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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an interesting idea and I enjoy Zelazny's writing very much. The books I've read by him are quickly paced and entertaining with solid ideas. The "heroes" that are complicated in the best since of the word. They clearly struggle with their morals vs. pursuing their self interest. Indeed, they seem to be accidentally moral. That is, they stand up when they need to, but would rather prefer not to. Zelazny is able to communicate this without going through tedious pages of introspection.
In Lord of Light, there is a group of interplanetary (interstellar?) settlers who go through mutations during the trip. They use technology to augment these mutations and horde the technology not allowing future generations the same benefits. These mutations give them almost supernatural abilities, allowing the first to set themselves up as gods. The "gods" actively destroy any technological progress, no matter how small. In comes Sam, one of the original settlers who can't really be bothered with this. He was originally in good standing with the other first, and helped lead wars against "demons". Through his status as one of the first, and his inclination to just want to be left alone, he becomes a leader of a revolution against the tyranny against the gods. Along the way he makes some questionable alliances (and he's not afraid of manipulating religion along with the other first).
This is a good, solid hard sci-fi idea executed through an irreverent character. Reminds me of Robert Charles Wilson's ability to take hard sci-fi ideas, but tell the stories through characters and humanity. Despite his protestations, Sam seems to be an ultimately good person who gets dragged kicking and screaming into the job. It was a lot of fun, solid ideas, and good characters.
In Lord of Light, there is a group of interplanetary (interstellar?) settlers who go through mutations during the trip. They use technology to augment these mutations and horde the technology not allowing future generations the same benefits. These mutations give them almost supernatural abilities, allowing the first to set themselves up as gods. The "gods" actively destroy any technological progress, no matter how small. In comes Sam, one of the original settlers who can't really be bothered with this. He was originally in good standing with the other first, and helped lead wars against "demons". Through his status as one of the first, and his inclination to just want to be left alone, he becomes a leader of a revolution against the tyranny against the gods. Along the way he makes some questionable alliances (and he's not afraid of manipulating religion along with the other first).
This is a good, solid hard sci-fi idea executed through an irreverent character. Reminds me of Robert Charles Wilson's ability to take hard sci-fi ideas, but tell the stories through characters and humanity. Despite his protestations, Sam seems to be an ultimately good person who gets dragged kicking and screaming into the job. It was a lot of fun, solid ideas, and good characters.
I read all that there was of Zelazny with some friends, we passed the books around, tearing our way though them and tracking the ideas and characters. They showed up in the games we played and the way we talked about our own lives. So great.
ایدهٔ جالب و نوآورانهای داشت. فکرش را بکن که دنیای ما هم شاید اینطوری بوده ولی یکی مثل سَم بین خداها پیدا شده و بندوبساطشون رو جمع کرده. چه فکر جالبی کرده بودن اسم خداهای هندی رو روی خودشون گذاشته بودن
Very different from your standard sci-fi books. There was a lot of science but it was kind of disguised using Hinduism and Buddhism. Funny at times. Very smart. I like to be somewhat confused and have to read over parts again because it means, to me, that the book is well-written.
Someone, somewhere, said that this was Zelazny's best.
I don't know if that's true, but I liked it at least as much as I liked any of the Amber books, maybe more. So there's that.
I don't know if that's true, but I liked it at least as much as I liked any of the Amber books, maybe more. So there's that.
I decided to stop trying to read this book, because I got to page 100 without being able to understand what it's about. I have only one character in mind, whose actions seem to me devoid of reason, whose background is incomprehensible to me and who is doing something, perhaps.
I understand that you have to be a science fiction lover and that this was a Hugo prize years ago, but I am not able to appreciate it anyway.
Ho deciso di smettere di continuare a sforzarmi di leggere questo libro, perché sono arrivata a pagina 100 senza riuscire a capire di cosa parli. Ho in mente un solo personaggio, le cui azioni mi sembrano prive di ragioni, il cui background mi é incomprensibile e che sta facendo qualcosa, forse.
Io capisco che bisogna essere amanti della fantascienza e che questo é stato anni fa un premio Hugo, ma non sono in grado di apprezzarlo comunque.
I understand that you have to be a science fiction lover and that this was a Hugo prize years ago, but I am not able to appreciate it anyway.
Ho deciso di smettere di continuare a sforzarmi di leggere questo libro, perché sono arrivata a pagina 100 senza riuscire a capire di cosa parli. Ho in mente un solo personaggio, le cui azioni mi sembrano prive di ragioni, il cui background mi é incomprensibile e che sta facendo qualcosa, forse.
Io capisco che bisogna essere amanti della fantascienza e che questo é stato anni fa un premio Hugo, ma non sono in grado di apprezzarlo comunque.
Roger Zelazny is one of my favorite SF and Fantasy authors from the 70s and 80s. Lord of Light is one of my favorite books by Zelazny. Only Nine Princes in Amber tops it for me. Read this in the 80s and it blew me away. Had not encountered anything like it before. Hinduism vs Bhuddism in SciFi? What? A non-linear, narrative? Huh? Unapologetic, arrogant bastard protagonist? Really? Some of that may be commonplace now but it was a breath of fresh air at the time of it's publication. You can play this novel as a sword and sandals sci-fantasy novel or a really sophisticated hard SF story. It's also about religion and politics and freedom and other uncomfortable subjects that were par for the course in that era.
It’s a goddamn masterpiece. Some of the best prose I’ve read in all of genre fiction, ranking alongside JRR Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Ursula K Le Guin. Add to that an interesting exploration of mythology, some of the most epic battles put to word, and a set of beautifully flawed human characters who struggle in and against the roles said mythology has prescribed them, and this is a fucking great read. I need to read more Zelazny, right now.
It is a rare thing, in my experience, to have an author present a concept or an idea and then fulfill it beyond the expectations of the reader.
Lord of Light is set on another planet, a world where advanced exiles from Earth literally lord over the conquered inhabitants of their new planet in the guise of Hindu gods and goddesses. Friction within the group and the desire of one member to renounce godhood and to bring technology/science/ideas/a better life to the native inhabitants is the key conflict of the tale.
This could very easily have been plodding, formulaic, and stilted. But Zelazny managed to keep the story flowing, as he gradually builds this new world and sets his characters in movement. The character of Sam is particularly rich - flawed and fumbling, powerful and poised all at once as he lives and dies and lives again. There is a careful and human touch to all the characters.
An engrossing and beautiful read.
Lord of Light is set on another planet, a world where advanced exiles from Earth literally lord over the conquered inhabitants of their new planet in the guise of Hindu gods and goddesses. Friction within the group and the desire of one member to renounce godhood and to bring technology/science/ideas/a better life to the native inhabitants is the key conflict of the tale.
This could very easily have been plodding, formulaic, and stilted. But Zelazny managed to keep the story flowing, as he gradually builds this new world and sets his characters in movement. The character of Sam is particularly rich - flawed and fumbling, powerful and poised all at once as he lives and dies and lives again. There is a careful and human touch to all the characters.
An engrossing and beautiful read.