Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating work about evil
Review: I found this book to be one of Zelazny's best, and one of my favorite books in general. It achieves a very difficult task: getting the reader to like and sympathize with an evil protagonist. Despite the unspeakable acts he committs, and the unsavory characters he associates with, you find yourself liking him. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating work about evil
Review: I found this book to be one of Zelazny's best, and one of my favorite books in general. It achieves a very difficult task: getting the reader to like and sympathize with an evil protagonist. Despite the unspeakable acts he committs, and the unsavory characters he associates with, you find yourself liking him. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy, more than just action
Review: I have read this novel many times, and each time wanting more. Any Amber fan should read this because this world is the start of that world-construct.The relationships between Jack, Morningstar, and his soul, I feel, are relationships that are within ourselves. This fantasy is more than just swords and revenge but a true attempt to show our internal workings externalized
Rating: 
Summary: Not sure what there was to like
Review: I like a lot of Zelazny's stuff, but this book did not do it for me. The science was pretty silly (a planet that stays still), and the world needed a bit more fleshing out. It's almost like a detailed outline. The scale of the story is huge but there's little or no detail. It would have been much better to see Jack in action stealing things and outsmarting people rather than conquering the world.I'm not sure I understand the symbolism of the story. If Morning star was trying to prevent Jack from following in his footsteps why did he have him do what he did?
Rating:
Summary: Not sure what there was to like
Review: I like a lot of Zelazny's stuff, but this book did not do it for me. The science was pretty silly (a planet that stays still), and the world needed a bit more fleshing out. It's almost like a detailed outline. The scale of the story is huge but there's little or no detail. It would have been much better to see Jack in action stealing things and outsmarting people rather than conquering the world. I'm not sure I understand the symbolism of the story. If Morning star was trying to prevent Jack from following in his footsteps why did he have him do what he did?
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing and Fun to Read
Review: I really like the first half of this book. Somehow the 2nd half is a bit of a letdown as Jack's revenge and true destiny are realized. But the whole journey of the trip back from the Dung Pits of Glyve, and the revelations about the two-sided world are great. Jack's character isn't the noble or even reluctant rogue we usually see from Zelazny. He is vengeful and self-centered, greedy and vain. He is downright evil at times. He reminds me of Moorcock's Elric, and then goes past him since he doesn't waste much time lamenting his deeds. The character is very refreshing and fun to read. The world itself is also quite fun and I only wish Zelazny would have spent more time playing there.
One of the best aspects of this book is the character Morningstar and the relationship he has with Jack. Morningstar could be his father for all we know. He could be the spirit of the world sundered in half that was waiting to be reunited. There are many interpretations, I'm sure. He definitely wanted to see that sunrise over the darkside-- maybe his pity was for the world, and he knew only Jack could change things. I have to believe that Morningstar caught him!
Rating:
Summary: A subversive quest of self-discovery
Review: In this novel, Zelazny takes on a number of themes and situations and subverts them all through an allusive, elliptical style that allows multiple interpretations. The title character is a man who is constantly between extremes - he's the master of shadow, in itself an intermediary between light (which in this book governs the world's 'scientific half') and darkness (which governs the 'magical half'). All the dichotomies Zelazny juggles with - light and darkness, science and magic, good and evil, etc. - are always part of the same whole, and the fact that both parts are usually seen as mutually exclusive fuels many of this book's episodes and produces some tension. Throughout the novel, hints are scattered about Jack's double life as a magus and semi-god in the darkness, and as a teacher in the light; meanwhile, Jack faces adversaries representative of light (elaborate machines) and of darkness (strange creatures), and he uses both technological knowledge and magical incantations during his quest. The book is another kind of initiatory voyage, since Jack has been there before but still must go through several challenges, and in the toughest of them he is often confronted with himself - either when put in a chamber of mirrors or when discussing with his own soul. His quest is ultimately a complex quest of self-discovery.
Rating:
Summary: You'll thank me in the morning..
Review: Instead of breaking down the story piece by piece, I'll just save you the time and tell you what I personally thought of Roger Zelazny's Jack of Shadows. This was a great stand-alone book with a cliff-hanger ending that (unfortunatly) does not get resolved with a sequel, but I loved the way it read. This is the kind of book that draws you in right when it starts and keeps beckoning for you to pick it back up for more! Casual readers especially can trust me on this. The character "Shadow Jack" is an anti-hero, but one you'll remember forever and love. This book is never too "light" or too "dark" which makes for the perfect blend and would definitely appeal to all readers. Anime fans who loved the movie "Vampire Hunter D" will especially find this book extremely cool and one for the keeping. The characters and the setting are so weird/unique that a live action movie and or anime, assuming that it be done correctly, would be an instant success! Why hasn't this crossed the minds of Hollywood? Read Jack of Shadows and you'll be plagued with the same questions..
Rating:
Summary: Lord of Shadows
Review: Jack of Shadows is a well known thief. He is also more than a man-- with enemies even more powerful than himself. Those enemies conspire to rob him of his life and peace and love. Eventually, their powers also rob him of his freedom. Jack sets out to teach them a thing or two about robbing a thief and the consequences of obsession. In the process, he learns some hard lessons about himself. The line between good and evil blurs and changes as the story progresses. If you love interesting characters rendered by a genius author, read this brief book. If you can't get a copy, it is worth it to borrow from a library or try the used book market.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Fantasy books ever written.
Review: Jack of shadows is one of the books that brought me to the world of Fantasy. It is a masterpiece written by the master, Roger Zelazny. It was a sad day when this book went out of print. If the publisher ever reprints it, snap it up
| 
