A Far Sunset
Encyclopedia
A Far Sunset is a science fiction novel by Edmund Cooper
, published by Hodder & Stoughton
in July 1967.
Gloria mundi, built and manned by the United States of Europe, lands on the planet Altair Five in the year 2032. Most of the crew mysteriously disappears soon after touchdown, leaving only the psychiatrist Paul Marlow, the book's protagonist. The planet is inhabited by primeval
humanoids.
A central theme in the novel is the clash between Marlowe's rational worldview and the natives' superstitious and often brutal culture. Paul Marlow gains a leading position in the primitive society. He uses that power to educate the alien race, enabling them to make inventions that improves their society, such as the wheel
, the ball-bearing and the axle
.
Paul Marlow also demystifies the Bayanis' religion, by discovering its factual origin — thereby uncovering that the humans of Altair Five share their ancestry with humans of Earth
and other worlds in the Milky Way
.
While Marlow adapts to the simplicity and naivety of the Bayani lifestyle, he starts seeing the complex and advanced culture of the Earth as absurd. When after two Bayani years he is contacted by a starship come to his rescue, he considers staying on Altair Five.
Edmund Cooper
Edmund Cooper was an English poet and prolific writer of speculative fiction, romances, technical essays, several detective stories, and a children's book. These were published under his own name and several pen names...
, published by Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
in July 1967.
Plot summary
The starshipStarship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
Gloria mundi, built and manned by the United States of Europe, lands on the planet Altair Five in the year 2032. Most of the crew mysteriously disappears soon after touchdown, leaving only the psychiatrist Paul Marlow, the book's protagonist. The planet is inhabited by primeval
Primeval
Primeval or primæval may refer to:* Primeval, a British science fiction television series.* Primeval , a 2007 film* Primeval , a score of music from the BBC TV series Doctor Who...
humanoids.
A central theme in the novel is the clash between Marlowe's rational worldview and the natives' superstitious and often brutal culture. Paul Marlow gains a leading position in the primitive society. He uses that power to educate the alien race, enabling them to make inventions that improves their society, such as the wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
, the ball-bearing and the axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
.
Paul Marlow also demystifies the Bayanis' religion, by discovering its factual origin — thereby uncovering that the humans of Altair Five share their ancestry with humans of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and other worlds in the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
.
While Marlow adapts to the simplicity and naivety of the Bayani lifestyle, he starts seeing the complex and advanced culture of the Earth as absurd. When after two Bayani years he is contacted by a starship come to his rescue, he considers staying on Altair Five.
External links
- A short plot description at www.fantasticfiction.co.uk