ID this science fiction story (part XXVIII)

Cafe Society
1

OK my turn to ask for help from the vast SDMB collective unconsciousness.

The story I vaguely remember is at least a decade old and probably more; not sure if it was a novel or something shorter. It is about a small group of astronauts or space travelers (I think) who land in a society based around a kind of rural neo-paganism (similar to Robert Graves’ ideas), with one of the highlights a midsummer sacrifice of the stag-king. One of the travelers is chosen as the new stag-king, and has actual horns surgically implanted into his skull. While the general flavor of the society is rural and agricultural, the travelers discover the horns are sophisticated bio-technology (although I think this story predates that particular term), which pump all kinds of hormones into the recipient, making him as active, strong, libidinous, and short-sighted as a good stag-king should be during his half-year of excess before midsummer. I can’t remember how the story resolves (if I did, would I be so driven to find the !%^$ thing that I’m posting here?).

Any Dopers recognize this?

While it’s kind of similar in theme, this is not Robert Grave’s *Seven Days in New Crete *(which I have read); the one I’m thinking of I recall being grounded in science not fantasy.

2

Sounds a lot like Flesh by Philip Jose Farmer.

3

I think that must be it. Nice Job, Chuck.
I didn’t remember it as great literature, but from the reviews it sounds probably not even worth digging up at the library. Interesting comparing the reviews from the 1960s (“It’s porn!”) with the one from 1997 (“There aren’t even any explicit sex scenes. Boo!”)

4

Beat me to it. Farmer was pushing the limits, back in the 1960s. Now we can be nostalgic about New Wave sf.

5

I have a copy of that. Kind of a wierd story, and sad in spots.

6

This sounded neat enough that I stopped and picked up a copy for $1.50 at my little hole-in-the-wall used bookstore today.