Only Begotten Daughter
Encyclopedia
Only Begotten Daughter is a 1990 fantasy
novel
written by James Morrow
, setting the stage for his later Godhead Trilogy. The book shared the 1991 World Fantasy Award
with Ellen Kushner
's Thomas the Rhymer. It was also nominated for the Nebula Award
for Best Novel
in 1990, and both the Locus
and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards in 1991.
who is the daughter of God, who is spontaneously conceived from a sperm bank
donation through what Morrow terms inverse parthenogenesis
. Julie struggles with her messianic powers, the mind games of Satan
, being hunted by fundamentalists
, and the silence of her mother, God.
This novel is a counter-theodicy
similar to the Godhead Trilogy. In addition, Only Begotten Daughter refers to God as a female throughout the entire book.
...
Inverse parthenogenesis
. This is a baffled scientist’s explanation for the existence of an entirely unexpected ovum
in Murray Katz’ latest sperm bank donation: unexpected because, as Murray himself admits, he doesn’t know many women. He lives alone in a lighthouse
in Atlantic City; a Jewish hermit pushing fifty, writing a book about human nature based on evidence gleaned from a job at the local Photomat.
The result of these gathered abnormalities is Julie Katz, half-sister to Jesus
. Well-schooled in the appropriate use of her messianic
powers by her only visible parent (that is to say, as never as Murray can manage), Julie reaches adulthood and explores life, death, Hell and the universe on the East Coast of the modern United States
.
She is ten years old when she meets her “mother’s oldest friend,” Mr. Wyvern; the plot thereafter is derived from the intervention of family, fun in the Absecon inlet
, the guiding phantom eye of Pastor
Billy Milk, his fundamentalist sheep roving Atlantic City with juice jugs of milk, and the problems posed by her extra gifts. The overarching story of the book is that of a satirical theodicy
, questioning why human beings suffer from evil and pain, and exploring the ingenuity with which we combat those conditions.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written by James Morrow
James Morrow
James Morrow is a fiction author. A self-described "scientific humanist", his work satirises organized religion and elements of humanism and atheism....
, setting the stage for his later Godhead Trilogy. The book shared the 1991 World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
with Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner is an American writer of fantasy novels, who for many years was the host of the radio program Sound & Spirit, produced by WGBH in Boston and distributed by Public Radio International.- Background and personal life :...
's Thomas the Rhymer. It was also nominated for the Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
for Best Novel
Nebula Award for Best Novel
Winners of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.- Winners and other nominees :...
in 1990, and both the Locus
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards in 1991.
Plot Summaries
The story is about Julie Katz, the MessiahMessiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
who is the daughter of God, who is spontaneously conceived from a sperm bank
Sperm bank
A sperm bank, semen bank or cryobank is a facility that collects and stores human sperm mainly from sperm donors, primarily for the purpose of achieving pregnancies through third party reproduction, notably by artificial insemination...
donation through what Morrow terms inverse parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
. Julie struggles with her messianic powers, the mind games of Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, being hunted by fundamentalists
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
, and the silence of her mother, God.
This novel is a counter-theodicy
Theodicy
Theodicy is a theological and philosophical study which attempts to prove God's intrinsic or foundational nature of omnibenevolence , omniscience , and omnipotence . Theodicy is usually concerned with the God of the Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, due to the relevant...
similar to the Godhead Trilogy. In addition, Only Begotten Daughter refers to God as a female throughout the entire book.
...
Inverse parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
. This is a baffled scientist’s explanation for the existence of an entirely unexpected ovum
Ovum
An ovum is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule is used for the young ovum of an animal, as well as the plant structure that carries the female gametophyte and egg cell and develops into a seed after fertilization...
in Murray Katz’ latest sperm bank donation: unexpected because, as Murray himself admits, he doesn’t know many women. He lives alone in a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in Atlantic City; a Jewish hermit pushing fifty, writing a book about human nature based on evidence gleaned from a job at the local Photomat.
The result of these gathered abnormalities is Julie Katz, half-sister to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. Well-schooled in the appropriate use of her messianic
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
powers by her only visible parent (that is to say, as never as Murray can manage), Julie reaches adulthood and explores life, death, Hell and the universe on the East Coast of the modern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
She is ten years old when she meets her “mother’s oldest friend,” Mr. Wyvern; the plot thereafter is derived from the intervention of family, fun in the Absecon inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
, the guiding phantom eye of Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
Billy Milk, his fundamentalist sheep roving Atlantic City with juice jugs of milk, and the problems posed by her extra gifts. The overarching story of the book is that of a satirical theodicy
Theodicy
Theodicy is a theological and philosophical study which attempts to prove God's intrinsic or foundational nature of omnibenevolence , omniscience , and omnipotence . Theodicy is usually concerned with the God of the Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, due to the relevant...
, questioning why human beings suffer from evil and pain, and exploring the ingenuity with which we combat those conditions.
External links
- Only Begotten Daughter at Worlds Without End