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"Dune was about ideas, Immortal was about characters... Immortal had several ideas which were new at the time but it was primarily an exercise in character, in getting inside peoples heads and hearts. IMHO it was an infinitely better book than Dune because of that... I feel Conrad's pain, but don't give the proverbial rodents rectum for Paul Atreides. BTW, you probably mean 'allusions' not 'illusions'." PJP 12/9/97
Yes, I did mean allusions and just changed the spelling - thanks! Interesting how different works of art impress people in such different ways. Must be some deep psychological rationale. Even if you disregard Paul Atreides though, how about Stilgar, Jessica, even the inimical villains? This Immortal had Conrad but Dune has such a better supporting cast of characters. I felt inside many different people's heads and hearts. - Steve 12/9/97
"Stylistically, comparing Herbert and Zelazny is like comparing brockley and corn on the cob. Both are nuorishing, but some people won't want both. Herbert had to create his own setting or the story- the bane and benefit of writing sci-fi. Zelazny placed his setting closer to the reader's experience and imported classical myth and folklore. Alas, today most readers are not familiar enough with the classics to understand the story without a guide. Even though I have a passing familiarity, there was a lot I had to look up." - PMR 7/7/98
I admit I wasn't that up on the mythological associations.
I thought that was one of the more interesting aspects though. Delany's
Einstein Intersection also had a strong dose of this style and, for
some reason, I liked that one much more. Lord of Light used far eastern
mythology and I think that worked much better. Steve 7/8/98
"Anyone who doubts This Immortal's worthiness for a Hugo has vastly underrated the story. For a more favorable review and more information on the story, please see my website <A HREF="http://members.delphi.com/MREICHOLD/writings/thisimmortal.htm"</A> - Reichold 7/1/98
Impressive analysis! I have to admit I missed much of the symbolism you point out. If people read your web page first, I think they will enjoy this book more. I still don't think it comes close to comparing it to Dune though. As you point out, Zelazny himself called it a "lighthearted romp". Steve 7/5/98
"I think the true reason that This Immortal won a Hugo was exactly what you mention - it was a precursor to Lord of Light as well as several other Zelazny novels on this same theme - Isle of the Dead, etc. People could see the potential in it... reading it before those later works existed, it must have seemed greater than it does today.
Many other authors have written variations on this story... its been very influential in the field. Walter Jon Williams' first novel, Knight Moves, is very closely related to This Immortal. A lot of early Modessit, Brunner's Long Result... Zelazny created an Immortal who was very human... and a future Earth in need of conservancy which was probably not such a standard idea at the time. Most "saving the world" stories are very dramatic and epic in feel. This one managed to have a more tongue in cheek, wisecracking action type of feel, with drama at the human interest level rather than the epic sweep so much...
Whereas Dune, as incredible as it is in world building, was about as epic as you can get... the two books just appeal to entirely different people. I loved both of 'em when I first read them in seventh grade... but its This Immortal I go back to and reread more often. Well, its shorter :)" - Dana 7/8/98
"no zelazny novel has ever been mediocre and no-one
gave you any kind of permission to start now. - Nloop 11/25/97
Please email comments to stroy@jade-mtn.com.
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