Flesh — Philip Jose Farmer

A starship crew returns to a primitive, post-apocalyptic -- and deadly -- Earth in this classic adventure by a Science Fiction Grand Master.

After eight centuries of exploring the stars, Space Capt. Peter Stagg and his starship crew return to Earth to find a scorched planet with little plant life remaining. Civilization has changed drastically with technology reverted to the Stone Age and culture centered on a pagan fertility cult.

Stagg soon finds himself initiated into the Elk fraternity. They graft antlers to his head, crowning him the new “Sunhero.” He is then sent on a six-month tour to repopulate the world with the help of every willing virgin. Now the crew must find a way to escape, because while the captain's journey might sound pleasurable, it will only end in pain . . . 

“A bawdy but good yarn.” -- Analog Science Fiction and Fact
“Farmer must have had lots of fun writing this because I had quite a bit reading it.” -- Locu