Rating: 
Summary: Kite, With Broken String
Review: Zelazny was one of the field's premier science fiction and fantasy writers from the mid-sixties to the nineties, giving us some truly unique visions and always told in his own voice, a voice colored around the edges by cynicism and a touch of humor, but mainly couched in a sense of legend and archetype. This book begins in very typical Zelazny fashion, introducing us to the world of literal demons, mainly drawn from Chinese legends. And the introduction will grab you; its setting and concept are very well drawn and captivating.The story is told from the point of view of Kai Wren, also known as Lord Demon and the Godslayer, so named as the only demon to ever defeat a god in their long running war. But as we meet him, we find an artisan and something of a hermit, who has spent the last 120 years designing and fashioning a magical bottle, who has feelings for his human servant (something demons aren't supposed to have). When his servant is murdered by some scrub demons during a routine run to Earth for pizza, Kai is galvanized to action, first to obtain revenge on the perpetrators, and later, as just who the real brains behind the murder becomes more and more of a puzzle, he finds himself working as an investigator, slowly developing friendships with other humans and demons as he gathers information. If the starting scenario had been consistently carried through the entire book, this might have been a very good novel. Unfortunately, after about page 70 or so, it deteriorates into very ordinary developments, as the demons are more and more portrayed as having very human qualities and vices and several rather pointless additions are made to the initial idea. The old idea of alternate universes accessed by 'gates' becomes one of the main plot movers (even if a couple of these universes are populated by hangers and socks its still not very original), most of the 'gods' are only sketchily drawn and seem remarkably weak to be gods, and most of the 'puzzle' the average reader will figure out long before Kai Wren does. The final battle is certainly not Zelazny in his prime, as it is a complete cop-out, a retreat to 'this is fantasy, anything goes', and will severely disappoint the reader. I don't know whether the above problems are those of Zelazny not having time before his death to completely flesh out his story idea and correct perceived problems or are those of having the novel completed by Jane Lindskold with her own ideas that don't mesh very well with Zelazny's original concept. But the net result, while still very readable and good for some mild entertainment, does not compare to the marvelous tales an earlier Zelazny gave us, from Lord of Light and This Immortal to Jack of Shadows.
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