Rastignac the Devil by Philip José Farmer

"Rastignac the Devil" by Philip José Farmer is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story unfolds in a future where remnants of humanity, having survived an apocalyptic war, navigate complex societal dynamics on a new planet called L'Bawpfey. The main character, Jean-Jacques Rastignac, finds himself imprisoned within a tyrannical society built on oppression and manipulation through an artificial 'Skin' that controls emotions and thoughts, while he dreams of freedom and rebellion against the status quo. The opening of the novel introduces us to Rastignac, the leader of a Legal Underground in the oppressive Kingdom of L'Bawpfey, as he languishes in a dungeon, pondering his desire for true freedom and his philosophical stance advocating violence against the injustices surrounding him. Rastignac's interaction with nearby inmates reveals the tensions between different species—Humans, Ssassarors, and Amphibs—as well as the brewing societal conflict. He grapples with his distaste for the ‘Skins’ that imprison him and his yearning for the mythical Six Flying Stars that symbolize hope and escape. As Rastignac's thoughts on revolution intensify, the stage is set for an exploration of identity, conflict, and the quest for liberation amidst a richly imagined universe. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Farmer, Philip José, 1918-2009
Title Rastignac the Devil
Series Title Produced from Fantastic Universe May 1954.
Credits Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 82.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 31262
Release Date
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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