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An average heaven where everyone has sexless golden bodies and is bored

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12

1

In this story, the dying protagonist discovers that Heaven is a real, physical place, but not what he expected. On reawakening, he chutes down a miles-long slide into a bowl-shaped city that, he is informed, is Heaven. He is surprised by not being injured or even hurt during this undignified procedure. In Heaven, it turns out, everyone has an identical, sexless, golden body that needs no sleep or nourishment. There isn't anything meaningful to do with these perfect bodies, which are not very sensitive, and as eternity awaits, everyone is very bored. No one is allowed to leave. It's explained that higher beings have provided humanity with an average of all their expectations about the afterlife, which means in practice that no one is satisfied. The higher beings, however, are not sympathetic to complaints. The protagonist finds a sympathetic ear in another soul who shows him that they can derive some slight physical pleasure by gnawing on each other's thighs. This, however, is noticed and punished.

This rather perverse story was published in English, probably during the 70s to 90s in an anthology. It had that New Wave feel of trying to challenge or outrage the readers.

story-identification short-stories religion sexuality

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asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
  
  – Valorum
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

12

1

In this story, the dying protagonist discovers that Heaven is a real, physical place, but not what he expected. On reawakening, he chutes down a miles-long slide into a bowl-shaped city that, he is informed, is Heaven. He is surprised by not being injured or even hurt during this undignified procedure. In Heaven, it turns out, everyone has an identical, sexless, golden body that needs no sleep or nourishment. There isn't anything meaningful to do with these perfect bodies, which are not very sensitive, and as eternity awaits, everyone is very bored. No one is allowed to leave. It's explained that higher beings have provided humanity with an average of all their expectations about the afterlife, which means in practice that no one is satisfied. The higher beings, however, are not sympathetic to complaints. The protagonist finds a sympathetic ear in another soul who shows him that they can derive some slight physical pleasure by gnawing on each other's thighs. This, however, is noticed and punished.

This rather perverse story was published in English, probably during the 70s to 90s in an anthology. It had that New Wave feel of trying to challenge or outrage the readers.

story-identification short-stories religion sexuality

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This question would be improved by going through the checklists here; How to ask a good story-ID question?
  
  – Valorum
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In this story, the dying protagonist discovers that Heaven is a real, physical place, but not what he expected. On reawakening, he chutes down a miles-long slide into a bowl-shaped city that, he is informed, is Heaven. He is surprised by not being injured or even hurt during this undignified procedure. In Heaven, it turns out, everyone has an identical, sexless, golden body that needs no sleep or nourishment. There isn't anything meaningful to do with these perfect bodies, which are not very sensitive, and as eternity awaits, everyone is very bored. No one is allowed to leave. It's explained that higher beings have provided humanity with an average of all their expectations about the afterlife, which means in practice that no one is satisfied. The higher beings, however, are not sympathetic to complaints. The protagonist finds a sympathetic ear in another soul who shows him that they can derive some slight physical pleasure by gnawing on each other's thighs. This, however, is noticed and punished.

This rather perverse story was published in English, probably during the 70s to 90s in an anthology. It had that New Wave feel of trying to challenge or outrage the readers.

story-identification short-stories religion sexuality

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

asked 9 hours ago

Invisible TrihedronInvisible Trihedron

1,457222

1 Answer
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11

This is Philip Jose Farmer's "A Bowl Bigger Than Earth " which was first published in If, September 1967. Your description is spot-on. (Here's a link to an online version.)

It's been published a few other places -- the most accessible in book forms is probably Down in the Black Gang. See ISFDB for details.

It's a very odd story.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Dead on. Thank you. I don't recognize any of the book covers for this story in the ISFDB, but the link allowed a positive identification.
  
  – Invisible Trihedron
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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11

This is Philip Jose Farmer's "A Bowl Bigger Than Earth " which was first published in If, September 1967. Your description is spot-on. (Here's a link to an online version.)

It's been published a few other places -- the most accessible in book forms is probably Down in the Black Gang. See ISFDB for details.

It's a very odd story.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Dead on. Thank you. I don't recognize any of the book covers for this story in the ISFDB, but the link allowed a positive identification.
  
  – Invisible Trihedron
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

11

This is Philip Jose Farmer's "A Bowl Bigger Than Earth " which was first published in If, September 1967. Your description is spot-on. (Here's a link to an online version.)

It's been published a few other places -- the most accessible in book forms is probably Down in the Black Gang. See ISFDB for details.

It's a very odd story.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Dead on. Thank you. I don't recognize any of the book covers for this story in the ISFDB, but the link allowed a positive identification.
  
  – Invisible Trihedron
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

This is Philip Jose Farmer's "A Bowl Bigger Than Earth " which was first published in If, September 1967. Your description is spot-on. (Here's a link to an online version.)

It's been published a few other places -- the most accessible in book forms is probably Down in the Black Gang. See ISFDB for details.

It's a very odd story.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189

answered 8 hours ago

Mark OlsonMark Olson

15.4k25189