Mon 28 Aug 2023
SF Diary Review: R. A. LAFFERTY – Past Master.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[4] Comments
R. A. LAFFERTY – Past Master. Ace H-54. [Ace SF Special, series one.] Paperback original; 1st printing, 1968. Cover by Diane Dillon and Leo Dillon. Reprinted by The Library of America (trade paperback, 2019). Also included in American Science Fiction: Eight Classic Novels of the 1960s (Library of America, hardcover, 2019). Nominated for a Nebula as Best Novel, 1969, and also a finalist for a Hugo as Best Novel, 1969.
The world of Astrobe was constructed as the realization of Utopia; the people lived in wealth and perfection, yet it was decaying. Rejection of the comfort of the cities led to the settlement of Cathead and the Barrio, huge sores on the planet, where men lived in poverty, disease, and misery.
The mystery prompts the leaders of the planet to send for Thomas More, the Past Master, to act as world president, to solve the crisis.
Thomas More was chosen because of his one moment of honesty, but he is the same Thomas Moe who wrote of the original Utopia. A thesis could be written analyzing the parallels, the the Astrobe dream, which one wonders might be confused with the American Dream, is dying with the loss of individuality, with Finalized Humanity, which may mean perfection, or which may mean termination. Life must have challenge and suffering, or mankind cannot be distinguished from the Programmed People.
Tremendous: Lafferty has his goals set high.
Rating: *****
August 28th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
At the time and place (and the age) I read this, this book figuratively knocked my socks off. I have never forgotten it, except for the details, which I see I didn’t go into in this review I did at the time either.
I also have never re-read it, for fear it wouldn’t live up to the experience of reading it the first time. It’s funny how sometimes your mind works that way, isn’t it?
August 28th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
Lafferty was one of the truly great and original (and undersung) writers of the 20th century. His work deserves a serious re-examination. His idiosyncratic style and his special blend of humor, along with his devout Catholicism, are in full display in PAST MASTER.
August 28th, 2023 at 8:55 pm
It is difficult for me to come up with the appropriate words to describe his writing style: rollicking, tallish tales, shaggy doggery. What other words will do? He was one of a kind.
He still has a cult following, I believe, but how large that is in numbers, I do not know. It was great to see that this one, his first novel, has been reprinted by Library of America, but I wish it were more.
August 31st, 2023 at 9:27 pm
Original and almost impossible for anyone to copy, Lafferty then and now is an experience unlike any other in the genre.