Nat K's Reviews > A Night in the Lonesome October

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
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it was amazing
bookshelves: 2021-books, buddy-reads, fantasy, favourites, magic, quirky, illustrated-or-photographic, 2022-books, dark-humour, re-reads
Read 2 times. Last read October 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022.

”And so the day arrived, cloudy, and with a small wind out of the north.”

It was apt that the sun was setting as I finished my second reading of this book. October 31, chapter 31, Halloween. The light was quite magical, a deep orange glow, offset by the steel gray clouds.

It’s hard to believe that twelve months have passed since I last read this. It’s gone fast, despite all of life’s challenges. Did I enjoy re-reading this? Yes. Very much. Did I read it through different eyes? Yes. I did view it differently. And yet, I’m still in wonder at the cast of characters, the cleverness of the one liners, the good versus evil storyline. As I said in my original review, I could feel how much fun Zelezny had writing this. And Snuff is still one of my favourite narrators.
Top ten easily.

This was a buddy read with the wonderful, talented Mr. Neale-ski, and the dapper Marko. Please have a read of their reviews once they post them.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

My original review from October 2021 is below.

*******************************************

"I am a watchdog. My name is Snuff."

What's not to love about a book with that as the opening line. Snuff is a watchdog. He is our narrator. His owner is Jack. Yes, that Jack.

As the book progresses, we meet the most intriguing bunch characters and their familiars who make up this story.

Jack (that one) and Snuff (his dog, our narrator)
Crazy Jill (a witch) and Graymalk (her cat, of course)
Morris and MacCab (I never quite figured out who they were, though Bill put forward a great suggestion) and Nightwind (the owl)
The Count (you know him) and Needle (the bat)
Rastov (a mad monk) and Quicklime (a snake)
Owen (a Druid) and Cheeter (the squirrel)
Larry (a Moon watcher) and his exotic plants
The Great Detective (there's only one) and his Companion (you know him)
The Good Doctor (had me a bit stumped) and Bubo (a rat, cleverly named)
Vicar Roberts (pure evil) and Takela (an albino raven)

They all gather together, this "society of wretched individuals and their familiars preparing for some big psychic event which will place them at odds with each other and threaten the safety of humanity." Queue sweeping organ music. All during the mystical month of October.

As Snuff observes "It's not a month for taking chances." It's a time of "Weird stuff...A little specialized craziness." Snuff advises it best to "Stay away from any human gatherings that night."

And we all know that October 31 is Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve. It marks the end of Summer in the northern hemisphere, and is the day when the veil between the physical world and spiritual world is weaker... allowing spirits and faeries - amongst others (gasp) - to return to earth.

Which begins the battle of wills for those who wish for this to happen, while others try to prevent it.

It's a given that our motley crew gather together during this most auspicious month. It couldn't be any other 🎃 Let the games begin.

There is an Awful lot of Capitilization that Goes On, which just Adds to the Utter Quirkiness of the Storyline.

Illustrations: Gahan Wilson

These pen drawings add a layer of oddness to the unfolding storyline. They're so unusual they're good. And I very much wanted to buy some pencils and colour them in!

I loved the writing style, along with the humour. It's so clever. There are so many great one liners, conversations between the familiars, and crazy scenarios. All settled between scenes of incongruous domesticity. Settling in front of the fireplace at night, and enjoying tea with the neighbours. Zelazny must have had such a great deal of fun writing this.

The characters are intriguing, and working out their identity was at times like figuring out a cryptic crossword. Which I'm not good at! The clues are there, if you're clever enough to work them out. I had some hits. Others were harder to unearth. Deceptions, disguises, double crossing and The Things. Myths, mystics, gypsies, gothic tales. Uncovering the story, chapter by chapter, according to the corresponding date, added to the atmosphere. And the anticipation of what would be revealed next.

There's also a mysterious wolf by the moniker of Growler, and a monster with a beating heart after all (come on up to the podium Mr Frank N. Stein and take a bow).

The below exchange is one of my absolute favourites. It shows the tongue in cheek vibe of the story and is completely amusing. I smile each time I think of it.

" 'Hi. I'm a watchdog.'
'Me, too.'
'I've been watching you.'
'And I've been watching you.'
'Why is your person digging a big hole?'
'There are some things down there that he needs.'
'Oh. I don't think he's supposed to be doing that.'
'May I see your teeth?'
'Yes. Here. May I see yours?'
'Of course.' "

Oh so terribly civilized!

See what I mean? The book is filled with my kind of quirky.

My first Zelazny. I couldn't help but think "What was he on!", as this is so far out and brilliant all rolled into one.

Snuff is the best narrator hands down. Or should that be paws down?

I also couldn't help but think this is the kind of book that I'll bet Gaiman wishes he'd written. And I've no doubt he's read it...at least once.

Seriously, as I said to my buddy readers as soon as I finished reading it, this is EPIC. I couldn't be more satisfied or impressed with the ending. Those last couple of lines left me with a big smile on my face. Me happy.

Trigger warnings! Mild violence and a scene with vivisectionists I'd prefer not to have read. I know it explains part of the story, but...I wish it could be otherwise. I don't deal well with this type of thing. It really bothered me. I think Zelazny could have "alluded" to what was going on, and it would have the same effect. That's my only gripe with the book.

Definitely this will be a re-read for me.

***This was a buddy read with a merry band of October uber fans. Thoroughly enjoyable, lots of banter and "theories" flying through the ether. Please make sure to have a read of their thoughts also. Shout out to Bill (thanks for the invite amigo), Alisa, Caro, Carol, Dawn, Evgeny, Mimi, Nataliya and Ucho. See y'all next October.***

" I felt a strong desire to howl at the moon. It was such a howlable moon."

I feel that way too Snuff. I'll join you.
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Reading Progress

April 8, 2021 – Shelved
April 8, 2021 – Shelved as: to-read
October 1, 2021 – Started Reading
October 1, 2021 – Shelved as: 2021-books
October 1, 2021 – Shelved as: buddy-reads
October 3, 2021 – Shelved as: fantasy
October 3, 2021 –
page 15
6.25% "Curiouser & curiouser...
This is utterly intriguing."
October 8, 2021 –
page 41
17.08% "A conversation between two working canines.

" 'Hi. I'm a watchdog.'
'Me, too.'
'I've been watching you.'
'And I've been watching you.'
'Why is your person digging a big hole?'
'There are some things down there that he needs.'
'Oh. I don't think he's supposed to be doing that.'
'May I see your teeth?'
'Yes. Here. May I see yours?'
'Of course.' "


Very civilized. This amused me no end."
October 20, 2021 –
page 115
47.92% "Only ten days left of this tale. Where will it end?

"How many times in a century does the Full Moon rise on Halloween, three, four?" 🌝"
October 26, 2021 –
page 204
85.0% ""Overhead, growing in strength, the older, wiser moon paced me. I'd give her a run for her silver." 🌚

Run Snuff, run."
November 1, 2021 – Shelved as: favourites
November 1, 2021 – Shelved as: magic
November 1, 2021 – Shelved as: quirky
November 1, 2021 – Shelved as: illustrated-or-photographic
November 1, 2021 – Finished Reading
September 30, 2022 –
page 1
0.42% "October 01 🎃

Here we go again!"
October 1, 2022 – Started Reading
October 3, 2022 –
page 1
0.42% "A dog, a cat, a bat and a squirrel walk into a bar..."
October 31, 2022 – Shelved as: 2022-books
October 31, 2022 – Shelved as: dark-humour
October 31, 2022 – Shelved as: re-reads
October 31, 2022 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)

dateDown arrow    newest »

Fran (Not Receiving Notifications) Happy reading, Nat! Awaiting your thoughts!


message 2: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Not long to go Fran! We're reading a chapter a day to correspond with the date. It's a lot of fun.


Fran (Not Receiving Notifications) Nat wrote: "Not long to go Fran! We're reading a chapter a day to correspond with the date. It's a lot of fun."

Nat...I have a copy on hold....yay!


message 4: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Fran wrote: "Nat wrote: "Not long to go Fran! We're reading a chapter a day to correspond with the date. It's a lot of fun."

Nat...I have a copy on hold....yay!"


How fabulous! *Yay* You'll love it. Enjoy 🎃


message 5: by Cheri (new)

Cheri Glad to see you're enjoying this, Nat! Looking forward to your review!


message 6: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Cheri wrote: "Glad to see you're enjoying this, Nat! Looking forward to your review!"

Very much Cheri! And reading a chapter a day (to coincide with the corresponding October date) adds to the fun.


C.  (Comment, never msg). That looks like fun, Nat! Warm regards from Carolyn on a rainy day.


message 8: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K C. (friends, please call me by name) wrote: "That looks like fun, Nat! Warm regards from Carolyn on a rainy day."

It's a bunch of fun Carolyn! Enjoy the rain, sounds like perfect reading weather.


message 9: by Magick (last edited Nov 01, 2021 05:46AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Magick Great review Nat, the buddy read was fun! Thanks for joining!

The Good Doctor pronounces his name "Fronkunsteen." :)


message 10: by Leo (new)

Leo I'm very intriguing by your review. Love when a book is narrated by animals from time to time. But i have to admit I'm unsure on who "jack" is. The killer, the author? Hmm guess I need to read it to find out :)


message 11: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K William wrote: "Great review Nat, the buddy read was fun! Thanks for joining!

The Good Doctor pronounces his name "Fronkunsteen." :)"


Ha ha, indeed he does! "Fronk-unsteen" 😁


message 12: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Toria wrote: "I'm very intriguing by your review. Love when a book is narrated by animals from time to time. But i have to admit I'm unsure on who "jack" is. The killer, the author? Hmm guess I need to read it t..."

Snuff is a fabulous narrator Toria. You'll be happy to know all the animals talk! As for Jack, well....


message 13: by Bianca (new)

Bianca An enthusiastic review, Nat. I'm not into dog/kids narrated books. I may still give it a go if I come across the library audiobook.


message 14: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Bianca wrote: "An enthusiastic review, Nat. I'm not into dog/kids narrated books. I may still give it a go if I come across the library audiobook."

It's a bunch of fun Bianca! I'd definitely give it a go.

I've just started to re-read it yesterday 🤗


message 15: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Fantastic review Nat!


Neale Wonderful review Nat, thankyou for the buddy read. It was great fun. :-)


message 17: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Maureen wrote: "Fantastic review Nat!"

Thanks so much Maureen 🌻 I enjoyed re-reading this very much.


message 18: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Neale wrote: "Wonderful review Nat, thankyou for the buddy read. It was great fun. :-)"

Welcome 🤗


message 19: by Laysee (new)

Laysee I enjoyed your reviews, Nat, both the first and second. Glad it's still a big winner this October. Fabulous to have a doggie narrator!


message 20: by Nat (new) - rated it 5 stars

Nat K Laysee wrote: "I enjoyed your reviews, Nat, both the first and second. Glad it's still a big winner this October. Fabulous to have a doggie narrator!"

Thank you so much Laysee 🌼 Snuff cheered me up no end with his clever one liners. I really enjoyed re-reading this, and it was interesting to view the same story just that little bit differently.

Hope you've been well 🌼


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