The Flight to Lucifer
Encyclopedia
The Flight to Lucifer is the only novel by the American literary critic Harold Bloom
(born 1930 in New York). Published during 1979, it was composed as a sequel to the David Lindsay
novel A Voyage to Arcturus
, which supplied the concept of a voyage through space to a distant planet created by a demiurge
, and a few other incidental features of the book. However, most of its content derives fairly directly from Gnosticism
, which Bloom had studied.
Bloom has stated that he does not like the novel and has disowned it, although it has received very positive reviews from other sources.
, Muspel, unassimilated by the false creations of Tormance's demiurge
, Crystalman. Bloom's novel reproduces this formula, but with names drawn directly from the history and cosmology of Gnosticism. Maskull becomes Thomas Perscors ("through fire"), and is explicitly identified as an incarnation of Primal Man
. Nightspore's correlate is Seth Valentinus, a reincarnation of the gnostic theologian Valentinus
. Their guide is Olam
, who is an Aeon, an emanation of the true god. The planet Lucifer is controlled by "Saklas"
, which is a Gnostic name for the false creator. Olam has brought Perscors to Lucifer to fight Saklas, and has brought Valentinus so he can remember his true self; this is also drawn from Lindsay. However, the details of their adventures are quite different, and in the end Perscors cripples Saklas and changes the order of things across all of Lucifer, whereas Nightspore's victory is merely to escape the clutches of Crystalman and see reality as it is, though he vows to return to the world and free others.
Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom is an American writer and literary critic, and is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. He is known for his defense of 19th-century Romantic poets, his unique and controversial theories of poetic influence, and his prodigious literary output, particularly for a literary...
(born 1930 in New York). Published during 1979, it was composed as a sequel to the David Lindsay
David Lindsay (novelist)
David Lindsay was a Scottish author now most famous for the philosophical science fiction novel A Voyage to Arcturus .-Biography:...
novel A Voyage to Arcturus
A Voyage to Arcturus
A Voyage to Arcturus is a novel by Scottish writer David Lindsay, first published in 1920. It combines fantasy, philosophy, and science fiction in an exploration of the nature of good and evil and their relationship with existence. It has been described by critic and philosopher Colin Wilson as the...
, which supplied the concept of a voyage through space to a distant planet created by a demiurge
Demiurge
The demiurge is a concept from the Platonic, Neopythagorean, Middle Platonic, and Neoplatonic schools of philosophy for an artisan-like figure responsible for the fashioning and maintenance of the physical universe. The term was subsequently adopted by the Gnostics...
, and a few other incidental features of the book. However, most of its content derives fairly directly from Gnosticism
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
, which Bloom had studied.
Bloom has stated that he does not like the novel and has disowned it, although it has received very positive reviews from other sources.
Relationship to Lindsay's novel
In Lindsay's novel, two men, the passionate giant Maskull and the thin, intense Nightspore, are taken from Earth to the planet Tormance by Krag, a mysterious figure who is a residue of the true godheadGodhead
Godhead , may refer to:*Deity*Divinity, the quality of being God*Conceptions of God*Godhead , the totality of gods, in Platonism the Transcendent One....
, Muspel, unassimilated by the false creations of Tormance's demiurge
Demiurge
The demiurge is a concept from the Platonic, Neopythagorean, Middle Platonic, and Neoplatonic schools of philosophy for an artisan-like figure responsible for the fashioning and maintenance of the physical universe. The term was subsequently adopted by the Gnostics...
, Crystalman. Bloom's novel reproduces this formula, but with names drawn directly from the history and cosmology of Gnosticism. Maskull becomes Thomas Perscors ("through fire"), and is explicitly identified as an incarnation of Primal Man
Adam Kadmon
In the religious writings of Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon is a phrase meaning "Primal Man". The oldest rabbinical source for the term "Adam ha-Ḳadmoni" is Num. R. x., where Adam is styled, not as usually, "Ha-Rishon" , "Ha-Kadmoni" ....
. Nightspore's correlate is Seth Valentinus, a reincarnation of the gnostic theologian Valentinus
Valentinus
Valentinus is a Roman masculine given name. It is derived from the Latin word "valens" meaning "healthy, strong". Valentinus may refer to:*Pope Valentine , pope for thirty or forty days in 827...
. Their guide is Olam
Tikkun olam
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period...
, who is an Aeon, an emanation of the true god. The planet Lucifer is controlled by "Saklas"
Demiurge
The demiurge is a concept from the Platonic, Neopythagorean, Middle Platonic, and Neoplatonic schools of philosophy for an artisan-like figure responsible for the fashioning and maintenance of the physical universe. The term was subsequently adopted by the Gnostics...
, which is a Gnostic name for the false creator. Olam has brought Perscors to Lucifer to fight Saklas, and has brought Valentinus so he can remember his true self; this is also drawn from Lindsay. However, the details of their adventures are quite different, and in the end Perscors cripples Saklas and changes the order of things across all of Lucifer, whereas Nightspore's victory is merely to escape the clutches of Crystalman and see reality as it is, though he vows to return to the world and free others.