Lord of Light

Rating:
Summary: A Master's Masterpiece
Review: The time is the unimaginably distant future, and a group of astronauts from Urath (Earth) have used mental, physical, and biological technology to become incarnations of the Hindu Gods. Opposing them is one of their own, Mahasamatman, who prefers to be called Sam. Sam resents the physical oppression and spiritual slavery imposed upon the non-divine inhabitants of the planet. This is the central theme to the grand vision of Man's destiny put forth by the late Roger Zelazny.

Touching upon many themes, including the conflict of church and state, an increasingly important subject today, who or what is divine, the blurred distinction between "good" and "evil," societal engineering, and eugenics, Zelazny crafted an intensely compelling tale that won a Hugo Award when it was first published. Like many of his characters in such diverse works as the Amber series, "This Immortal," "Jack of Shadows," and "Isle of the Dead," Sam, despite being a god/superman, by any rational definition, shows a humanity and fallibility that makes him an appealing character as he searches first for meaning in his life, and later, his place in the world/universe, all the while questioning and second-guessing his own self.

From an action viewpoint, "Lord of Light" offers plenty as Sam, his human, and inhuman allies battle the Gods and Demigods in the battle to free the planet from oppression of the Gods. As always Zelazny's imagery is incredible and all of the characters offer a depth of personality, and yes, humanity, which makes them all complex, interesting, compelling, and immensely satisfying.

Rating:
Summary: Let there be Light!
Review: While A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER may be Zelazny's most fun book, LORD OF LIGHT is probably the greatest. It's science fiction written in the vocabulary of fantasy. Basically, settlers on an alien world, using advanced technology, create a world corresponding to Hindu mythology, with members of the crew taking on the aspects and powers of Hindu deities. There is even a means of electronically providing for reincarnation. The battles between the gods are epic and the verbal depictions are as good as a mural. The ending is also some of Zelazny's most touching writing, without ever dipping into the maudlin.

Rating:
Summary: Zelazny's Best Novel, and one of the Very Best of SF Novels
Review: Lord of Light has all the qualities that made Zelazny one of SF's best loved writers, and a six-time Hugo winner. Above all, it is cleverly knitted together, and provides excellent entertainment value. Few SF novels can match it with its smooth yet complex plot and ingenious use of religious / scientific themes.

Rating:
Summary: I dissent. I thought it was tedious.
Review: It just didn't hit the spot for me. I found the whole religious thing to be irrelevant. The exoctic mystical eastern religious fascination came across as being dated to me, a bit of a hippy/60s thing. And because of that, I was not really motivated to suspend my disbelief. It all seemed like magic rather than science, and therefore just a bit silly. If the story and the characters had resonated with me, maybe I would have liked all the battles and action at the end, but it all came across as a bit Bruce Willis-esque.

I did like the line "the fit hit the Shan", though.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Read - Must have book!
Review: A banished charismatic rebel is sought by a small group of desperate freedom fighters. This rebel leader turns out to be 'Sam', sometimes called the Binder. The story revolves around Sam and the things he's done, or might do.

Sam once failed to tear down the corrupt planetary system of government and was thrown into exile. The story really takes off when Sam is rescued and brought back by the group who want him to try his revolt again.

Flashbacks and history of the rebel movement weave a compelling look at immortality, power, religion used as deception and the tyranny of secret science.

The master work of Roger Zelazny is as fresh today as it was when originally written.

If you love any of Zelazny's work, this book is a must for your library.

Rating:
Summary: True to Zelazny's writing style.
Review: "Lord of Light" is an outstanding example of Zelazny's intriguing writing style. As a writer on the fore-front of New Wave science fiction, he had more interest in delving into a character's psyche than the character's surroundings. He does this stunningly with Sam (drop the "Mahat-" and the "-atman").

As is usual, Mr. Zelazny drops the reader, confused, straight into the action. Don't give up reading, you'll understand what's happening around page 100.

Zelazny utilizes the Hindu pantheon of gods in this book much better than the Egyptian pantheon in a previous book. He acurately depicts the beliefs, and, later, how Buddhism was able to unravel (ch.sp.) them.

The story, though written in a way as to seem aloof of any concern over or involvment in mere mortal culture, is actually a moving story of how one man (he never claimed to be a god, but then, he never claimed not to, either) frees a stagnant society from the bonds of the Caste (Kaste?) System.

If you don't enjoy "Lord of Light", try "Donnerjack." Zelazny's humor is shown slightly better in "Donnerjack" than "Lord of Light."

Rating:
Summary: If Men Were Gods
Review: In this book, we travel to an unnamed world where men and women have developed amazing powers, called Attributes. These people pose as ancient Hindu Gods and rule over the planet below them. Essential to their rule is to keep the people in this planet at a primitive level of techology. This they do most ruthelessly.

"Sam", the binder, disagrees. He wants to aid the people below. With the aid of others, he lanches a multi-phased revolution against the gods. Sam develops new religions to counter Hinduism; he makes treaties with this planets natural inhabitants, "demons"; he actually seeks an alliance with the "evil one." No, this is not Satan. Who the evil or dark one is, however, is a nice surprise.

With an amazing amount of turns and twists, grievous mistakes by "Sam", and interesting exposure to philosophy of all kinds, this book is Zelazny at his best. It compares in quality to "Nine Prince of Amber," a classic in its own right. Highly recommended for fantasy and science ficton fans.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Zelazny's Best
Review: Zelazny won the Hugo for this book; for once I agree the award was right. This is his most brilliant book, a terrific blend of mythos and technology.

The former crew on this colony world rules the former passengers as gods rule peasants. Through technology, they have achieved many aspects of godhood, including reincarnation, terrifying weapons and psi powers by which they can kill with a look. The religion chosen for this more-than-theocracy is Hinduism.

Former crew Sam, while he likes his worldly pleasures, revolts against his peers, and casts himself as Buddha against the theocracy (as well as filling prayer machines with slugs, allying himself with the indigenous creatures and engaging in enough apocalyptic battles to satisfy the most jaded Robert Jordan fan). As Siddhartha and the Mahasamatman he sows the seeds that threaten to bring down the theocracy. And he demonstrates that even the most insincere Buddha can have true converts, true believers, and that the power of religion transcends its uses.

With a wonderful storyline, replete with flashbacks and plot twists, Zelazny crafts an absolutely terrific story. The book has no weak points.

This was the first book to base a world on a technologically rationalized mythos. Zelazny attempted it later in "Creatures of Light and Darkness," using the Egyptian mythos, but the book is much less successful. "Lord of Light" is the struggle of Buddhism against militant Hinduism, where technology, not spiritualism, rules. But it's the plot, the characterization and Zelazny's wonderful ironic tone that make this an exceptional book.

It's great to see this book back in print. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Truly the finest of all books not directly written by God
Review: If I only had 50 stars to split among 50 books, this book would get all 50 of mine. I read it 24 years ago, lent it to my best friend, and never got it back. It is BY FAR the best book I can ever remember reading in my whole life. It was certainly, IMHO, the best Zelazny ever wrote in his. He did write many other great ones (I've read nearly all of those too), but this one is the best. If you only read one Zelazny book in your life, this is the one.

Rating:
Summary: amazing book, perfect ending
Review: "Lord of Light" has been one of my favorite books since I first read it years ago. If Zelazny had never written anything else, this one novel would qualify him for immortality. It is far better and more meaningful than his Chronicles of Amber.

"Lord of Light" follows Sam, a man (or is he a god?) who seeks to overthrow the despotic rulers of a colony world. The rulers, humans with peculiar powers who live forever by transferring their essences into new bodies, play gods in a mutated version of Hinduism. They control the means of reincarnation; those who oppose them are reborn as dogs, or worse. Sam assumes many personas in his long quest to depose the gods, and he meets fascinating characters such as Rild, the assassin sent to kill him; the death-god Yama, whose eyes drink life; Tak, the ape who is more than he seems; the goddess Kali in her many incarnations; Ratri, the goddess of the night; and Taraka, the strongest of the demons.

The story is told in a long flashback, which gives Sam's quest a sense of weight and inevitability. Zelazny's style is perfectly matched to the story. Quotations from various holy texts head each chapter, offering insight into the world's culture and the religions on which the story is based.

"Lord of Light" is a powerful story of a stuggle against tyranny. It is also a story of religion (pure and twisted), loss, love, the implications of immortality, and the meaning of humanity. I wouldn't say the book changed my life, but it gave me an understanding of holiness, of the tragedy and comedy of humanity, and of the presence of truth and beauty in seemingly unlikely places.

After an incredible story, "Lord of Light" delivers one of the most perfect endings I have ever read; the last pages should be enshrined. The only complaints I have about the book are the typos, the comparative scarcity of female characters, and the fact that it had to end at all.