Roger Zelazny’s collection “Manna from Heaven” has made very little impression on me.

The combination of fantasy and science fiction in this collection does have occasional points of interest. There are moments when the imaginative blend of the two genres manages to pique one’s curiosity. However, the overall writing throughout the collection is rather clunky. The prose lacks the smoothness and elegance that would make the reading experience more enjoyable.

The storylines often feel forced and the characters are not developed deeply enough to engage the reader on an emotional level. As a result, I find myself unable to recommend this collection. It simply does not live up to the expectations that one might have for a work in the fantasy and science fiction genres.

Perhaps others may find something more to appreciate in “Manna from Heaven,” but for me, it falls short in several key areas.

This book of short stories presents a diverse collection, yet it is truly worth perusing if you have relished Zelazny's other literary endeavors. Zelazny, the mastermind behind the renowned Amber series, which I have delved into and critiqued here previously, offers a range of tales in Manna From Heaven. These stories are culled from his works published between 1964 and (posthumously) 1996, culminating in five short pieces set within the Amber universe.

In the introduction, writer Steven Brust lavishes praise upon Zelazny's genius, lauding his remarkable ability to simultaneously confound and reassure the reader. I can entirely empathize with his sentiment! While I may not precisely consider Zelazny a genius, I hold his talent in the highest regard, and I understand precisely what Brust is attempting to convey. I must confess that a few of the short pieces, which vary in length from a mere third of a page to a more substantial 37 pages, left me scratching my head, re-reading various passages, and generally wondering "what just happened?" Nevertheless, I found the majority of them to be highly enjoyable. After all, it's the journey that matters, and Zelazny fearlessly allows his readers to lose their way and then attempt to rediscover it.

"Epithalamium" was a delightful piece that introduced us to an elderly Alice, sent back through the looking glass. I also took a liking to "The Furies," in which three eccentric yet peculiarly gifted individuals band together to pursue a fugitive across the planets and apprehend him... all from the comfort of their own abodes.

The concluding Amber pieces provided a brief yet poignant final glimpse into this universe birthed from Zelazny's fertile imagination. Each story was engaging and enjoyable, especially "Coming To A Cord," which is related from the perspective of an intelligent, animate length of string. However, the Amber stories left me with a tinge of melancholy. It was evident that Zelazny had much more to impart regarding Amber and its counterpart world, Chaos, and there are tantalizing hints here of new intrigues, twists, and turns that the author would unfortunately never have the opportunity to explore. And that, indeed, is a loss for us all.

Manna From Heaven is a posthumous collection of Zelazny's short fiction released in 2003.

He passed away in 1995. Many of the stories had previously been seen in other Zelazny collections. However, it contains at least half a dozen that had not.

Plus, it presents all six of his Amber short works together, and it has a very nice Bob Eggleton wrap-around astronomical cover. The title is a little mysterious with a pair of "n"s in Manna, as the title story (from the Larry Niven Magic anthology series) is spelled with a single one.

I especially enjoyed Godson, which was new to me, and The Furies. It has two collaborations. Come to Me Not in Winter's White is a very fine story written with Harlan Ellison, and The Last Inn on the Road is a very early and very short one written with Dannie Plachta, a big-name fan from the '60s.

Prince of the Powers of This World is a nice Christmas story, and Epithalamium is a nifty Alice-in-Wonderland tale. Kalifriki of the Thread escaped me, but Come Back to the Killing Ground, Alice, My Love is another story featuring the same character and struck me as a very accomplished if murky condensed novel.

Perhaps he meant to expand these into a novel but ran out of time. Of course, the brief returns to the magic of Amber are the somewhat bittersweet main attraction, worth the price of admission on their own.

Godson and the Amber sequels are truly remarkable works.

They possess a unique charm and captivating narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

However, as for the rest of the stories, I found that my interest gradually waned.

Perhaps it was due to a lack of新鲜感 or a different writing style that didn't resonate with me as strongly.

Nevertheless, Godson and the Amber sequels will always hold a special place in my heart as some of the greatest literary works I have ever read.

They have set a high standard for others to follow, and I look forward to seeing what other great stories the author has in store for us in the future.

The only other work that I have perused by Zelazny is the magnificent Great Book of Amber.

This remarkable book provided me with a profound insight into the vast capabilities that Zelazny possessed. I was truly captivated by the majority of it.

However, there were a few stories within the collection that I found to be a trifle dull and/or rather perplexing. Nevertheless, it never failed to astonish me how frequently he managed to catch me off guard with his unexpected twists and turns.

All in all, the experience of reading this book was extremely pleasurable and engaging, leaving me with a deep appreciation for Zelazny's literary prowess.

It is a work that I would highly recommend to any avid reader looking for something unique and thought-provoking.

Uneven collection,

but if you are a fan of Zelazny, you are certain to love each and every one of them.

It's like a bag that is filled to the brim with precious gems.

Here, you will encounter a plethora of ideas that you would typically see in longer books.

The stories within this collection offer a diverse range of themes and settings,

each one presenting a unique perspective and engaging the reader's imagination.

Whether you are drawn to the奇幻elements, the complex characters, or the thought-provoking plots,

this collection has something to offer.

So, if you have a penchant for Zelazny's work,

be sure to pick up this collection and embark on a literary adventure.

You won't be disappointed.

I don't usually have a penchant for reading short stories. The reason is that it often takes me a considerable amount of time to understand the initial setup. By the time I start to feel at ease with the voices or the settings, the stories abruptly come to an end. However, many of Zelazny's stories, especially those in this collection, are deliberately obtuse at the beginning. This makes it easier to simply embrace the confusion and still relish the journey. His ability to deftly颠覆 expectations and redefine the context of what one believes one knows is fully on display in these stories. I was even pleased to have to re-read certain parts just to convince myself that he hadn't cheated and altered the words in some way.

As always, his characters feel genuine, even when they are only alive for the duration of a few pages. I was particularly drawn to Kalifriki of the Thread, who appears in two separate stories. I regret that he doesn't have his own series of novels. I admire how, even in stories where the characters are secondary to the point being made, they still possess personalities and subtleties that are not at all necessary, yet without which the stories would seem overly didactic. Zelazny can convey so much in such a quiet and rapid manner that it is possible to underestimate how skillfully he is constructing a world and guiding one through it.

And then there is the pièce de résistance, the collection of all five Amber short stories published together in a single collection for the very first time. Having never read any of the five before, I found it bittersweet to see not only explanations for some of the more obvious outstanding questions from the Amber novels but also to witness the clear foundations for what could and likely would have become a new Amber series had Zelazny only lived to write it. I have always felt that the ending of the second series is hasty and far too neat, and these stories serve to muddle the waters in a highly satisfying way. And no, that's not paradoxical; that's just Zelazny.

This was an item that was extremely hard to obtain, and it came with a rather high price tag.

However, it was most definitely worth every penny.

The reason being that it houses a collection of short stories that are set within the captivating Amber universe.

This universe is known for its rich and detailed lore, filled with unique characters and thrilling adventures.

The short stories within this collection offer readers a chance to explore different aspects of the Amber universe, delving into the minds and experiences of its inhabitants.

Despite the difficulty in acquiring it and the cost involved, anyone with a passion for the Amber universe or for engaging short stories would find this item to be an absolute treasure.

It provides hours of entertainment and a deeper understanding of the fascinating world that has been created.

Not enough! Not enough!

I find myself missing Zelazny with every single god damned day that passes. I have finally managed to get around to reading this collection. I had deliberately put it off, you see, because I knew that once I finished this, there would be no more Zelazny for me to devour. And that fact truly makes me resentful.

Anyway, this collection turned out to be absolutely fantastic. It was not least due to the multiple Amber stories it contains. These stories pick up the captivating tale right after the end of the Merlin books, continuing to draw the readers into that enchanting and complex world.

I'm still filled with a profound sense of sadness. There is simply no more Zelazny for me. I look at everyone who hasn't read all of his work yet with envy. They still have the joy and excitement of discovering his brilliant writing ahead of them, while I am left here with a longing for more.

It was truly like spending an evening in the company of an old friend. There were some stories that I had never laid eyes on before. Some of them were simply great, captivating from start to finish. All of them were good in their own ways, but there was one in particular that had an ending which I didn't quite care for.

And then there were the Amber stories! Oh, how wonderful they were. No one could turn a phrase like Zelazny. His words seemed to dance on the page, painting vivid pictures in my mind. The worlds he created were so rich and detailed, it was as if I could step right into them.

As I read through these stories, I felt a sense of nostalgia and warmth. It was like reconnecting with a part of myself that I had forgotten. The characters became real to me, their joys and sorrows pulling at my heartstrings.

This evening of reading was a truly magical experience, one that I will cherish for a long time to come.