7.2 /10 1 Votes
Language English Media type Print ISBN 978-0-7653-1632-5 Originally published 2009 Preceded by Inferno Publisher Tor Books | 3.6/5 Goodreads Publication date 2009 Pages 336 (hardcover) OCLC 245537163 Country United States of America Genre Fantasy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Similar Larry Niven books, Fantasy books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Escape from Hell is a fantasy novel written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It is a sequel to Inferno, the 1976 Hugo Award- and Nebula Award-nominated book by the same authors. It was released on February 17, 2009.
Contents
The novel continues the story of deceased science fiction writer Allen Carpenter (who spelled his name "Carpentier" on his novels) in his quest to help other damned souls in Hell. Like the first book, “Escape from Hell” extensively references Dante's Inferno. Jerry Pournelle, one of the book's co-authors, described the book as "Dante meets Vatican II."
Plot
Following events in the first novel, in which Carpenter learned that it is possible to leave Hell, Carpenter wants to help others in the way his benefactor helped him. Carpenter meets and travels through all the circles of the Hell described by Dante. He is accompanied in his travels by Sylvia Plath (whom he rescues from the Wood of the Suicides by burning her tree, causing her physical body to reform itself), attempting to understand the purpose of Hell and free many of the damned. Carpenter discovers that, apparently because he returned to Hell of his own free will to help others, he now possesses powers and abilities such as his mentor, Benito, also displayed.
In his travels, Carpenter meets many well-known individuals deceased as of 2009. In addition to Plath, some of the notables encountered by Carpenter include:
In the end, and partly as the consequence of some unusual changes to Hell itself, Carpenter not so much escapes as that he is shown the door for being a troublemaker.
Critical reception
Published reviews were mixed. Dave Corby at SF Crowsnest said the book was "For the established fans only." Ivy Reisner at SF Site found it a "thoughtful work."