trek, so that didn't ruin the story for me, but it feels like Farmer was trying to get into the mysticism and strangeness of it all and then pulled away at the last minute for the sake of action. Again, it's hard to fault him for that entirely, since the action was great.
I liked the universe (pluriverse) that he built, the alien species and the unique form of space travel, and I wish he'd done more with it. The story was a hell of a ride, it dragged a little in the middle, so I give it three stars.
I think the author bit off a little more than he could chew with the metaphysics of this story, so that the story had a bit of a Star Trek effect where a truly disturbing revelation was treated more like a problem of the week-type thing. I love Star Trek, so that didn't ruin the story for me, but it feels like Farmer was trying to get into the mysticism and strangeness of it all and then pulled away at the last minute for the sake of action. Again, it's hard to fault him for that entirely, since the action was great.
I liked the universe (pluriverse) that he built, the alien species and the unique form of space travel, and I wish he'd done more with it. The story was a hell of a ride, it dragged a little in the middle, so I give it three stars.
August 29, 2020
This is a cosmological fantasy set in a space-faring multi-species future, with a decidedly Islamic culture, though there are elements of others, mostly Asian, which is a fresh approach, especially given the time-frame of its composition. (I think we started seeing this sort of human future more often in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction to global political changes: OPEC, et al.
The style is overheated and poetic, with some well-turned phrases. The story needs work. Farmer conceals plot points from the reader, then gushes everything at the very end. I'd hate to mess with the prose, but it needed another trip through the platen, start to finish.
If you enjoy Dune, definitely give this a try. The social milieu is "progressive" for its day, but Farmer does seem to have the period obsession with human eye-shape, so be aware of that.
The style is overheated and poetic, with some well-turned phrases. The story needs work. Farmer conceals plot points from the reader, then gushes everything at the very end. I'd hate to mess with the prose, but it needed another trip through the platen, start to finish.
If you enjoy Dune, definitely give this a try. The social milieu is "progressive" for its day, but Farmer does seem to have the period obsession with human eye-shape, so be aware of that.
January 27, 2020
Absolutely atrocious rubbish. As someone who has read and enjoyed other Farmer works, this came as a shock. Its failings exemplify all the standard criticisms levelled at bad pulp sci-fi: copious use of techo-babble, one-dimensional characters, and cliche-ridden prose a teenager would be ashamed of. It came as a shock to discover this was one of Farmer's later works, it is so amateurish. Dire.
April 4, 2025
I like how unique it was. The explanations it provides are pretty awesome, and it’s very creative and eerie. I wasn’t a huge fan of the 30 page info bomb near the end, and while I liked the ending it was kinda anticlimactic, not really satisfying, it made sense to be that way. Overall, it was good, but I definitely enjoyed the first 70% of the book significantly more than the last 30%
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2017
Extremely interesting ideas and good characters (ok, character really, there is really only one properly fleshed out). I liked this, but for reasons I can't really put my finger on I didn't "really like it".
March 1, 2018
aggiornamento vecchio libro letto chissà quando
August 22, 2020
I always enjoy reading a Farmer book and this one doesn’t disappoint.
November 23, 2023
puts 10 or so good ideas in 200 pages that other books need 500 for. not everything lands but its very psychedelic and evokes lots of great imagery
May 4, 2025
A very intriguing sci-fi mystery with a morally ambiguous protagonist. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2017
Completely insane.
August 12, 2021
This book creates a new path in science fiction.
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