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159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
The book promises through its jacket art, and especially inside flap summary, a short, good dose of straight sci-fi in an unique setting, post-apocalyptic earth come cemetery. Unfortunately with this book I was expecting straight sci-fi instead this is definitely pulp adventure sci-fi but without any of the flair or weirdness found in that sub-genre. The first third of the work does indeed seem pointed in that direction.
A few of the ideas introduced in the first third of the book were interesting and worth exploring I especially liked the idea that the main character, who comes off as a real wiener btw, uses a ‘compositor’. A ‘compositor’ is an artificially intelligent machine that collects sensory information and converts it into “products” which the artist then uses to create his art. I find this idea enthralling simply because it is timely with few advocates for using A.I. as a tool instead of fearing that it will be what replaces humans. The fear oddly enough most famously coming from tech-billionaires whom are known to mistreat their workers, there must be some kind of psychological connection there somewhere.
The central idea, as the inner flaps imply, is that the artist Fletcher ‘Fletch’ Carson is developing a new “composition” a form of art that incorporates “music, drama, and dance, as well as the Plastic arts – a total art form”. He needs to get his ‘compositor’ to the currently “dead” earth, now used by a mega-corporation as a cosmic graveyard and pilgrim/tourist destination. By the second third, the idea is buried quickly and only serves as the reason anyone would travel to such a destination and then dare to leave the borders of the massive cemetery.
The second third is mostly just a chase with telepathic grave robbing hillbillies and robot wolves chasing the protagonists around for some reason(s). This sounds cool but just is not thrilling. Then the author throws more pulp on the heap with the ‘shades’ i.e. ghosts. The first third promised some intriguing sci-fi but then the whole thing turns into a bland pulp adventure. However, at the beginning of the last third a time travel element is introduced briefly renewing my interest. Nevertheless, it does not last long leading to the ending, which is bleh. It even has a scene near the end reminiscent of the freakin’ Wizard of Oz or maybe Labyrinth movies:
They were lined up outside the porch, the five of them, waiting there for us[.]
“We’ll be waiting for you when you go back,” said Elmer.
“We’ll all be waiting for you.”