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colorcrystals's review against another edition
5.0
I loved reading this book. My dad recommended it when we found it in a box with tons of his old books. It is the first Piers Anthony book I've read. It was amazing. I loved the whole concept. A guy shooting death, meeting the love of his life, and saving her from an evil plot by Satan himself, what could be better?
ksaphire's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dudderz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brentonk's review against another edition
2.0
The good: On a Pale Horse has a captivating premise: ordinary guy becomes Death incarnate, and hijinx ensue. The prose and dialogue are pretty good for mass-market science fiction.
The bad: While the world Zane (aka Death) inhabits is interesting, the plot he's sent to execute isn't. A magician has big plans for Zane, as does Satan. Said plans seem to emerge out of nowhere about a third of the way through the story, once the workaday business of harvesting and classifying souls has run out of narrative gas.
And the character development is questionable. Zane, who begins not just as an ordinary guy but really kind of a loser — we meet him as he's nearly scammed into taking on a lifetime of debt for some magical gems of dubious quality — suddenly and inexplicably becomes good at everything, and a desirable romantic partner to boot.
The ugly: Misogynistic tropes abound, all the way down to fridging. By the end it just reads like a juvenile exercise in wish fulfillment.
The bad: While the world Zane (aka Death) inhabits is interesting, the plot he's sent to execute isn't. A magician has big plans for Zane, as does Satan. Said plans seem to emerge out of nowhere about a third of the way through the story, once the workaday business of harvesting and classifying souls has run out of narrative gas.
And the character development is questionable. Zane, who begins not just as an ordinary guy but really kind of a loser — we meet him as he's nearly scammed into taking on a lifetime of debt for some magical gems of dubious quality — suddenly and inexplicably becomes good at everything, and a desirable romantic partner to boot.
The ugly: Misogynistic tropes abound, all the way down to fridging. By the end it just reads like a juvenile exercise in wish fulfillment.
caustic_wonder's review
3.0
Story was good. I always like when the main character is Death.
I just wish I hadn't listened to the author's note at the end. It was long and draining.
I just wish I hadn't listened to the author's note at the end. It was long and draining.
smashburger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pinkguin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thetofuterror's review against another edition
2.5
This book didn't age well. I liked it better when I was younger. Now I find it a bit juvenile, rambling, repetitive, and self-indulgent. The female characters are pretty one-dimensional. But the basic story premise is interesting, and the book has its moments. If it was published today, I'd give it two stars at best. But considering it came out in 1983, I'll grade on a curve and give it 2.5.