Welcome to 999 Anno Domini.

Prepare for the millennium year along with The Millennium Contest #1, “Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming.” If you have a penchant for irony, that essential element of classical comedy, you are sure to delight in the resurgence of ancient storytelling in the first book of this series by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley.

By the way, in the tenth century in Saxony, the rediscovery of ancient literature and the ethic of public service held great significance in the Holy Roman Empire. So, reverting to ancient comedy is, in a sense, quite fitting for the period. Indeed, Zelazny and Sheckley’s ingenious and warped use of traditional-fairy-tale motifs, dating back to 1991 with Ballantine Spectra, is just the beginning of an enthralling series.

In the first installment, we are introduced to The Millennium Competition, where Good and Evil engage in a once-in-a-thousand-years battle to either inspire or, perhaps, shatter satisfaction, leading to sudden despair and hopelessness. For the second millennium, the question looms: who will emerge victorious? Will the magnificent Gothic cathedral astonish and empower the Forces of Light, inspiring the next thousand years? Or will the Forces of Darkness overwhelm the judges with a macabre parody of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming? Will the Demon Azzie Elbub’s demonic reality-play, acted out by real participants, drain away all hope for meaning? The answer, well…let’s just say there are spoilers ;)

The narrative flows smoothly, blending light humor with copious amounts of irony and all-too-familiar experiences with bureaucracy. Unfortunately, this may hit a little too close to home for anyone who has had their carefully submitted applications summarily rejected for no good reason, perhaps just because a bureau chief felt like it. I’m looking at you, US Department of Education.

The theme and narrative might pose a challenge to those of us who anticipate the dramatic. So, be prepared for some disappointment and encounters with the strange and complex nature of “free will.” Will grace prevail over demonic plotting? The structure adheres to an ironic plot development, much like that of “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring or “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde.

As budding fiction writers, Lynn and I relished this diversion from the weighty plot forms and sudden dramas that we all love. All things considered, we give this book five stars for its excellent storytelling, engaging sentence structure, and the musicality of its words. We will definitely be adding Book #2 to our upcoming reading list.

This book really had the potential to be so much better.

The basic concept is that there's a contest held once every millennium between the forces of Dark and Light. The entry that has the most significant influence on the world wins its side the right to have a more predominant charge over mankind. A demon named Azzie Elbub decides to enter this contest by creating a fairytale that goes wrong. However, bureaucracy keeps getting in the way, time and time again.

The biggest issue for me was that I couldn't figure out how this one little fairytale would have any real impact on the universe.

The difficulties that Azzie encounters are somewhat funny, but the problem is that he gets into and out of them extremely quickly. It feels very episodic. He never really experiences any personal inconvenience, and there's never more than one thing going wrong at a time.

Even worse, the events don't build up to something truly massive.

The humour is there, but considering the nature of the story, it's not as obvious as it should be. Random mentions of blood, gore, and sexual references also detract from its funniness.

The characters seem to be puppets being jerked around on strings. There's no real development for them, and Ylith (they misspelled her name as 'Zlith' on the cover) and Babriel are rather dull and uninteresting.

Despite all of these flaws, the book was still somewhat entertaining. I would rate it two stars.

I know that I read the Chronicles of Amber and The Lords of Light a long time ago, and I liked them. However, when I compare them with this book, I have to say that I am a bit disappointed...

Therefore, I think it is better not to rate it...

The Chronicles of Amber and The Lords of Light are both well-known works that have left a deep impression on me. The unique worldviews and interesting storylines in those books are very attractive.

But this book, although it may have its own merits, fails to meet my expectations when compared with the previous two. Maybe it's because of my personal preferences, or maybe it's because the book didn't present its ideas clearly enough.

In any case, I don't feel comfortable giving it a rating at the moment. I need more time to think about it and figure out what exactly I didn't like about it.

**Title: The Wonders of Nature**

Nature is truly a remarkable and awe-inspiring force.

From the majestic mountains that reach towards the sky, to the vast oceans that stretch as far as the eye can see, every aspect of nature has its own unique beauty and charm.

The colorful flowers that bloom in the spring, the lush green forests that provide a home for countless species, and the gentle breeze that caresses our faces are just a few of the many wonders that nature has to offer.

We should take the time to appreciate and protect these natural treasures, for they are not only a source of inspiration and joy, but also essential for the survival of our planet.

Let us all do our part to ensure that future generations can continue to experience the beauty and wonder of nature. 3.5☆

It's been a long while since I read this particular piece of work.

However, I vividly remember finding it extremely entertaining.

When I initially read it, I was completely unaware that there were additional books in the series.

This realization has piqued my interest and made me consider rereading it one day.

By doing so, I would have the opportunity to explore the rest of the series and discover what other adventures and stories it holds.

I believe that rereading it would not only bring back the joy and excitement I felt during the first read but also allow me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the overall narrative.

It would be like embarking on a new journey, even though I have already traversed a part of it before.

So, who knows? Maybe in the not-too-distant future, I will pick up this book again and immerse myself in its captivating world.

How can a demon do some "good Evil" (?????) with an inspector of "Good" watching over his shoulder?

The Millenium is fast approaching, and the Christian mythological battle of Good v Evil, with a unique twist, is raging in a "TV reality show contest" to win the souls of mankind.

As the title implies, this fantasy novel by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley is a sharp satire of traditional fairy tale themes, theological mythologies, and much more.

Mostly, it's a spin-off of the "sleeping beauty & Prince Charming" fairy tale, with yet another twist (yes, another one).

There's the Frankenstein syndrome; a sleeping beauty who is just "napping"; a cowardly prince Charming; a psychopath "Excalibur" with a life of its own but very low wits; Parsifal on steroids and "high" on...whatever, raping an angel; Ancient Greek gods advising demons; Harpies, Sirens, Dwarves, Cinderella, dragons, Aladim, converted witches... in brief, the whole lot.

The characters are not deeply developed as almost all of them, except the main one, are "stock characters", or archetypes. These are characters in a narrative whom readers recognize from many previous narratives or as part of a storytelling tradition or convention. The presence of a collection of stock characters is a crucial component used as a time-and-effort saving shortcut for story creators. Authors can easily populate their tales with existing well-known character types that are easily recognizable. Another advantage is that stock characters help move the story along, allowing readers to immediately understand the characters and their motivations. Moreover, they can be used to build expectations, and in some cases, they can also enhance narrative elements like suspense, irony, or plot twists if those expectations are ultimately subverted. And here, Zelazny & Sheckley excelled and made full use of this "trick".

In my opinion, the novel lacks a bit of cohesion. Certain characters seem to be forgotten along the way, and the climax comes and goes too quickly. The idea behind the story is brilliant, but I felt the plot was somewhat unsatisfying. It could have been expanded much further. As it is, it seems they were in a hurry to finish the book. Perhaps this is because it was written by "two hands", and sometimes such collaborations don't work as well as intended.

Even though the book is not at the same level as previous works from these two writers, there is still a great deal of fun and laughter to be found in these pages of a very amusing book about an entertaining fantasy.

A very funny book can bring a great deal of joy and entertainment. It has the power to make us laugh out loud, forget our worries, and transport us to a world filled with humor and wit. Whether it's a collection of hilarious short stories, a comical novel, or a humorous non-fiction piece, a funny book has the ability to brighten our day and put a smile on our face.

The characters in a funny book are often larger than life, with exaggerated personalities and absurd antics. They find themselves in the most ridiculous situations, and their reactions and solutions are what make us laugh. The dialogue is sharp and witty, filled with puns, wordplay, and clever one-liners.

Reading a funny book is not only a great way to relax and unwind, but it can also have a positive impact on our mental health. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress, boost our immune system, and improve our overall mood. So, the next time you're looking for a good read, pick up a very funny book and let the laughter begin!

This book was truly HILARIOUS! It was a total play on words that kept me entertained from start to finish. I absolutely adored it. However, I must admit that it was a little on the gory side at times.

It has been several years since I last read this wonderful book. I had loaned out my copy, and unfortunately, it is now out of print. This makes me sad because I would love to have it back in my collection.

If by some miracle I were to find this book again, it would immediately find its way back onto my library shelves. It is just such a FUN book that I can't imagine not having it in my possession.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and doesn't mind a bit of gore. It's a unique and entertaining read that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

This is a light-hearted fantasy parody that takes readers on a wild and somewhat chaotic ride.

Even for a book that is meant to be a bit of a joke, the story seems to be all over the place. It has a real ADHD feel to it as it rapidly introduces characters, only to quickly lose interest and dispose of them.

However, despite its scattered nature, this book is extremely easy to read. You can literally put it down in the middle of a sentence and pick it back up again without any issues.

The light-hearted tone and the fast-paced nature of the story make it a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for those looking for something a bit different and not too serious.

Overall, while it may not be a masterpiece of literature, this fantasy parody offers a fun and entertaining escape from reality.

A fun read indeed! It often consists of nice short chapters, which is quite appealing. Fans of Good Omens would likely enjoy this as well.

However, the aspect that lowers its standing in comparison to Good Omens is its overly episodic nature. It goes from this to that and then to this again. There isn't a strong enough continuous thread to carry the reader through. It feels like a series of hiccups in the protagonist's plot, one after the other. And aside from the basic premise, there isn't much tying it all together.

Despite this drawback, it still has its charm with the short chapters and the potential to engage readers who are looking for a light and somewhat disjointed read. But for those who prefer a more seamless and interconnected story, it may fall a bit short.

Overall, it's a mixed bag, with both enjoyable elements and areas that could use improvement.

Love this book!

It is truly a feast for total western lit geeks. Although it may seem a bit silly at times, the writing is excellent. There are even a couple of moments that are genuinely sweet and some interesting philosophical nuggets to ponder over.

This book is the best of the trilogy. However, the entire trilogy is a delight and well worth checking out if fantasy and/or western culture is your area of expertise and you don't take either the book or yourself too seriously. It offers an escape into a world filled with adventure, unique characters, and thought-provoking ideas. Whether you're a die-hard fan of western literature or simply looking for an entertaining read, this trilogy has something to offer. So, pick up a copy and let yourself be swept away by the magic within its pages.

This book is a hard read. It has its amusing moments, which can make you smile or even laugh out loud. However, it is also a struggle to finish.

The language used in the book is quite complex, and there are many difficult words and sentences that require careful thought and analysis. The plot is also rather convoluted, with many twists and turns that can be confusing at times.

Despite these challenges, the book does have its redeeming qualities. The author has a unique writing style that is engaging and captivating, and the characters are well-developed and interesting.

If you are willing to put in the effort, this book can be a rewarding read. However, if you are looking for an easy and light-hearted read, this may not be the book for you.