Silly question.....

[AE35Unit]

Well,2 actually.
First off, how do you pronouince his name? Do you say the second z or is it just Zelaney, as my missus says it?

And what book makes a good starting point?

[Snowdog]

Not a silly question. I've never heard it spoken. I've always assumed it was pronounced ZelAZny, with the emphasis on the second syllable, based purely on how I've heard other Polish names pronounced.

Good starting points - just about anything. If you like fantasy, try Nine Princes in Amber or the Dilvish books. If you prefer SF, try Isle of the Dead or This Immortal.

[AE35Unit]

Ive heard of This Immortal, hmm, must give it a try. Oh and i never knew he was polish! See, I know nothing!

[Snowdog]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

Ive heard of This Immortal, hmm, must give it a try. Oh and i never knew he was polish! See, I know nothing!

He was American, of Polish extraction. Quite possibly he pronounced his name differently.

[AE35Unit]

Well, I put this immortal on my mooch wishlist, ya never know....

[Snorri]

I always have said Zel az knee

[Strife]

I didn't know "Zelazny" could be pronounced differently! Always said z+z...

Starting point: I began with the Amber series (and played a lot of games inspired by the Amberites), then Damnation Alley. I didn't know the short stories and discovered "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" on this sub-forum (there's a link to the complete text). I liked it so much that I began reading all the short stories. I just finished "24 views of Mt. Fuji" (very, very good).

I have put "Lord of Light" and "This Immortal" in my wish basket.

I don't mean that this is the best reading program. It worked for me, though.

[Connavar]

Damnation Alley i thought was a great place to start. A solid story with likeable characters.


I have ordered and waiting for This Immortal

[Snowdog]

I forgot to mention Jack Of Shadows as a good starting point. It has a bit of everything Zelazny was good at, both fantasy and SF, terrific writing, an ambiguous main character (no-one was ever wholly good or wholly bad to Zelazny), action, adventure, introspection, soul-searching (literally)...

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Snowdog

I forgot to mention Jack Of Shadows as a good starting point. It has a bit of everything Zelazny was good at, both fantasy and SF, terrific writing, an ambiguous main character (no-one was ever wholly good or wholly bad to Zelazny), action, adventure, introspection, soul-searching (literally)...

That sounds interesting.

I like the sound of Zelazny writing ambigous main characters. I liked that in Damnation Alley.

Its good to know its wasnt only in that.

[Flavia]

I agree. Jack of Shadows comprises most of RZ's themes: immortality, personal quest, balance between good and evil, plus a Prometean rebellion...

Very good place to start, indeed.

[Giovanna Clairval]

In Polish, the "Z" of "Zelazny" would be pronounced like
the second "G" of "garage". See the little moon horns here on the first "Z".

želazný = of iron

In the picture, taken on the lake of Lecco, where iron working predates
the Industrial Revolution, železárny means "ironworks", but in Czech, this time.

[AE35Unit]

So that would be Ze LAAJ nee then.

[Giovanna Clairval]

It would be Je-la-z-ny in Polish.

But he was American, and the name should be pronounced:

Zelazny, Roger (zə-LAZ-nē)


see here:
Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures


NLS/BPH: Other Writings, Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures

[flygin]

I'm embarrassed to say how much time I just spent reading through all those names.