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Summary: First US edition of Moorcock's classic novella.
Review: Sitting at a kitchen table some time in 1966, a young writer developed an idea that would become one of the most controversial tales of the literary "New Wave." The writer was Michael Moorcock and the story was BEHOLD THE MAN.
Karl Glogauer has never quite fit in. His girlfriend believes in nothing. Karl is obsessed with living psychology and dead languages. His girlfriend tries to convince him to follow her lead. But what Karl seeks is a revelation.
The quest leads Karl to the days of Christ. A time traveler on a most important mission. Almost two thousand years in the past Karl meets John the Baptist and goes searching for Christ. What he discovers shocks him to his core and gives his life new purpose.
BEHOLD THE MAN, the winner of the prestigious 1967 Nebula Award, is one of Michael Moorcock's best and most important works. This thirtieth anniversary edition is a must for any fan of fantastic fiction and is the first version to feature the author's corrections.
Introduction by Jonathan Carroll New afterward by the author.
Beautifully illustrated by John Picacio.
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Summary: The Path is the Man, The Man makes his own Road
Review: Althought I must confess it stroke me at first as
being a unrespectful and derivative book, further
analysis and complete reading has changed my opinion totally.
There is an underlying spiritual message in it, how our actions CAN become greater than our expectations, if we are willing to believe things can be better. Glogauer is everyman, troubled by inner demons and yet, capable of the ultimate heroism.
Moorcock is a writer of the Man and his willingness to see beyond what is written in Destiny's Book, he is inspired and inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: As a Jew of limited practice with a sister who converted to evangelical Christianity, I first read this book (short story, really) as a bootleg Xerox in an attempt to understand her rationale. What I came away with - and this has lasted me close to 20 years now - is a much more refined ability to discern reality from fiction. Moorcock's Behold the Man is a constant reminder that things are not always what they seem, and that motivation is everything. I recommend this unequivocally as one of the best heretical anthems of all time
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Summary: Addiction ? Moi
Review: Excuse me for sailing under the above flag of convenience. It's one of my jokier pseudonyms. Thanks for the kind review -- but I'm surprised to learn I've 'struggled with addiction'. I'm probably the least addicted or addictive person I know! I'm better known amongst my friends for my abstinence. I'm very boring, I fear. I know it's fashionable to have struggled with addictions, these days, and you can scarcely have any authority with your audience unless you haven't, but I'm sorry to say I come from a family of non-addicts. My mother gave up smoking the day they published the first statistics that it was harmful and I followed not long after! I enjoy a glass of good wine on occasion. I even tend to change my regular routes to town out of boredom. My point in writing Behold the Man was not, indeed, to offend Christians. I've actually had some great reviews in the Christian press and enjoyed fine correspondence with people of religion. I was interested in my character 'imitating Christ' -- making Christ's journey when he discovered that Jesus was not the historical figure described in the Bible. When I conceived Behold the Man (at Easter 1966) I had no wish to offend, no argument with believers, merely an interest in the processes which created one of the world's greatest religions.
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Summary: Very Enjoyable!
Review: I don't know if the idea of going back in time to invent yourself originated with this tale or not. I remember a Twilight Zone episode where a guy goes back in time and ends up being his own great grandfather. Also a New Twilight Zone episode where an Elvis Presley impersonator goes back in time seeking the original Elvis and ends up creating himself as the original Elvis. Moorcock does a masterful job of presenting a similar tale and keeping it fresh. I can understand that some Christians may consider this blasphamous but if you just accept this story as a fantasy, then your religious convictions should not get in the way. Probably if the actual Jesus was not portrayed as an idiot and Mary not portrayed to be a harlett, then it would have attracted a larger audience. The premise of this book shows that anyone from this time could be mistaken to be god if he went back in time. I guess with the absence of science in the past, this is quite possible.
Rating:
Summary: Very Enjoyable!
Review: I don't know if the idea of going back in time to invent yourself originated with this tale or not. I remember a Twilight Zone episode where a guy goes back in time and ends up being his own great grandfather. Also a New Twilight Zone episode where an Elvis Presley impersonator goes back in time seeking the original Elvis and ends up creating himself as the original Elvis. Moorcock does a masterful job of presenting a similar tale and keeping it fresh. I can understand that some Christians may consider this blasphamous but if you just accept this story as a fantasy, then your religious convictions should not get in the way. Probably if the actual Jesus was not portrayed as an idiot and Mary not portrayed to be a harlett, then it would have attracted a larger audience. The premise of this book shows that anyone from this time could be mistaken to be god if he went back in time. I guess with the absence of science in the past, this is quite possible.
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Summary: A Christian who found it to be a great book
Review: I first read this book when it came out in novella form before being expanded into a novel. I could have gotten all disturbed and found it blasphemous, but why? Even if that was how Moorcock intended it, it's irrelevent. Moorcock was a man who struggled with addiction, and often said and did things that went against the mainstream, but so what? Christ was a rebel, and went against the traditions of his day. If you don't believe it, read the Bible. Don't blame Moorcock for an inventive time travel idea that makes for a great story, though a short one. After all it IS FICTION. You are allowed to be inventive. When you have a creative idea you can't say no just because some people may be thin skinned. Sure I realize how some people (like some of the other reviewers) might look at it and think it was great because THEY THOUGHT it knocked down Christianity, and showed Christ could easily be proven to be a myth or "just a man". Regardless of Moorcock's intention, I merely found it to be a fun read. I wasn't offended, nor did my strong beliefs waver. Censorship is not an answer, and this book should be read by anyone with an open mind who loves science fiction and fantasy. It is my favorite Moorcock book, and one of my favorite SF and fantasy.
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Summary: Seen Mel Gibson's "THE PASSION?" Now Read This....
Review: I read this 30 years ago and was shocked by it-- I was young and impressionable and had had a conventional Christian upbringing. Reading it again a few years ago, I was still impressed with it, though I'd long since drifted away from any belief in organized religion. Now, with all of the hoopla over the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," this book is once again a good place to get a completely different view of Biblical times and the role of Jesus. The story is riveting, the ideas provocative, and the denoument unforgettable. Moorcock deserved all the awards he won for this one-- and it's well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Seen Mel Gibson's "THE PASSION?" Now Read This....
Review: I read this 30 years ago and was shocked by it-- I was young and impressionable and had had a conventional Christian upbringing. Reading it again a few years ago, I was still impressed with it, though I'd long since drifted away from any belief in organized religion. Now, with all of the hoopla over the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," this book is once again a good place to get a completely different view of Biblical times and the role of Jesus. The story is riveting, the ideas provocative, and the denoument unforgettable. Moorcock deserved all the awards he won for this one-- and it's well worth your time.
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Summary: Behold a Fine Story
Review: I read this book back when I was in High School (I believe between 1982 and 1983) and remember it to be both excellent in concept yet shocking. At the time, I was in my "rebelious" stage exploring "all things alternate". This story fit right in presenting an Alternate History that was engaging and thought provoking story, just like so many of Michael Moorcock's books. Now 20 years later, being what I would consider a more "mature Christian", I can say that "Behold The Man" could be considered a blasphemous book, but we must remember that it is a work of fiction, and not Truth. If you are fascinated by Alternat History books, check this one out. It's not necessarily the best writing ever, but it certainly was an engaging.
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