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The Man with a Thousand Names
Although thirty light years distant, Mittend was Earth's nearest habitable planet. So the bored young heir, Steven Masters, contrived to join the first manned expedition just for a bit of excitement. When he found himself suddenly back on Earth in another man's body, it was more than he had expected. What then followed was a veritable kaleidoscope of events that was to involve him in multiple personalities, in more expeditions to Mittend, and in the affairs of the entity called Mother for whom Mittend itself was just a means to an end-and Steven Masters the handy next step in a galactic program. It's a brand-new novel by the Slan-man, the Weapon-Maker of Isher and Null-A mentor, A. E. VAN VOGT himself . . . with all of Van Vogt's mind-shaking fireworks and out-of-the-rut narrative mastery.
Cover Illustration: Jordi Penalva
Cover Illustration: Jordi Penalva
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
1 person is currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
A.E. van Vogt
641 books448 followersAlfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-born science fiction author regarded by some as one of the most popular and complex science fiction writers of the mid-twentieth century—the "Golden Age" of the genre.
van Vogt was born to Russian Mennonite family. Until he was four years old, van Vogt and his family spoke only a dialect of Low German in the home.
He began his writing career with 'true story' romances, but then moved to writing science fiction, a field he identified with. His first story was Black Destroyer, that appeared as the front cover story for the July 1939 edtion of the popular "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine.
van Vogt was born to Russian Mennonite family. Until he was four years old, van Vogt and his family spoke only a dialect of Low German in the home.
He began his writing career with 'true story' romances, but then moved to writing science fiction, a field he identified with. His first story was Black Destroyer, that appeared as the front cover story for the July 1939 edtion of the popular "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine.
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June 18, 2020DAW Collectors #114
Cover Artist: Vincent Di Fate.
van Vogt, Alfred Elton, Birththplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, (26 April 1912- 26 January 2000)
He’s the son of a billionaire who learned early how to manipulate every person in his life and takes what he wants. He’s bored, handsome, a despicable cad, and considers himself hyper-intelligent and a semi-rapist (can there be such a thing?). He’s the worst protagonist (I refuse to say hero) with a string of people he’s caused to be fired or accused of some dastardly crime.
He boasts he could lead an expedition to a newly discovered planet and must make good his remark. As the first person to set foot on the mysterious world, he explores the nearby hills and discovers a naked human tribe. When one of them touches him, he switches bodies with a bar-back he caused to be fired when he was a child. The man, pudgy and poor, isn’t the body Steven Masters expects but he convinces his billionaire father that he is really his son.
Cover Artist: Vincent Di Fate.
van Vogt, Alfred Elton, Birththplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, (26 April 1912- 26 January 2000)
He’s the son of a billionaire who learned early how to manipulate every person in his life and takes what he wants. He’s bored, handsome, a despicable cad, and considers himself hyper-intelligent and a semi-rapist (can there be such a thing?). He’s the worst protagonist (I refuse to say hero) with a string of people he’s caused to be fired or accused of some dastardly crime.
He boasts he could lead an expedition to a newly discovered planet and must make good his remark. As the first person to set foot on the mysterious world, he explores the nearby hills and discovers a naked human tribe. When one of them touches him, he switches bodies with a bar-back he caused to be fired when he was a child. The man, pudgy and poor, isn’t the body Steven Masters expects but he convinces his billionaire father that he is really his son.
March 24, 2018
It is often said, or written, that by the late sixties and seventies, unlike his contemporaries, A.E. van Vogt did not evolve much as a writer. Having read most of his catalogue, I must agree. In the first years (1940's) he wrote imaginatively and wildly until 1950, when he signed onto L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics program and actually wrote very little new material, spending his time producing 'new' fix-up novels made up from earlier previously published short stories. Most of these did little to improve or update these stories from their original form.
By the early in the 60's, van Vogt had quit working with Hubbard, as he had had no interest once Hubbard evolved the practice of Dianetics to Scientology. Frederik Phol had encouraged him to write new material that he would publish in Galaxy or If magazine of which he was editor. There were some fine stories and novels written after that, but as mentioned, most of these later works failed miserably at reflecting the current writing styles and topics and spirit of the day, as a writer of speculative fiction ought to do. For example, “The Man With a Thousand Names”, was published in 1974, at the height of the feminist movement, yet his character's attitude towards women is nothing short of archaic: “...he (man) is secretly godlike, while she (woman) is secretly a princess...”
This is my second reading of this novel. It starts out really well with a millionaire's son (Steven Masters) being part of an expedition to 'Mittend', which is Earth's nearest habitable planet. The only reason he is there is because of his father's influence. He then goes off wandering and finds himself under the control of an entity of some sort known as 'Mother'.
This novel had many reoccurring themes that are typical in much of his earlier works – in this case, the transfer of one's consciousness into the body of another to and from people Steven Masters had done wrong to in the past. This is a neat idea that makes the story rather interesting, by the fact that the protagonist is an unlikeable playboy rather than the typical ultra-nice guy hero, however, it failed to have the momentum of those earlier novels as it often got bogged down by weird man-woman encounters and cringe-worthy outdated scenes (one woman gets raped and it is regarded as not that big a deal, even by the victim!) as well as by the emphasis on what each characters are thinking rather than what they are doing.
In other words, typical late van Vogt.
However, for so reason I can't explain, I till like these novels more than I ought to.
By the early in the 60's, van Vogt had quit working with Hubbard, as he had had no interest once Hubbard evolved the practice of Dianetics to Scientology. Frederik Phol had encouraged him to write new material that he would publish in Galaxy or If magazine of which he was editor. There were some fine stories and novels written after that, but as mentioned, most of these later works failed miserably at reflecting the current writing styles and topics and spirit of the day, as a writer of speculative fiction ought to do. For example, “The Man With a Thousand Names”, was published in 1974, at the height of the feminist movement, yet his character's attitude towards women is nothing short of archaic: “...he (man) is secretly godlike, while she (woman) is secretly a princess...”
This is my second reading of this novel. It starts out really well with a millionaire's son (Steven Masters) being part of an expedition to 'Mittend', which is Earth's nearest habitable planet. The only reason he is there is because of his father's influence. He then goes off wandering and finds himself under the control of an entity of some sort known as 'Mother'.
This novel had many reoccurring themes that are typical in much of his earlier works – in this case, the transfer of one's consciousness into the body of another to and from people Steven Masters had done wrong to in the past. This is a neat idea that makes the story rather interesting, by the fact that the protagonist is an unlikeable playboy rather than the typical ultra-nice guy hero, however, it failed to have the momentum of those earlier novels as it often got bogged down by weird man-woman encounters and cringe-worthy outdated scenes (one woman gets raped and it is regarded as not that big a deal, even by the victim!) as well as by the emphasis on what each characters are thinking rather than what they are doing.
In other words, typical late van Vogt.
However, for so reason I can't explain, I till like these novels more than I ought to.
March 29, 2016
I finished reading this on the plane, and I'm glad we didn't crash because the thought that this might be the last book I ever read was unbearable. The mishmash of plots and concepts hindered any attempt at a cohesive narrative structure or satisfying character arc. As a sidenote, the whole thing was incredibly sexist, but I think you have to expect that from back then.
August 4, 2020
This 1974 novel is not one of van Vogt's best efforts, and while I heartily recommend Slan and The Voyage of the Space Beagle and The Weapon Shops of Isher, this one is only for hardcore fans or completests. I tried to give it another chance, but it's just too self-indulgently centered on the self-indulgent, misogynistic anti-hero. My DAW first printing copy has a Vincent DiFate cover with a guy in the foreground who has his arms thrown up in the air as if to say "Just what the heck is up with this?" and I agree. The writing itself isn't bad, but the story just wasn't for me.
January 5, 2021
The main character is an insufferable asshole with no real character development, which made for an annoying read.
November 23, 2014
I rate his one a high 3-star. It was enjoyable, but not 4 star "I loved it" enjoyable.
I must say though, I get a small impression that this is van Vogt playing out a sexual fantasy: I can't think that terribly much from a character that happily rapes women and does what he wants with them and is rewarded in the end by being given so many mates that he would end up having sex at least twice a day to satisfy their agreement. It is the ultimate sex fantasy for a man and is the biggest let down in the entire story, pretty low and pathetic now I think about it some more.
But there was one part of the story I did find fascinating. The Character did evolve a bit, he was still a d*** in the end, but not that much time had past from the first page to the last, and the last chapter did show he had evolved enough to show us; the reader, that he would/could continue to do so. I liked that aspect of it, that it wasn't a completely and redemption-fied character metamorphosis. The other part I really liked is that when he switched people he was still himself with his own memories and ideals, but he felt the subtle differences, and they were subtle, but still recognisable. He was more reluctant to violence in his first body, had a calm about him. He was more contemplative in another. He felt the small differences that only a brain wired in such a way could show. It was interesting.
And the ending does resolve the books title, which seemed to be nothing more than a fancy name for most of the novel. So glad that was proven wrong, I hate it when books do that.
I must say though, I get a small impression that this is van Vogt playing out a sexual fantasy: I can't think that terribly much from a character that happily rapes women and does what he wants with them and is rewarded in the end by being given so many mates that he would end up having sex at least twice a day to satisfy their agreement. It is the ultimate sex fantasy for a man and is the biggest let down in the entire story, pretty low and pathetic now I think about it some more.
But there was one part of the story I did find fascinating. The Character did evolve a bit, he was still a d*** in the end, but not that much time had past from the first page to the last, and the last chapter did show he had evolved enough to show us; the reader, that he would/could continue to do so. I liked that aspect of it, that it wasn't a completely and redemption-fied character metamorphosis. The other part I really liked is that when he switched people he was still himself with his own memories and ideals, but he felt the subtle differences, and they were subtle, but still recognisable. He was more reluctant to violence in his first body, had a calm about him. He was more contemplative in another. He felt the small differences that only a brain wired in such a way could show. It was interesting.
And the ending does resolve the books title, which seemed to be nothing more than a fancy name for most of the novel. So glad that was proven wrong, I hate it when books do that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2021
This may be the most unlikable protagonist ever. He's the spoiled son of a billionaire who refuses to learn anything and likes to sue people who offend him in any way, including in his imagination, so that they rack up huge lawyer fees defending themselves. He thinks of anyone who works as worthless and he's an accomplished rapist. He also kills a few people in the story.
If you like van Vogt's writing style you might want to read it anyway. The protagonist has some identity crises much like Philip K. Dick would use much more extensively. If you don't want to read about this character at all, read the spoiler which follows.
If you like van Vogt's writing style you might want to read it anyway. The protagonist has some identity crises much like Philip K. Dick would use much more extensively. If you don't want to read about this character at all, read the spoiler which follows.
April 7, 2021
I found this really difficult to follow. Nothing was particularly well explained, and I was frequently confused. That took it down to two stars.
It gets to one star because this book was icky. In addition to having awful depictions of women, there is a lot of rape and physical/mental abuse at their expense. This did NOT stand the test of time.
It gets to one star because this book was icky. In addition to having awful depictions of women, there is a lot of rape and physical/mental abuse at their expense. This did NOT stand the test of time.
March 24, 2009
Another great Van Vogt with some surprising angles; suppose you suddenly find yourself in some other body ...
December 31, 2018
The description of the main character's personality was interesting. He was definitely an anti-hero. This book was not one of van Vogt's better books, I don't recommend it unless you are a huge fan of his, and you've read all his other books. If you haven't read Slan or the Weapon Shops of Isher books, read those first. If you've only read his other books once, then maybe reread them again at least once before you get to this one. That's where this book fits on the prioritized A. E. van Vogt reading list.
November 14, 2019
This book was a disappointment. The main character is really just the worst. At first I assumed that the author was aware of this but by the end it was pretty clear that he wasn't. While the plot is interesting enough for the first half, it turns into something much less bearable towards the end.
June 17, 2021
Malgré une bonne idée de départ, une écriture de qualité et un personnage que l'on aime détester, ce livre est loupé.
L'histoire est, au final, peu intéressante, avec des rebondissements sans logique.
L'histoire est, au final, peu intéressante, avec des rebondissements sans logique.
August 10, 2024
Van Vogt's stories are well-written with creative plots, and this is no exception.
The central character in the book is a reluctant anti-hero. His actions are usually bad, or plain reprehensible. This makes him an interesting choice to write a book around. However, this also means he isn't the nicest character to spend time with as a reader.
The central character in the book is a reluctant anti-hero. His actions are usually bad, or plain reprehensible. This makes him an interesting choice to write a book around. However, this also means he isn't the nicest character to spend time with as a reader.
May 13, 2020
I made it about half way and lost interest.
January 2, 2022
Style peu agréable. Histoire confuse. Plutôt déçu alors que de base j'aime bien Van Vogt
July 24, 2023
Very bland waste of time tbh
January 22, 2025
Confuso, inconsequente e desintegrado. Ingredientes vulgares: viagens interplanetárias, transferências de personalidade, raças superiores, etc.
March 7, 2022
It's an OK story, but points off for being sexist and rapey.
March 10, 2015
When I was 15 and 16, I read a lot of science fiction; Clifford D Simak, Robert Silverberg, Isaac Asimov etc... I don't remember if I read A E Van Vogt but the name is certainly familiar. These days I rarely read science fiction, I found this book cheap in a book stall outside one of the metro stations in Tbilisi. It is a first edition (1974) but I've never been particularly interested in such matters (obviously I'd be happy to find a first edition of the first Harry Potter book or one of the Tolkien books, but purely for the financial potential). The story is about a rich young man, Steven Masters Jr, who is filled with ennui and joins a space expedition for a bit of excitement. He visits a habitable planet called Mittend, but goes wandering off from the rest of the crew. He finds some strange human like people, who upon seeing Steven, chase after him and when they catch him and touch him, his mind gets traded into the body of his ex butler, Mark Broehm, a 38-year-old bar waiter back on earth.
Steven Masters is not a nice person ( Steven was ego incarnate and has wronged many people in the past. The collective "Mother" mind of the alien planet is able to change him from one person's body to another person's, the people are connected by Steven having wronged them in the past. Steven is a womaniser and the book feels dated and misogynistic. I won't be seeking out any more by this author.
Steven Masters is not a nice person ( Steven was ego incarnate and has wronged many people in the past. The collective "Mother" mind of the alien planet is able to change him from one person's body to another person's, the people are connected by Steven having wronged them in the past. Steven is a womaniser and the book feels dated and misogynistic. I won't be seeking out any more by this author.
July 27, 2012
I like how van Vogt writes paranoid, deeply flawed characters. His supermen interest me much less. This book is the former.
December 6, 2012
Recensione completa qui:
http://ultimavisione.wordpress.com/20...
http://ultimavisione.wordpress.com/20...
May 1, 2013
Nothing amazing, but a fun read & I ended up liking the main character by the time it was done.
June 1, 2015
1981 grade B+
November 15, 2015
Another book I read some 30 to 40 years ago. I remember being a fan of Van Vogt, but none of his works stick out.
October 5, 2016
I lost count around 762. I think it was Dave.
March 28, 2017
I'm a big fan of AE Van Vogt whose fiction is often both weird and fantastical, but this is not one of his best efforts. His protagonist is an unpleasant man of a type the author holds in contempt, yet he triumphs despite himself. Vogt was a psychologist who I think understood some of the nastier aspects of men very well, but lacked insight into women. In some of his books that's not a huge problem, but in this one it really is.
April 8, 2018
Van Vogt crazy, a bit of high SF and main characters with many superpowers (mind-body switching - jay!) and few clear plans combine to make this a spaghetti mess of a story that I found hard to connect to. Not his best story.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews