Gather, Darkness! [Paperback]

Fritz Leiber (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley; paperback / softback edition (1950)
• ASIN: B001IOXO8C
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leiber's Classic Dystopia of Religion Versus Witchcraft, November 29, 2003

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gather Darkness (Paperback)

"Gather, Darkness" was one of two dystopian novels written by Fritz Leiber (The other was "A Specter Is Haunting Texas".). Without question this splendid little novel still remains one of his most impressive literary achievements. It is also one of the best conceived, best written novels of a dismal future for humanity.

Three hundred years after a nuclear holocaust, humanity is ruled by a secretive religious brotherhood, the Hierarchy of the Great God, which uses science as the supernatural means of ensuring its control over an impoverished, predominantly illiterate population. Opposing this brotherhood is a secret society of witches, the followers of Sathanas, seeking to use science to overthrow the brotherhood's tyrannical theocracy. A young Hierarchy priest, Brother Armon Jarles, skeptical of his beliefs and the Hierarchy's orthodoxy, soon finds himself caught in the bitter struggle between both groups. A struggle that is meant to gather darkness against the Hierarchy's grip on power.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witchcraft was far more than it seemed...., May 7, 2004

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gather Darkness (Paperback)

After the Great War that ended the first Atomic Age the Priesthood rebuilt the world. But the priests of the Hierarchy weren't really priests, at least not in the old timeless sense. In fact, the first thing a young initiate was taught was that the Great God did not exist- it was just a false idol and technological trick used to control the commoners. For the priests were really composed of all the privileged classes of the old age- the scientists, engineers, managers, doctors, and psychologists. They had banded together to rule the world by fear and superstition. They used the technology that they controlled to force and frighten the common people into serfdom and slavery. Indeed, they had used the Dark Ages as their inspiration and pattern in social organization, costumes, architecture- they even allowed witches to exist and operate as a means to help terrorize the masses. Unfortunately for the priests of the Hierarchy, the Witchcraft was far more than it seemed....

It is absolutely incredible that this tight little novel was written in 1943. Just the use of the term "Atomic Age" two years before Hiroshima is remarkable. Then combine that with the fact that Leiber accurately describes atomic power, genetic engineering, cloning, holograms, scientific brainwashing, psychological warfare, and mutually impenetrable force beams that sound exactly like light sabers. This novel was far ahead of its time and holds up as a gripping read even today. In fact, the oppressive elitism that it describes is more plausible today than it would have been in the freer decade of the 40's.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A dark and enchanting piece with a different view, January 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Gather, Darkness! (Collier Nucleus Fantasy & Science Fiction) (Paperback)

In this post world war three novel, the class system has been re-enacted on earth and God has taken a new role over the poor public. The book brings together the uninformed technological public with the advanced brotherhood of God. But one brother has a different take on things and deffects from the order to join the witches of the dark underground. IN the end, the oppresive brotherhood is overrun by the witches in a spectacular show of technology power. The book took a new approach to the sometimes dull sci-fi books. The dark world was unlike any other and many times the reader felt like the book didn't have any point. But in any case it made you think about the setting and a new world of the mind. A good read for the sci-fi fan who wants something a bit different.