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Stephen's Reviews > This Immortal
This Immortal
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Stephen's review
bookshelves: award-nominee-hugo, award-winner-hugo, audiobook, sf-apocalyptic-and-post-apocalyptic, easton-press, 6-star-books, science-fantasy, 1954-1969, mythstories-and-legends, supermen
Jan 18, 2010
bookshelves: award-nominee-hugo, award-winner-hugo, audiobook, sf-apocalyptic-and-post-apocalyptic, easton-press, 6-star-books, science-fantasy, 1954-1969, mythstories-and-legends, supermen
Read 2 times. Last read August 9, 2010 to August 10, 2010.
6.0 stars. I just re-read this classic by Roger Zelazny and I was very impressed. Not quite as good as Lord of Light (then again how many books are), but still a smart, well written and original science fiction story combining elements of post-apocalyptic science fiction, alien travelogue and mythic fiction.
BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY:
Many hundreds of years following a devastating nuclear war call "The Three Days," the Earth has a population of only four million and is infested with a variety of mutated lifeforms (some of which resemble mythological creatures and monsters). Humanity has joined the civilization of the Vegans, a race of blue-skinned aliens who now own much of Earth's real estate and have set up "vacation resorts" in order to tour the ancient attractions of Earth.
The story is told by Conrad Nomikos (aka Konstantin Kallikanzaros and many others) a man of "indeterminate" age with a very colorful past that he'd rather not talk about. Conrad is asked to give a tour to of Earth ruins to a Vegan VIP who may have an ulterior motive for taking such a tour. The rest is a superb ride that is all Zelazny.
Zelazny's imagination is amazing, his writing is excellent and Conrad is a great character. Bottom-line, this is a true classic, a great story and a lot of fun.
Winner: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Award (tied with Dune)(1966)
BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY:
Many hundreds of years following a devastating nuclear war call "The Three Days," the Earth has a population of only four million and is infested with a variety of mutated lifeforms (some of which resemble mythological creatures and monsters). Humanity has joined the civilization of the Vegans, a race of blue-skinned aliens who now own much of Earth's real estate and have set up "vacation resorts" in order to tour the ancient attractions of Earth.
The story is told by Conrad Nomikos (aka Konstantin Kallikanzaros and many others) a man of "indeterminate" age with a very colorful past that he'd rather not talk about. Conrad is asked to give a tour to of Earth ruins to a Vegan VIP who may have an ulterior motive for taking such a tour. The rest is a superb ride that is all Zelazny.
Zelazny's imagination is amazing, his writing is excellent and Conrad is a great character. Bottom-line, this is a true classic, a great story and a lot of fun.
Winner: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Award (tied with Dune)(1966)
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
January 18, 2010
– Shelved
August 9, 2010
–
Started Reading
August 10, 2010
–
Finished Reading
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Contrarius
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Dec 06, 2011 02:21PM
Thanks for reminding me of this book. Lord of Light is one of my favorites of all time. Other Zelazny, like Jack of Shadows, maybe not so much. But the ideas are always interesting. I need to read more of his stuff, so it's good to get pointed towards the ones that are worthwhile!
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Lord of Light is one of my all time favorites as well. I need to do a more thoughtful review of that at some point but will probably wait to re-read it first. I also really liked Creatures of Light and Darkness though others I know did not care for it.
