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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Man, this is some old-school, Zelazny-style Zelazny, here. Remarkably, I'd never read it, though over the years I've read much of his oeuvre. It has a feel that is very much of its era, and you can tell how revolutionary it was for a Sci-Fi novel in 1968. It's aged, but as you would expect it to, and the conceit is relatively brilliant.
The protagonist is a classic Zelazny character, in his voice (both literal and figurative), actions, and strategies; Sam is clearly the precursor to Corwin of Amber, Jack of Shadows, and numerous other primary characters from the Big Z.
I enjoyed it immensely.
The protagonist is a classic Zelazny character, in his voice (both literal and figurative), actions, and strategies; Sam is clearly the precursor to Corwin of Amber, Jack of Shadows, and numerous other primary characters from the Big Z.
I enjoyed it immensely.
Very rarely do I say that a book go the middle right at the expense of the beginning and end, but there ya go.
This story could have been a whole series, given the amount of story that was not told in this book. It's a fascinating read, that makes me want learn more about Hindu and Buddhist history.
Lord of Light was completely off my sci-fi radar until I started using Goodreads to come up with my own methods for coming up with new suggestions with books to read. I've been looking at both friends' and authors' selections and determining what might be right for me based off of similarities. I had only read one other Zelazny book heretofore (Damnation Alley, which I was not fond of), but two authors (credit David Brin and Mike Vasich) who I have read and have studied their reviews indicated that this one would be a good fit, both giving it five stars.
Holy crap! This is one of the best-written and most-original science fiction books I have ever read. Few people I know have read it, but I wholeheartedly recommend it. I don't think my review will do much good, so read a few of others who have read it. This book, is everything science-fiction should be.
Holy crap! This is one of the best-written and most-original science fiction books I have ever read. Few people I know have read it, but I wholeheartedly recommend it. I don't think my review will do much good, so read a few of others who have read it. This book, is everything science-fiction should be.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I tried to start this on the coach back from Newcastle and absolutely could not focus on it at all, but I had better luck once back home, and ended up quite liking it. It’s an SF classic, the story of a race of superhuman beings who have adopted the personae of the Hindu pantheon, and who turn out to be the technologically augmented crew of a crashed starship. Descendants of the passengers form the majority of planetary society, prevented from developing any significant science or tech (like, the printing press) through a deliberate program of suppression. Structurally, it’s complex—most of the book is a flashback but you don’t necessarily know that to start with, and the chapters all have an episodic, standalone feel—and it’s difficult to truly love the characters, who, perhaps because of their godlikeness, rarely feel real or rounded. It’s interesting, though. Why write this book? Why write it this way? Why Hindu gods? (Zelazny was not Hindu or Indian and the religious trappings really are trappings, disguises for the advanced tech weaponry wielded by the crew-gods.) Maybe the answer is just “the 60s”.
Another pandemic re-read for the first time in decades. One of his metaphysical wonders. This one based on Hindu gods. Long ago, a colony ship landed on a planet. Using technology, the crew made themselves gods. Sam has a problem with that and introduces Buddhism and a few other things. A deservedly respected story.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dense and spectacular in its scope, Zelazny's novel chronicles the outcome of colonists in the far future as they have destroyed or subjugated the indigenous inhabitants, set themselves up as gods based on the Indian pantheon, and created a theocracy that forbids the growth of technology among the lay populace, limiting their ability to "re-incarnate" as they see fit. In this setting, Sam, one of the first colonists who rejects his "godhood," sets his sights on overthrowing the gods and wrenching control from the elite. It helps to have at least some understanding of Indian gods and religions. But Zelazny is skilled at action and epic war. Can be read as science fiction or fantasy. Another set of books I highly recommend that is similar in scope but in the context of the Greek gods is Dan Simmons' Ilium duology.
Somehow this book is only 250 pages, but contains multitudes. It's sweeping, moving through ages of time at a delicious pace, taking the reader through world and character building in what feels like a 3-part series. We start somewhere near the middle, but then get all the backstory before making our way back to present and the 3rd act.
Zelazny packs so much into his prose, each word carries the weight of 10. A thousand. It's so remarkable and really quite a study in how to make your words count. As a writer, I really needed this lesson. He's also very funny, for a 50+ year old book, there were many laugh out loud moments for me, which I found surprising.
The story itself is a gorgeous example of religious trauma and the lengths that humans will go to, to attain power, progress, and legacy. This was on a Neil Gaiman list of recommended books ages ago and I'm glad my library was finally able to find me a copy. Loved it.
Zelazny packs so much into his prose, each word carries the weight of 10. A thousand. It's so remarkable and really quite a study in how to make your words count. As a writer, I really needed this lesson. He's also very funny, for a 50+ year old book, there were many laugh out loud moments for me, which I found surprising.
The story itself is a gorgeous example of religious trauma and the lengths that humans will go to, to attain power, progress, and legacy. This was on a Neil Gaiman list of recommended books ages ago and I'm glad my library was finally able to find me a copy. Loved it.