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Summary: A Last, Lingering Taste of Roger Zelany
Review: "Lord Demon" is, I understand, the final posthumous book of the great Roger Zelazny, completed by his friend and companion Jane Lindskold. It is a novel which fits well within the classic Zelazny mold, set in a world of the quasi-rationalized supernatural. This time the mythological background is Chinese, but I think if you did a DNA analysis of "Lord Demon" you would find strains of "Lord of Light" and probably "Jack of Shadows" in its ancestry. I would not select it as among the very best of his works -- Zelazny's best are dazzling -- but "Lord Demon" is fun to read and the usual Zelazny themes are dancing around. If you're a Zelazny fan, I think you will like it. And if you have never read him before ... well, it's not a bad introduction at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Great.. ..start.
Review: *spoilerwarning*I started reading.. it was great! Or, well at least very good. Not one of the best, but very good. But somewhere halfway in the book the quality just drops... I mean, dimensions of coathangers? cheating in a fight, no problem - but *wishing* the enemy away from the battle with a magic bottle? and using said bottle to just solve away all problems? DUH! And some of the scenes are just pretty pathetic.. talking puppies and cute demons. Better to have left the book unfinished and only reading the first half. No offence meant, few people can finish other writer's books, and if the writer is Zelazny, well - it's near impossible...
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Summary: enter the gods and goddesses....
Review: ...on a distant world, where tyrants in control of superior technologies have taken on the roles of the Hindu pantheon--until one among them resurrects Buddhists teachings to fight for independence. Marvelous.
Rating:
Summary: A Sequel Is Needed
Review: A sequel is on the way --- not Roger's, not Jane's --- bear with me on this. Kai Wren will continue --- the work in progress is firewalled, but can be posted on a website, if need be. Only 3% is done at the moment, anyway.
Rating:
Summary: An airless museum of Zelazny artifacts
Review: All of the right Zelazny stuff is wired into this book, but somehow "Lord Demon" comes across as a museum diorama rather than a living, breathing adventure fantasy. It's got Zelazny's standard superhero, who resembles Sam in "Lord of Light." The minor difference here is that Kai Wren, Lord Demon is a god-slayer, whereas Sam was a god who slew the occasional demon. Zelazny incorporated the Hindu pantheon into "Lord of Light." He used a mystical Chinese background for "Lord Demon." "Lord of Light" is a fantasy classic, maybe Zelazny's best work. "Lord Demon" is---well, it's still Zelazny (plus Lindskold) which means it's well-researched and full of exotic, non-Western concepts. There are interesting creatures galore---good, bad, and scrub demons; a Chinese magician and his daughter; a few gods and godlets; dragons; Fu Dogs (actually lions in Chinese religious symbolism); even a stray Sidhe. Kai Wren is a glassblower as well as a god-slayer, and his bottles can contain whole universes. Unfortunately, the creators of Kai Wren's own universe forgot to add the oxygen. Hardly anything breathes on its own in "Lord Demon," or reacts with the other elements of this book. The Fu Dogs are given long, overly-cute stretches of text that do little to move the plot forward. There are pointless visits to the 'Hanger Plane' and the 'Sock Drawer Plane' that do nothing but serve as poignant reminders of previous journeys with Zelazny through the Shadow worlds of Amber. Hard-core Zelazny fans, go ahead and read "Lord Demon." An occasional paragraph may ignite that old feeling of nostalgia. I experienced a definite pang during Kai Wren's first encounter with the scrub demons. New Zelazny readers, start with "This Immortal" or "Lord of Light" or "Creatures of Light and Darkness." The latter book, first published in 1969 was inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, and in turn has inspired a horde of imitators but none as good. "A Night in the Lonesome October" (1993) displays Zelazny's talent for the darkly comic. The book is narrated by a dog named Snuff and its hero is Jack the Ripper (really!) If you'd like to read an excellent Chinese mythology-based fantasy (complete with Fu Dogs), try Barbara Hambly's, "Bride of the Rat God."
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful start, but alas...
Review: As others have pointed out, Lord Demon starts out in a manner fitting of Zelazny. The ideas and the style, the writing, are everything one could want. Truth be told, the first several chapters through, that nostalgic feel of classic Zelazny was so strong, I could have wept. Okay maybe that's a bit too dramatic, but you get the idea.. :P In any case, there was suddenly a point when it hit, that the book just lost it and went downhill. It was actually quite a noticeable division. The last part in particular was hastily thrown together, far too many easy outs, and simply badly executed. I'm tempted to blame all that on Lindskold, but its probably unfair to pass judgement in such a blanket fashion, especially since Zelazny did write some pretty bad (IMHO) books towards the end... So I guess I'll just leave it as a book with a beginning that was a joy to read and an ending that does it quite an injustice. Zelazny fans should still read it though, because there is some good stuff in there, more than enough to remind us of how much poorer the world is with his passing.
Rating:
Summary: He was the Lord of Light
Review: Even Zelazny's worst books were better than, say, Robert Jordan or Terry Brooks' best. This is by no means his worst effort. Like some of the demons, it's only a short sketch: we don't know what else he intended and what he would have said if he'd had the time before that guy with the scythe went after him. But, yeah, it's the last bottle from a notable cellar, and the stuff inside is strong; it made my eyes water. Just the thing with which to toast Roger's courage!
Rating: 
Summary: "...A Fine Tribute." --Publishers Weekly
Review: From Publishers Weekly: "Lindskold effectively captures the voices of Zelazny's wise-cracking characters and continues the expert blending of magical and mundane that makes his work so enjoyable. This novel is fine Zelazny, and a fine tribute." From Library Journal: "Filled with offbeat humor and sparkling images, Zelazny's final novel--completed by his friend and biographer Lindskold--provides a last glimpse into the font of creativity and brash imagination that made Zelazny one of sf's most memorable writers."
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Summary: Lindskold deftly realizes Zelazny's wit and style!
Review: I have to disagree with the first commentator. Despite the explicatives, which leads me to believe the writer of the review is a little too sensitive, Lord Demon is a great read. The use of sh*t is used properly in the vernacular of the time-period the book is set in and is in and of itself very funny. Imagine an all powerful demon saying the word and you will understand what I am saying. Start to finish I was thoroughly entertained and highly recommend this book to others. By the way, the word Sh*t is only used 6 times, not 30, in the first chapter.
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Summary: Absolutely wonderful - invokes memories of Lord of Light!
Review: I must admit that I was skeptical of this book. I didn't care much for Donnerjack, and I was afraid that this book would be disappointing - but...IT WAS ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL! This book is so vibrantly Roger Zelazny, I almost cried when it was over. If you're a Zelazny fan, please read this - it will make you feel as if the great master himself is standing before you, reciting yet another masterpiece. Jane Lindskold did a marvellous job. Ms. Lindskold thank you for keeping his spirit alive - wish we could have a sequel of the adventures of Kai Wren!
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