Malignos

More about the book

Richard Calder's unique fusion of SF, sexuality, and surrealism begins with a 53rd-century Earth where technology has regressed due to invading forces that transform "perversion" from beyond our universe. New races have emerged from humanity, known as malignos, resembling traditional demons—horned, scaled, and often exiled to an artificial underworld. The antihero, Richard Pike, is a professional killer and snob who finds female malignos irresistible, living with Gala, one of the few above ground. He loves her so much that he rents out her body for income. However, Gala's troubled past resurfaces, prompting Pike to embark on a perilous journey to save her from drug-induced oblivion. His descent leads him through extraordinary sights: a freak show of caged humans, swarms of child malignos, magnificent cities, shadow-beings, and chimeras, culminating in the tropical Torrid Zone. There, he encounters semi-magical phenomena tied to lost secrets, ultimately reaching Pandemonium, where all answers lie. Pike's journey is fraught with suffering, often self-inflicted, as his pursuit of demonic allure leads him into traps. Despite being repeatedly reminded of his flaws, he experiences a degree of personal growth, culminating in an unexpected conclusion. Calder's darkly poetic imagination and intricate world-building create a captivating reading experience.