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jazzfishRoger Zelazny, Lord of Light
One of Zelazny's first novels, and one of his best. Sort of science-fiction crossed with superheroes and Hindu mythology. Perhaps the best opening paragraph I've ever read:
His followers called him Mahasamatman, and said he was a god. He prefered to drop the Maha- and the-atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of much use. Silence, however, could. Therefore he remained silent.
This time through it was the humor that really stood out. Sam declaring his new Buddhism in opposition to the Hindu pantheon: "Since I start my religion in protest, I suppose you can call me a protestant." "It occurred to me that Kalkin would be a prime suspect, except that he was already dead. Discounting this for the moment. . . ." For me it's a tie between this, Lonesome October, and Nine Princes in Amber as to what's Zelazny's masterwork. Lord of Light wins on a technicality: it's complete in itself, and it's just so much bigger in scope than the other two.
Bill Willingham et al, Fables: Storybook Love
Issues 11-18. A short story about a reporter who threatens to reveal the Fables' existence [and who has a, um, special interpretation of their lives], and a longer arc detailing some treachery by someone we all suspected from the start. Fables is one of those books I kind of regret not reading on a monthly basis; it's quite good. Plus it's got a flying monkey, who briefly takes over as mayor of Fabletown. ["I'm a good monkey. I hardly ever fling my poop anymore."] Eagerly awaiting the next trade paperback.
Bill Amend, Foxtrot: Am I A Mutant Or What?
Nth collection. I'm not sure what Foxtrot's appeal is, but I do enjoy them. Just not enough to subscribe to the daily feed, I suppose. Maybe it's Jason the geek kid, who dresses up as all the mutants he can think of.
Paul Jenkins and Sean Phillips, Hellblazer: Critical Mass
Issues 92-96, in which Jenkins justifies the major changes he makes to Constantine's character over the course of his run on the series. The return of Someone who really should've stayed dead, or at least offscreen, a cameo by Aleister Crowley, and more John Constantines than we really need. The last couple pages, though, are worth it; Constantine is still screwing his friends over, even when he tries to do the decent thing. [So help me, I like Rich the Punk, too.]
One of Zelazny's first novels, and one of his best. Sort of science-fiction crossed with superheroes and Hindu mythology. Perhaps the best opening paragraph I've ever read:
His followers called him Mahasamatman, and said he was a god. He prefered to drop the Maha- and the-atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of much use. Silence, however, could. Therefore he remained silent.
This time through it was the humor that really stood out. Sam declaring his new Buddhism in opposition to the Hindu pantheon: "Since I start my religion in protest, I suppose you can call me a protestant." "It occurred to me that Kalkin would be a prime suspect, except that he was already dead. Discounting this for the moment. . . ." For me it's a tie between this, Lonesome October, and Nine Princes in Amber as to what's Zelazny's masterwork. Lord of Light wins on a technicality: it's complete in itself, and it's just so much bigger in scope than the other two.
Bill Willingham et al, Fables: Storybook Love
Issues 11-18. A short story about a reporter who threatens to reveal the Fables' existence [and who has a, um, special interpretation of their lives], and a longer arc detailing some treachery by someone we all suspected from the start. Fables is one of those books I kind of regret not reading on a monthly basis; it's quite good. Plus it's got a flying monkey, who briefly takes over as mayor of Fabletown. ["I'm a good monkey. I hardly ever fling my poop anymore."] Eagerly awaiting the next trade paperback.
Bill Amend, Foxtrot: Am I A Mutant Or What?
Nth collection. I'm not sure what Foxtrot's appeal is, but I do enjoy them. Just not enough to subscribe to the daily feed, I suppose. Maybe it's Jason the geek kid, who dresses up as all the mutants he can think of.
Paul Jenkins and Sean Phillips, Hellblazer: Critical Mass
Issues 92-96, in which Jenkins justifies the major changes he makes to Constantine's character over the course of his run on the series. The return of Someone who really should've stayed dead, or at least offscreen, a cameo by Aleister Crowley, and more John Constantines than we really need. The last couple pages, though, are worth it; Constantine is still screwing his friends over, even when he tries to do the decent thing. [So help me, I like Rich the Punk, too.]
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-22 06:26 pm (UTC)Nine Princes is, to me, the finest of the Amber novels. As Zelazny defined the universe he excluded all the cool things it might have been. It's still not a complete story, though.