The Book of Ptath

This story is set on Earth two hundred million years in the future. The landmasses have shifted and a new super-continent, Gonwonlane, has formed. On this super-continent three nations exist in finely balanced peace. Into this world comes Ptath, a superhuman character who lived long, long ago; so long ago that his existence has become almost myth to the current population. Ptath has enormous strength and a body that appears to be indestructible (wounds heal instantly). He can win almost any physical fight, but he is handicapped by the fact that he can remember nothing but his name and the name of a city (also called Ptath) to which he must travel. In a fog of almost complete ignorance and uncertainty Ptath struggles on in his journey, though he is learning fast. Soon, however, he is deceived and captured by a priestess who is working for the beautiful but evil ruler Ineznia. Ineznia is a 'goddess,' an undying person who possessing magical powers. Ineznia gains her powers from the mass adulation of the enormous population of her country. Ineznia wants to prevent Ptath from gaining any more knowledge, especially self-knowledge, as he is, in actuality, also a 'god' with even greater powers than herself. To further confuse and handicap Ptath Ineznia induces him to become aware of, and dominated by, a previous incarnation. This previous incarnation is Captain Peter Holroyd, a tank commander killed in 1944 in World War 2. Can Holroyd get on top of his predicament, regain Ptath's full powers and defeat Ineznia? This novel is technically science fiction, but the world described is so extraordinary, and different to our own, that the book can be considered fantasy. The critic Pringle indeed includes the story in his book . This is a world of spirit-possession, teleportation, clairvoyance, enormous birds called screer and huger land-creatures called grimb (both of which can be ridden by the adept). The world described has a medieval feel with its monarch rule, palaces, swords, spears and bows and arrows. Van Vogt's " plots are almost always incredibly complex and surprisingly potent" and this book is no exception. This is a tale of schemes, schemes within schemes, alternate schemes, counter schemes and fake schemes. The reader must be particularly alert to the details or he can become lost in the web of court intrigue. To make things worse Holroyd's perceptions of the truth cannot be trusted as he is, after all, completely ignorant of this new future world. For these reasons I suggest the reader pay particular attention to the conversation between Ineznia and L'onee in Chapter 2, and also to the contents of the folder handed to Holroyd by Tar in Chapter 4. Critics have been particularly scathing of van Vogt on this point of complexity and I feel that the author has been unjustly treated. The book does not contain "illogic and preposterousness." If the reader follows the details the 'true facts' will reveal themselves. was first pu

This book tells the tale of a god who is born with no memory. He slowly regains it as the book progresses. A evil godess is working against him, trying to become the only diety by manipulating him. This is the first fantasy book I've read by A. E. van Vogt. It has the same fast pacing as his other books and nearly constant revelatios, as well as numerous setbacks for the hero. I rather enjoyed it. Maybe it isn't a classic, but it is worth a read. I looked over some of the other reviews, and they are correct. This isn't a classic and it does have shortcomings (I've yet to read a book without shortcomings, though). So, I would recommend the book if you are lookign for a quick read, but not if you are looking for the one book that represents everything good about van Vogt's writing. For that, you should probably get Slan or the Voyage of the Space Beagle.

This is one of a few of Van's novels that on the first reading I thought was absolute garbage, but on second reading I thought it was absolutely brilliant. This is not a book to be read and rationalized, but a book to be enjoyed as one would a fantastic dream. The writings of Lord Dunsany and the Dreamworld saga of Lovecraft are similar to this book's style. The plot is, yes, bizarre and often illogical, but that is a great strength rather than a fault. Surrealism permeats this novel, and when you have finished reading it you will remember it like you would a fabulous hazy dream.

After seeing this title with only one review rated at one star I feel I have no choice but to add my own opinion of this unusually-laid out book. The version I read (published by Garland) had a number of illustrations, and the layout was sort of half-religious text half-fantasy novel. Set 2 million years in Earth's future, the God Ptath was reborn (as an almost invincible man with total amnesia) before he was destined to arrive of his own accord. He first finds himself near a stream, only knowing that he must get to a nearby city. After running into some people on a nearby road, and then being tricked into imprisonment by the evil Temple Goddess once at the city, he regains his memories from a former incarnation (an American WWII tank commander)and from there it is an all-out struggle - for the hapless man who now finds himself in a god's body 2 million years in the future - for his very survival against the evil Goddess's plans for continuing world domination. Quite an interesting story I thought which anyone who doesn't mind reading something a little different won't regret reading.