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The Book Of Skulls (S.F. Masterworks)
 
 
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The Book Of Skulls (S.F. Masterworks) (Paperback)

by Robert Silverberg (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 222 pages
  • Publisher: Gollancz; New Ed edition (16 Dec 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1857989147
  • ISBN-13: 978-1857989144
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 65,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #3 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > S > Silverberg, Robert

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
From 1967 to 1972, Robert Silverberg had a burst of extraordinary creativity during which he wrote most of his finest novels. The Book of Skulls (1972) is one of these. Following the cryptic manuscript which provides the title, four young men cross America in search of a forgotten Shangri-La in the cactus-ridden desert north of Phoenix, Arizona--a monastery whose adepts hold the keys of immortality and supposedly follow a tradition handed down since Atlantis.

Candidates for eternal life must present themselves at the "Skullhouse" as a foursome. The brothers are happy to provide training in their secrets (including tantric sex)--but there's a price. The Ninth Mystery in the Book of Skulls states: "Two of thee we undertake to admit to our fold. Two must go into darkness". One of those four college students must willingly commit suicide. One is fated to be murdered by his own friends.

The narrative shuttles between their viewpoints, each distinct and sharply characterised. Rich, handsome, upper-class Timothy doesn't believe in immortality and is just going along with the gag. Eli the Jewish intellectual believes passionately. Ned, who is openly gay, has his own agenda involving Oliver, a Midwestern farm boy with tortured depths who says the Skullhouse is his only hope. Each in turn undergoes an ordeal of dreadful self-knowledge, after which the impossible choice of who wins and who loses seems natural, even inevitable.

Though only marginally SF, The Book of Skulls is a fine, scarifying novel of character. Unforgettable. --David Langford

Product Description
Four students discover a manuscript, The Book of Skulls, which reveals the existence of a sect, now living in the Arizona desert, whose members can offer immortality to those who can complete its initiation rite. To their surprise, they discover that the sect exists, and is willing to accept them as acolytes. But for each group of four who enter the rite, two must die in order for the others to succeed.

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to encapsulate, 16 April 2003
By A Customer
As i am sure you have read in other reviews,this is in part a liitle recognised masterpiece. A wonderfully crafted account of four students Journey into the unknown. Silverberg exersises more than subtle brilliance in his exploration of their interesting backrounds, and the way in which these affect their thoughts and motives. Subsequently, and for the most part, the book is absolutely captivating, and having read the first two thirds of the story this would probably mark the end of my review. However...

Having provided an excellent insight into the characters personalities throughout their journey, I felt that it was then time for Silverberg to dig into the expected Sci-Fi element as they reach the house of skulls. Instead he continues to pile on the tabboo, which increasingly becomes the central aspect of the storline. This, along with the graphical descriptions which are already verging on unduely disturbing, become repetetive and implausible. At the same time the caracters move from being controversial to, in my opinion implausibly outlandish. I certainly have no problem with this being a book of contemplation rather than events, but it seemingly has no climax and just wanders to a relatively twistless end. Perhaps i miss the point, probably Silverberg's subtle brilliance is beyond me. But I was not left with the great sense of revelation or enigma that i had expected.

Although this is for the most part an excellent book that will have a lasting impression on me.

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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, 11 Nov 2005
It's a pity this was released in the "SF Masterworks" series, as this has absolutely nothing to do with science fiction. SF freaks might be disappointed if they expect something else.
Still, this is an amazing novel. Not much happens, so this isn't for you if you are looking for an all-out adventure novel. It's an introspective story about the search for immortality, and the price people are willing to pay for it. It's also a novel about hope, morals and regrets. You get right into the minds of the four characters. Great stuff.
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7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not my thing, but well written, 3 Mar 2004
Not really main stream SF, it deals more with the subject of religious cults. It is more sort of SF of the mind, a bit like the film Solaris.
I found it a bit slow to get going. It is very character driven - the narrative is all first person - i.e. through one of four peoples eyes. Not everyones cup of tea, in short.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars This IS Science Fiction. Good Science Fiction, at that.
If your definition of "Science Fiction" means far-fetched, yet oddly familiar heroism involving space travel (pointless), robots (dull), or extra-terrestrial invaders... Read more
Published 21 days ago by Pleb Behan

3.0 out of 5 stars Sex and skulduggery
I like Silverbergs's work, and have read a number of his books, so it's somewhat disappointing that this one left me strangely unmoved. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sft

5.0 out of 5 stars Undoubtedly a classic novel
Despite the fact that one could justifiably argue that is borderline SF, it is undoubtedly one of Silverberg's best works, and one which works on various levels. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rod Williams

4.0 out of 5 stars Very original and memorably written, but not sci-fi
Customer Video Review

Length:: 1:27 Mins
Published 11 months ago by Mr. M. J. A. Parsons

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty, entertaining, but not SciFi
R. Silverberg's book is NOT a Sci-Fi book, but the story of 4 students travelling to a far-away place in order to gain immortality. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Rupf Peter

2.0 out of 5 stars SF Masterwork? I think not.
I've occasionally been puzzled by some of the inclusions (and, indeed, omissions) from the so-called SF masterwork series. Read more
Published 23 months ago by C. A. Gallagher

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Despite the title page, this book is neither of two things - SF or horror. It is though an excellent read that manages to be a convincing narrative of a very strange journey.
Published 23 months ago by Kath

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable!!
The Book of Skulls is not your typical SF book and one wonders why it was included in the Masterworks series. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2006 by A. Morley

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what we expect
I can't understand why is this book in the 'SF Masterworks' collection. It has nothing to do with sci-fiction - in my opinion - and this is where the book becomes very... Read more
Published on 10 Jul 2003 by Joćo Ribeiro

5.0 out of 5 stars Skulls, skulls, skulls.
Silverbergs' novel, first published in 1972, is a gripping yet horrifying journey from Manhattan to the Arizona desert. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2001

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