The Book of Ptath [Mass Market Paperback]

A.E. Van Vogt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

The god Ptath is flung into the far future by a deadly rival and given the mind of a 20th century man. Stranded in this alien world, he must fight to regain his powers before the rival goddess sends the world spinning into chaos and darkness. "Van Vogt's work has a raw power that has never been equalled in science fiction".--Damon Knight.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881847887
• ISBN-13: 978-0881847888
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,473,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Unusual Novel, November 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Ptath (Mass Market Paperback)

After seeing this title with only one review rated at one star I feel I have no choice but to add my own opinion of this unusually-laid out book. The version I read (published by Garland) had a number of illustrations, and the layout was sort of half-religious text half-fantasy novel. Set 2 million years in Earth's future, the God Ptath was reborn (as an almost invincible man with total amnesia) before he was destined to arrive of his own accord. He first finds himself near a stream, only knowing that he must get to a nearby city. After running into some people on a nearby road, and then being tricked into imprisonment by the evil Temple Goddess once at the city, he regains his memories from a former incarnation (an American WWII tank commander)and from there it is an all-out struggle - for the hapless man who now finds himself in a god's body 2 million years in the future - for his very survival against the evil Goddess's plans for continuing world domination. Quite an interesting story I thought which anyone who doesn't mind reading something a little different won't regret reading.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the finest fantasy novels ever written, December 29, 2001

By 

"icshi" (Ridgecrest, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Ptath (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of a few of Van's novels that on the first reading I thought was absolute garbage, but on second reading I thought it was absolutely brilliant. This is not a book to be read and rationalized, but a book to be enjoyed as one would a fantastic dream. The writings of Lord Dunsany and the Dreamworld saga of Lovecraft are similar to this book's style. The plot is, yes, bizarre and often illogical, but that is a great strength rather than a fault. Surrealism permeats this novel, and when you have finished reading it you will remember it like you would a fabulous hazy dream.

4.0 out of 5 stars A god is reborn with a fuzzy memory, January 14, 2009

By 

David A. Olson "davidolson22" (WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Ptath (Mass Market Paperback)

This book tells the tale of a god who is born with no memory. He slowly regains it as the book progresses. A evil godess is working against him, trying to become the only diety by manipulating him.

This is the first fantasy book I've read by A. E. van Vogt. It has the same fast pacing as his other books and nearly constant revelatios, as well as numerous setbacks for the hero. I rather enjoyed it. Maybe it isn't a classic, but it is worth a read.

I looked over some of the other reviews, and they are correct. This isn't a classic and it does have shortcomings (I've yet to read a book without shortcomings, though). So, I would recommend the book if you are lookign for a quick read, but not if you are looking for the one book that represents everything good about van Vogt's writing. For that, you should probably get Slan or the Voyage of the Space Beagle.