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''Fourth Mansions'' is a science fiction novel by American author R. A. Lafferty, first published as an Ace Science Fiction Special in 1969. A UK hardcover was issued by Dennis Dobson in 1972, with a Star Books paperback following in 1977. A French translation appeared in 1973. American reprint editions were later issued by Bart Books and by Wildside Press.〔(ISFDB publication history )〕 ''Fourth Mansions'' was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1970, and placed fifth in the Locus Poll for best novel in the same year.〔(Science Fiction Awards Database )〕 ==Plot introduction== ''Fourth Mansions'' was inspired by Teresa of Ávila's ''Interior Castle'', and contains quotations from the book, which quotations Lafferty uses as chapter headings. The Interior Castle is a metaphor for an individual's soul; its different rooms, different states of the soul. In the middle of the Castle the soul is in the purest state, which equals Heaven. Lafferty uses more complex symbols in telling a many-sided tale of an individual's reaching towards Heaven or Truth. The novel concerns a time of great change, when four forces – in the form of secret societies – contend to control the next phase of humanity's history. In the middle is Fred Foley, an innocent reporter. One of these forces intends to unleash a deadly virus on the US, the others attempt to stop them. A revolution by Mexican migrants, the craft of "mind weaving" and a strange group of "Patricks", all apparently tramps but with great resources, appear in the center of a narrative. It has been noted that Illuminatus! repeated several of the themes of this book, including the plague and secret society elements. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fourth Mansions」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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