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elusivity 's review for:
Lord of Light
by Roger Zelazny
One of my favorite novels ever, and definitely the best of Zelazny.
This is a world where once-human immortals took on roles of Hindu gods like RPG players, using its mythology to keeping the planet's populace ignorant and low-tech in the name of maintaining stability. Their fundamental belief: Technology/knowledge = evil. If the populace wanted to keep "reincarnating" -- that is, having their consciousness transferred from one body to the next, rather than into a lower animal, an insect, or even be destroyed utterly -- they better toe the line and behave.
How to escape tyranny masquerading as religion that controls all aspects of thought and life itself? One man rebels by taking on the role of Buddha down at the grass root, dispersing Buddhist belief and thoughts, and in the process a true Buddha emerges from among his ardent followers. Conflict ensues, between the two religion, between exoteric and personal faith, between and amongst the gods, and rebellious mortals throughout the centuries.
This novel also raises several questions: Does the genuineness of a prophet matter, if he inspires true faith and emancipation? Is knowledge in essence good, even if it leads to war and strife? Can ignorance truly be bliss?
An exploration of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy set among a pseudo-historic and ultra-high technology. Excellent!
This is a world where once-human immortals took on roles of Hindu gods like RPG players, using its mythology to keeping the planet's populace ignorant and low-tech in the name of maintaining stability. Their fundamental belief: Technology/knowledge = evil. If the populace wanted to keep "reincarnating" -- that is, having their consciousness transferred from one body to the next, rather than into a lower animal, an insect, or even be destroyed utterly -- they better toe the line and behave.
How to escape tyranny masquerading as religion that controls all aspects of thought and life itself? One man rebels by taking on the role of Buddha down at the grass root, dispersing Buddhist belief and thoughts, and in the process a true Buddha emerges from among his ardent followers. Conflict ensues, between the two religion, between exoteric and personal faith, between and amongst the gods, and rebellious mortals throughout the centuries.
This novel also raises several questions: Does the genuineness of a prophet matter, if he inspires true faith and emancipation? Is knowledge in essence good, even if it leads to war and strife? Can ignorance truly be bliss?
An exploration of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy set among a pseudo-historic and ultra-high technology. Excellent!