The Rakehells of Heaven by John Boyd, © 1969 hardback, Weybright and Talley
This is the 10th in my series of Forgotten Books
The Rakehells of Heaven paperback
THE RAKEHELLS OF HEAVEN (TROH) was John Boyd’s third novel, following THE LAST STARSHIP FROM EARTH (TLSFE) and THE POLLINATORS OF EDEN (TPOE). To me, as a mild-mannered teenager they were eye opening and refreshing. I have written on other sites of THE LAST STARSHIP which ranks in my top three all time science fiction novels with NOVA by Samuel R. Delany and a third book that varies based upon my moods.
Boyd Upchurch was a California bookseller and former military man who decided to write science fiction following World War II. His radio play “The Fairweather Syndrome” eventually became TLSFE some 20 years after it was conceived. The novel was a Nebula finalist and received a cover quote from Robert A, Heinlein (possibly the first one he ever gave).
For a brief period Boyd/Upchurch was a supernova, producing novels at a breakneck speed. I encountered TLSFE through the science fiction book club which also offered TPOE. I read that too and liked it quite well. Then P. Schuyler Miller, the resident book reviewer at Analog, did a column where he talked about Boyd’s third and fourth novels, THE RAKEHELLS OF HEAVEN and SEX AND THE HIGH COMMAND (SATHC). His praise was such that I sought them out in their paperback editions with wonderful Paul Lehr covers on the most.
They all shared several characteristics – revolution against the establishment, a fresh look at sex, religion, and an overriding sense of absurdity and humor. It has been a long time since I read most of these. TLSFE I have read several times over the years and spent what was a small fortune for a very fine first edition in the mid 1980’s. In all Boyd did 9 science fiction novels (though I have a nagging feeling it really is 11 but 9 was all I could find reference to this evening) and I acquired hardback first editions of them all. Three years ago I sold 19,000 books from my collection and all of them went away except TLSFE. I kept that one. When the book buyers saw I had Boyd novels, that was the one they were interested in. Too bad, I will keep it pretty much forever.
Anyway, to this title, TROH is a novel of first contact. Red O’Hara and Jack Adams are scouts for the Interplanetary Colonial Administration. They are sent out on a probe to find new worlds which can be classified as “human” or “Non-human”. Traits that determine humanity are 1) opposable thumbs, 2) a belief in a deity, 3) there must statute law and order, 4) they must be able to crossbreed with humans, 5) gestation period for infants must be between 7 and 11 months, 6) coition must occur face-to-face, 7) no public nudity as well as other restrictions.
O’Hara and Adams have been hell raisers in the Academy and are assigned as a two man team to explore a remote area of space. Adams has become religious in thinking after an epiphany at the academy so they make an interesting pair.
The Rakehells of Heaven
They arrive on the planet Harlech (which their translators indicate means “Heaven”) where inhabitants are vaguely humanoid but generally seem to be untouched by sin, much as the aliens of James Blish’s A CASE OF CONSCIENCE. Where Blish makes a strong religious point, Boyd goes wild. The primary function of the Harlechians appears to be academic, presided over by Deans. O’Hara and Adams are invited to be teachers at the university. Adams teaches Human Customs, Ethics and Values as well as Earth Religions I and II. O’Hara teaches Love, Courtship, and Marriage and Earth Rituals, Folklore, and Superstitions, and Elementary Human Emotions. O’Hara as a fiery Irishman believes it is his singular duty to sample the wares o every female he can persuade. He even earns medals for his prowess, much to Adams dismay as this is clearly in violation of regulations.
So into a world without sin, they introduce the concept as well as that of love, fidelity, religion, aesthetics, murder and justice, and more. To give curious students a taste of drama, they produce a version of Macbeth that will have any Shakespearean rolling on the floor. Stealing some of the Bard’s words and making a play that fits local sensibilities reminded me of a Cheers episode where Frazier mangles A TALE OF TWO CITIES for the barflies.
For a brief 180 pages, there is a lot in here. In the highly recommended introduction to the British paperback (which is what I read this time) Boyd talks about working classic myths for his first three books, with this being Prometheus reworked through 1960’s sensibilities. This was my first reading of this introduction. There are various plots, subplots, counterplots and schemes throughout the book. And, as is frequently the case, schemes rarely follow a smooth path.
Visiting this novel for the first time in nearly 40 years, I was surprised how well it held up and how much I enjoyed it. There was a brief period when I nearly gave up but I was glad I hung on. The various plays performed by students throughout the book are hysterical, particularly the Nativity play.
Series organizer Patti Abbott hosts more Friday Forgotten Book reviews at her own blog, and posts a complete list of participating blogs.
I picked up an old copy of this book at a thrift store several months ago and it’s been languishing near the bottom of my “to read” stack. Given how much I liked A CASE OF CONSCIENCE it would be interesting to see a similar premise explored by another writer. I think I may have to move this book up the stack.
I probably never gave Boyd/Upchurch a fair chance…yet another sin more of omission I should recitify. Keeping ocmpany with NOVA and a player to be named at a later date is high-toned, indeed.
I’ve enjoyed all of John Boyd’s SF novels. I’m surprised at how many readers have never heard of him and his excellent books.