Favourite Zelazny novels and short stories

[Snowdog]

Originally Posted by Giovanna Clairval

As I suspected, there are two editions of The Last Defender of Camelot, and I have read only the recent one, which has a different set of short stories. No "Auto da fé", no "Horseman", and the list goes on. Why do publishers do such silly things?

Concerning "Horseman!" Robert Silverberg quotes the incipito of this short story in his Introduction to The Last (the other, very different edition). This beginning is all metaphors and disrespect of syntax. I loved it. I never got around to reading it, but, if I can find this edition, I will.

One deep thought… Roger Zelazny is the only writer who can omit commas—and do this to his heart’s desire—without taking furious slashes from Rubescant, my sword.

He does it which style.

The 1980 edition of The Last Defender of Camelot includes the short stories:
1. "Passion Play"
2. "Horseman!"
3. "The Stainless Steel Leech"
4. "A Thing of Terrible Beauty"
5. "He Who Shapes"
6. "Come now the Power"
7. "Auto-Da-Fe"
8. "Damnation Alley"(a short version of the novel)
9. "For a Breath I Tarry"
10. "The Engine at Heartspring's Center"
11. "The Game of Blood and Dust"
12. "No Award"
13. "Is there a Demon Lover in the House?"
14. "The Last Defender of Camelot"
15. "Stand Pat, Ruby Stone"
16. "Half Jack"

This second book was published after Roger's death. I hate to say it (though I said it at the time the book was being put together) but this anthology was a total rip-off. Not only did it rip off the title, but all the stories except one had already been published in anthologies. While some of Roger's best short stories were included, long-time fans were being milked simply to get one story. I've no doubt a lot of people bought the book on that basis, being desperate for anything new, but I thought it stunk at the time and still do.

However, if anyone liked the stories, I would urge looking out the other anthologies, they contain many stories of equal brilliance.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Giovanna Clairval

Re-reading my post... I have found a sentence that is less than clear. Sorry.

What I loved was the short quotation (the opening sentence) of "Horseman!", althought I never got around to reading the whole story...


Connavar, I cannot answer your other question because I haven't read Dilvish either. These books can't be easily found in Italy of in France, in English, I mean. Once upon a time, Amazon.com did not exist. I would order books from the States and it'd take them one to three months to get to Paris...
Now, of course, I'll read everything, now. I posted an almost complete bibliography (without the collections) in another Zelazny thread.


In the thread about "A Rose for Ecclesiaste", J.D. Worthington gives excellent advice to a Zelazny reader-to-be.

Thanks!

If you have read any of the works im interested let me know. Would like to know what fans of his think of them.

[j. d. worthington]

Question, Con: Are you referring to the Changeling books, or to The Changing Land? The latter is book about Dilvish, whereas I don't recall any connectino between the Changeling books and the Dilvish stories (other than some of the same themes that Zelazny often explored, here and there). The stories in Dilvish, the Damned were published over a wide stretch of time (1965 to 1982). Though The Changing Land was published in book form before the others were collected together, it actually takes place after the other book....

[Addy]

What, no Damnation Alley recommendation? Come on, guys? It's a damn good post-apocalyptic action novel.

[Giovanna Clairval]

It's a good post-apocalyptic action novel, an I enjoyed it, but, in my opinion it is not one of his best works. I suspect that the magazine version is better, given that RZ extended this novella into a novel-length story.

I feel that Zelazny was more comfortable with a shorter format. Strangely enough, one of the authors he inspired, Neil Gaiman, is as well.

But I haven't read the short version. Can someone confirm--or deny--my assumption? Is the shorter version of Damnation Alley better than the novel?

[olc]

I like them all, but if I had to pick the best of the best:

Lord of Light
This Immortal
Roadmarks
Doorways in the Sand
Isle of the Dead
Creatures of Light and Darkness
Madwand
Jack of Shadows
amber 1-5

The only book I did not really get into was The Dream Master.

If you have not read Zelazny I would not suggest that you start with Lord of Light (even though it is his best). Start with Amber or This Immortal, or Jack of Shadows.
I read The Changeling first way back in college.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Question, Con: Are you referring to the Changeling books, or to The Changing Land? The latter is book about Dilvish, whereas I don't recall any connectino between the Changeling books and the Dilvish stories (other than some of the same themes that Zelazny often explored, here and there). The stories in Dilvish, the Damned were published over a wide stretch of time (1965 to 1982). Though The Changing Land was published in book form before the others were collected together, it actually takes place after the other book....

I meant Changing Land since it belongs togther with Dilvish that i wanted. Since it takes place after it means i can read Dilvish without worriying about CL.

I wanted to try both his Fantasy and SF work.

The Last Defender of Camelot collection sounded interesting too. Are the other short stories fantasy only? I mean it is strictly a fantasy collection or both SF and Fantasy? That is if you have read that collection or know anything about it.

I read too little short stories of SF and fantasy so i wanted to focus on that seeing as Zelazny has famous short stories.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

The Last Defender of Camelot collection sounded interesting too. Are the other short stories fantasy only? I mean it is strictly a fantasy collection or both SF and Fantasy? That is if you have read that collection or know anything about it.

Here's a customer comment answering your query..

This is a great book of short stories that covers a whole range of subjects in fantasy and science fiction. The title story gives a hopeful continuation of the Arthur legend. The novelette, "And Now, for a Breath, I Tarry," is sheer poetry as it tells a Faustian tale using robots and computers instead of humans. It's definitely worth the time to find it.

[brsrkrkomdy]

I've yet to read all of Zelazny books that I have. But here are my faves:

Damnation Alley (novel)

(stories)
Devil Car
Auto Da Fe
The Last Of the Wild Ones

Those three stories can be made into an interesting movie. But hey, one can only dream.

[brsrkrkomdy]

I have a bunch of Zelazny's books that I've yet to read. However, I've read bunch of Amber books.

Here's my fave:

(novel)
Damnation Alley

(stories)
Devil Car
Auto Da Fe
The Last of the Wild Ones

These above mentioned stories could make an interesting movie. Not that it will happen. But hey, one can only dream.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Here's a customer comment answering your query..

This is a great book of short stories that covers a whole range of subjects in fantasy and science fiction. The title story gives a hopeful continuation of the Arthur legend. The novelette, "And Now, for a Breath, I Tarry," is sheer poetry as it tells a Faustian tale using robots and computers instead of humans. It's definitely worth the time to find it.

Cant thank you enough for helping a lost Zelazny newbie

[Giovanna Clairval]

And, a little help... to organise the threads...

This is virtuous (and not virtual) CHUTNERING, pals.

Roger Zelazny: VERY IMPORTANT FOR FANS!

ZELAZNY's Complete SHORT STORIES Bibliography

Favourite Zelazny novels and short stories

Zelazny's A Rose for Ecclesiastes - The entire short story here (!), with commentary

New Zelazny Colletion in the works

Amber?

Zelazny and the rewriting of myths

Nine princes to Amber - Roger Zelazny

[Snorri]

I've been reading Zelazny only for a few years now, but I really like what I've read.
here are some of my favorites-

Short Stories:

'For a Breath I Tarry'
'Lucifer'
'Loki 7281'
'The Great Slow Kings'
'24 Views of Mt. Fuji'


Novels:
'Donnerjack' w/ Jane Lindskold
'My Name is Legion'
'Lord of Light'
Amber 1-5
'Doorways in the Sand'
Amber 6-10

[Giovanna Clairval]

Norri, I'm so happy that you read Donnerjack. I don't know anyone who read it in Europe (but they must exist!).

I bought it NY and read it in three days, enjoying every bit of it (but I think that the plot is shade confusing, or is it because I was on holiday?)

What are the reasons that made you pick it as a favourite?

[Snorri]

I really liked the scope of Donnerjack, specifically the infiniteness of Virtú. It universalizes the realm of imagination with modern technology. There is a lot of dualism going on in the book, which is always fun.

I think it brings up good questions about the line between reality and fantasy in modern times which see an ever increasing use of machines and programs etc.

I'm not sure what percentage was written by RZ and what Linkskold's hand in it was, but the writing is really up there. (Think I remember this had a lot more RZ than Lord Demon, in fact this was a project RZ had been writing for a very long time). I especially like the opening line that introduces Death, 'In Deep Fields he dwelled...' and later 'And so Death walked, swinging his stick, beheading algorithms, pulping identities, cracking windows to other landscapes.'

And Tranto is hilarious.