Inferno (Inferno#1) by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

An unearthly voice hisses unholy welcome. And the late, great Allen Carpentier begins his one-way journey into the dim nether regions where flame-colored demons wield diabolically sharp pitchforks and tormented vixens reign forever in a pond of sheer ice. Here, in this land of torment and terror, he discovers the amazing truth of the ultimate adventure that lies beyond the grave.

Frank Herbert -"The somber beauty of INFERNO brought up to the twentieth century with care and humor and with some sins Dante didn't even suspect."

I read this years and years ago, and it hasn’t lost its punch. As Carpentier makes his reluctant way through Hell, led by the mysterious Benito, he’s faced with its ugly reality. Or is there more going on here than is apparent? And why does Benito have free reign in Hell?

The punishments are often the same as those described by Dante, usually over the top and don’t usually fit the crime (the illustrations by Gustav Doré in my copy of The Divine Comedy, are truly grotesque.) It’s the question that Carpentier struggles to answer; why would a god create a hell? And why would a punishment last through eternity? The answer is a surprising one.




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Links are to more information regarding each book or author, not to the review.

1. Bone Walker (Anasazi Mysteries #3) by Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear
2. Holly by Stephen King
3. Inferno (Inferno#1) by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle



















JAN - "Red Carpet Reads" - Read a book that has won a literary award or been nominated for one.

Inferno by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

Nominated for the Hugo and Nebula Awards