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The Blind Worm

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Bizarre struggles for power consumed the mutated inhabitants of Earth, a planet whose oceans had dried into salt beds and whose densely vegetated plains had become the impregnable entity the Wildland.

The black king, John Tamerlane, black of body and of blood, was the first to claim Earth. But Sum, a powerful aggregate mind, controlled Earth through the Wildland, and sought to keep it as the base of its universe. Only a demon's price would pry the prize from Sum. And only the Blind Worm, a massive, misfit creation of a deranged mind, could satisfy Sum's demands.

Viciously they battled throughout time and the universe - pseudo-man and animal-machine. Their quest was Earth, but they were willing to ravage even that for power.

Cover by Jack Gaughan

Published by Ace in February 1970.

  The story of the fight to re-create the human race when the Earth is old; when its cities are mere echoes of civilization; when the inhabitants are decadent survivals of sea-people, land-people and biological 'men'. The challenge to the controlling 'brain-mass' involves a galactic chase through time. The battle brings back the dead to fight again.

In this weird and exciting story, the author's well-known talent for fantasy is given full reign."

Published by Sidgwick & Jackson in March 1970.
SBN 283 98082

Cover and blurb supplied by Brett Bligh
    Translated into German as Der Blinde Wurm

Review by Ian Braidwood

Cast of Characters
(two or more of whom may be the same): Silver Reander, The Blind Worm, John Tamerlane - The Black King, Sum, Vanice Concuma, Warwand, Zea, Swallow, Shadow, Jose Dragon.

The Blind Worm isn't blind, annelid nor nematode. It has one huge eye, which gives it better vision than you or I and an armoured carapace to make it practically invulnerable to its intended quarry: Man.

So what's in a name? Why the Blind Worm?

I reckon the name is symbolic. Our cyclopean friend is a prototype weapon developed for a war which never happened.

Doomed to be isolated and unfulfilled, old one-eye can't see what it wants and its existence is pointless. It spends its time wandering the Wildland and has an ally of sorts in Sum, Wildland's huge mind. However, Sum is just one of four minds, which make up The Quadrilateral and it is seeking communion with its three contemporaries.

During the story, The Blind Worm becomes The Blind God. It is given an entire universe in which to fulfil itself and the power to do it. What it is not granted is wisdom.

Can it accomplish its goal? Does it have what it takes to come to terms with itself?

You'll have to read the book to find out.

As well as the central plot, The Blind Worm features speculations on the nature of hive organisms and their morality. It has the usual vivid prose, which in places reminded me of The Carnival of Destruction.

Here is your mission, should you wish to accept it: Find a copy.

Read Brett Bligh's Review HERE

The Brian Stableford Website