Note: Contrary to popular perception, this novel is NOT about a group of space-faring bankers that recklessly squander their resources and then cabal with the shadowy interstellar governing overlords to rape the cosmic taxpayers of their hard-earned wealth. That kind of story would just be too far-fetched and frightening. However, this is almost as scary. Sturgeon wrote somber, intense, introspective stories that contrasted sharply from the more action-coated, derring-do adventures of the 1950s. His was a peculiar mold whose legacy can be found peeking at us in those works that ask not about what we’ll do and where we’ll travel, but who and what we will become. As much as I love the “other” SF with all my heart, it is Sturgeon’s brand of SF that I think is the most important, the most moving. The Cosmic Rape (aka “To Marry Medusa”), is one of Sturgeon’s stronger efforts. Intelligent, layered and loaded with things to say about humanity. This is not a story that one’s read for pure enjoyment as its pacing is leisurely even for a book only 150 pages long. It is a story to ponder, to parse, to raise issues and ask questions. It is harsh, dreary and contains some disquieting imagery. But it is memorable and conducive to reflection on who we are as a species. PLOT SUMMARY:In short, the plot concerns Daniel Gurlick, a bitter, anti-social, severe alcoholic who has never been able (or desired) to hold a job for more than a few weeks. He hates the world and I would say that the feeling is pretty mutual. Even for Sturgeon, known for populating his stories with misfits and "morally challenged” characters, Gurlick stands apart as a singularly unlikeable protagonist. Trust me, you’ll see. Anyway, after being booted out of a dive bar, Gurlick finds a half-eaten hamburger that he proceeds to shove in his mouth...I told you, this guy is a real piece of work). Unbeknownst to Dan, the hamburger contains a spore of an alien hive mind named Medusa. Medusa has assimilated thousands of worlds in multiple galaxies into its collective mind and absorbs Dan to use as the vehicle to bring Earth into the fold.** **I think it merits a pause to say that this concept struck me as a clear inspiration for the Borg Collective from Star Trek. However, Sturgeon's handling of the idea is superior and far more compelling in my opinion (and I’m a Trek fan). In addition to Dan's story, each alternate chapter in the novel focuses on a seemingly random person or group of persons. You have a male co-worker about to date rape a female colleague, a homicidal lunatic that hates music, a young boy of freakish size that is abused by his father and others. Eventually, it becomes clear that Sturgeon is showcasing these not so pleasant slices of life in order to make the whole human race a character in the story. Well, I won't give away what happens when Dan goes about Medusa's business but the book leads to a final confrontation between the independent minded humanity and the collective consciousness of Medusa with unforeseen results. THOUGHTS:I just re-read this over the weekend because I have been thinking about this story for over a year since I first read it. In my previous reading, I opined that a slower, more deliberate reading of the story may help unlock some of the subtle depth and of Sturgeon’s work and provide a greater insight into the story. For once, I was right. There is so much going on in this story and the structure and motive behind the tale are initially elusive that I think a portion of your brain finds itself playing catch and trying to put two and two together rather than simply absorbing what Sturgeon is saying. I got a lot more out of the story this time around.The ending, which I found confusing and mind-boggling the first time around, became a moind-blower that hit me right in the wow, leaving me to try and secure an additional source of oxygen for my hyperventilating brain. Truly, a remarkable climax. As for the rest, dark, intelligent, very original. Did I mention dark? 4.0 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
I'm "shocked and awed" each time I read a Sturgeon story. The man crafts full-on verbal assaults aimed at rehabilitating depraved human hearts. I'm not sure what we were doing dropping bombs halfway across the world. We should have been dropping Sturgeon stories.The Cosmic Rape, like so much of Sturgeon's work, ranks among the top tier of SF masterpieces.It's roughly about an alien race that goes planet to planet absorbing species into its hive mind. It is astonished by the fragmentation/disconnectedness of the human race. In all of its travels, this creature has always been able to conquer an entire species by controlling one individual of the species. Sturgeon uses this premise to explore human loneliness/isolation and what it might mean to be re-connected. What's especially interesting is that Sturgeon senses the primacy of worship. Humans are Homo Adorans. The alternating chapters focusing on different, seemingly unimportant, characters are disorienting at first, but this is rightly so. This disjunctive strategy fits the narrative. Sturgeon masterfully weaves it all together as the rhythm of the book develops. It's impossible to talk about the end without spoilers, so I won't even try.Highly recommended.
What do You think about To Marry Medusa (1998)?
A spore drops from space and eventually finds itself being eaten by Dan Gurlick who becomes part of the galaxy-wide hive mind that is the Medusa, which then uses him to try and conquer humanity.This book shares themes with Sturgeon's more famous More Than Human, in that it's about group minds and the future evolution of humanity, and I quite enjoyed it, although it's odd format of one chapter on Gurlick and one on a seemingly random character for much of its length was confusing.My volume also contained Sturgeon's novella Killdozer!, a fairly entertaining story about a murderous bulldozer.
—Raj
I'm not surprised it got that Hugo+Nebula. Sturgeon is a good writer and has wonderful ideas to express. I enjoyed the message To Marry Medusa contained, or at least, the one I took from it. One of those reflection-on-the-nature-of-humanity ones. That enemy-of-my-enemy one. 'Tis true, it seems like people are never so united as in attacking a common foe, whether it is while gossip mongering or blowing swaths of foreign ground into oblivion. As for Sturgeon's actual writing style, this particular book I found similar to If On A Winter's Night A Traveler (Italo Calvino)--each chapter's beginning warrants a big hammy "Whaaaaa?" as the story you thought you were reading changes. And as Medusa starts its dénoument, all those separate stories are resolved as humans cease to be separate. It's a short book, in this edition just over 150 pages, and it is short and intense. I have already pimped this read out to someone else, and would do it again.
—Leah Wener-Fligner
AKA 'The Cosmic Rape'. I had this book as a kid but didn't finish it. Wouldn't every kid be excited over this cover?1 hour in: the audiobook is only 4 hours, narrated by the great Stefan Rudnicki. It seems like 'new wave'. All the characters are unpleasant, a la M. John Harrison's Light. I guess this was a fad back then. Samuel Delany would blurb it. One early chapter includes the use of a 'date rape drug'. Half the chapters are about some kind of alien fungus, and the other half are basically mainstream character studies. Maybe it all comes together in the end in some clever way. This book also has what I call 'athletic prose' where you stand back and go 'ooo' but get distracted from the story (vs Scott Sigler). At least that's my attitude towards it. New wave. What did Leonard Maltin call the Ralph Bakshi animated film Wizards, 'turgid and unappealing'?Hmm, the alien chapters are kind of dazzling actually. The other chapters seem like a waste of time.Stephen liked it.Halfway through. Ok, some characters are starting to repeat. Is the music hater talking to himself? I think the savage guy actually sees something sfnal.3/4 through. Ok, this is getting good. All the characters are 'coming together', ha ha. I was listening in the car, but I will finish the last hour at home so I can concentrate better. Some things happened that were meant to be shocking, but I just got confused by them.Half hour to go. Holy crap, what a mind-f***.All done. It ends up pretty good. Maybe too fast? Don't blink, or you might miss something. I'll probably check out More Than Human, which seems similar.
—Tamahome
