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Galactic Comedy #2
Purgatory
On the planet Karimon lives a race of intelligent beings descended from reptiles. Like most intelligent beings in the galaxy, they had not yet evolved beyond their stone-age villages when the first shiploads of Men arrived to stake a claim on a virgin planet.
But on Karimon there is a strong, brilliant leader, a chief who is able to understand that the new arrivals are not gods or demons, but mortal beings. And unlike the inhabitants of most primitive planets, this leader also understood that Men had enemies too, and that those enemies could be used to gain some measure of control over the human colonization of Karimon. If only for a few short years.
But on Karimon there is a strong, brilliant leader, a chief who is able to understand that the new arrivals are not gods or demons, but mortal beings. And unlike the inhabitants of most primitive planets, this leader also understood that Men had enemies too, and that those enemies could be used to gain some measure of control over the human colonization of Karimon. If only for a few short years.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
2 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Mike Resnick
815 books554 followersMichael "Mike" Diamond Resnick, better known by his published name Mike Resnick, was a popular and prolific American science fiction author. He is, according to Locus, the all-time leading award winner, living or dead, for short science fiction. He was the winner of five Hugos, a Nebula, and other major awards in the United States, France, Spain, Japan, Croatia and Poland. and has been short-listed for major awards in England, Italy and Australia. He was the author of 68 novels, over 250 stories, and 2 screenplays, and was the editor of 41 anthologies. His work has been translated into 25 languages. He was the Guest of Honor at the 2012 Worldcon and can be found online as @ResnickMike on Twitter or at www.mikeresnick.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 22, 2011
Mike Resnick’s Galactic Comedy series comprising Paradise, this book and Inferno: A Chronicle of a Distant World is science fiction only at the most cosmetic level in the mold of classics like 1984 or The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia. Resnick's tales are eye-opening (and, at times, face-slapping) morality tales that describe in stark, often brutal terms the cataclysmic changes that occur to an indigenous population when confronted by a technologically superior, colonizing force. These changes are permanent, irreversible and seem inevitably to involve significant pain. I think Resnick tells this kind of story as well or better as anyone writing today and I find myself wanting to proselytize his work and spread his good word.
Whereas, Paradise retold the history of the Republic of Kenya, Purgatory retells the violent, mostly tragic history of Zimbabwe (f/k/a/ Rhodesia) from 1888 to the present day. It is with a profound sense of shame that I admit that I knew next to nothing about Zimbabwe’s history before reading this book. It is with an even deeper sense of appreciation that I can now say I have a broad, if cursory, understanding of the tumultuous saga of this African country, along with a fervent desire to learn more. Thank you, Mr Resnick. Thank you for your story-telling skill, your writing, your knowledge. Buy most of all, thank you for your sincere, deeply felt passion and for your willingness to share it.
PLOT SUMMARY
**Note that since this is really a re-telling of the history of Zimbabwe and that history is, well history, the following description contain spoilers. If you want to avoid this, you can skip to the next BOLD section (“MY THOUGHTS”).**
Karimon is a mineral rich, fertile world that is home to a tribal-based, technologically primitive race of reptilian-like humanoids. The dominant tribe, known as the Tulabete, is led by King Jalanopi who is an intelligent, shrewd and very capable leader. Jalanopi believes he can “out maneuver” this race of “Men” who have arrived on his world and hopes to manipulate them into providing him weapons and technology in order to crush his tribal enemies.
As clever as Jalanopi is, he is completely unprepared for the resources, tactics and experience that the Republic of Men, an empire 40,000 worlds strong, can bring to bear and soon finds events spiraling out of his control. From here, we watch Karimon follow the all to familiar and recognizable process of commercial exploitation by private corporations that eventually leads to a series of doomed revolts by the local populace that is savagely put down. Further settlement by colonists leading to severe, institutional repression of the “snakes” as they are referred to by Man.
This repression leads both to internal terrorism and external pressure from the Republic of Man who condemn the actions of the private company/governing body and call for freedom and self government for the Karimonians. After further violent conflicts, this freedom is eventually granted. However, rather than leading to happiness and prosperity for the Karimonians (after all, we are talking real life parallels here), the grant of self-government leads to a devastating and crushing decolonization by Man which leaves the newly formed government unable to properly meet the needs of its population.
Oh and the last line of the book is PERFECTION and stole my breath...
MY THOUGHTS
**Welcome back those of you who skipped the plot summary to remain spoiler free.**
Mike Resnick has become one of my favorite authors mostly for his ability to consistently tell a good story. While I really enjoy his more light-hearted space tales of rogues and scoundrels, it is in his “issue-tackling” work like Purgatory and Paradise that he really shines and messes me up inside. Nowhere does he do this better than in his Africa-themed fiction. Resnick’s respect and love for Africa and his knowledge of its history seep into all aspects of this story.
However, as I have said before, what is most amazing and commendable about how he approaches these kinds of stories is that he never makes a moral judgment on behalf of his reader. His stories have no ethical training wheels and he leaves the final verdict to you. I think it makes the work and its effect on the reader much more powerful.
To illustrate Resnick’s approach, throughout this story there are atrocities and despicable actions taken by both sides of this conflict. These brutalities include the sadistic torture and mutilation of prisoners, to the razing and slaughtering of whole villages and much, much more. Despite this morally reprehensible behavior, there are no “mustache-twirling” villains in this morality play. That would be too easy.
Instead, you have well-drawn, motivated and determined individuals pursuing courses of action they believe are “necessary” or “for the best” and, for the most part, “right” in the long run. Whether they are correct or not if for you to determine and this judgment will not come from Resnick. He gives you the story and makes you figure out for yourself how you feel about it. I find that unique and unbelievably appealing as a reader.
If you have never given Resnick a read, whether because you don’t read SF (shame on you) or just haven’t come across his work before, you really should. At just over 300 pages, this is a quick read and Resnick’s prose is easily digestible. However, the meaning, passion and feelings that his story-telling may conjure in you could linger for much longer.
5.0 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
April 2, 2012
I knew going into Purgatory that this story was an allegory for the British colonization of Zimbabwe. I've read a few novels that have drawn on history, particularly fantasy, and even more particularly Guy Gavriel Kay's magnificent Tigana, and The Lions of Al-Rassan, which draw loosely on French and Italian histories.
But while Kay's works were rich character-driven reads that would rip your heart out, Purgatory read more like a fable at times.
And that's okay, if that's what you're after.
Purgatory follows a planet's takeover by the arrogant Man, and Man's negotiating his way with the inhabiting 'savages' in a way that would fool them into believing they are benefiting while they are totally being taken advantage of.
The story was interesting, presenting the facts and developments as they happened, but like I said, it felt more like I was reading a fable rather than a novel. So I'm afraid Purgatory fell a bit flat for me.
It didn't help matters that I read this immediately after Stephen King's 11/22/63, which was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and so a very tough act to follow.
Anyways, I was bent on rating Purgatory two stars, because I was finding the developments interesting, and it cheated my way to a historical lesson on Zimbabwe, but the ending (the last line, actually) was pretty great, and that merited a bonus star.
But while Kay's works were rich character-driven reads that would rip your heart out, Purgatory read more like a fable at times.
And that's okay, if that's what you're after.
Purgatory follows a planet's takeover by the arrogant Man, and Man's negotiating his way with the inhabiting 'savages' in a way that would fool them into believing they are benefiting while they are totally being taken advantage of.
The story was interesting, presenting the facts and developments as they happened, but like I said, it felt more like I was reading a fable rather than a novel. So I'm afraid Purgatory fell a bit flat for me.
It didn't help matters that I read this immediately after Stephen King's 11/22/63, which was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and so a very tough act to follow.
Anyways, I was bent on rating Purgatory two stars, because I was finding the developments interesting, and it cheated my way to a historical lesson on Zimbabwe, but the ending (the last line, actually) was pretty great, and that merited a bonus star.
September 12, 2021
Purgatoire (or Purgatory) is the second part of the trilogy 'L'infernale Comédie' (Galactic Comedy), in which the late Mike Resnick takes the colonial history of a few African countries/regions, wrapped in allegories. In the first volume, 'Paradis', he focused on Kenya; see my review here. In this second volume, Zimbabwe is the centre of attention.
This isn't your typical historical fiction novel, but more like a political allegory of historical events. For more information, checking out the Wikipedia page (and this chapter) will allow for a better understanding.
Like the first novel, the story is divided into several parts and preceded by the fable of the scorpion and the crocodile. Each part follows chronologically and focuses on a new era and a new central character's point-of-view:
Livre I - L'arbre de Jalanopi (The Tree of Jalanopi, or, Jalanopi's Tree)
Livre II - Le rêve de Jardinier (The Dream of Gardener, or, Gardener's Dream)
Livre III - La gloire de Fuentes (The Glory of Fuentes, or, Fuentes's Glory)
Livre IV - La citadelle de Wilcock (Wilcock's Citadel)
Livre V - Le lac de Peterson (Peterson's Lake)
Livre VI - Le millénaire de Blake (Blake's Millenium)
Livre VII - La corde raide de Paka (Paka's tightrope)
Epilogue
As you can see, each chapter focuses on a different period of the colonisation and a different main character, each of whom wishes to exert his/her power to realise certain projects and so accelerate the country's economic and social situation. At least, from a western point-of-view.
Karimon is wanted for its natural resources, hence the European/British colonisers wanting to set up a mining business, agricultural reforms, and so bring prosperity to a nation splintered by tribes and internal wars. In addition, the locals are depicted as snakelike people with a very low level of intelligence. Why else has their country, their political, social, and economical situation not changed after all those centuries? Compared to that of the colonisers: technology, medicine, education, expanding one's territory (planets here instead of countries), etc.
The various characters come across as believable beings, from Jalanopi (chief of the Tulabete tribe) over reverend McFarley (a missionary who has not succeeded into converting the locals to Christianity, but he can remain as interpreter/assistant of Jalanopi and even tries to present himself as political advisor) to the various British colonisers.
How do you convince a local chief to sign an agreement, to trade with you? You provide weapons, so he and his tribe can win the various battles against enemy tribes more easily, thus keeping one's power intact, even expand it. However, do make sure the weapons have a little defect, else they can be used against you. You have to show who's boss, who's outsmarting whom in order to get what you want. Even if honesty and equality are never part of the deal. Mining business (or any business in such a case) is a serious matter: obtain exclusive rights so that even the local population, whose soil and resources you're digging up and exploiting, can't do anything about it. At least legally. One word: manipulation, directly and indirectly (e.g. via the other tribes).
Oh yes, do make sure the agreement is not verified by the international agency or suffer the consequences: review/rewrite the agreement, allow for outside control and supervision, etc.
Of course, with this colonisation come immigrants. Hence, a new "tribe" installs itself. These people have more privileges and access to modern services than the local tribes. However, after a while, the local workers start to protest, an uprising, fight for the recovery of their own lands and rights. They are fought off, though not without consequences. The colonists have to admit a certain defeat and some even leave the colony again. The Republic - the supervising space-empire -, condemns the practices of the private corporation: enslaving the local workforce, manipulation to mine and exploit the lands, allowing immigrants to possess and expand premises where the locals lived, and more.
So, to counter the corporation's actions and wanting a more honest and equal divide of power and rights, the Republic supports the local population (because other actions and decisions had not the desired effect). In the end, both parties realise, one way or another, that they need each other. The local tribes, on the one hand, and mainly the Tubalete (despite having a new leader; Jalanopi indeed loses his influence), don't really know how to run the country, how to operate the machines, work the fields (agriculture was also something the people of Karimon had never heard of, at least not on a grand scale); in short, collaborate and create progress. The colonists, on the other hand, need the local tribes to continue the developments and hire the locals as workforce. Otherwise, the project is doomed. However, it takes drastic measures for both parties to realise this. The country's steady rise into modern times drops seriously back into poverty. It will rise from the ashes, but at a high cost and at a slow pace.
The ending is symbolic for the turnaround, the new leader realising they have to move forward and can't go back to how it was before.
----------
I found it interesting to see how - as is typical when colonising an underdeveloped country - the British applied their supremacy and manipulation to their advantage, convincing the local population to agree to the exploitation and colonisation of their lands through an written agreement in a language they didn't understand, hence reverend McFarley serving as interpreter and translator. These people didn't even know the concept of money - goods were traded/exchanged for other goods or services -, let alone money that can only be used on the various planets of the space-empire.
The colonisation was one the one hand a positive step towards a better future for Karimon (Zimbabwe), on the other hand it had a dramatic impact on the tribes' lives and societies.
As someone else wrote, the "science fiction" layer wasn't really necessary, as too much of the story referred to real places. Also, I read this while Afghanistan was being taken back by the Taliban (July-August 2021), with the US army having to retreat after 20 years of occupation and "nation-building". There are quite some similarities in terms of political events, occupation, progress, tribes fighting for power, ...
Long story short: Like 'Paradis'(e) (first book), 'Purgatoire' (Purgatory) is a recommended read to be introduced to the colonisation of an African country or colonisation in general and its consequences, regardless of who the coloniser is. And with much respect for the colonised, the oppressed.
A final word of kudos for the translator Luc Carissimo (who translated the other books, too), following this article in The Guardian, ironically a British newspaper. ;-)
----------
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
This isn't your typical historical fiction novel, but more like a political allegory of historical events. For more information, checking out the Wikipedia page (and this chapter) will allow for a better understanding.
Like the first novel, the story is divided into several parts and preceded by the fable of the scorpion and the crocodile. Each part follows chronologically and focuses on a new era and a new central character's point-of-view:
Livre I - L'arbre de Jalanopi (The Tree of Jalanopi, or, Jalanopi's Tree)
Livre II - Le rêve de Jardinier (The Dream of Gardener, or, Gardener's Dream)
Livre III - La gloire de Fuentes (The Glory of Fuentes, or, Fuentes's Glory)
Livre IV - La citadelle de Wilcock (Wilcock's Citadel)
Livre V - Le lac de Peterson (Peterson's Lake)
Livre VI - Le millénaire de Blake (Blake's Millenium)
Livre VII - La corde raide de Paka (Paka's tightrope)
Epilogue
As you can see, each chapter focuses on a different period of the colonisation and a different main character, each of whom wishes to exert his/her power to realise certain projects and so accelerate the country's economic and social situation. At least, from a western point-of-view.
Karimon is wanted for its natural resources, hence the European/British colonisers wanting to set up a mining business, agricultural reforms, and so bring prosperity to a nation splintered by tribes and internal wars. In addition, the locals are depicted as snakelike people with a very low level of intelligence. Why else has their country, their political, social, and economical situation not changed after all those centuries? Compared to that of the colonisers: technology, medicine, education, expanding one's territory (planets here instead of countries), etc.
The various characters come across as believable beings, from Jalanopi (chief of the Tulabete tribe) over reverend McFarley (a missionary who has not succeeded into converting the locals to Christianity, but he can remain as interpreter/assistant of Jalanopi and even tries to present himself as political advisor) to the various British colonisers.
How do you convince a local chief to sign an agreement, to trade with you? You provide weapons, so he and his tribe can win the various battles against enemy tribes more easily, thus keeping one's power intact, even expand it. However, do make sure the weapons have a little defect, else they can be used against you. You have to show who's boss, who's outsmarting whom in order to get what you want. Even if honesty and equality are never part of the deal. Mining business (or any business in such a case) is a serious matter: obtain exclusive rights so that even the local population, whose soil and resources you're digging up and exploiting, can't do anything about it. At least legally. One word: manipulation, directly and indirectly (e.g. via the other tribes).
Oh yes, do make sure the agreement is not verified by the international agency or suffer the consequences: review/rewrite the agreement, allow for outside control and supervision, etc.
Of course, with this colonisation come immigrants. Hence, a new "tribe" installs itself. These people have more privileges and access to modern services than the local tribes. However, after a while, the local workers start to protest, an uprising, fight for the recovery of their own lands and rights. They are fought off, though not without consequences. The colonists have to admit a certain defeat and some even leave the colony again. The Republic - the supervising space-empire -, condemns the practices of the private corporation: enslaving the local workforce, manipulation to mine and exploit the lands, allowing immigrants to possess and expand premises where the locals lived, and more.
So, to counter the corporation's actions and wanting a more honest and equal divide of power and rights, the Republic supports the local population (because other actions and decisions had not the desired effect). In the end, both parties realise, one way or another, that they need each other. The local tribes, on the one hand, and mainly the Tubalete (despite having a new leader; Jalanopi indeed loses his influence), don't really know how to run the country, how to operate the machines, work the fields (agriculture was also something the people of Karimon had never heard of, at least not on a grand scale); in short, collaborate and create progress. The colonists, on the other hand, need the local tribes to continue the developments and hire the locals as workforce. Otherwise, the project is doomed. However, it takes drastic measures for both parties to realise this. The country's steady rise into modern times drops seriously back into poverty. It will rise from the ashes, but at a high cost and at a slow pace.
The ending is symbolic for the turnaround, the new leader realising they have to move forward and can't go back to how it was before.
----------
I found it interesting to see how - as is typical when colonising an underdeveloped country - the British applied their supremacy and manipulation to their advantage, convincing the local population to agree to the exploitation and colonisation of their lands through an written agreement in a language they didn't understand, hence reverend McFarley serving as interpreter and translator. These people didn't even know the concept of money - goods were traded/exchanged for other goods or services -, let alone money that can only be used on the various planets of the space-empire.
The colonisation was one the one hand a positive step towards a better future for Karimon (Zimbabwe), on the other hand it had a dramatic impact on the tribes' lives and societies.
As someone else wrote, the "science fiction" layer wasn't really necessary, as too much of the story referred to real places. Also, I read this while Afghanistan was being taken back by the Taliban (July-August 2021), with the US army having to retreat after 20 years of occupation and "nation-building". There are quite some similarities in terms of political events, occupation, progress, tribes fighting for power, ...
Long story short: Like 'Paradis'(e) (first book), 'Purgatoire' (Purgatory) is a recommended read to be introduced to the colonisation of an African country or colonisation in general and its consequences, regardless of who the coloniser is. And with much respect for the colonised, the oppressed.
A final word of kudos for the translator Luc Carissimo (who translated the other books, too), following this article in The Guardian, ironically a British newspaper. ;-)
----------
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
March 21, 2010
Wow.
This is my very first Mike Resnick novel, and... Wow. I just finished reading this half an hour ago and my mind is still reeling, and I'm still having an emotional reaction.
I can't believe how under-appreciated this novel is. It is superbly written, masterfully crafted, and absolutely engrossing.
As far as I can tell, Resnick intended this novel to be a political allegory for African countries, as he hinted not so subtly in the preface. The science fiction background is a guise, although a very well-placed and convenient one. What unfolds is a story we are all familiar with, that has played out so many times in human history. It has all the potential of being trite and preachy, and believe you me I was skeptical going in. So, also believe me when I say it is anything but trite.
The execution is flawless. Every single character is believable, sympathetic, and completely real. The tale is told through several points of view spanning a reaching history, and each perspective serve to show the reader different angles of the same story. While I had feared that this technique will end up making each character more two-dimensional and less believable, it is absolutely not the case here. There are clear bad guys and clear good guys, and at the same time there isn't. There are just people, dreams, and reality.
The story shows you the harsh face of reality with unflinching honesty, and I really appreciate that. We can point to specific countries and say, this happened here, and we can point to a different country or region and say, this is going to happen here. This isn't a book neatly wrapped up with a pretty moral-of-the-story, or a lesson, or an empty promise, and I really appreciate that as well.
This is my very first Mike Resnick novel, and... Wow. I just finished reading this half an hour ago and my mind is still reeling, and I'm still having an emotional reaction.
I can't believe how under-appreciated this novel is. It is superbly written, masterfully crafted, and absolutely engrossing.
As far as I can tell, Resnick intended this novel to be a political allegory for African countries, as he hinted not so subtly in the preface. The science fiction background is a guise, although a very well-placed and convenient one. What unfolds is a story we are all familiar with, that has played out so many times in human history. It has all the potential of being trite and preachy, and believe you me I was skeptical going in. So, also believe me when I say it is anything but trite.
The execution is flawless. Every single character is believable, sympathetic, and completely real. The tale is told through several points of view spanning a reaching history, and each perspective serve to show the reader different angles of the same story. While I had feared that this technique will end up making each character more two-dimensional and less believable, it is absolutely not the case here. There are clear bad guys and clear good guys, and at the same time there isn't. There are just people, dreams, and reality.
The story shows you the harsh face of reality with unflinching honesty, and I really appreciate that. We can point to specific countries and say, this happened here, and we can point to a different country or region and say, this is going to happen here. This isn't a book neatly wrapped up with a pretty moral-of-the-story, or a lesson, or an empty promise, and I really appreciate that as well.
January 1, 2019
VOTO ALL'INTERO CICLO GALACTIC COMEDY:3,8
Di tutt'altro tenore rispetto al ciclo Starship dello stesso autore, la trilogia Galactic Comedy presenta come tema fondamentale, trattato secondo i canoni della space opera più classica, il colonialismo e lo sfruttamento delle risorse nonchè delle popolazioni locali, alludendo chiaramente al periodo colonialista del XIX a danno di molti paesi africani.
Si pone particolarmente l'accento,oltre che sulla natura stessa della politica colonialista e di cosa significhi per le popolazioni che la subiscono, anche sugli effetti disastrosi che questa comporta sull'organizzazione politica e sociale e sulle speranze di un futuro migliore delle stesse, una volta ottenuta l'indipendenza, situazione scaturita dalla "civilizzazione coatta" che i popoli sfruttati sono costretti a subire, andando a cambiare radicalmente la loro filosofia di vita e il loro modo di vivere, catapultandole in un sistema che non sono in grado di comprendere fino in fondo e che spesso e volentieri non riescono ad autosostenere.
Per quanto mi riguarda, il primo volume Paradise è quello più debole dal punto di vista narrativo.
Gli altri due volumi, sebbene abbiano una struttura più classica, sono senza dubbio più coinvolgenti ed emozionanti
Di tutt'altro tenore rispetto al ciclo Starship dello stesso autore, la trilogia Galactic Comedy presenta come tema fondamentale, trattato secondo i canoni della space opera più classica, il colonialismo e lo sfruttamento delle risorse nonchè delle popolazioni locali, alludendo chiaramente al periodo colonialista del XIX a danno di molti paesi africani.
Si pone particolarmente l'accento,oltre che sulla natura stessa della politica colonialista e di cosa significhi per le popolazioni che la subiscono, anche sugli effetti disastrosi che questa comporta sull'organizzazione politica e sociale e sulle speranze di un futuro migliore delle stesse, una volta ottenuta l'indipendenza, situazione scaturita dalla "civilizzazione coatta" che i popoli sfruttati sono costretti a subire, andando a cambiare radicalmente la loro filosofia di vita e il loro modo di vivere, catapultandole in un sistema che non sono in grado di comprendere fino in fondo e che spesso e volentieri non riescono ad autosostenere.
Per quanto mi riguarda, il primo volume Paradise è quello più debole dal punto di vista narrativo.
Gli altri due volumi, sebbene abbiano una struttura più classica, sono senza dubbio più coinvolgenti ed emozionanti
July 9, 2013
Purgatory is essentially a long, extended metaphor for the British/European occupation of Africa. Unfortunately, it's not quite on the same metaphoric level as Animal Farm. Resnick gets a little too caught up in his idea and forgets to tell a story.
And while everything else gets some metaphoric paint slapped on it. Christian missionaries are left intact, trying to convert the aliens to Christianity... this element almost docked Resnick down to a 2... He secured a 3 mainly because he had a good ending line than managed to tie all the disjointed pieces together.
It's a personal pet peeve of mine to see authors drag out "priests" who can't defend their faith with the sort of questions a first year theology student should be able to tackle, just so the author can more easily mock Christianity. It's hard to say if it's more lazy or insulting... On one hand there *are* men in missionary/spiritual leader roles who can't intellectually defend their faith, so on a purely character level I can accept a guy like McFarley (a missionary with uncanny access to the upper levels of galactic government), but as a symbolic figure he's just wrong on so many levels...
It bothers me on spiritual level, but it also bothers me because it's just sloppy metaphor. It would be like one the pigs in Animal Farm announcing his commitment to the Communist Party... it breaks a fifth wall that just shouldn't be broken. I have issues with the Foreword for the same reason (even though it may be the best short story in the book). It's Resnick explaining his metaphor, which kind of defeats the whole idea of a metaphor.
But at the same time, I understand why he does. Because if you don't realize it's an extended metaphor, it would be just flat out boring, seemingly-pointless political mess. There are no characters only caricatures.
The cover is misleading. Spaceships barely come into play. The whole book is bound mainly to a single planet, which reads as a very earth-like third world country with a thin veneer. This is not by any stretch pure entertainment or rollicking, nor is it a solid story. It belongs in the same category as Harafish, a lengthy extended metaphor that pokes fun at the absurdities of a culture/history...only Harafish did a better job of staying metaphoric.
On one hand it's a much meatier read than I was expecting, and there's a dark, biting humor that pervades throughout. Certainly some good insights, but at times the insights feel a bit juvenile.
End judgment is that it is worth a read through, but it frustrates me because I feel like it could have been so much better than it was.
And while everything else gets some metaphoric paint slapped on it. Christian missionaries are left intact, trying to convert the aliens to Christianity... this element almost docked Resnick down to a 2... He secured a 3 mainly because he had a good ending line than managed to tie all the disjointed pieces together.
It's a personal pet peeve of mine to see authors drag out "priests" who can't defend their faith with the sort of questions a first year theology student should be able to tackle, just so the author can more easily mock Christianity. It's hard to say if it's more lazy or insulting... On one hand there *are* men in missionary/spiritual leader roles who can't intellectually defend their faith, so on a purely character level I can accept a guy like McFarley (a missionary with uncanny access to the upper levels of galactic government), but as a symbolic figure he's just wrong on so many levels...
It bothers me on spiritual level, but it also bothers me because it's just sloppy metaphor. It would be like one the pigs in Animal Farm announcing his commitment to the Communist Party... it breaks a fifth wall that just shouldn't be broken. I have issues with the Foreword for the same reason (even though it may be the best short story in the book). It's Resnick explaining his metaphor, which kind of defeats the whole idea of a metaphor.
But at the same time, I understand why he does. Because if you don't realize it's an extended metaphor, it would be just flat out boring, seemingly-pointless political mess. There are no characters only caricatures.
The cover is misleading. Spaceships barely come into play. The whole book is bound mainly to a single planet, which reads as a very earth-like third world country with a thin veneer. This is not by any stretch pure entertainment or rollicking, nor is it a solid story. It belongs in the same category as Harafish, a lengthy extended metaphor that pokes fun at the absurdities of a culture/history...only Harafish did a better job of staying metaphoric.
On one hand it's a much meatier read than I was expecting, and there's a dark, biting humor that pervades throughout. Certainly some good insights, but at times the insights feel a bit juvenile.
End judgment is that it is worth a read through, but it frustrates me because I feel like it could have been so much better than it was.
January 6, 2011
I'll give Mike Resnick this: Purgatory is the most unique sci-fi novel I've read recently. The book chronicles the colonization of an alien world by the human race. It draws heavily from the history of Britain's colonization of Africa. Each section of the book covers an epoch of this history, so that it reads like seven interrelated novellas rather than a single coherent novel. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the book is that there are no clear good guys or bad guys; Purgatory is a tale that embraces ambiguity, and that refuses to paint good and evil in the stark black-and-white terms employed by most fiction. The novel also has a somewhat tragic surprise ending, which I won't spoil here. Suffice to say, it was quite effective. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be "smart". I'm not sure, though, that it will satisfy most readers of science fiction. It does not fit the usual action-packed escapist mold, it abandons characters just as soon as the reader begins to get invested in them, and the writing is frankly somewhat lackluster. It is light on descriptive detail, which makes for a clean and unencumbered narrative but which also inhibits the reader from entering fully into the universe Resnick has imagined. I walked away from the book feeling pleased, but a little unsatisfied.
January 16, 2016
I have read several of Mike Resnick's books and enjoyed them all. I enjoyed this book also but it is very different than any others I have read by Mike Resnick. First of all Purgatory an allegory for the British colonization of Zimbabwe. Second of all it shows how greed corrupts anyone, human or alien.
Purgatory follows a planet's takeover by humans, and the negotiating with the native "savages" in a way that would fool them into believing they are benefiting while they are totally being taken advantage of.
The savages are much smarter than the humans give them credit for and after many years of being taken advantage of by the humans they educate themselves and take back control of their planet. Unfortunately mankind has set things up where the planet can't be run at it's current level of prosperity without human control and after only a few years the "savages" are savages once again.
Purgatory follows a planet's takeover by humans, and the negotiating with the native "savages" in a way that would fool them into believing they are benefiting while they are totally being taken advantage of.
The savages are much smarter than the humans give them credit for and after many years of being taken advantage of by the humans they educate themselves and take back control of their planet. Unfortunately mankind has set things up where the planet can't be run at it's current level of prosperity without human control and after only a few years the "savages" are savages once again.
May 25, 2015
Resnick's Galactic Comedy sequence is comprised of three novels: Paradise, Purgatory, and Inferno. On the surface they're chronicles of distant worlds, as the blurbs proclaim, but they're actually allegorical studies of post-colonial modern Africa; he examines all of the problems of the cultures, the economies, the tribal factions, the politics, and so on and on. Just when the reader thinks that things can't get any worse, it does, moving from Kenya in the first volume to Zimbabwe in the second and ending in Uganda. I learned a lot more from these books than I ever did in a sociology class. The stories don't have neat endings or solutions because they're so tightly tied to our real world, but they're among Resnick's very best work.
May 24, 2017
When I read this book was based on British/western colonization of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia/Africa the magic of the story was gone. Translate africans to aliens, Zimbabwe into Karamon, the big 5 into some strange animals and Man as Man and tell the story of white oppression and freedom rebellion and you have the book. There is hardly any added value of the Glactic environment (technology), the plot was barely interesting and the characters plain and dull. 2 stars.
May 25, 2022
Δεύτερο βιβλίο στην θεία κωμωδία του Resnick, με την κάθοδο πλέον στο καθαρτήριο.
Νέα σύγκρουση του ανθρώπου με εξωγήινη ευφυή μορφή ζωής και αποτελέσματα συνολικά χειρότερα από το παράδειγμα του "παραδείσου" στο πρώτο βιβλίο.
Ο Ρέσνικ παραδίδει μαθήματα ανθρωπογεωγραφίας και κοινωνικής ανθρωπολογίας, προφανώς εμπνευσμένος από συμβάντα στον πλανήτη μας, με το άλλοθι της επιστημονικής φαντασίας.
Νέα σύγκρουση του ανθρώπου με εξωγήινη ευφυή μορφή ζωής και αποτελέσματα συνολικά χειρότερα από το παράδειγμα του "παραδείσου" στο πρώτο βιβλίο.
Ο Ρέσνικ παραδίδει μαθήματα ανθρωπογεωγραφίας και κοινωνικής ανθρωπολογίας, προφανώς εμπνευσμένος από συμβάντα στον πλανήτη μας, με το άλλοθι της επιστημονικής φαντασίας.
May 21, 2025
I understand the point he is trying to make but it gets tiresome but maybe that’s part of the intent.
Perfect sci-fi universe, expert construction like I’ve never seen before (reading Birthright, specifically).
Gone too soon. Celebrated too little.
Perfect sci-fi universe, expert construction like I’ve never seen before (reading Birthright, specifically).
Gone too soon. Celebrated too little.
October 6, 2017
Mike Resnick books are such good reads! Will always pick one up.
September 16, 2021
Trasposizione fantascientifica della storia dello Zimbabwe. Molto bello ma si è un po'persa la "sorpresa" dopo la lettura del primo romanzo della trilogia.
June 28, 2024
Sad, but plausible story of colonialism. Need a few anthropologists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2024
Wow. Fantastic. I've only read a few Resnick books, but each of them have been stellar. This one is a sure recommendation. And it's unfortunately still tragic and relevant.
July 6, 2025
interesting take with heart breaking message
June 10, 2010
Recently read Mike Resnick's 1993 book Purgatory, the first in a three-book series. What a great read! I couldn't put it down. As you may know, Resnick is one of the most prolific and successful of Science Fiction writers. His books and stories have appeared everywhere. What you may not know is that Resnick, like myself, has a passion for Africa, and he uses it a lot in his work. We have corresponded and chatted about this, and he sent me several stories, but this book is tops.
Purgatory is the story of Karimon, a distant planet rich in minerals, discovered by a Republic who then try and colonize it and exploit its mineral wealth. They are opposed by local tribal leader Janalopi and a Republic missionary, both of whom, are eventually brushed aside by the colonists with total disregard.
As the colony develops and the natives become more and more frustrated with their low status and living conditions and the loss of 90% of their land, they start to protest, eventually launching a guerilla rebellion. The Republic leaders brush it off as minor nuisance but eventually find themselves slowly becoming overwhelmed. A new breed of native leader, educated in Republic schools and aware of Republic culture, take over the rebellion and lead their people with new strength.
The book is rich with flavor and strong characterization. The story centers around Karimoni and Colonist characters from various eras in the planet's development and their interactions. Resnick uses African history here to address injustices and issues often ignored in an outer space setting. The best science fiction uses the futuristic settings, technology, etc. to teach us or remind us of something about ourselves or our past, and Resnick does that here to great effect.
Purgatory is one of the best reads I've found in science fiction so far, and I look foward to reading his follow up books Paradise and Inferno very soon. Highly recommended. For what it's worth...
Purgatory is the story of Karimon, a distant planet rich in minerals, discovered by a Republic who then try and colonize it and exploit its mineral wealth. They are opposed by local tribal leader Janalopi and a Republic missionary, both of whom, are eventually brushed aside by the colonists with total disregard.
As the colony develops and the natives become more and more frustrated with their low status and living conditions and the loss of 90% of their land, they start to protest, eventually launching a guerilla rebellion. The Republic leaders brush it off as minor nuisance but eventually find themselves slowly becoming overwhelmed. A new breed of native leader, educated in Republic schools and aware of Republic culture, take over the rebellion and lead their people with new strength.
The book is rich with flavor and strong characterization. The story centers around Karimoni and Colonist characters from various eras in the planet's development and their interactions. Resnick uses African history here to address injustices and issues often ignored in an outer space setting. The best science fiction uses the futuristic settings, technology, etc. to teach us or remind us of something about ourselves or our past, and Resnick does that here to great effect.
Purgatory is one of the best reads I've found in science fiction so far, and I look foward to reading his follow up books Paradise and Inferno very soon. Highly recommended. For what it's worth...
June 9, 2009
Such a good read!!!
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