DILVISH, THE DAMNED

Rating:
Summary: Masterful mood, slightly incoherent.
Review: I first read _Dilvish_ when I was 10 or so. That was when I fell in love with Zelazny's mastery of dark and forboding moods. It remains one of my favorite books, despite its shortcomings, which are as follows. This book is a collection of short stories that were published individually, and that is where most of its problems come from--sparse character development, minor inconsistencies, many unanswered questions, and lack of a sense of continuity. For the record, _This Immortal_ remains his best, and _Roadmarks_ his second. Then, his short story collections, especially _Last Defender of Camelot_. Dilvish would follow, marking the dividing line between his good stuff, and his trash, like the pulp Amber series and the recent posthumous stuff. Oh, yeah, and whatever you do, avoid the "sequel" to this book, _The Changing Land_. Whatever momentary brilliance is here didn't make it for the next round.

Rating:
Summary: Damned Good!
Review: I recommend that you read this book first before you read the Changing Land-which also features the adventures of Dilvish.

The is a very uneven book, no doubt because it is a collection of short stories and fill-in chapters ranging from 1967 to 1982. Still, it has its moments particularly in the two longest chapters, Tower of Ice and Devil and the Dancer. Here, Zelazny was at full power, and I whipped through the book, which had been slow going up to that point. Dilvish is best enjoyed like Conan or Elric-- not for literary style or depth, but for sheer action, adventure and imagination. Of course, I came to like Black, the metal horse from Hell, best of all. He reminds me of Spock in a way. I usually end up saying that a Zelazny book leaves me wanting more, and that was the case this time. Luckily there is more-- The Changing Land.

Rating:
Summary: This is off of the book's back cover.
Review: The Road From Hell... Escaping from Hell was only the beginning for Dilvish and Black, his demonic metal horse. Finding Jelerak, the evil sorcerer who sent him to two hundred years of torture, was the only thing that interested him. But Fate had other plans. The armies of Colonel Lylish attacked his homeland, and only Black could carry Dilvish through the enemy lines to warn the king. The city of Dilfar was under siege, and only Dilvish, descendant of Selar, could raise the ghostly legions of Shoredan and bring them to its aid. Then a damsel in distress cried out for his help-but really wanted his blood! Twin sorcerers needed him as a pawn in a deadly game for power. An ancient, forgotten goddess tried and failed to stop his quest for vengeance, while a werewolf almost succeeded. Then, when Dilvish finally climbed to Jelerak's stronghold in the tower of ice, he found nothing but greater perils separating him from his ancient enemy.

Rating:
Summary: Damned if you do and damned if you don't
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite works of fiction!

The story concerns Dilvish the Damned's quest for revenge. The backdrop to the story is this: Jhelerak, formerly a white magician who challenged Hohorga the Maleficient and was defeated, has lapsed back into evil after Dilvish's ancestor, Selar, killed the Maleficient One.

Much later Dilvish prevents Jhelerak from sacrificing a young woman and Jhelerak turns Dilvish's body to stone, sending his soul to the deepest Hell the dark mage can manage. Centuries later, Dilvish sells his soul to the supernatural creature Black in return for escape and getting vengence on Jhelerak - an aim which has become Dilvish's obsession. Just as Jhelerak was completely changed by the actions of the Maleficient, Dilvish riding a black mount "from hell" and equipped with the blackest of magics, the Awful Sayings and the eyes of a demon, returns for vengence. Although a work of "high adventure" the book is filled with philosophical considerations combined with bits of humor ["The Devil with them all, Dilvish the Damned" says one anti-Hero referring to the possibility that gods and devils might simply be alter-egos of one another! And "'Damned if you do and damned if you don't,' said Dilvish the Damned, dismounting" referring to Dilvish's tendency to risk his life for damsels in distress].

Somewhat similar to (but better than) Jirel of Joiry or Elric of Melnibone, this is well worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read, and a fun re-read as well
Review: This is one of my favorite books by Zelazney. Purely in the fantasy realm, of course. I was somewhat intrigued, yet simultaneously taken aback by the title. But you soon find out why this green-clad dude is referred to as "damned". Dilvish is one of my favorite non-human protagonists. And if you liked more recent books like "Bring me the Head of Prince Charming", you will like this book. I have reread "Dilvish the Damned" several times already and will probably read it again and again in the coming years. A fun and memorable book.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read, and a fun re-read as well
Review: This is one of my favorite books by Zelazney. Purely in the fantasy realm, of course. I was somewhat intrigued, yet simultaneously taken aback by the title. But you soon find out why this green-clad dude is referred to as "damned". Dilvish is one of my favorite non-human protagonists. And if you liked more recent books like "Bring me the Head of Prince Charming", you will like this book. I have reread "Dilvish the Damned" several times already and will probably read it again and again in the coming years. A fun and memorable book.

Rating:
Summary: A rousing swords and sorcery tale
Review: Zelazny is best known for his AMBER series, as well as LORD OF LIGHT. DILVISH is a compilation of several short stories that Zelazny wrote so each section is broken into different chapters. The pace moves well enough but not as is expected today in the typical 1000 page fantasy epic.

That said there are several fantastic elements in these stories which I rarely find in later fantasy novels so, for that alone, the reading is worth it.

Remember, his best tale would be the first five books of AMBER and DILVISH, THE DAMNED is somewhere between pretty good and good, but not great, like Amber.

Moorcock's pulp stories, which were later put into slim novels, is similar in pacing to that of DILVISH, THE DAMNED.

Rating:
Summary: A rousing swords and sorcery tale
Review: Zelazny is best known for his AMBER series, as well as LORD OF LIGHT. DILVISH is a compilation of several short stories that Zelazny wrote so each section is broken into different chapters. The pace moves well enough but not as is expected today in the typical 1000 page fantasy epic.

That said there are several fantastic elements in these stories which I rarely find in later fantasy novels so, for that alone, the reading is worth it.

Remember, his best tale would be the first five books of AMBER and DILVISH, THE DAMNED is somewhere between pretty good and good, but not great, like Amber.

Moorcock's pulp stories, which were later put into slim novels, is similar in pacing to that of DILVISH, THE DAMNED.