Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation

[James Nicoll]

Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation

Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!

https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.

How about the opposite, Heaven ?

I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

Lynn

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/
Lynn

_Hell On High_ had a few scenes in Hell, but mostly North Carolina...

As for heaven, we don't see much of it, but Brown's _The Angelic Angleworm_:

https://archive.org/details/Unknown_v06n05_1943-02_slpn/page/n47/mode/1up

[Don]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touch?? Gafla for a truly
strange story.
https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

_Hell On High_ had a few scenes in Hell, but mostly North Carolina...
https://archive.org/details/Unknown_v06n05_1943-02_slpn/page/n47/mode/1up

Lewis wrote _The Great Divorce_ as counterpoint to Blake's
_Marriage of Heaven and Hell_.
Rousseau influenced both Blake and Mary Shelley, who wrote
_Frankenstein_ as an allegory for London Enlightenment. Blake and
Shelley were polar opposites in regards to their feelings about
Enlightenment.

In The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis again employs his formidable
talent for fable and allegory. The writer finds himself in
Hell boarding a bus bound for Heaven. The amazing opportunity
is that anyone who wants to stay in Heaven, can. This is a
starting point for an extraordinary meditation upon good and
evil, grace and judgment. Lewis’s revolutionary idea is the
discovery that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside.
Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis’s The Great
Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil.

Danke,

--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. https://crcomp.net/reviews.php
telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. Walk humbly with thy God.
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' Make 1984 fiction again.

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
   https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).

There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.

Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.

'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.

I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

pt

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a
truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some people. It
is truly unnerving. And by some accounts has already passed when Rome
destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70. Others do not think that
this is what the book is about.

Lynn

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a
truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some people.  It
is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already passed when Rome
destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.  Others do not think that
this is what the book is about.
Lynn

It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels. But suppose
the writer had access to weapons of mass destructrion he
might have murdered a lot of Romans.
Not saying I would read it but I read worse. I
read revelations in my distant youth when i attended
religious institutions and RC HS and do not want to
repeat the experience.

bliss

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a
truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some people.
It is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already passed when
Rome destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.  Others do not think
that this is what the book is about.
Lynn

    It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels.

[...]
You mean like this?
https://thebrickbible.com/legacy/revelation/future_revealed_to_guy_on_tiny_mediterranean_island/rv01_01a.html

pt

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a
truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some people.
It is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already passed when
Rome destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.  Others do not think
that this is what the book is about.
Lynn

     It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels.

[...]
You mean like this?
https://thebrickbible.com/legacy/revelation/future_revealed_to_guy_on_tiny_mediterranean_island/rv01_01a.html
pt

No more like a manga or graphic novel.
bliss

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a
truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some people.
It is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already passed when
Rome destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.  Others do not
think that this is what the book is about.
Lynn

     It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels.

[...]
You mean like this?
https://thebrickbible.com/legacy/revelation/
future_revealed_to_guy_on_tiny_mediterranean_island/rv01_01a.html
pt

    No more like a manga or graphic novel.
    bliss

Robert Crumb is working on it, but it will take him a while to get
to Revelations.

https://archive.org/details/BookOfGenesisIllustratedByR.Crumb/mode/2up


pt

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for
a truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some
people. It is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already
passed when Rome destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.
Others do not think that this is what the book is about.
Lynn

     It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels.

[...]
You mean like this?
https://thebrickbible.com/legacy/revelation/
future_revealed_to_guy_on_tiny_mediterranean_island/rv01_01a.html
pt

     No more like a manga or graphic novel.
     bliss

Robert Crumb is working on it, but it will take him a while to get
to Revelations.
https://archive.org/details/BookOfGenesisIllustratedByR.Crumb/mode/2up
pt

Crumb is pretty good but he was not whom I was thinking of.
Clay Wilson would do a better job on Revelations imho.
Chckered Demon style.
bliss

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for
a truly strange story.
    https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/
dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.
pt

The book of Revelation in the Bible is counted as SF by some
people. It is truly unnerving.  And by some accounts has already
passed when Rome destroyed Jerusalem somewhere around AD 70.
Others do not think that this is what the book is about.
Lynn

     It is about expressing hatred for what the author
viewed as the "evil" Roman Empire. It is the Beast and the
author wishes the very worst on it. That the temple in
Jerusalem had been overthrown was a most likely part of
the reason for the hate. I think with the right artist
it couold be a depicted in narrative panels.

[...]
You mean like this?
https://thebrickbible.com/legacy/revelation/
future_revealed_to_guy_on_tiny_mediterranean_island/rv01_01a.html
pt

     No more like a manga or graphic novel.
     bliss

Robert Crumb is working on it, but it will take him a while to get
to Revelations.
https://archive.org/details/BookOfGenesisIllustratedByR.Crumb/mode/2up
pt

    Crumb is pretty good but he was not whom I was thinking of.
    Clay Wilson would do a better job on Revelations imho.
    Chckered Demon style.
    bliss

Clay Wilson would do an interesting job, for certain!

pt

[Paul S Person]

On Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:59:55 -0400, Cryptoengineer

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
   https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

I'm not sure it is a Narnian Heaven. Although it is entered from
Narnia, I've always thought of it as just "Heaven", reachable from
anywhere (by those who do reach it).

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by Paul S Person
On Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:59:55 -0400, Cryptoengineer

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
   https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

I'm not sure it is a Narnian Heaven. Although it is entered from
Narnia, I've always thought of it as just "Heaven", reachable from
anywhere (by those who do reach it).

IIRC it is Narnia but more Narny. And we climb.
Towards a unified Heaven which the author does
not attempt to describe. There are other texts
for that.

[The Horny Goat]

On Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:13:20 -0700, Paul S Person

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Cryptoengineer
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

I'm not sure it is a Narnian Heaven. Although it is entered from
Narnia, I've always thought of it as just "Heaven", reachable from
anywhere (by those who do reach it).

Agreed - though Lewis later wrote that not all the characters from the
Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe made it to heaven (Susan notably)
mostly to express Lewis' view that heaven is not guaranteed,
especially if one doesn't "keep the faith"

[Paul S Person]

Post by The Horny Goat
On Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:13:20 -0700, Paul S Person

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Cryptoengineer
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

I'm not sure it is a Narnian Heaven. Although it is entered from
Narnia, I've always thought of it as just "Heaven", reachable from
anywhere (by those who do reach it).

Agreed - though Lewis later wrote that not all the characters from the
Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe made it to heaven (Susan notably)
mostly to express Lewis' view that heaven is not guaranteed,
especially if one doesn't "keep the faith"

Which is a pretty common view, actually.

[David Duffy]

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

I have read "Inferno", several decades ago.
How about the opposite, Heaven ?
I advise reading "The World of the End" by Ofir Touché Gafla for a truly
strange story.
   https://www.amazon.com/World-End-Ofir-Touch%C3%A9-Gafla/dp/0765333570/

Aside from Dante's 'Paradiso' (by far the dullest of his Afterlife
Trilogy), I can't think of too many examples outside of the dreck
you'll find in Christian bookstores (if there's any *good* ones, let
us know).
There's Twain's 'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven', written after
he'd lost his faith in a just God.
Heinlein's 'Job: A Comedy of Justice' has some brief scenes.
'What Dreams May Come' by Richard Matheson, later made into a film
with a very non-clown-mode Robin Williams.
I'm told CS Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' may count.
Of course, the final Narnia book has scenes in a Narnian Heaven.

James Branch Cabell Heaven and Hell
And George Bernard Shaw just Hell.

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

How about Black Easter?

Post by James Nicoll
Black Easter 1968 novel by James Blish
Black Easter is a fantasy novel by American writer James Blish,

in which an arms dealer hires a black magician to unleash all the

demons of Hell on Earth for a single day. The novel initially depicts

the assassination of a Governor of California by a black magician

working as a contract killer. The same magician is then hired to

release every demon in Hell for a brief time period. Wikipedia

Post by James Nicoll
Author James Blish
Series After Such Knowledge trilogy
Publisher Faber and Faber (UK), Doubleday (US)

I believe, perhaps in error, that I read this
serialized in a magazine.
Lots of recent stuff by Kim Harrison and other fantasy
writers exploring what follows the return of magic to Earth and
the coming out of hiding of all sorts of creatures which are
merely fantasy here in our scientifically safe(?) reality.

S.M.Stirling in Emberverse series brings hellish
opponents to the heroes of the Changed World.
Charles Stross in the Laundry Files brings hell to
Earth finally and the survivors now work for a totally
eldritch entity resembling one of Lovecraft's horrible
extra-dimensional monster gods with a dash of Mexican
gods who liked to see the sacrifices displayed.

bliss

[Tony Nance]

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!

Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.

Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And Dilvish
was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of Zelazny’s works
spent significant time in hell.

Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And Dilvish
was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of Zelazny’s works
spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

[Tony Nance]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And
Dilvish was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of Zelazny’s
works spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

Aha - thanks. I do not remember the five Merlin books super well. At
the time, I was sorely disappointed that there wasn't more Corwin, and
so I kind of hastily raced through them looking for Corwin and some
resolutions. I should probably read them again.

Tony

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And
Dilvish was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of Zelazny’s
works spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

Aha - thanks. I do not remember the five Merlin books super well. At
the time, I was sorely disappointed that there wasn't more Corwin, and
so I kind of hastily raced through them looking for Corwin and some
resolutions. I should probably read them again.
Tony

IIRC we put several scenes in Hell in _Hell On High_. I think I worked
Maxwell's demons into it.

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And
Dilvish was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of Zelazny’s
works spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

Aha - thanks. I do not remember the five Merlin books super well. At
the time, I was sorely disappointed that there wasn't more Corwin, and
so I kind of hastily raced through them looking for Corwin and some
resolutions. I should probably read them again.
Tony

IIRC we put several scenes in Hell in _Hell On High_. I think I worked
Maxwell's demons into it.

Has anyone mentioned Anderson's _Operation Chaos_? It's kind of episodic
being a fix-up, but one of the episodes has the protags venturing into
Hell on a rescue mission for what reason I can't quite recall.

[James Nicoll]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And
Dilvish was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of

Zelazny’s

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance
works spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

Aha - thanks. I do not remember the five Merlin books super well. At
the time, I was sorely disappointed that there wasn't more Corwin, and
so I kind of hastily raced through them looking for Corwin and some
resolutions. I should probably read them again.
Tony

IIRC we put several scenes in Hell in _Hell On High_. I think I worked
Maxwell's demons into it.

Has anyone mentioned Anderson's _Operation Chaos_? It's kind of episodic
being a fix-up, but one of the episodes has the protags venturing into
Hell on a rescue mission for what reason I can't quite recall.

To set up a Tom Lehrer joke.

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance

Post by James Nicoll
Five SFF Stories About Hell and Damnation
Hell gets a bad rap--it's certainly a great motivator for any number
of plots and characters attempting to escape from the fiery flames
of perdition!
https://reactormag.com/five-sff-stories-about-hell-and-damnation/

Lots come to mind, but many of them are already mentioned in your
comments.[1] I’d forgotten about the Shaw, Anderson, and Myers[2], so
yay commenters!
Tad Williams’ Happy Hour in Hell (the second of his Bobby Dollar
trilogy) was almost entirely set in Hell.
Although my knee keeps jerking in the direction of Roger Zelazny, I
don’t think he fits. Hellrides? Yes. Hell Tanner? Hell Yes. And
Dilvish was banished there, too.[3] But I don’t think any of

Zelazny’s

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Tony Nance
works spent significant time in hell.
Tony
[1] The Banks, Pratchett, and Liz Williams for example.
[2] Or is that more properly “Myers Myers”?
[3] Well, he was turned to stone, and his soul was banished there.

In Amber / Chaos, I think Merlin's brother
keeps a suite of hells for the purpose of
tormenting enemies, and he offers their use.
But we don't visit.

Aha - thanks. I do not remember the five Merlin books super well. At
the time, I was sorely disappointed that there wasn't more Corwin, and
so I kind of hastily raced through them looking for Corwin and some
resolutions. I should probably read them again.
Tony

IIRC we put several scenes in Hell in _Hell On High_. I think I worked
Maxwell's demons into it.

Has anyone mentioned Anderson's _Operation Chaos_? It's kind of episodic
being a fix-up, but one of the episodes has the protags venturing into
Hell on a rescue mission for what reason I can't quite recall.

To set up a Tom Lehrer joke.

Another that I just remembered: RAH's "Magic, Incorporated".

pt