What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I’m trying to remember the name of a very strange novel about the return of Halley’s Comet in 1985/1986. I read it in approximately 1983; it was a trade paperback and quite thick. It was very trippy and didn’t have a conventional plot line, which I suspect is part of why I find it hard to remember. However, there was one thing I will always remember, as it was repeated many times in the text. There was a litany of titles given to the comet, and they were repeated almost ritualistically. One of these titles, the one burned into my brain, was “Cain-raising kind of comet!”

I know this is not much to go on, but unfortunately it’s all I’ve got.

Thanks in advance,
— HC

Edit: I'm reasonably sure that the title didn't include the word "comet"--I checked The Internet Speculative Fiction Database for SF novels with "comet" in the title and it was not included in the results.

Edit 2: Well, it’s there now. Not sure if I messed up the original search or if I just missed it somehow.

Heart of the Comet? Just suggesting because it is published around the right time :)

There's also Comet Halley by Fred Hoyle

SBC wrote: "Heart of the Comet? Just suggesting because it is published around the right time :)"

Thanks, it's not that one. I did read that and remember it vaguely, but the book I'm looking for is not a normal narrative, it's very weird. And was by an unfamiliar author, I am a lifelong SF fan, and I hadn't heard of the author before and don't think I ever came across anything else by him.

SBC wrote: "There's also Comet Halley by Fred Hoyle"

Thanks also, but it's not that one either. I can't imagine Hoyle writing anything as odd as this book was. :)

Do you recall anything in the book about the Bayeux Tapestry and the Norman invasion of England? Halley's comet is depicted on the tapestry (embroidered artwork) as a harbinger of doom or prophecy of victory - depending on which side you favour.

Len wrote: "Do you recall anything in the book about the Bayeux Tapestry and the Norman invasion of England? Halley's comet is depicted on the tapestry (embroidered artwork) as a harbinger of doom or prophecy ..."

While I don’t recall that specifically, it would be just the sort of thing that the book featured. While the action took place in the present day, there was a lot of exposition about the history of the comet’s previous appearances and the disasters associated with it. (It is often said that “disaster” means “bad star” and is connected historically with comets. The English word actually comes—via Middle French—from the Italian “disastro” meaning “ill-starred.”)

Thanks for your response!

This is annoying now. I was sure it was something by Colin Wilson but I can't find anything to link them together.

Len wrote: "This is annoying now. I was sure it was something by Colin Wilson but I can't find anything to link them together."

Wilson is wonderfully weird, but this is more… avant-garde? Experimental? It jumped around, non-linear, but not so far out as stream-of-consciousness stuff. In fact, it occurs to me that it might be limiting to even label it as science fiction. The story, to the extent that I remember it, was about the coming of the comet and the expected consequences and the efforts to alert and defend, so SF-ish at least. But not a straightforward narrative at all. It was not an easy read, it would not be most people’s cup of tea. In fact, I would not be surprised if the trade paperback was the only edition ever produced; it probably wouldn’t have been popular enough for a mass-market paperback. But it was unique in my experience and had enough “Wow!” moments that it kept me reading in spite of its difficulty. Which is why I’d really like to find out what it is, because I’d really like to read it again!

The Further Adventures of Halley's Comet

Hello, Your Majesty, Cain-raising kind of comet, riding your celestial flare anew for a midheaven rendezvous, long about the chill of the Year of Our Lord 2062, with direful Mother Earth impatiently awaiting you, her chivalrous star, as she's done so oft before.

Rainbowheart wrote: "The Further Adventures of Halley's Comet

Hello, Your Majesty, Cain-raising kind of comet, riding your celestial flare anew for a midheaven rendezvous, long about the chill of the Yea..."

Yes! That’s it! Thank you so much!

Goodreads to the rescue once again!

Now I can read it again and see just how poor my memory of it was; reading the summary, quite poor indeed. :)

And apparently I need to add that to The Internet Speculative Fiction Database since it didn’t come up in my search.

Thanks again,
—HC

Hmmm. Do I need to do anything else to close this request? It’s the first one I’ve posted here. The intro post says to post a comment that it was solved, but I’m not sure if the reply above suffices. If not:

SOLVED!

Awesome, glad to help out!

Everything looks good. One of the mods will move this over to the Solved folder later. :)

Rainbowheart wrote: "The Further Adventures of Halley's Comet

Hello, Your Majesty, Cain-raising kind of comet, riding your celestial flare anew for a midheaven rendezvous, long about the chill of the Yea..."

Amazing. Congratulations.

Thank goodness for Archive.org!

I plugged in that phrase, and this book was the first and only result.

Rainbowheart wrote: "Thank goodness for Archive.org!

I plugged in that phrase, and this book was the first and only result."

Ah! I tried searching various places, but I didn’t think of that one—great idea.

Thanks again!

Hagbard wrote: "Hmmm. Do I need to do anything else to close this request? It’s the first one I’ve posted here. The intro post says to post a comment that it was solved, but I’m not sure if the reply above suffice..."

Great! Glad you found your book, Hagbard. Yes, posting a new comment to let us know your request is Solved is exactly right. (Some people just update their first post, but we might miss this edit.)

Awesome find, Rainbowheart! I'm glad you found it, Hagbard.