Reviews

Creatures of Light and Darkness by Roger Zelazny

nlord's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

jax_hughes's review against another edition

3.0

I don't actually know how I felt about this book. It's a mess, but I liked it? Would I tell others to run out and go read it? No.
However, I would recommend people at least read the first chapter, as it's a interesting analysis of what it means to exist.

torquenator's review against another edition

3.0

This was a re-read from high school, its even weirder than I remember. Interesting story with more political messaging than I remember.

catliongiraffe's review against another edition

1.0

It’s written well, Just not what I was looking for in the moment.

DNF at 49%.

kamja's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

robotswithpersonality's review against another edition

Trippy. Follows a fairly traditional path for mythology: violent, power-hungry male gods intermarrying and jockeying for position, females can only scheme or be victimized on the sidelines. I fear the sci fi embellishments are decorative rather than purposeful. Had enough plot for a short story, poetic/psychedelic language blew it up to novella proportions. 🤷🏼‍♂️ ⚠️ body horror, suicide, torture, mention of incest, SA, fatphobia, misogyny 

peapod_boston's review against another edition

3.0

Zelazny wrote "Creatures of Light and Darkness" as an exercise, never intending to publish it. He was apparently convinced to do so by his editor and Samuel Delaney (hence the dedication). It is a book, I think, for Zelazny completists. To unconventional to appeal to typical readers and certainly not for fans of Amber--despite the war of gods and powers it portrays. The characters are both complex and barely painted. The systems at work are only hinted at. But neither of those were is point. It is a playground of perspective and language from a master of prose. It deserves to be preserved if only for such gems as:

"The Steel General, who has dismounted, stands before [redacted to prevent spoilers] like an iron statue at ten o'clock on a summer evening with no moon....and his voice is a thing of such beauty that one could listen to it for years."

"The focus of the fugue has become this moment of intensity, and they clash with a force that sends widening ripples of change outward through the universe, rising, diminishing, gone by, as Time once more tricks history around events."

"And [redacted] awaken to a sound of laughter that is like the singing wind."

As with many of his books, "Creatures of Light and Darkness" is a short but rewarding read.

stitch_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lilly_hartnett's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

2.75

camilla's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes