ROGER ZELAZNY: NOVELS TO READ THIS SUMMER!

 Hello dear readers! Roger Zelazny is perhaps* best known for his Amber series. However,  your summer break might not be long enough for you to tackle a series consisting of ten books. Series are not everyone's cup of tea, anyway.Moreover, Zelazny has written many amazing stand alone books. Today I'll recommend some of my favourite stand alone books by Roger Zelazny. 

I used the adjective *perhaps because some of Zelazny's works are quite well known. Many of his novels won a Nebula and Hugo award (some even both). This Immortal shared a Hugo award with Frank Herbert's Dune in 1966. Still, I think that The Chronicles of Amber are Zelazny's best known works. Not everyone might agree and I might not be right, but there's something about writing a successful series that ties an author's name to it. This especially seems to be the case when it comes to science fiction and fantasy series (and The Chronicles of Amber are a mix of both genres). Speaking of the devil, I've been meaning to review The Chronicles of Amber but I always find myself pressed for time.

So, what kind of novels shall I recommend today? They all fall into science fiction category, but the theme varies. A common theme to be found in Zelazny's novels is mythology (and in some sense philosophical questioning of religion).  For example, Eye of the Cat explores Navajo mythology while Lord of Light cites from Buddhist texts. 

THE STORY OF AN OUTFIT 

 OFF SHOULDER STRIPED BLUE ND WHITE PATTERN DRESS: second hand (new to me)/

BROWN LEATHER STRAPS WOOD PLATFORM SANDALS : old- 53 WAYS TO WEAR HERE/ STRAW HAT STYLED WITH A TIED SCARF hat: old/ scary on hat: second hand/ 

BROWN MINI BAG WITH GOLD DETAILS : old HERE

GOLDEN BELT: OLD (no name, came with some dress) HERE

THE LOCATION: Mostar city, BIH

EYE OF CAT 5/5

 Set in future, Eye of Cat is centered on a Navayo protagonist Billy Singer.  Larger than life protagonists are what Zelazny writes best and Billy is certainly such a character.  A novels also needs a plot. Therefore, the galaxy's most celebrated and skilled hunter, i.e our Billy Singer, find himself faced with a challenging task. I'll go into more detail into my review, but for now I can say that I really enjoyed this novel. The only downside to this novel that I can think of is that it doesn't include a cat character. In that sense, the title is somewhat misleading. On the other hand, the intelligent alien character nicknamed Cat is quite cat-like in some ways, so feline lovers needn't be too disappointed.

This novel is fairly fast paced. It doesn't take long for action to develop. Soon into the novel, the protagonist Billy is asked to use his hunting skills to protect an extremely important diplomatic mission. The kind of mission that has planets and galaxy peace at stake. Billy needs to protect somebody important from an attack of a powerful alien lady and he realizes he cannot do it alone. Billy needs the help of a telepathic metamorphic creature he captured a long time ago, mistaking him for an animal and not realizing that it was an intelligent being. The creature is not the one to forgive and forget, though. The alien is willing to help Billy but only at a price of his life- or rather having a chance to claim Billy's life. Cat agrees to help Billy protect the diplomatic mission but only if he lets Cat hunt him. Thus the hunter would become the hunted. However, Billy agrees because there is much at stake. Before the hunt and the chance of revenge, the two must work together to save the diplomatic mission. 

In some ways, Billy and Cat are much alike, both suffering from loneliness and isolation. Billy is depressed, quite possibly because he has strayed away from his Navajo roots and traditions. Billy is the last member of his family. Similarly, Cat is the last of its kind. Both are powerful but ultimately lonely and isolated individuals. I was particularly impressed with the character development in this one. The plot was well developed and kept me interested, but what really made me love this novel were the characters, the protagonist in particular. Besides Billy and Cat, there is a also a group of telepathic individual called in by the government to help with the protection of the diplomatic mission. These individuals are a big part of the story because their telepathic efforts play a quite significant role in the plot. They really get involved in the story, even risking their own lives. Furthermore, some parts of the novel are told from their point of view.

As the novel develops, its gets more and more mystical and really dives into Navajo mythology and tradition. Simultaneously, the author starts to use symbolism and poetry. Navajo traditions and tales get interwoven with the writing itself. Moreover, as the story progresses, we learn more and more about Billy. He has lost a woman he loved in a climbing accident. Billy blames himself for it. This tragedy seems to be one of the reasons why he lost connection to his Navajo identity. As Cat begins his hunt, Billy struggles to break free of his hunter and not just because Cat is extremely dangerous and skilled. In fact, the main reason is that Billy has lost his will to live. In order to save his life, Billy will have to reconnect with his Navajo identity. Will there be enough time? To find that out, you will have to read the novel yourselves. It's a great novel and well worth a read. Frankly, I think it's unfair how it is a bit underrated. The way the author handled Billy's character development was extremely skillful. Moreover, I loved learning about Navajo religion and traditions. Zelazny really made them a part of the story here. I would have liked for Cat's character to be a bit more developed, but perhaps he was intended to be clouded in mystery. 

Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was unusual and original, especially towards the end when it got really mystical. On overall, reading Eye of Cat was a fantastic experience.

THE ISLE OF THE DEAD 5/5

Published in 1969, it was nominated for Nebula award for the best novel. While The Isle of the Dead didn't win the Nebula award that year, it did win the French Prix Apollo in 1972. It is one of those science fiction novels that are worth the hype. I immensely enjoyed reading it and would recommend it (especially to the fans of this genre and writer). 

 If the title of this novel made you think of a certain painting, you're making the right connection in your head.   The title of the novel is  a reference to a famous painting (or better to say a series of paintings) by Swiss German painter Arnold Böcklin. A certain place in the novel was clearly inspired by the above mentioned painting. Moreover, the novel's protagonist Francis mentions the painting as 'that mad painting by Boecklin.' Not only does the novel itself reference the painting but it was published with art directly inspired by Arnold's work. 

The novel is narrated by Frank (Francis), a larger than life character that is slightly sarcastic and self-depreciating. As a protagonist, Francis felt very familiar. In fact, Zelazny often wrote this kind of character as the book's lead. 

The protagonist of this novel often gets philosophical. He's a rather old guy (albeit in good shape). The concept of the novel is that he is the oldest person living. 

When we meet Francis, he is resigned, living on the planet of his own and not having any intention of interacting with the rest of the universe. However, the protagonist is moved into action by a letter from a friend. This is another common motif in Zelazny's writing. His protagonists are always ready to help the damsel in distress. However, the focus of his work is usually on the protagonist, that is, a man. Don't expect too much from this female characters. He was a writer that didn't really develop the female characters. Sometimes the female characters in Zelazny's books are quite important, but they are never really developed, rather they remain shrouded in mystery.

ll in all, I found this novel to be very interesting, especially in its exploration of a protagonist that was both an agnostic and a god (of sort). I quite liked the ambiguity of this book and the question it raises. The lyrical passages were absolutely beautiful. I'm sure some of the lines are now imprinted in my head.  I'm sure fans of this writer will enjoy it. To conclude, The Isle of the Dead is a great read. 

 LORD OF LIGHT 5/5

This novel is basically a story of a human colonization of an unknown planet. A spaceship filled with human crew arrives to an untouched planed. The crew conquered the planet, labeling the intelligent life forms demons and establishing themselves as sole rulers. Their technology soon enables them to live forever and they model themselves after gods in Hinduism. Only one man stands in opposition and that man is one of the original crew. 

“His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god, but then he never claimed not to be a god.”

 Who is Sam? He is one of the original crew, a man who didn't want to be a god but managed to become one anyway. The first chapter opens with Sam being 'rescued' from nirvana (well, a sort of nirvana), but soon the story will digress to tell us more of the past. The novel isn't exactly told in linear fashion and this could be confusing to some. If you have just started this novel, please don't give up. Things become clear enough soon enough. When novels opens up, the gods have already defeated Sam once but with the help of his friends he is about to stage another revolution. 

From what I read about Roger Zelazny, he liked his mythology. From what I read from Roger Zelazny, he had not only an excellent understanding of mythology but an almost magical power to effortlessly weave it into a story. This was reflected in almost all of his writing, where Zelazny not only tapped into various mythologies, but breathed immense life and force into them. Zelazny created wonderful mythological worlds of his own fulled by the brilliant of his imagination. Lord of Light, a novel he won a Hugo award for is an excellent example of that. It tells a tale of future human society where a group of individuals has achieved immortality and a god like status. Through the use of technology, this group has achieved god like powers. All of these gods were once humans, a crew that found a planet inhabited by beings they learned to control and simply took the planet from them. These 'gods' model themselves on Hindu gods. While in different bodies, during their many lives, they gave birth to many who in turn gave birth to more, and at the time of this novel the planet is well populated. These fake gods rule over all these people, controlling the reincarnation process and basically holding the ultimate power. Until, one of them decides to rebel. Now why would one of them choose to do so? Perhaps because he never truly became one of them. He never accepted the god status. A bitter sweet kind of hero, Sam makes for a fascinating protagonist. If you're familiar with other Zelazny's hero, you're surely see some similarities in his Byronic ways. Sam is flawed, wonderfully eloquent and more sincere than he wishes to admit. I said that this planet is ruled by a group of individuals, most of them part of the original crew that discovered the planet. They imitate Hindu gods and are worshiped by planet's inhabitants whom they occasionally visit. The start of the novel is a bit confusing. If this is a Hindu world, how come Sam reached nirvana? , the protagonist of the novel was challenging the Hindu gods by introducing Buddhism to their people. Nirvana was his punishment, instead of killing him, the gods have found a way to transport Sam's mind into a state of bliss, this turning his religion of choice against him. The gods are definitely not stupid, they are more than worthy opponents to Sam and his few allies. "Who are you, man?" "I? I am nothing," replied the other. "A leaf caught in a whirlpool. A feather in the wind..." "Too bad," said Yama, "for there are leaves and feathers enough in the world for me to have labored so long only to increase their number. I wanted me a man, one who might continue a war interrupted by his absence-a man of power who could oppose with that power the will of gods. I thought you were he." "I am"-he sqinted again-"Sam. I am Sam. Once- long ago... I did fight, didn't I? Many times..." "You were the Great-Souled Sam, the Budda. Do you remember?" "Maybe I was.." a slow fire was kindled in his eyes. "Yes," he said then. "Yes, I was. Humblest of the proud, proudest of the humble. I fought. I taught the Way for a time. I fought again, taught again, tried politics, magic, poison.. I fought one great battle so terrible the sun itself hid its face from the slaughter-with men and gods, with animals and demons, with spirits of the earth and air, of fire and water, with slizzards and horses, swords and chariots-" "And you lost," said Yama. "Yes, I did, didn't I? But it was quite a showing we gave them, wasn't it? You, deathgod, were my charioteer. It all comes back to me now. We were taken prisoner and the Lords of Karma were to be our judges. You escaped them by the will-death and the Way of the Black Wheel. I could not.” At the start of novel, Sam is rescued from nirvana by his friends. Why Buddhism and not some other religion? That's an interesting question, isn't it? Sam said that it was because he didn't care for being put on a cross, but I think that is not all. It is perhaps because of the way Buddhism grew from Hinduism. It is perhaps a more smooth philosophical transition for the planet's inhabitants. Because it is a subtle religion, it is harder to fight it. If all this sounds like this novel is full of theological questions, it is because it is. Lord of Light is a philosophical kind of science fiction. It mixed technology with religion in a fascinating way. It is an intelligent and an inspired piece of writing. Never has a novel been more worthy of a Hugo award. This is science fiction at its best.

THIS IMMORTAL 5/5

THIS IMMORTAL (SERIALIZED AS ....AND CALL ME CONRAD)

Originally this novel was abridged by Zelazny and published in The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy in October and November 1965 under the title ...And Call me Conrad.  Most cuts made for the version published in installments were restored when it was published as a single novel under the title This Immortal. The author later on went to say that he preferred the original title. The novel is set in the future in which planet Earth numbers only 4 million human inhabitants and is filled with many dangers, such as mutant monsters and animals that often resemble those from Greek mythology. Earth's government is heavily influenced by an advanced alien race known as Vegans who see planet Earth as a tourist attraction.

This Immortal (aka ...And Call me Conrad) is a science fiction novel that manages to be subtly philosophical, delightfully funny and wonderfully poetical.  It's really a gem of a novel that gives an interest spin on classical science fiction theme of the first contact and the future of humanity. The mythological elements of the novel create an interesting link with human history and culture. Written from the protagonist's a point of view, this novel is set in the future in which the human race is dominated by aliens known as Vegans, a fact that obviously raises many questions. How should human react to Vegans? Should they be grateful for an introduction to this advanced life for or should they resent the power Vegans hold over them? Should they adapt to their rule or should they fight back? As the novel opens and progresses, it becomes obvious that there are opposing views on what the future should look like for planet Earth. However, I'm jumping a bit ahead. It is important to note that this novel is focused on the protagonist who is also a narrator. It is through Conrad's eyes that we see this future Earth. Only as the novel progresses, do we learn more and more about planet Earth and different groups (pro and anti-Vegan if you will). The narrator is someone who wants to see Earth free from Vegan rule, but he is also wise enough to see that things are rarely black and white. The protagonist/narrator is Conrad, a man who has lived for a very long time and is immortal for reasons unknown. Conrad's long life isn't fully explained, it might be a consequence of a mutation, something supernatural or just a mystery. There is also a possibility, hinted in the novel, that Conrad is the Greek god Pan. Like many of Zelazny's protagonist, Conrad poses super human abilities. In many ways, Conrad reminded me of Corwin from the Amber chronicles in that he is a reluctant sort of Byronic hero. Conrad is sometimes a bit wild and unpredictable, but he follows his own code of honour. Moreover, Conrad leaves the impression of inner strength from which he draws his strong charisma. All in all, a sort of narrator this interesting novel needs. 

This Immortal is not a long novel so in that sense it is quite eventful, even if the plot is pretty simple. I enjoyed the pacing of the novel, but I imagine that it could seem slow to some. There are digressions and pauses in the narrative that are not directly related to the plot, but that enable us to learn more of the protagonist/narrator. I believe this is important for the novel as the whole, because it is the narrator that carries the entire story. 

This Immortal is the kind of novel where you have to pay attention to both the story and the wording. There are many references to Greek mythology and they are all relevant for the story. The plot follows the narrator Conrad as he is forced to show an influential Vegan around planet Earth. Novel opens with Conrad being reluctant to talk abut his past with his love interest Cassandra. Conrad is then sent (by his superiors) on the Earth trip accompanying with this Vegan that claims he is writing a book on Earth history. Cassandra, like her Greek equivalent, predicts great danger and would rather keep her Conrad with her at their home. However, what must be done, must be done and Conrad realizes this. As the novel progresses, we learn more about him. 

 The plot is neither terribly developed, nor there are many subplots but what can you expect in a novel of this size? The plot is perhaps sometimes a bit predictable, but the novel is none the less interesting for it. There is an element of a mystery to the novel when attempts on the life of an influential Vegan are made. Conrad sees that there might be good  reasons why this Vegan should  be killed, but he doesn't want to allow it until he sees the bigger picture. The mystery is only revealed towards the end of the novel, up to that point, the reader mostly follows Conrad as he tries to stop assassination attempts on Vegan's life and make light of the situation. As they travel planet Earth, we as readers see more of what future holds for our planet. The future seems pretty bleak as planet Earth is in a bad shape, full of dangerous radiation spots and hardly populated at all. As pessimistic as this future view of Earth is, there are also elements of optimism in this work that hint at author's faith in the braveness of the human spirit and our ability to overcome complex difficulties. 

The mythological elements do play an important part. They enable for double reading and add complexity to this novel. Moreover, there is something of a tragic note in this work, something readers and lovers of old Greek literature will appreciate. For a reader who appreciates old Greek literature and myth, this novel with be extremely enjoyable. However, for those who care neither about Greek literature or myth, the whole mythological element might not be as interesting, taking away from reading pleasure. 

On overall, I immensely enjoyed this novel even if the plot was somewhat predictable. This Immortal would be worth reading for humour alone, even if for nothing else. It is abundant in clever lines worthy of Oscar Wilde. Nevertheless, the humour is hardly its only quality. There is a subtle tragedy to this work that reminded me of both Shakespearean tragedies and old Greek myths. The fun word puns don't take away from the seriousness of this work. As the best of science fiction, this novel questions what is essentially means to be human.  Perhaps it is  not as amazing as Zelazny's Lord of Light or The Chronicles of Amber, but then again what book is? Quite frankly, I'm amazed at how much content Zelazny managed to put in such a short work. There is mythology, psychology and action enough to keep a reader interested. A five star read for sure. A perfect choice if you're short on time, but in mood for vintage science fiction. In that sense, you cannot go wrong with this one. I definitely recommend this novel! 

A NIGHT IN LONESOME OCTOBER 5/5

Such a brilliant and unique book! The writing is simple but at the same time poetical. Narrated by a watchdog Sniff whose owner is Jack (the Ripper), the story is extremely engaging. Snuff makes for a fantastic protagonist of the novel. Right from the start, we learn that Snuff was something else prior to being 'summoned' by Jack to perform the duty of a watchdog- exactly what Snuff was is somewhat of a mystery. A demon or a mythological creature of some kind? I think this little detail Zelazny throws in right at the start makes all the difference. Snuff is very believable as a dog and it is great to follow the story from his perspective, but then when Snuff gets all poetical that makes sense too, because he is MORE than a dog. Excellent narrative choices on part of the writer there! Supposedly he was inspired by a Virginia Woolf's book written from a dog's perspective. Speaking of which, I recommend this article for more insight into 'literary references' to be found it this book:
https://lovecraftzine.com/magazine/is...

The simple but poetic narrative flows effortlessly and seeing things from a perspective of a dog makes perfect sense since all the characters in this book have animal helpers. I forgot to wrote, there are quite a few players in this novel and they are all playing a supernatural game that takes place in October and involves a magical portal of some kind. Jack is actually a good guy in this book, a guardian trying to stop the old gods returning to Earth. The humour in this novel is wonderful. I can very well imagine Zelazny chuckling while he wrote it. I can definitely see why this novel was one of his five personal favourites. If you want to read what the others are here is a link to an interview (that I recommend reading IT anyway because it's really interesting and provides a great insight into the writing process of this great writer): https://web.archive.org/web/200802160...

A Night in the Lonesome October is so filled with  literary references that I had to do some research and read a few articles to figure most of them out. Some of them were obvious to me (for example the character of Count being count Dracula or Jack being Jack the Ripper) but I need help to figure out others (such as the good doctor being doctor Frankenstein). I was so amused by the literary references and the humour of this book that it came almost a surprise to me that there was a plot- and a good one as well. Towards the end, things get more sinister (and interesting). Oh, I absolutely loved it all: the plot, the characters and the writing. A Night in the Lonesome October reminded me why I'm such a fan of Roger Zelazny's writing. I'm so happy I picked it up. 

IF AT FAUST YOU DON'T SUCCEED BY ROGER ZELANZY AND ROBERT SHECKLEY 4/5

If at Faust You Don't Succeed is a religious satire of sorts, so it might be offensive to some who are easily offended. That being said, I think it's a great novel. I do like how Roger can make fun of religious concepts but at the same time keep his writing intelligent and balanced. There is a lot of humour in this book, but it is well written and has a place within the story. Now, I'm not familiar with the other author Roger Zelazny collaborated with on this novel and that is Robert Sheckley but I believe they collaborated on some other works as well. Anyhow, their collaboration seems to be a success.  I can definitely recognize Roger’s signature touch to this story, though.


I might have a weakness for theology mixed with something else, especially when that something else is science fiction or fantasy. This novel was such a fun read. Sure, this book doesn't have the depth of the Lord of Light, but it is damn funny. It ridicules our concepts of heaven and earth and well of pretty much everything.
Faust as an old man who would do anything to eat a normal dinner and sleep with a pretty young woman is not exactly the most awe-inspiring hero but then again this is a satirical novel. There is also an anti-hero that is charming as hell- not a typical Faustian legend, is it? Where are the complexities, the inner struggle of one's soul? You won't find them with Faust. There is no great magician/alchemist/academic searching for truth but something more like most of the academics you might know: selfish, intelligent but quite close minded and egoistic. You know very human but not in the flattering sense of the word. That's the Faust of this book. You know, I think that this version ruined Goethe's Faust for me. IT is not precisely a PURE parody of it, but it does makes fun of it.

 THE AUTHOR - ROGER JOSEPH ZELAZNY (1935- 1995)

Who was Roger Zelazny?  Born in United States of America (a son of a Polish immigrant Joseph and Irish-American Josephine), Roger Zelazny was an writer of science fiction and fantasy, mostly known for his science fiction/fantasy short stories and novels. Roger Zelazny also wrote poetry and this possibly influenced his prose, for he became famous for his lyrical style of writing. During his long career, he won many awards, including 3 Nebula Awards and 6 Hugo Awards. He was nominated 14 times for the Nebula and Hugo Award. 

Thank you for reading! Take care and have a lovely day!