A man on the verge of a nervous breakdown – except he's turned that breakdown into a lifestyle choice and his life's work. This is the story of Jesus… except it's not. It's the story of a man who stalks Jesus. Think *Baby Reindeer*, meets *Fatal Attraction*. The man stalks Jesus, first in thought, then in deed. The deed, simply put, and also a synopsis: a man travels back in time to meet Jesus. There is no *there* there; there is no *Jesus* there. The book, *Behold the Man* by Michael Moorcock, ...

The Question of a Personal EthicActing your way into a new way of thinking is always more powerful than trying to think your way into a new way of acting. Maybe that’s the secret Jesus was trying to get across. If so, it’s no surprise he ended up where he did, nailed to a cross. His actions sparked a new way of thinking. Sadly, his followers went right back to thinking instead of acting. Which, of course, led to the same old predictable actions. Karl Glogauer is a Carl Jung fanatic. He gets the ...

Oh, those New Wave SF novels written in the 60s and 70s – experimental, boundary-pushing, and just plain weird. You think of classics like Philip K. Dick's *The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch*, J.G. Ballard's *The Crystal World*, Thomas M. Disch's *Camp Concentration*, and Christopher Priest's *Inverted World*. Michael Moorcock's 1969 novel, *Behold the Man*, is right up there with them. This 110-pager is dripping with flaky, mind-bending weirdness, published as part of the *SF Masterworks* s...

Behold the Man (1969) originally appeared as a novella in a 1966 issue of New Worlds; later, Moorcock produced an expanded version, which is the one I read. The title comes from the Gospel of John, Chapter 19, Verse 5: "Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them Behold the Man."Karl is a 20th-century Londoner. This story begins with Karl's arrival in the Holy Land of AD 28, where his time machine, a womb-like, fluid-filled sphere, cracks open an...

This is a wildly original time travel story, though some Christians might find the portrayal of 'Jesus' unsettling. Michael Moorcock's *Behold the Man* delves into questions of divinity and salvation in a truly unique way. It cleverly contextualizes doctrinal positions within the broader framework of faith – a problem that has been, and continues to be, the root of so much conflict in religious practice throughout human history. If you're looking for thought-provoking science fiction and don't m...

What a fabulous concept – almost worth a 5-star rating on its own – and developed so admirably that it'll make your head spin! The Author's Note at the end is incredibly interesting, and also a bit dangerous for bookworms like me. Highly recommended, unless you're a religious fanatic. There's a reason Michael Moorcock received death threats when *Behold the Man* was first published in the United States... If you're looking for thought-provoking science fiction, *Behold the Man* is a must-read...

I read this shortly before diving into Moorcock's "The Shores of Death" (funny, I almost typed "The Shoes of Death" – now that's a title!). It's striking how much Moorcock's writing matured in those three years between *Behold the Man* and *The Shores of Death*. Actually, *Behold the Man* is one of his better-written books, which is saying something considering how good Moorcock's more serious work can be. Now, my 2-star rating isn't the 'barely better than awful' kind. I'm going by the Goodrea...

Let me start by saying that I'm "usually" a Michael Moorcock fan. But...I just couldn't get through *Behold the Man*. I came across it back when I was on a Moorcock Eternal Champion binge. So, I want to explain in detail why I can't recommend this book. I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech, and as the saying goes, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Some of you won't be affected by *Behold the Man* at all; others might even be thrilled by it.A...

Karl Glogauer, a lonely, misunderstood misfit, reaches the end of his rope and volunteers to operate an experimental time machine for a friend. Glogauer travels to 28 A.D. to witness the crucifixion of Jesus. Only, nothing is quite as he remembers it from the Bible. John the Baptist is a revolutionary, Mary and Joseph's marriage isn't as it should be, and as for Jesus...While most people know Michael Moorcock from the Elric stories, in my opinion, the best Moorcock stories are the ones only tang...

You know those science fiction novels where characters go back in time and discover they've inadvertently become some well-known historical figure? Like in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, where the hero realizes he's become the Person from Porlock. Well, Michael Moorcock's *Behold the Man* pretty much takes that idea to its absolute, logical conclusion... I'm not sure how you could possibly top *becoming* Jesus Christ, you know?Honestly, it's well worth a read. Science fiction writers a...