Past master (original 1968; edition 1968)

I consider R. A. Lafferty one of the great science fiction short story writers. He brings a bizarre, twisted, and magical look at each scenario he approaches. Because of my appreciation for his skills in short story writing, I try to read his novels. This is the second novel I’ve attempted. And it only reinforces my belief that the skills that serve him so well in his stories (that ability to turn things on their heads), does not serve as well in the novel form. It is almost as though that constant effort for the absurd drives any sense from the narrative of the novel.

In this case, people from the future go back in time to retrieve Thomas More with the idea that he can save their too perfect society. He goes on a quest to find why this “utopia” is failing. And, in the end…well, I can’t even tell what really happened in the end. My fault or Lafferty’s? I can’t say.

What I can say is what I’ve already said. The Lafferty style doesn’t translate to the novel. Yes, I will probably try again, but I do not hold up great hope. What I can always hold up is the quality of the short stories which I read to remember why I keep trying to understand the novels. ( )

His first novel. Not for every taste. But worth trying, if you like his writing, you love his writing. ( )