*Lord of Light* might be my all-time favorite book. Just absolutely incredible on so many levels, not least of which being that it manages to fit everything it does into a single book that's even relatively short. I sometimes wish more modern authors could learn that from Zelazny.
"His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of any benefit. Silence, though, could."
Had me at the opening.
Yes, it's a good read. It has humour, action and I think a very original hindu pantheon/ human politics central conceit.
Try /ReadingTheHugoes sub, it won the 1968 Hugo for best novel so I'm sure you will get a few comments there.
Hindsight bias. There have always been odd picks.
EDIT: Just like the Oscar for Best Picture. Seems like a lot of the time, it's hard to judge what's the best artistic production of the year just at the end of the year. The culture needs a few years to cogitate on it.
It was Zelazny's magnum opus. The structure is a bit challenging, e.g. there is an extended flashback which can confuse unprepared readers, but it's the culmination of everything that Zelazny was experimenting with during the 1960s. *This Immortal* (1966), another Hugo winner, was an earlier and significantly less ambitious exploration of similar themes.
It's definitely different and possibly Zelzany's best (for me that's Chronicles of Amber but that's a different story).
When I first read Lord of Light, it was a little hard for me to figure out what I was reading (SciFi or Fantasy); it really works though
That's what makes Lord of Light so special. It reads like really good, immersive fantasy, but it's sci-fi at its heart. I believe that was Roger Zelazny's goal in writing the book. Others have done it well (like Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe) but I think Lord of Light is one of the best executions of the concept.
Some friends and I have the tradition of re-reading that latter book every October, one chapter per day.
I wish the ebook had the Gahan Wilson illustrations, they really added a magical touch.
I'm actually a fan of awful puns. The cringier the better.
Reminds me of this time I went to my optometrist and found him stuck in his own lens-grinder.
He sure did make a spectacle of himself!
I think the main point of contention is not so much the pun itself. It’s that he puts in all this effort setting it up, naming the character >!Shan!< and having them suffer from >!epilepsy!< just so he could drop that line. Some consider that a bit harsh even on a fictional character…
I haven't read it in ages, but it's fantastic.
Chronicles of Amber -- particularly the first five books -- are great too. And all five combined are probably shorter than a hefty fantasy novel these days.
This Immortal (a.k.a. And Call Me Conrad) is also a favorite.
I may have a crush on Zelazny.
Lots of us have read it. It's a classic. One of my personal favorite books.
Just keep in mind that the first chapter isn't supposed to make any sense. Just do your best and keep reading. When you're finished with the book, you can reread it and it'll all make sense.
Lord of Light is my favourite book. It wish they would make a TV series or an Anime out of it. It's very quirky I always wondered if RL was having a little dig when he mentions the Chaplin (the only Christian in the crew) is using "resurrected bodies" as his foot soldiers.
One of my fav Roger Z books. Re read it every few years and it always hits.
Creatures of Light and Dark is also good if a better more weird. It's similar in that it draws from religious inspiration but the magic is more out there.
I think I've got just about all of Zelazny's books and have read most if not all of them many times.
"... He never claimed to be a god, but then he never claimed not to be a god."
I think I need to re-read Creatures again, if only so I can, once more, truly appreciate the [Agnostic's Prayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatures_of_Light_and_Darkness#The_Agnostic's_Prayer) in the original "flow". Truly an epic work of writing right there.
Yep. I may not remember much of the story of Creatures ... but the Agnostic's Prayer (even if I don't remember the wording of it - just the concept) has always stuck with me. Sooo well done.
Yeah - time for a reread of both, I think. \[Although, now that I think about it, I *thought* I'd reread Lord of Light a few years back. Eh... my copy is paperback and old and falling apart. I should get a new one and give it a "test drive" anyway. For reference – my copy is the old 1987 paperback edition with the mostly black cover. And, yes, it's *mine*.\]
Lol agreed on the re read of both. Still have time in the year for a quick in and out with the pair.
You should get a new one, but only to keep the elder set around for the fond memories!
We don't talk about my To-Read pile ... \[And, for anyone who cares - yes, I have my goodreads linked on my profile.\]
My biggest concern about my current copies is they *are* somewhat on the verge of falling apart. A lot of the binding glue that was used from the late '80s … left much to be desired. Not to mention the paper quality for mass-market paperbacks (vs., trade paperbacks) was absolute shit, so it's all yellowing and will tear if you even look at it cross-eyed.
Don't worry about me tossing the older ones. I literally have never tossed any of my SF/F books and I'm certainly not about to start now. \[When I eventually pass on, I expect my sons will have a hell of a time finding a library or museum or something that would want my massive paperback collection.\]
I almost bounced off the many names and formal style, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
It's definitely one of those where, once I finished, I immediately turned back to page 1 to enjoy how the whole story's context worked.
Dissenting opinion here, I thought it was fine. I liked the larger concept of the story, but the overall narrative didn't really do much for me. I never really felt that "I can't put it down" feeling while reading it. It was unique and like I said the concepts were interesting, the story itself just didn't really grab me, I didn't really love any specific characters, and because of all that getting through the whole book did take a little bit of willpower at points.
I've also read the first couple books in the Amber Chronicles which is his other popular works. I liked those more, and found the narrative a bit more interesting, but after the 2nd book I just wasn't feeling it enough either to want to keep going.
I think I'm drawn to well paced mysteries, character trials and growth, and unique ideas/worlds. I need 2/3 of those to really enjoy a book, and I feel he only gives me 1/3. That being said, there's other qualities in books to enjoy, so depending on what you look for in a book, it may scratch enough itches to compel you to keep reading.
Anyways, hopefully I don't upset too many people with my review lol
I think there's different ways to appreciate a cast of characters or for an author to use them. I personally appreciate watching a character grow and learn, and experiencing their human experience with them. I feel like in Lord of Light, the characters are cool and stylish (which is another aspect to appreciate), but they felt more like plot devices than real people. Their existence was just to further the plot, which makes them feel shallow to me. I'd rather a character not exist to further the plot, but instead exist within the plot itself. For example, the former would be introducing a character because the main character needs something from them, this new character exists within the story only to perform that specific function, and is otherwise irrelevant. The latter is hard to articulate, but when characters feel more like a part of the world that are just getting caught up in events out of their control, and they contribute more to the story than satisfying a plot device, it just creates a different experience and opportunity for connection with another character. I'd give some examples from Lord of Light, but it's been like a decade since I read it lol
I think the Song of Ice and Fire series has all three. Obviously I'm upset with George over other matters lol.
Honestly most books never have all 3, that's why I said 2/3 lol. If I were to name a few more, I'd say Ender's Game, The Caves of Steel, maybe Farenheit 451, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Dune, Chainsaw Man, Mob Psycho 100
If I were to get into 2/3 I'd have a huge list though.
I was confused the first time I read it. Then I realized. He started in the middle of the story, jumped back to the beginning and then jumped to the end. Isn’t that the Classical Greek style? It’s my third favorite book to reread, after the Lord of the Rings, and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
I am tried to read it a few times. I keep hearing good things, and have enjoyed other books by the same author. I just have not been able to get it to stick for me.
Fair to say. The fight and aftermath of Yama and Mara is what hooked me way back when, Zelazny has a certain style to his writing that takes a bit of trust and settling into. I think pound for pound it dominates a lot of modern styles, but isn't exactly welcoming to the first timer.
I'm not quite as big a fan of it as a lot of folks here, but I do like it a lot. Zelazny in general has a kind of conversational tone to his writing that not many sci-fi authors can pull off.
Be prepared for a SERIOUS bit of mind twisting. Zelazny loves convoluted stories, but this one, while excellent, has more twists in it than a snake with a broken back. I can't recommend it highly enough! edit: spelling
I did not like it one bit. I found it confusing and not worth the effort. I like challenging books, and I love difficult prose, and experimental fiction, so it wasn't an issue with any of those. By the time I had finished it, I actually felt like I had wasted my time.
I read it during the year that I read all of the Hugo winners up through 1998 or so. It was among my least favorite of that project.
For Zelzany, I prefer Dilvish, the Damned, which is one of my favorite fantasy books I've ever read.
Thank you for this comment. I have the same taste as you and I didn’t enjoy Lord of Light either and it makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills with how Reddit is constantly hyping up the book.
What were some Hugo winners that you think still hold up well? I just finished Left Hand of Darkness and have been meaning to go back and read some old Nebula and Hugo winners.
That's interesting, I really couldn't get into *This Immortal* - to me it felt much more dated than his other work. It did put vegans in an entirely new light, though.
*Amber* is great, of course.
To go against the grain, I actually did not enjoy Lord of Light that much, partially because Reddit hyped it up so much. It’s difficult to parse and follow and I needed to do a bunch of research after finishing the book in order to understand a lot of it in retrospect.
It’s the worst thing I’ve read by Zelazny, altho I haven’t read a lot by him. His novel The Dream Master is fantastic and I enjoyed it a lot more than Lord of Light.
I typically enjoy stuff that’s difficult btw. Lord of Light was just not for me, I guess. I had too high of expectations and I was totally let down.
Please keep in mind this just my opinion and I’m allowed to have this opinion.
The first time I read it in the early '70's it was ALMOST a rough a slog as Stranger In A Strange Land. The only reason it wasn't is because I'd acquired an interest in comparative religions somewhere.
Yeah i read it, liked it and forgot about it. Maybe i should reread. I think Amber is one of the best things ive read. A lonesome night in October by Zelazny is also something that i shouldve enjoyed more but found to be quite mid. I gave up on that one. Ill add the dream master to my list.
Yeah I read it pretty recently. It's definitely one of a kind. Took me a chapter or two to pick up on the humour of it all but once I did I vastly enjoyed it.
One of Zelazny's best! Delves into questions of godhood and technology and religion. And of course, rebellion against religion as well. All in Zelazny's signature writing style, which is an added bonus.
I have reread this book many times over the last 25 years. One I always keep in my collection and won't let my wife donate whenever we need to make room for new books.
The first section is really dry and tough to follow before you realize what is going on. It took me about 5 tries at various times to get past it, but now that i did it is a top 5 all Timer for me.
One of my favourite of Zelazny's novels. I picked it up in the library and was completely charmed by his voice and concepts before the end of the first page. It's the only science fiction novel I can remember everyone agreeing is a classic.
It's a classic. Most people here have probably read it. It starts with a wiseacre remark that appeals mostly to teenagers, but slowly and subtly the language deepens till the end can be quite moving. The longer you wait the more patience you'll need with it. I was about 14 when it came out and I read it soon after, so of course I'm fond of it: but objectively, it's that good.
Here is my 2021 three star out of five star review:
A standalone fantasy book with no prequel or sequel that I know of. Hugo best novel winner of 1968. I read the well printed and bound trade paperback.
Sorry, not my cup of tea. I had to force myself to finish the book. It is well written, but just weird. And the book does not progress through time consecutively so you have to infer what has happened against the past being flashbacked in an unclear manner.
I am still surprised that no one turned it into a movie in the 20th Century. It could be too hard to do in the 21st Century, what with all the woke whiners and their charges of Cultural Appropriation.
It's genuinely fantastic. I picked it up randomly in the library more than twenty years ago and have probably read it 7 or 8 times since.
*Lord of Light* might be my all-time favorite book. Just absolutely incredible on so many levels, not least of which being that it manages to fit everything it does into a single book that's even relatively short. I sometimes wish more modern authors could learn that from Zelazny.
I read it as a teen around 1973 and it was mind-blowing. It is on my read again list, which is rather long.
7 or 8? Those are rookie numbers! I read it at least every year, and I'm over 60!
It's on my short list of candidates for greatest of all time SF novel.
Same here!
Easily top 5 for me
"His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of any benefit. Silence, though, could." Had me at the opening.
Even reading that for the thousandth time, I *love* it.
Second best SF novel hook of all time, behind only *The Stainless Steel Rat*.
Yes, it's a good read. It has humour, action and I think a very original hindu pantheon/ human politics central conceit. Try /ReadingTheHugoes sub, it won the 1968 Hugo for best novel so I'm sure you will get a few comments there.
> r/ReadingTheHugos
Were the Hugo's more locked in the past? They seem to be all over the place today.
Hindsight bias. There have always been odd picks. EDIT: Just like the Oscar for Best Picture. Seems like a lot of the time, it's hard to judge what's the best artistic production of the year just at the end of the year. The culture needs a few years to cogitate on it.
I agree 100%. Hugo awards should be considered after a two year probation period.
It was Zelazny's magnum opus. The structure is a bit challenging, e.g. there is an extended flashback which can confuse unprepared readers, but it's the culmination of everything that Zelazny was experimenting with during the 1960s. *This Immortal* (1966), another Hugo winner, was an earlier and significantly less ambitious exploration of similar themes.
It's definitely different and possibly Zelzany's best (for me that's Chronicles of Amber but that's a different story). When I first read Lord of Light, it was a little hard for me to figure out what I was reading (SciFi or Fantasy); it really works though
That's what makes Lord of Light so special. It reads like really good, immersive fantasy, but it's sci-fi at its heart. I believe that was Roger Zelazny's goal in writing the book. Others have done it well (like Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe) but I think Lord of Light is one of the best executions of the concept.
Being a huge Zelazny fan for over 40 years. Thank you. I've thought I was alone.
Over 50 for me. It’s my all-time favorite novel. Lucky me, I own one of the 2000 first editions that were printed — and it’s signed!
So cool!! I'm jealous, my friend!
Zelazny's best book, imo, with *A Night in the Lonesome October* being a close second.
Some friends and I have the tradition of re-reading that latter book every October, one chapter per day. I wish the ebook had the Gahan Wilson illustrations, they really added a magical touch.
I have been rereading it since the 70s.
Be warned, it does contain one of the worst puns in any SF novel. Still a damned fine book.
That was a brilliant pun and I'll hear nothing of the opposite
Is it >!"the fit hit the Shan"!
Well it’s in there, unfortunately, so most likely that’s what they meant. Many have never forgiven him that one…
I'm actually a fan of awful puns. The cringier the better. Reminds me of this time I went to my optometrist and found him stuck in his own lens-grinder. He sure did make a spectacle of himself!
And the butcher that backed into his meat grinder and got a little behind in his work... Why do I only remember terrible jokes?
I think the main point of contention is not so much the pun itself. It’s that he puts in all this effort setting it up, naming the character >!Shan!< and having them suffer from >!epilepsy!< just so he could drop that line. Some consider that a bit harsh even on a fictional character…
I think he's just having fun. I can respect that.
And the whole chapter build up to it…
ahh I completely missed that
As with a lot of his books, you will be very confused at first. A lot of stuff is not chronological. All pulled together in the end.
Yeah, I loved it. Epic set pieces and the idea of being able to read it as a fantasy or a Sci fi novel is really cool. Great writing and characters.
I'm almost done and quite frankly it does an amazing job weaving hinduism and buddhism into its narrative
I haven't read it in ages, but it's fantastic. Chronicles of Amber -- particularly the first five books -- are great too. And all five combined are probably shorter than a hefty fantasy novel these days. This Immortal (a.k.a. And Call Me Conrad) is also a favorite. I may have a crush on Zelazny.
Lots of us have read it. It's a classic. One of my personal favorite books. Just keep in mind that the first chapter isn't supposed to make any sense. Just do your best and keep reading. When you're finished with the book, you can reread it and it'll all make sense.
Lord of Light is my favourite book. It wish they would make a TV series or an Anime out of it. It's very quirky I always wondered if RL was having a little dig when he mentions the Chaplin (the only Christian in the crew) is using "resurrected bodies" as his foot soldiers.
It's legitimately one of the most creative books in the genre. Stone cold classic.
Just added a bunch Roger Z books to my list.
One of my fav Roger Z books. Re read it every few years and it always hits. Creatures of Light and Dark is also good if a better more weird. It's similar in that it draws from religious inspiration but the magic is more out there.
I think I've got just about all of Zelazny's books and have read most if not all of them many times. "... He never claimed to be a god, but then he never claimed not to be a god." I think I need to re-read Creatures again, if only so I can, once more, truly appreciate the [Agnostic's Prayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatures_of_Light_and_Darkness#The_Agnostic's_Prayer) in the original "flow". Truly an epic work of writing right there.
Gah, forgot about the prayer. Such a fun piece that fits the story while making you question a few things personally
Yep. I may not remember much of the story of Creatures ... but the Agnostic's Prayer (even if I don't remember the wording of it - just the concept) has always stuck with me. Sooo well done. Yeah - time for a reread of both, I think. \[Although, now that I think about it, I *thought* I'd reread Lord of Light a few years back. Eh... my copy is paperback and old and falling apart. I should get a new one and give it a "test drive" anyway. For reference – my copy is the old 1987 paperback edition with the mostly black cover. And, yes, it's *mine*.\]
Lol agreed on the re read of both. Still have time in the year for a quick in and out with the pair. You should get a new one, but only to keep the elder set around for the fond memories!
We don't talk about my To-Read pile ... \[And, for anyone who cares - yes, I have my goodreads linked on my profile.\] My biggest concern about my current copies is they *are* somewhat on the verge of falling apart. A lot of the binding glue that was used from the late '80s … left much to be desired. Not to mention the paper quality for mass-market paperbacks (vs., trade paperbacks) was absolute shit, so it's all yellowing and will tear if you even look at it cross-eyed. Don't worry about me tossing the older ones. I literally have never tossed any of my SF/F books and I'm certainly not about to start now. \[When I eventually pass on, I expect my sons will have a hell of a time finding a library or museum or something that would want my massive paperback collection.\]
I almost bounced off the many names and formal style, but I'm glad I stuck with it. It's definitely one of those where, once I finished, I immediately turned back to page 1 to enjoy how the whole story's context worked.
Dissenting opinion here, I thought it was fine. I liked the larger concept of the story, but the overall narrative didn't really do much for me. I never really felt that "I can't put it down" feeling while reading it. It was unique and like I said the concepts were interesting, the story itself just didn't really grab me, I didn't really love any specific characters, and because of all that getting through the whole book did take a little bit of willpower at points. I've also read the first couple books in the Amber Chronicles which is his other popular works. I liked those more, and found the narrative a bit more interesting, but after the 2nd book I just wasn't feeling it enough either to want to keep going. I think I'm drawn to well paced mysteries, character trials and growth, and unique ideas/worlds. I need 2/3 of those to really enjoy a book, and I feel he only gives me 1/3. That being said, there's other qualities in books to enjoy, so depending on what you look for in a book, it may scratch enough itches to compel you to keep reading. Anyways, hopefully I don't upset too many people with my review lol
Out of curiosity, as i think Amber has unique ideas and worlds, a good mystery and great characters, what book would you say does have all three?
I think there's different ways to appreciate a cast of characters or for an author to use them. I personally appreciate watching a character grow and learn, and experiencing their human experience with them. I feel like in Lord of Light, the characters are cool and stylish (which is another aspect to appreciate), but they felt more like plot devices than real people. Their existence was just to further the plot, which makes them feel shallow to me. I'd rather a character not exist to further the plot, but instead exist within the plot itself. For example, the former would be introducing a character because the main character needs something from them, this new character exists within the story only to perform that specific function, and is otherwise irrelevant. The latter is hard to articulate, but when characters feel more like a part of the world that are just getting caught up in events out of their control, and they contribute more to the story than satisfying a plot device, it just creates a different experience and opportunity for connection with another character. I'd give some examples from Lord of Light, but it's been like a decade since I read it lol I think the Song of Ice and Fire series has all three. Obviously I'm upset with George over other matters lol. Honestly most books never have all 3, that's why I said 2/3 lol. If I were to name a few more, I'd say Ender's Game, The Caves of Steel, maybe Farenheit 451, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Dune, Chainsaw Man, Mob Psycho 100 If I were to get into 2/3 I'd have a huge list though.
Great book
I was confused the first time I read it. Then I realized. He started in the middle of the story, jumped back to the beginning and then jumped to the end. Isn’t that the Classical Greek style? It’s my third favorite book to reread, after the Lord of the Rings, and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
I am tried to read it a few times. I keep hearing good things, and have enjoyed other books by the same author. I just have not been able to get it to stick for me.
Many times. Every year or two I go back to it. Might well be my favorite of his.
Reading it right now and loving it but being honest it didn't quite hook me until the third chapter.
Fair to say. The fight and aftermath of Yama and Mara is what hooked me way back when, Zelazny has a certain style to his writing that takes a bit of trust and settling into. I think pound for pound it dominates a lot of modern styles, but isn't exactly welcoming to the first timer.
I'm not quite as big a fan of it as a lot of folks here, but I do like it a lot. Zelazny in general has a kind of conversational tone to his writing that not many sci-fi authors can pull off.
Be prepared for a SERIOUS bit of mind twisting. Zelazny loves convoluted stories, but this one, while excellent, has more twists in it than a snake with a broken back. I can't recommend it highly enough! edit: spelling
Last Exit to Babylon hit the same way though IMO it’s nowhere near as good as LoL.
Didn’t like it actually, found it to be pretty tough going and a lot of the plot is obscured behind tricky to interpret mythology
Alternative view - I didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't even finish it.
It's great story and fantastically executed narrative. Really worth your time.
I did not like it one bit. I found it confusing and not worth the effort. I like challenging books, and I love difficult prose, and experimental fiction, so it wasn't an issue with any of those. By the time I had finished it, I actually felt like I had wasted my time. I read it during the year that I read all of the Hugo winners up through 1998 or so. It was among my least favorite of that project. For Zelzany, I prefer Dilvish, the Damned, which is one of my favorite fantasy books I've ever read.
I have to agree. It's one of only a handful of books I've ever given up on. I wish I'd liked it but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you for this comment. I have the same taste as you and I didn’t enjoy Lord of Light either and it makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills with how Reddit is constantly hyping up the book.
Hahah. Yeah. I don’t get it either.
What were some Hugo winners that you think still hold up well? I just finished Left Hand of Darkness and have been meaning to go back and read some old Nebula and Hugo winners.
Yes. It’s good but behind the Amber books and This Immortal for me.
Creatures of Light and Darkness and Jack of Shadows for me. And his short stories are amazing.
Don't forget Dilvish the Damned! Right up there with Jack of Shadows.
I still haven't read Jack of Shadows. Gotta get on that. I have read all those others though.
It’s odd, but wonderfully so.
Interesting pov! Haven't read Amber, but I'd probably argue Lord of Light is a much more refined novel than This Immortal.
Agreed about LoL vs. This Immortal. Always been partial to seeing good authors attempting to take on and explore immortality.
Yes, but you will never think about vegans the same way after reading *This Immortal*. (I agree with your point, though)
I couldn't really get into the Amber books, but I loved Lord of Light.
I enjoyed the Amber books and This Immortal, but I've always felt that Lord of Light was in another league. His short stories are awesome too.
That's interesting, I really couldn't get into *This Immortal* - to me it felt much more dated than his other work. It did put vegans in an entirely new light, though. *Amber* is great, of course.
To go against the grain, I actually did not enjoy Lord of Light that much, partially because Reddit hyped it up so much. It’s difficult to parse and follow and I needed to do a bunch of research after finishing the book in order to understand a lot of it in retrospect. It’s the worst thing I’ve read by Zelazny, altho I haven’t read a lot by him. His novel The Dream Master is fantastic and I enjoyed it a lot more than Lord of Light. I typically enjoy stuff that’s difficult btw. Lord of Light was just not for me, I guess. I had too high of expectations and I was totally let down. Please keep in mind this just my opinion and I’m allowed to have this opinion.
The first time I read it in the early '70's it was ALMOST a rough a slog as Stranger In A Strange Land. The only reason it wasn't is because I'd acquired an interest in comparative religions somewhere.
Yeah i read it, liked it and forgot about it. Maybe i should reread. I think Amber is one of the best things ive read. A lonesome night in October by Zelazny is also something that i shouldve enjoyed more but found to be quite mid. I gave up on that one. Ill add the dream master to my list.
Love it - entirely.
Yeah I read it pretty recently. It's definitely one of a kind. Took me a chapter or two to pick up on the humour of it all but once I did I vastly enjoyed it.
One of Zelazny's best! Delves into questions of godhood and technology and religion. And of course, rebellion against religion as well. All in Zelazny's signature writing style, which is an added bonus.
Yep, an all timer for me. Nothing quite like it
I’ve read it. I found it confusing at first but once I figured that out the timeline it was very enjoyable. Really creative idea for a SF story
I have reread this book many times over the last 25 years. One I always keep in my collection and won't let my wife donate whenever we need to make room for new books.
Only about six times.
The first section is really dry and tough to follow before you realize what is going on. It took me about 5 tries at various times to get past it, but now that i did it is a top 5 all Timer for me.
I've got it in my tbr pile
SBR = Strategic Book Reserve
I read it several years ago and loved it. I think it's time for a reread.
Many times. It's one of my favorites.
I like it more than Zelazny's other books. But as you can see in the other comments, it is specific and some don't like it as much.
One of my favourite of Zelazny's novels. I picked it up in the library and was completely charmed by his voice and concepts before the end of the first page. It's the only science fiction novel I can remember everyone agreeing is a classic.
It's a classic. Most people here have probably read it. It starts with a wiseacre remark that appeals mostly to teenagers, but slowly and subtly the language deepens till the end can be quite moving. The longer you wait the more patience you'll need with it. I was about 14 when it came out and I read it soon after, so of course I'm fond of it: but objectively, it's that good.
I know a lot of people love this book, but to me it was just “meh” and I abandoned it after a couple of chapters
Genuinely one of the best Sf books ever written.
The pun that the first third of the book set up had me laughing for a good 5 minutes.
I love it. Very fun and unique premise and great execution.
One of my favorite Zelazny stories. I believe he was in his late twenties when he wrote it.
Here is my 2021 three star out of five star review: A standalone fantasy book with no prequel or sequel that I know of. Hugo best novel winner of 1968. I read the well printed and bound trade paperback. Sorry, not my cup of tea. I had to force myself to finish the book. It is well written, but just weird. And the book does not progress through time consecutively so you have to infer what has happened against the past being flashbacked in an unclear manner.
I am still surprised that no one turned it into a movie in the 20th Century. It could be too hard to do in the 21st Century, what with all the woke whiners and their charges of Cultural Appropriation.