gutfreund%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa (08/03/84)
From: Steven Gutfreund <gutfreund%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa> While the GhostBusters plot theme did appear highly original, I did remember reading something similiar, after a check of my library I found it: OUR LADY OF DARKNESS -- Fritz Lieber (c) 1977 This is a story about one very wierd man by the name of Thiebaut deCastries who lived in San Francisco from 1900-1928. He was interested and published a book about paramentals and their growing concentration in large cities. deCastries was your basic DoomProphet, prophesizing that the increasing concentration of steel, paper, concrete, and oil products in cities was causing an increase in paramental activity and eventual doom. deCastries was "discovered" by a group of bohemian writers/poets/actresses living in the city at the time (Jack London, Clark Ashton Smith, ... ) and became a focus point for anti-industrial sabatoge against the increasing concentration of mass in the city. Wierd stuff, but even stranger is that the story is told via flashback by a contemporary sf/mystery writer who discovers that himself the at the "fulcrum" of a paramental time bomb left by deCastries. This book is written in the style of a travelog. In a manner similiar to Victor Hugo in Les Miserables, we are taken through the streets hills and sights of San Francisco. For lovers of this city, it is a real trip to read. An excellent story by an Author who is not given enough credit. (I also recommend the Gray Mouser series, and Gather Darkness, a story about future based witches). Q: The general theme of SF is that Technology contains the ANSWERS and that religion is just common-sense sociology. But there are some authors who have taken the delightfully perverse opposite attitude that increasing technology will increase para-normal events. I'm definitely not talking about the Force in SW, but things such as MidSummer Century by Blish (he turned to mysticism towards his death), and the Fritz Lieber stories I just mentioned. <so get to the question> Ok, so what other stories do people know that buck the group-think of current SF and deal with paramentalism and mysticism in a technological future. Send in your replies as "RE: paratechnomysticism" - Steven Gutfreund gutfreund%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay
eric@whuxle.UUCP (Eric Holtman) (08/09/84)
Well, how about "On a Pale Horse", a recent offering from that book cranker outer, Piers Anthony. In said story, we have Zane, an inhabitant in a near future Earth. Science hasn't advanced much, but MAGIC and SUPERNATURAL have come to the front. Zane becomes Death, in the myhtilogical sense, Satan plays a part, we have potions, stones, carpets, and everything else.... a GREAT read (now what Piers? where's the Xanth book? I'm waiting!!!!)