The Serial Vigilante Blog

On this day, back in 1795 the Wold Newton meteorite landed. Philip Jose Farmer speculated that the ionisation from that meteorite caused the births of some of the greatest heroes and villains of all time. Sherlock Holmes, Professor Challenger, James Bond, Professor Moriarty, Tarzan, Doc Savage, The Shadow and Fu Manchu to name but a few. Farmer revealed all this in Tarzan Alive (1972) and expanded the concept in Doc Savage: His Apocalytic Life and several of his fiction novels. I refer you to Win Eckert's excellent list .

Win expanded on the concept to what eventually became Crossovers and much of his own fiction including his collaboration with Farmer The Evil in Pemberley House.

Another project dedicated to the legacy of Farmer is Michael Croteau. Michael runs www.pjfarmer.com and Meteor House.

Meteor House grew out of the Farmerphile magazine and publishes the annual anthology The Worlds of Philip Jose Farmer.

I reviewed the first volume here

The second volume Of Dust and Soul was released earlier this year. I decided to keep the review until today.

Again the book is divided into several sections.

Lost Worlds explores unpublished works by Farmer. A short story "What I thought I heard" appears for the first time. A proposal and an extract from his unpublished and unwritten novel Strangers & Brothers.

Of Friendships and influences contains essays by Farmer about his friends and reminisces about Farmer.

Metaphysical Worlds looks at the metaphysical thoughts of Farmer.

The essays offer a fascinating insight into the world and philosophy of Farmer.

Expanded Worlds has stories set in the worlds of Philip Jose Farmer.

Bradley Sinor's "For the articles" is a new adventure of Kent Lane, a character Farmer had big plans but only appeared in a single short story "Skinburn"

Spider Robinson's "Dog Day Evening" is reprinted here starring Ralph Von Wau Wau in a pun filled story.

"The Wolff that one hears" by Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficer explores The World of Tiers.

"The Beast Erect" by Mary Turzillo returns to the erotic horror of Image of The Beast.

Time's Last Gift is continued in John Allen Small's "Into Time's Abyss"

Christopher Paul Carey collaborates with Farmer for Kwasin & The Bear God, a deleted plotline from The Song of Kwasin - a novel Carey and Farmer due to be published next year .

As a fan of Farmer and Wold Newton scholar all the stories are excellent continuations of Farmer's work.

This volume is truly a joy to read and well worth purchasing.