The Transformation of Miss Mavis Ming

The version I read of this short novel was called A Messiah at the End of Time. Readers not familiar with Moorcock's End of Time world might be at loss, but there is enough wild invention and nutty plotting to keep anyone entertained. This also brings back the character of the Fireclown from a 1965 novel. That early novel is far from one of Moorcock's best and the character was an weird concoction of nihilist and insane visionary who had literally been to the center of the sun. Since that time has has spent the millennia traveling the Multiverse -- again at least of passing knowledge of Moorcock's oeuvre would come in handy here -- and has landed in the hedonistic world of the End of Time with a message of salvation no one really has any interest in.

But then there is Mavis. Mavis Ming is an early time traveler from the 21st century and something of bore to the sophisticates surrounding her. Returning is not an option. Time travel is for the most part a one way trip, and you get the impression that the scientists in the early days of time travel chose their teammate Mavis as a subject because they really didn't care if she never came back. She is overweight, vacuous, and largely oblivious to the effect she has on those around her, But here is this shrunken clown from outer space who is obsessed with her and will do anything to make her his own for all eternity.

The plot is crazy and funny but also shows more than any of the End of Time stories just how cruel these final representatives of the human race can be. Many reader reviews mention with discomfort the flagellation scene the unites Mavis and the clown, but this Sadean sidebar is in the grand, arch tradition of Moorcock's storytelling. Other End of Time stories involve casual incest and characters posing as children to attract the sexual attentions of a recalcitrant potential lover. The whole setup is as kinky as it gets. And the Fireclowns whipping of Mavis does bring on an appearance of the Holy Grail, so I guess it can't be all bad.