Message to the Planet – Iris Murdoch – (1989)

Synopsis This is Iris Murdoch`s 24th novel. For years Alfred Ludens pursues Professor Marcus Vallar, certain that Marcus possesses a secret fundamental to the human condition. But is Marcus a genius, or is he a madman? Or perhaps a saint? What Ludens discovers is certainly not what he expects. I must admit this one is nowhere near being one of my favorites although I did enjoy it overall. There were however things that annoyed me or that I found tedious. This is a big novel, with many recognisable Murdoch themes. Obsession, religion, love and death among them. Alfred Ludens has been obsessed with Marcus Valler for years, Marcus missing for years is discovered. and Ludens sets out to being him back to London and to lift a curse from an Irishman who, believing the curse to be real, is dying. Later following what is viewed as a miracle, the charcters descend upon Wiltshire, and a peculiar psychiatric hospital, where we encounter The Stone people, and the mysterious Dr Marzillian. Luden's friend Jack, an artist, has a wife and a mistress and is attempting to unite them all in a domestic menage a trois. Marcus has a daughter Irina – who Luden's wants to look after. The story is a good one and that is what kept me going – but I disliked many of the characters, became irritated with others, and some of the long philisophical discussions became a little tedious at times.