Customer Reviews

Plague of Pythons

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
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I had a hard time tracking down a copy of this, but I finally did and am glad that I took the bother.
It's a story of two halves, and strongly promotes the old adage that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'. The first half of the story leads you to believe that people in a post-apocalyptic world are being attacked by 'fire-spirits', which possess the hosts to take over their bodies to perform all sorts of nasty and sinful acts. Once the plot begins to resolve itself, it becomes apparent that this is not necessarily so. Without revealing the premise of the second half, the plot does twist and takes a different direction.
A good example of Pohl writing well. Not his best work, but very entertaining.

A Frederick Pohl classic. A small group of people acquire the ability to control others by taking them over, and operating them like remote machines. Soon the term "possessed" becomes a legal defence against any crime - unless you are caught and outcast as a "hoaxer" -

Pohl establishes this structure and develops a highly personalised account of one man's travels. both in and out of body, in this altered society.

Where can I get it ?

Plague of Pythons is a vividly gruesome tale of the corruption of power through mind control.

Frederik Pohl an author from the "Sci-fi Golden Age" group and he is still producing new books. He has authored more than one success as: "The Space Merchants" (1952 with C. M. Kornbluth), "Gladiator-at-law" (1955 with C. M. Kornbluth), the underrated but excellent "Drunkard's Walk" (1960), Hugo & Nebula winner "Gateway" (1977), also some fiascos as the sequel of "Gateway" known as "Heechee Saga".

This book is a mixed basket: a good idea and a poor resolution.
Earth is subject to the attack of "demons" that are able to posses any creature and force it to perform whatever kind of vandalic acts you may imagine. Against them there is no defense.
On this background the worst felony, a person may commit, is to forge such attack. If someone is found guilty is ostracized and exposed. The main character is blamed and convicted of "hoax". The reader follows his misadventures. After the half of the book the frame of the story begin to change and continue so until the end.
This finale is intended to be shocking but it doesn't qualify.
If you had already read the best of Pohl you may try this story. If not you will better read the titles mentioned at the start of this review.

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

How much better "Plague of Pythons" would be if Stephen King (or another master of good characterization) wrote it. In the beginning a man is unjustly accused of terrible crimes, because he was possessed. Truly, in the spookiest sense, possessed. His murder trial is interrupted by 'demons' and he becomes branded, shamed. Elaine (a fellow survivor) adds complexity, and The Orphalese, who use pain as a way to fight possession, play a role. I can only imagine how emotional and visceral these parts of the novel might have gone if a writer who understood scene crafting held the pen.

In the second half, the main character (already forgotten his name) encounters the true masters of possession -- the executive counsel. As a former engineer, he makes himself useful, and looks to obtain the power to possess other men himself. Pohl has some subtext regarding society and choice, but sidesteps the morality and moral dilemmas (main character goes with the flow with minimal internal monologue). He doesn't bring the experiences home to the reader. He doesn't connect. I should have been horrified by this book, but the characterization and scenes couldn't carry the plot.

In the end, I was impressed with the plotting, and disappointed by characterization and presentation. The ending left too much open. An 'OK' book that could have been so much more.

This has to be one of Pohl's best works. The standard theme of society relative to one change is given fresh life in this compact and well written tome.

This book is as powerful, brutal, and disturbing as George Orwell's "1984". NOT for the faint of heart.

When I first read this book in the seventies, it put me into a mild depression, as it takes a very pessimistic view of scientific progress. The premise is that scientists in the Soviet Union develop a device that allows them to take control of other humans. Rather than using it for good, they systematically destroy civilization, causing bombs to go off in selected areas and forcing people to kill each other. The rest of the world considers it to be a form of demonic possession and the controllers, who call themselves "execs", have created a haven in the Hawaiian Islands.
The story opens with Chandler being on trial for crimes he committed while being possessed. His defense of possession is being denied because the crimes took place at a pharmaceutical plant and no possession had ever taken place there. Chandler is acquitted, although his forehead is branded with an "H" for hoaxer. This begins his adventure as a tool of the execs and he starts learning more about them, eventually becoming a candidate for membership. Chandler is an electrical engineer so he is put to work on creating a second and more powerful control apparatus and he is fortunately able to render the original inactive. During that time, he destroys the remaining execs and pledges to destroy the mechanism once and for all. Unfortunately, even as Chandler makes the pledge he understands that he has absolute power and he is in the process of being corrupted absolutely.
Despite the dark message, this is a story that is more realistic about a future with great scientific advancements than others. Humans are frail creatures and when great power is placed in their hands, they may start with the most honorable of intentions but will almost always end up misusing that power.

Frederik Pohl (1919) is a conspicuous member of "Sci-fi Golden Age" authors and he is still producing new books.
He has authored more than one success as: "The Space Merchants" (1952 with C. M. Kornbluth), "Gladiator-at-law" (1955 with C. M. Kornbluth), the underrated but excellent "Drunkard's Walk" (1960), Hugo & Nebula winner "Gateway" (1977), also some fiascos as the sequel of "Gateway" known as "Heechee Saga".

This book is a mixed basket: a good idea and a poor resolution.
Earth is subject to the attack of "demons" that are able to posses any creature and force it to perform whatever kind of vandalic acts you may imagine. Against them there is no defense.
On this background the worst felony a person may commit is to forge such attack. If someone is found guilty is ostracized and exposed. The main character is blamed and convicted of "hoax". The reader follows his misadventures. After the half of the book the frame of the story begin to change and continue so until the end.
This finale is intended to be shocking but it doesn't qualify.
If you had already read the best of Pohl you may try this story. If not you will better read any of his books mentioned at the start of this review.

Reviewed by Max Yofre.