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Demon in the Skull
Book by Pohl, Frederick
158 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 3, 1984
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Frederik Pohl
1,152 books1,068 followersFrederik George Pohl, Jr. was an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years. From about 1959 until 1969, Pohl edited Galaxy magazine and its sister magazine IF winning the Hugo for IF three years in a row. His writing also won him three Hugos and multiple Nebula Awards. He became a Nebula Grand Master in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 28, 2021
This started out as one of Pohl's short novels from the mid-1960s, A Plague of Pythons. It's a mind-control book along the lines of of Eric Frank Russell's Sinister Barrier or Robert A. Heinlein's The Puppet Masters, with the main difference being that the monsters are people. It was a simple morality story (absolute power corrupts absolutely), but it was quite well told, with interesting characters and situations. Pohl revised it a couple of decades later and it was published under this different title from DAW. I was quite annoyed to find that I'd purchased a new book under a different title that I'd already read. He added some graphic scenes and details in his update that didn't enhance the story at all, and served only to cloud his message. I think the original version is superior.
January 31, 2009
This book gave me the creeps. It's basically about absolute power corrupting absolutely. A device was invented that lets a person completely take over another person and treat them as puppets. The people who possess this device use it to commit the most horrific crimes. Very disturbing read.
April 7, 2020
Sloppy writing, but entertaining, dark.
February 9, 2010
An enjoyable if slightly unbelievable read on how great power can greatly corrupt.
December 7, 2018
Esta e outras críticas disponíveis em português em UmBlogueSobreLivros
This and other reviews also available in portuguese. To read them, check out my blog: UmBlogueSobreLivros
.
This book was originally published in 1965 with the title “A Plague of Phytons” and, in 1984 an updated version titled “Demon in the Skull” was released.
The book starts with this sentence: «seven hundred and fifty-one days before the judgment of Chandler, the world he knew was over». As you might imagine, for a fan of post-apocalyptic scenarios like me, a book that begins with global destruction it’s always a win!
We start in a courtroom where Chandler, an electronics engineer, is being judged for having raped and killed (not necessarily by this order) a sixteen-year-old girl.
The evidence is irrefutable.
Chandler himself confesses to having killed Margaret Flershem with a screwdriver.
But if there is something he does not accept, it is to confess that he is guilty.
This idea may seem contradictory.
After all, if he raped and killed her, how could he not be guilty?
Well, I don’t know if you ever saw a movie with Bruce Willis in it, called Surrogates, where people stayed at home but had a kind of avatar in the real world to which they linked and lived through it?
The idea in this book is more or less like that.
The main difference here is that people are possessed by, what they think is some kind of “entity”.
That is, at one point we are comfortably sitting on the sofa watching a movie, and the next moment we are cutting our own neck with the bread knife.
And all this, because the entity that possessed us was bored and thought that this would be an interesting way to pass the time. Basically, we are the avatar of entities.
But do not think that when you are possessed, you do not realize anything…
You will be quite aware of everything that is going on.
They simply cease to have any control over your body or actions.
Now imagine also, that there is no rule about possession.
Anyone can be possessed.
Anywhere.
Any time.
Imagine the possibilities ..
Putting things this way, it makes sense that Chandler insists on his innocence and at the same time claims that he committed the crimes. It remains to know who, or what, caused him to do so. The truth is that nobody seems to know for sure who they are. Some call them wizards, aliens, flame demons… nobody knows exactly.
As we move on in the book, we become aware of the immense power these entities have and the ease with which, in such a short time, they have succeeded in destroying everything we know and take control of the world.
For me, this aura of mystery about the entities was one of the aspects that kept me completely attached to the book and this is undoubtedly due to the way the author led the story. I began by having no idea what it was or the reason why these possessors seemed to be especially perverse. But, as I went along, I was more convinced that there was no purpose in all the destruction and, at the same time, that there was some kind of goal.
This objective, as well as the identity of the "executives" (as some people start referring to them), of course, will be revealed, and if I was already stick to the book, I became even more.
The more I understood how possession worked, the more I thought about its infinite possibilities. And, the more the author explored the way of life of the "executives," the more I found myself justifying this and that behavior because, after all, certain things even made sense.
Another aspect, and perhaps the most important of all, were the characters.
Chandler, who we will follow throughout the book, begins by being accused unjustly to end "torn between a desperate hope and a horrified repugnance" and it will be through his eyes that we will know both sides: that of the possessor and that of the possessed.
It will also be through Chandler that we will be transported to a gray and obscure area and that we also find in Richard Morgan's books, like Changed Carbon and Market Forces. Ok, ok… I confess that I like evil and obscure characters, especially when those characters do things I know to be morally reprehensible but I have a perfect notion that, if I were in their place, I would do exactly the same thing. nd believe that as you read this book some of you will also debate with the dilemma whether you would rather be on the side of the possessed or possessors. As for me, I have no doubt which side would be ... and, believe me, it was going to be fun AF!
Finally, I can not forget to mention the ambiance/environment (I don’t know if there is a specific word in english for this … I refer to the surroundings were the action take place): There are those books where things are going on around certain characters but we do not really feel like plunging into their world. In A Demon in the Brain, on the contrary, the feeling of fear and oppression is almost palpable. The main character, Chandler, goes through various places in the course of the action and in all of them we can feel the oppression that reigns, and the impotence of those subject to it.
Of course the author is quite graphic and there are scenarios that could hurt the sensitivity of some readers who usually read things, say, more "pink, love and flowers". But if you are still here, reading a review of a book called Demon in the Skull, seems to me highly unlikely that you belong to that group of readers.
So if, like me, you still had no opportunity to read anything from Frederik Pohl, this will be a good book to begin with. I still did not know the author but, I liked this book so much that I also returned to the bookstore to buy more of his books.
.
This and other reviews also available in portuguese. To read them, check out my blog: UmBlogueSobreLivros
.
This book was originally published in 1965 with the title “A Plague of Phytons” and, in 1984 an updated version titled “Demon in the Skull” was released.
The book starts with this sentence: «seven hundred and fifty-one days before the judgment of Chandler, the world he knew was over». As you might imagine, for a fan of post-apocalyptic scenarios like me, a book that begins with global destruction it’s always a win!
We start in a courtroom where Chandler, an electronics engineer, is being judged for having raped and killed (not necessarily by this order) a sixteen-year-old girl.
The evidence is irrefutable.
Chandler himself confesses to having killed Margaret Flershem with a screwdriver.
But if there is something he does not accept, it is to confess that he is guilty.
This idea may seem contradictory.
After all, if he raped and killed her, how could he not be guilty?
Well, I don’t know if you ever saw a movie with Bruce Willis in it, called Surrogates, where people stayed at home but had a kind of avatar in the real world to which they linked and lived through it?
The idea in this book is more or less like that.
The main difference here is that people are possessed by, what they think is some kind of “entity”.
That is, at one point we are comfortably sitting on the sofa watching a movie, and the next moment we are cutting our own neck with the bread knife.
And all this, because the entity that possessed us was bored and thought that this would be an interesting way to pass the time. Basically, we are the avatar of entities.
But do not think that when you are possessed, you do not realize anything…
You will be quite aware of everything that is going on.
They simply cease to have any control over your body or actions.
Now imagine also, that there is no rule about possession.
Anyone can be possessed.
Anywhere.
Any time.
Imagine the possibilities ..
Putting things this way, it makes sense that Chandler insists on his innocence and at the same time claims that he committed the crimes. It remains to know who, or what, caused him to do so. The truth is that nobody seems to know for sure who they are. Some call them wizards, aliens, flame demons… nobody knows exactly.
As we move on in the book, we become aware of the immense power these entities have and the ease with which, in such a short time, they have succeeded in destroying everything we know and take control of the world.
For me, this aura of mystery about the entities was one of the aspects that kept me completely attached to the book and this is undoubtedly due to the way the author led the story. I began by having no idea what it was or the reason why these possessors seemed to be especially perverse. But, as I went along, I was more convinced that there was no purpose in all the destruction and, at the same time, that there was some kind of goal.
This objective, as well as the identity of the "executives" (as some people start referring to them), of course, will be revealed, and if I was already stick to the book, I became even more.
The more I understood how possession worked, the more I thought about its infinite possibilities. And, the more the author explored the way of life of the "executives," the more I found myself justifying this and that behavior because, after all, certain things even made sense.
Another aspect, and perhaps the most important of all, were the characters.
Chandler, who we will follow throughout the book, begins by being accused unjustly to end "torn between a desperate hope and a horrified repugnance" and it will be through his eyes that we will know both sides: that of the possessor and that of the possessed.
It will also be through Chandler that we will be transported to a gray and obscure area and that we also find in Richard Morgan's books, like Changed Carbon and Market Forces. Ok, ok… I confess that I like evil and obscure characters, especially when those characters do things I know to be morally reprehensible but I have a perfect notion that, if I were in their place, I would do exactly the same thing. nd believe that as you read this book some of you will also debate with the dilemma whether you would rather be on the side of the possessed or possessors. As for me, I have no doubt which side would be ... and, believe me, it was going to be fun AF!
Finally, I can not forget to mention the ambiance/environment (I don’t know if there is a specific word in english for this … I refer to the surroundings were the action take place): There are those books where things are going on around certain characters but we do not really feel like plunging into their world. In A Demon in the Brain, on the contrary, the feeling of fear and oppression is almost palpable. The main character, Chandler, goes through various places in the course of the action and in all of them we can feel the oppression that reigns, and the impotence of those subject to it.
Of course the author is quite graphic and there are scenarios that could hurt the sensitivity of some readers who usually read things, say, more "pink, love and flowers". But if you are still here, reading a review of a book called Demon in the Skull, seems to me highly unlikely that you belong to that group of readers.
So if, like me, you still had no opportunity to read anything from Frederik Pohl, this will be a good book to begin with. I still did not know the author but, I liked this book so much that I also returned to the bookstore to buy more of his books.
.
August 22, 2020
The story takes place in a somewhat functioning post-apocalyptic world. A few years prior to the story's start, people all throughout the globe started to become momentarily possessed and commit atrocities to those around them. Queue our main character in the present, who has just recently been possessed and murdered an innocent 16-year-old girl.
This dramatic start really sets up the tone of the book and the mystery and humanity at play. While relatively short, you really build up an understanding for Chandler, the main character, and see him and his realistic reactions to the insanity occurring around him.
I don't want to give much away, but I was happily surprised with this book. The writing style was solid, the characters were realistic, and the mystery behind the possessions keeps you hooked in. If you enjoy Sci-Fi, horror, or thrillers you're sure to enjoy this. I'd highly recommend this quick read.
This dramatic start really sets up the tone of the book and the mystery and humanity at play. While relatively short, you really build up an understanding for Chandler, the main character, and see him and his realistic reactions to the insanity occurring around him.
I don't want to give much away, but I was happily surprised with this book. The writing style was solid, the characters were realistic, and the mystery behind the possessions keeps you hooked in. If you enjoy Sci-Fi, horror, or thrillers you're sure to enjoy this. I'd highly recommend this quick read.
January 8, 2019
What if something could take control of your mind at will? What would happen to people given ultimate power? A disturbing book, well considered, but not one I care to read again. Dark.
September 9, 2019
This book is the re-titled Plague of Pythons. I purchased both books and opened one after the other not knowing that they are the same. So, I consider them both read.
May 27, 2012
Um ambiente apocalíptico de possessões pandémicas à escala global acaba por constituir o cenário perfeito para uma análise da natureza humana.
Um livro negro e perturbante que leva o leitor de uma ponta à outra do espectro moral.
Pohl tem um grande talento para as cenas mais gráficas e, tendo em conta a altura em que o livro foi escrito, é igualmente impressionante a sua capacidade para abordar as consequências de experienciar a vida remotamente.
Um livro negro e perturbante que leva o leitor de uma ponta à outra do espectro moral.
Pohl tem um grande talento para as cenas mais gráficas e, tendo em conta a altura em que o livro foi escrito, é igualmente impressionante a sua capacidade para abordar as consequências de experienciar a vida remotamente.
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August 25, 2010FIRST EDITION. REVISED VERSION OF 'A PLAGUE OF PYTHONS'.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews