Strange Relations

This book is for "old school" SF readers. If your younger than 40; you might find it unappealing.

Another of the Baen collections with novels, this one built around the theme of future love, relationships, and sex. Farmer was a pioneer in this area of SF. Strange Relations : The Lovers - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : Flesh - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : Mother - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : Daughter - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : Father - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : Son - Philip Jose Farmer Strange Relations : My Sisters Brother - Philip Jose Farmer A sexually repressed future Earth tries some deep space missions, and eventually one finds an habitable planet - not only that, it has life. With such controlled behaviour on Earth, one of the travellers finds himself in a relationship with a alien woman, or what seems to be a woman. Surprises are in store. 3.5 out of 5 A ship captain returns to a very different earth. A quite amusing religious satire, with the odd sport joke, too. A strange Earth religion has started, with priestesses holding the power. Other political systems do exist, including one that is very straitlaced and rejects this new, female based, sexual worship. 3.5 out of 5 Stay at home's mobile mate misunderstandings hard on the in-laws. 4 out of 5 Pulsemobile, shelly. 3 out of 5 Resurrection jelly control power. 3.5 out of 5 Gas brain me. 3.5 out of 5 Got to find the others to get off this planet, but this alien reproduction stuff is rather interesting. 4 out of 5 4.5 out of 5

Philip Jose Farmer is another name from the past strongly associated with powerful writing, and STRANGE RELATIONS is an excellent compendium of three of his groundbreaking works under one cover: THE LOVERS, FLESH, and STRANGE RELATIONS. A starship captain sent by Earth's religious rulers discovers a human fugitive hiding in an ancient ruins and finds love too strong to ignore, however illogical or forbidden. His adventures with his new love will change worlds.

This is a collection of three books, the novels THE LOVERS and FLESH and a loose collection of stories called STRANGE RELATIONS, one of which has a Father Carmody story. This handsome edition from Baen should be in everybody's library, everybody, that is, who claims to be a student of science fiction. Farmer was at his best when throwing humans up against alien races in sexual (or reproductive) situations. THE LOVERS, I think, stands as one of his very best novels overall. I had a lot of fun rereading these stories in this new edition. I highly recommend this book.