Other Worlds, Other Gods

by Mayo Mohs (Editor)

Good condition with some yellowing of pages.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Religion, Anthologies, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy

189 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 4, 1971

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

IV-STARS

I. The Cunning of the Beast by Nelson Bond (1942): A re-interpretation of the initial chapters of the Book of Genesis from the Bible. A first-person narrative by 'another' who has to keep a watch on Yawa Eloem's creations in his 'Garden of Eden'. An interesting take from an SF perspective of creation of Man.

II. A Cross of Centuries by Henry Kuttner (1958): A story set in the far future, when the world, long at peace, worships a new and immortal Messiah, which brings back violence. The story speaks about how and why the violence re-emerges. Nice one.

III. Prometheus by Philip Jose Farmer (1961): Carmody, a monk, faces a very basic theological problem, when he is sent to an alien planet and finds out that a certain species of native race of intelligent, birdlike creatures -"animals"- can be taught to talk! And not just that. Wherein he also finds their capability to ask the question "Where us go after us die?":)

IV. The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke (1953): A Tibetan monastery asks for the new Mark V Computer, so that they could enlist all the possible names of God using faster means of computing power, thus ending mankind's purpose. A story written, to carry a warning to the materialistic Westerners who many times view esoteric religions as little more than superstitions, and to some, even deserving of exploitation.

V. The Vitanuls by John Brunner (1967): The aspect of over-population is explored in this story, set in a maternity hospital in India. The question explored is "Could God run out of souls to distribute to mankind?" Indeed a wonderful story and an interesting idea explored at that. :) Loved it!

VI. The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher (1951): Thomas, along with his robot ass, is sent by the Pope in search of Saint Aquin. The story questions on how a robot could serve not only man, but God.

VII. Evensong by Lester del Rey (1967): An ultimate encounter in a far and mysterious future! A story that takes the writer's convictions beyond the idea that man has been by himself, without any covenant with God.

III-STARS

I. Soul Mate by Lee Sutton (1958): A story of a telepathic connection between a man and a woman: him, a cool rational man of the world; she, a pleasantly promiscuous, but sentimentally religious young girl.

II. Judas by John Brunner (1967): When a Robot A-46 sees itself as God ! Interesting.

III. Shall the Dust Praise Thee? by Damon Knight (1967): A story that deals with the idea of Judgment Day.

NOT-RATED (I did not fully comprehend these stories to have been able to rate them)

I. The Word to Space by Winston P. Sanders (1960): What happens when the first interstellar radio contact overwhelms us with alien religious broadcasts??!

II. Balaam by Anthony Boucher (1954): When two chaplains, an Israeli Rabbi and an American Priest, are confronted by forces of alien encounters on Mars, …

III. Christus Apollo by Ray Bradbury (1969): An excerpt from his poem.

OVERALL, a nice collection, was indeed great to read. It's best to keep one's mind broadly open while reading the stories within this collection.
Recommended !! :)

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of short science fiction stories with a religious theme, from 1971. There are two stories that rate ***** and those are "The Vitanuls" by John Brunner and "The Nine Billion Names of God" by Arthur C. Clarke. Lester Del Rey's "Evensong" is close to a 5, and the rest are 4s. So, a very strong collection. I was curious about the editor, Mayo Mohs, as I had never heard of him before. He was an editor, reporter, teacher, and science fiction fan--and passed at the age of 62, in 1996.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

As is true for any anthology, this has its winners and it stinkers. Interesting religious themes, many quite thoughtful.

[Matias Cerizola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otros Mundos Otros Dioses.- Autores Varios

“Fuimos esclavos de nuestras herramientas desde que el primer hombre de las cavernas creó el cuchillo inicial para procurarse alimento. Después el camino fue irreversible, y seguimos construyendo cosas hasta que nuestras máquinas se hicieron diez millones de veces más poderosas que nosotros mismos. Nos procuramos automóviles cuando podíamos haber aprendido a correr; fabricamos aviones cuando nos podrían haber crecido alas; y luego vino lo inevitable. Hicimos de una máquina nuestro Dios” (John Brunner)

Otros Mundos Otros Dioses (Other Worlds Others Gods) se publicó originalmente en el año 1971, siendo 1978 la fecha de publicación en Argentina a través de la editorial Andrómeda para su colección Más Allá. Los cuentos fueron compilados por el editor Mayo Mohs, quien a su vez hace una introducción a cada uno de los 13 relatos incluidos en la antología.

Interesante antología compuesta por 13 relatos escritos entre las décadas del ‘40 y ‘70 por 12 autores de variadas posturas con respecto a la sistematización de creencias, o sea religión.

Entre los autores incluidos tenemos a algunos que no necesitan ningún tipo de introducción, como Ray Bradbury o Arthur C. Clark, pero los autores más interesantes que incluye la selección creo que son los que actualmente se encuentran un poco olvidados en estos días y que le han dado a la Ciencia Ficción obras a las que habría que revisitar, por ejemplo John Brunner (les recomiendo de él El Jinete De La Onda De Shock) o Philip José Farmer, autor de la saga de Riverworld.

Si les gusta la Ciencia Ficción más del tipo sociológica y ven esta antología mientras revuelven bateas en las librerías de usados o en Parque Centenario o Rivadavia (no van a encontrar este libro en otro lado), no lo duden mucho y les dejan sus rupias al vendedor. No todos los relatos incluidos son excelentes, pero los que sí, valen mucho la pena.

🤘🤘🤘🤘

[Saski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to confess...I gave this book five stars solely based on one short story -- The Vitanuls. The Vitanuls has stuck in my head since I first read it and plays over and over, like one of those pop tune ear worms. At least though I love the story, unlike the songs. The funny thing is, I can never remember the name of the story, I have to flip through each time I go to read it. Which is sad because it actually makes perfect sense, just like the rest of the story. I wonder when we did pass that point of more humans born than have ever died...

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great idea for an anthology: bringing religion to science fiction. The stories come from the 1940s to the 1960s, which makes it a bit outdated. All of the great sf writers of the time are here: Anthony Boucher, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Damon Knight, Lester del Rey, Philip Jose Farmer, John Brunner. I need to find a newer collection along the same idea.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of science fiction stories with theological themes by established writers in the genre. The "Names of God" story I had read as a little kid, remembering well enough over the years to have repeated it to others, once under the stars on a moonless night on the beach, always with a shudder.

[Ronn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came out in 1971 although the stories collected were all written in the 50s & 60s. All have religious themes of one kind or another. Where you stand on the role religion should play in society today will definitely affect your feelings about them. My own are mostly ambivilent.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection of short stories. I re-read it when I am in a contemplative mood. Of all the stories my favorite is: "The Cunning of the Beast." It is a science fiction view of Genesis.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept on this is extremely my jam--but not all of the stories are about religion, in my opinion.

In addition, like most anthologies I'd say that maybe 1/3rd of the selection is actually worth reading. The rest was best forgotten.