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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
A quick read for book group. Which strangely enough I read after reading Lord of Light by mistake. So I got to do some compare and contrast. Definitely more readable than Lord of Light. But also less impressive. I don't see this as a hugo award winner, which it was. I have read a bunch of Zelazny both novels and short stories, but it has been years. But I wasn't impressed with this. It was interesting and had ideas which would have made for intriguing books but that's really not what he wrote in this one. Instead there were some funny lines and adventure and violence. It was okay. But not exceptional.
Never having read Roger Zelazny before, I had no idea what I was in for with this novel. The plot is relatively straightforward. Conrad Nomikos, lives and works on the nuclear war devastated planet Earth, working behind the scenes to preserve what is left of it's treasures. He receives an assignment to lead a Vegan, a blue skinned alien, on a tour of different Earth sites. Supposedly the higly influential Vegan, Cort Mystigo, is writing a book about the unique features of a planet that is largely unknown to his kind. Members of the Radpol, the reigning administrative body of Earth, think otherwise.
Certain members of the tour group have orders from Radpol to carry out the assassination because it is believed that the Vegans are plotting to use the Earth as a sort of resort. Certain human elements in the so-called "Returnist" movement violently oppose this move and its assumed attendant exploitation of human workers. Conrad uncovers a plot to kill the Vegan, a move that he believes will spell disaster for humankind. He set about protecting Mystigo at any cost.
The language Zelazny used is quite fun, a blend of archaic, elegiac prose and ordinary contemporary lingo. The Earth is now host to numerous, often-grotesque mutant species, brought about by the cobalt bombs that were detonated in the disastrous Three Days. References to ancient Greek literature and mythology abound (Conrad is native to mainland Greece). Even his wife, who is aptly named Cassandra, is something of prophetess, although true to Greek tradition, Conrad dismisses her dreams and warnings.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the more literate sci-fi/fantasy novel.
Certain members of the tour group have orders from Radpol to carry out the assassination because it is believed that the Vegans are plotting to use the Earth as a sort of resort. Certain human elements in the so-called "Returnist" movement violently oppose this move and its assumed attendant exploitation of human workers. Conrad uncovers a plot to kill the Vegan, a move that he believes will spell disaster for humankind. He set about protecting Mystigo at any cost.
The language Zelazny used is quite fun, a blend of archaic, elegiac prose and ordinary contemporary lingo. The Earth is now host to numerous, often-grotesque mutant species, brought about by the cobalt bombs that were detonated in the disastrous Three Days. References to ancient Greek literature and mythology abound (Conrad is native to mainland Greece). Even his wife, who is aptly named Cassandra, is something of prophetess, although true to Greek tradition, Conrad dismisses her dreams and warnings.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the more literate sci-fi/fantasy novel.
May 2012
A reread. Lyrical, whimsical, deadly serious. A feel good novel with assassins, earthquakes, cannibals, set in a post-apocalyptic world, where dismantling the pyramids can be seen as art AND rebellion. (15-06-04)
A reread. Lyrical, whimsical, deadly serious. A feel good novel with assassins, earthquakes, cannibals, set in a post-apocalyptic world, where dismantling the pyramids can be seen as art AND rebellion. (15-06-04)
I don't know what took me so long to read Zelazny, but it was the Dickheads podcast series on the Hugo winners of the 60's that got me to finally do this. You see this book shared the 1966 Hugo award for best science fiction novel. I will have more detailed thoughts when we record the podcast. When that is released I will add it to this review.
Thanks to the shared award with Dune it is impossible not to compare the two. That is really too bad because no science fiction novel should have to be compared to one of the greatest masterpieces of the genre. I don't know what voters were thinking about this year but This Immortal does not hold a candle to Dune not then or ever. Is it better than some of the others that won that decade? Sure This Immortal is sneaky weird, and I think some of the merits of the novel are easy to miss. I mean this novel is certainly better than Fritz Lieber's The Wanderer but it came out the same year as Dune.
I mean Shawshank Redemption didn't win shit at the Oscars thanks to Forrest Gump coming out the same year, it happens.
I was not a huge fan of this book, to be honest, but that could've been that I just re-read Dune for this same series. There is a lot of cool stuff in this story. Taking place decades after a three-day war and decades-long occupation by aliens that came from Vega. That sets up all kinds of unintentional humor as the aliens are referred to as Vegans. In one sense it is cool that RZ had them coming from a real star you can see on any clear night but why would their species go by the name we have for their star?
The story is about a Vegan who wants a tour of the earth ruins so he can write a history of our species. Spies from many different worlds, assassins, mutants, genetically engineered monsters, and plenty of action. I think there are lots of classical references that went straight over my head. Some of my favorite moments came when you saw RZ stretch his imagination some of the descriptions the vegans or the alien landscapes.
This is short read so I think it is important for completionists and serious students of the genre but I am not sure I would recommend it for general readers. More thoughts coming on the podcast.
Thanks to the shared award with Dune it is impossible not to compare the two. That is really too bad because no science fiction novel should have to be compared to one of the greatest masterpieces of the genre. I don't know what voters were thinking about this year but This Immortal does not hold a candle to Dune not then or ever. Is it better than some of the others that won that decade? Sure This Immortal is sneaky weird, and I think some of the merits of the novel are easy to miss. I mean this novel is certainly better than Fritz Lieber's The Wanderer but it came out the same year as Dune.
I mean Shawshank Redemption didn't win shit at the Oscars thanks to Forrest Gump coming out the same year, it happens.
I was not a huge fan of this book, to be honest, but that could've been that I just re-read Dune for this same series. There is a lot of cool stuff in this story. Taking place decades after a three-day war and decades-long occupation by aliens that came from Vega. That sets up all kinds of unintentional humor as the aliens are referred to as Vegans. In one sense it is cool that RZ had them coming from a real star you can see on any clear night but why would their species go by the name we have for their star?
The story is about a Vegan who wants a tour of the earth ruins so he can write a history of our species. Spies from many different worlds, assassins, mutants, genetically engineered monsters, and plenty of action. I think there are lots of classical references that went straight over my head. Some of my favorite moments came when you saw RZ stretch his imagination some of the descriptions the vegans or the alien landscapes.
This is short read so I think it is important for completionists and serious students of the genre but I am not sure I would recommend it for general readers. More thoughts coming on the podcast.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This short novel is packed with action. The prose is surprisingly rich and the characters are mostly well-drawn and easy to remember - there aren't many, but each is distinct from the others. I appreciated the blend of past (references to historical events as well as Greek mythology) and futuristic ideas. Despite being over 50 years old, this book has aged very well.
Puanım 4/5 (%82/100)
Kitap ile ilgili özeti arka kapakta ve birçok yerde bulabileceğiniz için o kısmı atlayıp direk geçiyorum incelemeye. 4 puan vermeyi düşünürken son birkaç sayfa beni 4.5 hatta neredeyse 5 vermeye itti. İtiraf edeyim ilk 40-50 sayfa biraz ağır işliyor ve kafa karıştırıcı. Bu da in medias res adlı teknikten kaynaklanıyor. Bu teknik ile hikaye her şeyin ortasından bir anda başlıyor. Ana kahraman kim, bahsedilen kişiler kim veya bu yerler neresi, neredeyse hiçbir şeyi öğrenmiyoruz. Yine de kitap bir şekilde sizi içine alıyor. Fakat şöyle bir şey var ki yine de ana karakterimiz ve bu dünya ile ilgili birçok şeyi öğrenmiyoruz. Gizemlerle dolu bir kitap fakat şöyle bir güzelliği var; mitolojik elementler bol olduğu için teoriye üretmeye de açık. Bu şekilde birçok şeyi tahmin edebiliyorsunuz yazarın bıraktığı ufak tefek ipuçlarından. Şimdi genel şeylerden bahsettiğime göre okurken çok gözüme çarpan ve beni merak ettiren bir şeyden bahsedeyim.
Mitolojik elementler bol diye söylemiştim yukarıda. Neil Gaiman dışında mitolojik elementleri bilim-kurgu ve fantastik tarzı türden bir kitaba bu kadar doğal bir şekilde işleyebileni görmedim. Kendi varlığını hissettiren fakat hiçbir zaman gözünüze sokulmayan birçok mitolojik ve tarihi karakterden, yerden bahsediliyor. Kitabın en sevdiğim özelliği de bu özellikler oldu. Gelelim asıl bahsetmek istediğim şeye. Ana karakterimiz ölümsüz olan fakat hakkında çok çok az bildiğimiz birisi. Fakat hikaye boyunca ipuçlarını toplayarak kendisinin Yunan mitolojisindeki Pan olabileceğine karar verdim. (Bazı kaynaklarda Tanrı olarak da geçer.) Yunan olması, iki gözünün farklı renk olması, kaval çalması, doğumundaki fiziksel görünüşü, satirlerle arasının iyi olması, davranışları ve konuşması olsun ufak tefek ipuçları serpiştirilmiş ve kitabın sonuna yaklaştıkça Conrad'ın Pan olduğuna inandım. Hatta kitabın sonuna doğru bir karakter Conrad için "Sen belki de sadece ölü taklidi yapmış olan Büyük Tanrı Pan'sın." bile diyor. Bunun dışında keşfedilecek ve üzerine teori kurulacak birçok şey buldum. Tek kelimeyle mükemmel bir kitap olmuş.
"Demek istediğim şu ki, insanlık karanlıklardan doğrulurken inanılmaz yaratıkların efsanelerini, mitlerini ve anılarını beraberinde getirdi. Şimdi gerisingeri aynı karanlığa gömülüyoruz. Yaşam gücümüz yavaşlıyor ve güvenilmezleşiyor ve uzun zamandır silik ırksal anılar olarak süregelmiş asal formlara bir dönüş yaşıyoruz."
Kitap ile ilgili özeti arka kapakta ve birçok yerde bulabileceğiniz için o kısmı atlayıp direk geçiyorum incelemeye. 4 puan vermeyi düşünürken son birkaç sayfa beni 4.5 hatta neredeyse 5 vermeye itti. İtiraf edeyim ilk 40-50 sayfa biraz ağır işliyor ve kafa karıştırıcı. Bu da in medias res adlı teknikten kaynaklanıyor. Bu teknik ile hikaye her şeyin ortasından bir anda başlıyor. Ana kahraman kim, bahsedilen kişiler kim veya bu yerler neresi, neredeyse hiçbir şeyi öğrenmiyoruz. Yine de kitap bir şekilde sizi içine alıyor. Fakat şöyle bir şey var ki yine de ana karakterimiz ve bu dünya ile ilgili birçok şeyi öğrenmiyoruz. Gizemlerle dolu bir kitap fakat şöyle bir güzelliği var; mitolojik elementler bol olduğu için teoriye üretmeye de açık. Bu şekilde birçok şeyi tahmin edebiliyorsunuz yazarın bıraktığı ufak tefek ipuçlarından. Şimdi genel şeylerden bahsettiğime göre okurken çok gözüme çarpan ve beni merak ettiren bir şeyden bahsedeyim.
"Onlara Karakancolos denir, ideal olarak, o keçi ayaklı ve boynuzlu karakterler gibi olmaları beklenir ama bu şart değildir. Benim gibi de görünebilirler, diye karar vermiş annemle babam- eğer benim annemle babam idiyseler."
Mitolojik elementler bol diye söylemiştim yukarıda. Neil Gaiman dışında mitolojik elementleri bilim-kurgu ve fantastik tarzı türden bir kitaba bu kadar doğal bir şekilde işleyebileni görmedim. Kendi varlığını hissettiren fakat hiçbir zaman gözünüze sokulmayan birçok mitolojik ve tarihi karakterden, yerden bahsediliyor. Kitabın en sevdiğim özelliği de bu özellikler oldu. Gelelim asıl bahsetmek istediğim şeye. Ana karakterimiz ölümsüz olan fakat hakkında çok çok az bildiğimiz birisi. Fakat hikaye boyunca ipuçlarını toplayarak kendisinin Yunan mitolojisindeki Pan olabileceğine karar verdim. (Bazı kaynaklarda Tanrı olarak da geçer.) Yunan olması, iki gözünün farklı renk olması, kaval çalması, doğumundaki fiziksel görünüşü, satirlerle arasının iyi olması, davranışları ve konuşması olsun ufak tefek ipuçları serpiştirilmiş ve kitabın sonuna yaklaştıkça Conrad'ın Pan olduğuna inandım. Hatta kitabın sonuna doğru bir karakter Conrad için "Sen belki de sadece ölü taklidi yapmış olan Büyük Tanrı Pan'sın." bile diyor. Bunun dışında keşfedilecek ve üzerine teori kurulacak birçok şey buldum. Tek kelimeyle mükemmel bir kitap olmuş.
5/5 Stars (%88/100)
I've read the Turkish edition before and absolutely loved it. I believe it was my first book by Zelazny. Now that I'm reading it in the original language and that I know Zelazny's style, I can appreciate it even more. I admit it is still not as good as Lord of Light but man that book is phenomenal.
This Immortal revolves around a mysterious named man Conrad Nomikos who has an interesting past he rather not talk about and he is apparently the Art Commissioner of Earth. An alien comes to Earth and Conrad is his guide. However, everything changes when someone tries to assassinate the alien and Conrad saves him.
Conrad's character is brilliant in my opinion. Zelazny himself also admits that he is like a prototype for Sam from Lord of Light meaning he is both supernatural and well ordinary. The identity of Conrad is an ambiguity in the book. He might Great God Pan or a kallikantzaros (a type of goblin) or none of them or both, we don't know and that's the beauty of it. There are a lot of things going on in the story but you can't help but wonder about Conrad's true identity. The ending of the book is also brilliant. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone.
I've read the Turkish edition before and absolutely loved it. I believe it was my first book by Zelazny. Now that I'm reading it in the original language and that I know Zelazny's style, I can appreciate it even more. I admit it is still not as good as Lord of Light but man that book is phenomenal.
This Immortal revolves around a mysterious named man Conrad Nomikos who has an interesting past he rather not talk about and he is apparently the Art Commissioner of Earth. An alien comes to Earth and Conrad is his guide. However, everything changes when someone tries to assassinate the alien and Conrad saves him.
Conrad's character is brilliant in my opinion. Zelazny himself also admits that he is like a prototype for Sam from Lord of Light meaning he is both supernatural and well ordinary. The identity of Conrad is an ambiguity in the book. He might Great God Pan or a kallikantzaros (a type of goblin) or none of them or both, we don't know and that's the beauty of it. There are a lot of things going on in the story but you can't help but wonder about Conrad's true identity. The ending of the book is also brilliant. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone.
"This Immortal" tied with "Dune" for the 1966 Hugo for best novel. Who knew?
While "Dune" is a lengthy, dense, sequel-spawning juggernaut, "This Immortal" is a relatively short story based around an interesting premise. So, not really comparable.
Well written, with a humorous protagonist, it reminded me more of Zelazny's "Lord of Light" which I loved, and less of "Nine Princes in Amber", which I didn't.
While "Dune" is a lengthy, dense, sequel-spawning juggernaut, "This Immortal" is a relatively short story based around an interesting premise. So, not really comparable.
Well written, with a humorous protagonist, it reminded me more of Zelazny's "Lord of Light" which I loved, and less of "Nine Princes in Amber", which I didn't.
It was kind of difficult at the start to get used to the narrative: Fluid but with blank places, never seeming to have a pause, characters that usually told everything between lines, perfect timing and definitely even if interesting this book didn't age well (hah).
But was quite pleasant anyway.
I enjoyed the brutal fights and the way mythology of old ages came to live again.
I'll add Zelazny to my to-read repertory.
But was quite pleasant anyway.
I enjoyed the brutal fights and the way mythology of old ages came to live again.
"Do you not see a convergence of life and myth, here, during the last days of life on this planet?"
I'll add Zelazny to my to-read repertory.
This SF road story with mythic elements was lucky enough to share the 1966 Hugo award with Frank Herbert's [b:Dune|234225|Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)|Frank Herbert|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434908555s/234225.jpg|3634639]. I have read that it is not as good as Dune, nor Zelazny's other Hugo winner, [b:Lord of Light|13821|Lord of Light|Roger Zelazny|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330127327s/13821.jpg|1011388], but this is a good read.
Starts off in confusion, but that is to be expected with a main character who is immortal and the victim of evil rumors - or are they true? Many of these elements are not completely cleared up, but the main narrative definitely is. Zelazny's characters have solid motivations and personalities, interacting to form a great narrative. The character least detailed and most alien is... the blue alien (and member of the earth's overlords) being escorted around parts of a post-apocalyptic earth.
Before this I have only read short stories by [a:Roger Zelazny|3619|Roger Zelazny|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207671346p2/3619.jpg], though the Chronicles of Amber sat on my shelf for many years. At the time, I think I was leery of diving into a 10 volume series. I read this as part of a 1960s reading challenge, and it was quite good for having come out 50 years ago. 3½ stars.
Starts off in confusion, but that is to be expected with a main character who is immortal and the victim of evil rumors - or are they true? Many of these elements are not completely cleared up, but the main narrative definitely is. Zelazny's characters have solid motivations and personalities, interacting to form a great narrative. The character least detailed and most alien is... the blue alien (and member of the earth's overlords) being escorted around parts of a post-apocalyptic earth.
Before this I have only read short stories by [a:Roger Zelazny|3619|Roger Zelazny|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207671346p2/3619.jpg], though the Chronicles of Amber sat on my shelf for many years. At the time, I think I was leery of diving into a 10 volume series. I read this as part of a 1960s reading challenge, and it was quite good for having come out 50 years ago. 3½ stars.