Inferno (Niven and Pournelle novel)
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OCLC 2328489 | | |
| Followed by | Escape from Hell | |
|---|---|---|
Inferno is a fantasy novel written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle and published in 1976. It was nominated for the 1976 Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel.[1]
Background
The book drew inspiration from the geography of
C S Lewis's The Great Divorce, which is that salvation and entry into paradise, via self-knowledge and repentance, can be achieved by all.[2]
However, most of Hell's denizens in the novel either deny their sins or feel they deserve their fate.
Plot summary
Inferno is based upon the
Djinn-bottle in the Vestibule on the outer edge to Hell; he spends a vast amount of time there, but is released when he finally calls upon God for mercy. Allen is met by Benito, a Virgil
-like figure whose full identity is not immediately apparent. Benito offers to take Allen out of Hell by bringing him to the center.
At first, as Allen and Benito travel through Hell, Allen tries to scientifically rationalize everything he sees, renaming his surroundings as 'Infernoland', a high-tech
sadism", although he comes more and more to accept the justice of the situation as he realizes that it is their continuing denial of their sins that keeps many of the condemned in hell. Eventually Allen takes over Benito's role in helping reformed souls proceed on to Paradise via Purgatory, allowing Benito to move on towards Purgatory himself. It is revealed that Benito is actually Benito Mussolini
, the former dictator of Italy.
Along the way Allen meets a number of his
Charon, Minos, Phlegyas, Geryon). Due to the long time he spent bottled up in the outer vestibule he also meets some people from the future of 1976, such as a Space Shuttle
pilot.
Reception
The authors said that Inferno was far more successful than they predicted, and they were told that it inspired a resurgence of interest in Dante amongst college students and a new print release of
text adventure based on the novel.[3]
Sequel
The sequel to Inferno, Vatican II".
References
- ^ "1976 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7653-1676-9
- ^ Pournelle, Jerry (January 1984). "Too Many Leads, or What in *;?!#"*? Goes First?". BYTE. p. 61. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
External links
- Inferno title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven
- Inferno at Worlds Without End
