Pagan Passions

Pagan Passions is a book by Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer, first published in 1959. This classic work emerged during a prolific era for Garrett, an American author renowned for his contributions to legendary science fiction magazines like Astounding. While he is perhaps best known for his later Lord Darcy series, this collaboration with Janifer showcases his early mastery of "idea fiction," blending high-concept speculation with a touch of satirical wit that challenges the status quo of mid-century storytelling.

The narrative transports readers to a world where the ancient Greek and Roman gods have returned to Earth, reclaiming their power and reshaping society in their divine image. In this alternate history, New York City has been transformed into a sprawl of monuments, where the Empire State Building now stands as the Tower of Zeus. The story follows William Forrester, a history professor and acolyte of Athena, as he navigates a landscape where war and poverty have been abolished at the cost of human progress. Amidst the shifting loyalties of mythological deities and the sensual temptations of Venus and Bacchus, Forrester must survive divine intrigue and a mysterious summons that could change the fate of the world. Fans of vintage pulp and speculative mythology will find Pagan Passions to be a captivating journey into a past that never was.