Inside Outside (novel)

"Inside Outside" is an American fantasy novel written by Philip José Farmer. Originally released in 1964, the novel explores the question of what happens before souls inhabit human bodies, and how they are created. It is similar in some ways to Farmer's "Riverworld".

Plot summary

Jack Cull (a pun on the word "jackal") finds himself in a bizarre location called "Hell". A huge sphere with a sun in the center, Hell's population consists of deceased humans and demons; the humans have the same mind and body as when they died, there is no disease or famine, and deaths are reversed within hours. Earthquakes are frequent occurrences. Humans have taken control of Hell, and they have replaced the traditional inscription (as imagined by Dante), "Abandon all hope..." (written in Italian) with a new one: "Do not abandon hope." (Written in Hebrew).

Cull goes to his workplace, and hears that the mysterious "X", an analogue of Jesus Christ, has been killed by an unruly mob. Along with Phyllis and Fyodor, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jack investigates his death. Travelling into a sewer, they find out that "Hell" is in fact a massive spacecraft, controlled by ultra-powerful alien beings.

Literary significance & criticism

The science fiction community regarded "Inside Outside" as a highly unique work, and it garnered near-universal praise. However, the book did not receive much mainstream attention. Regardless, those who did comment upon it especially appreciated the similarities to Farmer's "Riverworld" and the book's heavy symbolism.

Disambiguation
*Do not confuse this novel with "Inside, Outside" - a novel by Herman Wouk, with different punctuation in the title.

References

* [http://www.pjfarmer.com/books.htm#inside "Inside Outside"] at Farmer's official website.
* [http://www.pjfarmer.com/reviews.htm#inside Reviews of "Inside Outside"] at Farmer's official website.