Inside Outside (novel)

Originally released in 1964, the novel explores the question of what happens before souls inhabit human bodies, and how they are created.

Jack Cull (a pun on the word "jackal") finds himself in a bizarre location called "Hell".

Cull goes to his workplace, and hears that the mysterious "X", an analogue of Jesus Christ, has been killed by an unruly mob.

Travelling into a sewer, they find out that "Hell" is in fact a massive spacecraft, controlled by hyper-moral, ultra-powerful alien beings with the means of capturing many if not most of the souls they come upon, incorporating them in immortal bodies (provided they are fed regularly).

Inside / Outside is the inspiration for Kevin Healey's song, "Automatic Prophet" (lyrics by Charlie Weber).