Inferno (novel) 507929 223792500 2008-07-05T20:52:26Z Wehwalt 458237 {{infobox Book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] --> | name = Inferno | title_orig = | translator = | image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[image:Inferno(Niven).jpg|200px]] --> | image_caption = Cover of Pocket Books paperback edition | author = [[Larry Niven]] & [[Jerry Pournelle]] | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = [[United States]] | language = [[English language|English]] | series = | genre = [[Science fiction]] [[novel]] | publisher = [[Pocket Books]] | release_date = 1976 | english_release_date = | media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] & [[Paperback]]) | pages = 237 pp | isbn = ISBN 0-671-80490-1 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }} '''''Inferno''''' is a [[science fiction]] novel written by [[Larry Niven]] and [[Jerry Pournelle]], published in [[1976]]. It was nominated for the 1976 [[Hugo Award for Best Novel|Hugo]] and [[Nebula Award for Best Novel|Nebula Awards for Best Novel]]. ==Plot summary== ''Inferno'' is based upon the [[hell]] described in [[Dante Alighieri|Dante]]'s [[The Divine Comedy|''Inferno'']]. However, it adds a modern twist to the story. The story is told in the [[first-person narrative|first person]] by Allen Carpentier (né Carpenter), an [[agnostic]] [[science fiction]] writer who died in a failed attempt to entertain his fans at a party. He is released from a bottle in the Vestibule on the outer edge to [[Hell]] when he calls upon God for mercy. Upon release he is met by [[Benito Mussolini]], a [[Virgil]]-like figure whose full identity is not immediately apparent. Benito offers to take him out of [[Hell]] by bringing him to the center. At first, as Allen and Benito travel through [[Hell]], Allen tries to scientifically rationalize everything he sees, renaming his surroundings as 'Infernoland', a high-tech [[amusement park]] some thousand years in the future. It isn't until he sees a man recover from [[incineration]] and his own leg heal from a [[compound fracture]] that he starts to actually believe that he is in [[Hell]]. From this point on, as Allen travels through the inner circles of [[Hell]], he sees how he is guilty of each of the sins in some fashion, commenting to himself that he is in no danger from ditch 3 of circle 8 ([[simony]]) only because he has never had any [[holy offices]] to sell. At first Allen views the punishments for these sins as far surpassing the crime, repeatedly thinking, "We're in the hands of infinite power and infinite [[Sadism and Masochism|sadism]]", although he comes to more and more to accept the justice of the situation as he realises that it is their continuing denial of their sins that keeps many of the condemned in hell. Eventually Allen takes over Benito's role in helping reformed souls proceed onto [[paradise]] via [[purgatory]], allowing Benito to move on towards purgatory himself. Along the way Allen meets a number of his [[Californian]] acquaintances and notable people from history (e.g. [[Billy the Kid]], [[Jesse James (outlaw)|Jesse James]], [[Robert Ford (outlaw)|Bob Ford]], [[Henry VIII of England]], [[Vlad Tepes]], [[Aimee Semple McPherson]], [[William M. Tweed]]) and from classical mythology (e.g. [[Hector]], [[Aeneas]], [[Charon (mythology)|Charon]], [[Minos]], [[Phlegyas]]). The theology of ''Inferno'' is that of [[universal reconciliation|universalism]]: salvation can be achieved by all. However, most of Hell's denizens met by Carpentier either deny their sins or feel they deserve their station. The sequel to Inferno, ''[[Escape from Hell (novel)|Escape from Hell]]'', is set for a [[February 3]], [[2009]] release. ==External links== *[http://www.larryniven.org/ Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven] [[Category:1976 novels]] [[Category:Science fiction novels]] [[Category:Bangsian fantasy]] [[Category:Literary collaborations]] [[Category:Novels by Larry Niven]]