His followers bestowed upon him the title of Mahasamatman, proclaiming him to be a god. However, he chose to shed the Maha- and the -atman, simply referring to himself as Sam. He neither explicitly claimed to be a god nor did he deny it.

"Enig*ma (noun) : something hard to understand or explain." I have only perused Lord of Light once, and I believe a proper critique would necessitate a reread. That being stated, here it goes.

First, the positive aspects. I relished being thrust into the midst of Zelazny's unfathomable world without even a hint of guidance. He compels the reader to exert some effort and make sense of the surroundings. Are these individuals Hindu deities? Who is this talking monkey? The example that often comes to my mind is the initial 100 pages of Steve Erikson's Gardens of the Moon - what on earth was happening? In this kind of narrative design, the author makes a vow to the reader that either through tantalizing informational tidbits (if the author is skillful) or a deluge of explanations in a single scene (if the author is less adept), the mysteries will be elucidated - that is the payoff. I don't wish to transform this into a spoiler-laden review, but suffice it to say, Zelazny provides the nuggets.

I also adored the concept. I have never encountered anything quite like it. Strangeness, as Dan Simmons elucidates, is a prerequisite for a great novel. Lord of Light abounds in strangeness. According to Zelazny, "Lord of Light was deliberately crafted in such a way that it could be regarded as either a science fiction or a fantasy novel. On one hand, I endeavored to offer some justifications for the bizarre occurrences; on the other hand, I employed a style I associate with fantasy in the narration of the story. I wrote it thus intentionally, leaving some deliberate ambiguity, as I desired it to reside somewhat between both camps and not wholly within either. I did this because I noticed that there wasn't much material being written at that time that fit that description; because I wanted to see if I could accomplish it; and because I was curious about how such a book would be received."

What might have irked me is that it is indeed arduous to appreciate the subtleties of the characters' interactions, their motives, and whatever Zelazny is attempting to convey about religion, politics, or technology while one is striving to figure out what is transpiring! That is why, despite my enjoyment of this enigma on one level, I was left with a 3.5 rating. A second reading would undoubtedly enhance that score, potentially quite significantly.

I am an avid enthusiast of science fiction and fantasy. Over the years, I had heard about this particular book, and finally, I decided to pick it up.

It presents a truly remarkable and captivating story. However, be forewarned that it requires a few chapters to become acclimated to the universe and comprehend the unfolding events. So, it is advisable to set aside some time to focus and read without any distractions.

Once the world and the conflict are firmly established, it becomes utterly fascinating. I am certain that I will reread it. This is the kind of book that I find even more enjoyable the second time around. This is because I can better appreciate the subtleties and nuances of what is happening, having already understood the fundamental plot and action of the book.

It truly offers a unique and engaging reading experience that keeps drawing me back.

June 2024. It's a re-read for me, so the following review is a slightly updated version of the 2018 one. I read it as a part of the monthly reading for June 2024 at The Evolution of Science Fiction group.

This book is truly a masterpiece. It is an absolute must-read for SF (and perhaps even fantasy) fans. However, it requires a mature reader. Not in terms of sex and gore (as there is not much of either compared to many current novels), but rather in terms of personal development. At least that's the case for me. I read a Russian translation about 20 years ago and it left me unimpressed: a strange mix of Hinduism and Buddhism, with no straightforward answers about what was happening, and almost no blaster-shooting adventure. Meh... Now I see how wrong I was. The only thing I recalled from it was a description of an Irish stand-down...

In the strange world, which is woven from Hindu mythos, a hero returns.

“His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, however, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of any benefit.” From the very beginning, while heavily utilizing the religious themes from the Indian subcontinent, the author contrasts and lightens the text both with jokes like Under his breath, he called upon the more notable of the current fertility deities, invoking them in terms of their most prominent Attributes. and mentions of a clearly technological nature For six days he had offered many kilowatts of prayer, but the static kept him from being heard On High.

This unique combination of elements makes the book a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

I first read this book in 1968, and now I have re-read it in this edition.

It has truly been one of my favorite books for many years. The story within its pages has always had a special charm that draws me in.

Each time I pick it up, I am transported to a different world, filled with interesting characters and exciting adventures.

The author's writing style is engaging and vivid, making it easy to lose myself in the narrative.

This book holds a special place in my heart, and I know that I will continue to re-read it in the future.

It is a classic that never gets old, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.

**Siddhartha - Binder of the Demons: A Tale of Technology and Myth**

In an alien world colonized by humans, a remarkable story unfolds. The leaders, armed with incredibly advanced technology, present themselves as Hindu gods, while their alien foes are regarded as demons. Amidst this, a man named Sam, once worshipped as the Buddha, wishes to share technology with the common people.

The tale weaves together elements of Hindu myth and hard Science Fiction. We encounter figures like Lord Yama - the Deathgod, Mara - the Lord of Illusion, and the Garuda Bird - Mount of Vishnu. Sam is recalled from Nirvana, the Bridge of the Gods, through the prayers of his followers. He remembers his past battles and teachings.

The demons, known as the Rakasha, are the native inhabitants of the world. They are creatures of energy who abandoned their bodies in search of immortality. Trapped and contained in great magnetic bottles beneath the Ratnagaris, they still lust after the flesh. Siddhartha makes a pact with Taraka, the chief of the Rakasha, to free him and have him scout out the defenses of Heaven.

Meanwhile, in Heaven, a wedding is taking place between a much-feared goddess and Death. The gods, demigods, heroes, and nobles gather, creating a festive spirit. However, the day of battle dawns, and the warriors of Keenset prepare for conflict. Fire elementals glow, and the Rakasha hang in the air. The stage is set for a great struggle that will determine the fate of the world and give hope to the common man.

4.5

To be honest, this has been quite original.

In the first two chapters, I started a bit confused. Then, little by little, I began to understand what all this was about.

Although I generally have differences with religions, I ended up enjoying the book.

Zelazny's prose contributed a great deal in those moments when I was on the verge of not finishing it, and I'm glad I didn't do so.

The unique narrative and the author's ability to create a captivating world kept me engaged throughout.

Despite my initial uncertainties, as I delved deeper into the story, I found myself drawn in by the complex characters and the thought-provoking themes.

It was a journey of discovery that challenged my preconceptions and made me see things from a different perspective.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an original and engaging read.

It is time to affirm the victory of man over this world. Time to sow knowledge, not to crucify swords.

With a "modest" delay, finally I choose the first book by Roger Zelazny and it simply blew my mind! Gods, myths, legends, religions, superpowers, incredible worlds, transformations, battles, MANY COOL BATTLES! Ah, how I loved everything in this book... whether it was because of the calming influence of Buddhism, whether it was because of the super interesting powers of the Gods (I can't help but share that my favorite power remains that of the god Yama: to kill with a gaze!), whether it was because of the scale of the battles, whether it was because of the new worlds that you hardly manage to grasp in your mind... everything is an ideal compilation of random-oriented conscience and unconscious ability to make mistakes correctly..

Zelazny's writing is truly captivating. He creates a rich and immersive universe that draws the reader in from the very beginning. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The story is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction, fantasy, or just a good story.

I have long been a passionate fan of Zelazny's Amber series. In the past, I had heard that he once wrote a story that might be even better, namely Lord of Light. Just recently, I completed reading Lord of Light, and I must say that while I still award the title of "Best Zelazny Story" to the Amber series, it was an extremely close competition.

I'm not typically a science-fiction enthusiast (I have a greater preference for fantasy and horror). So, I was a bit apprehensive when I began this book. Even though Zelazny is my favorite author, I wasn't certain if I would like Lord of Light. I had read some of his sci-fi short stories before and wasn't overly intrigued by them (simply due to the subject matter, not because of the writing, which is always outstanding). It took me a while to get into Lord of Light, but once I finished the first chapter and delved into the second, I was completely hooked.

This book tells the story of Sam, who may or may not be Buddha. He wages a war against those who have assumed the roles of Hindu gods and finds himself fighting against insurmountable odds while spreading the teachings of Buddhism. I'll admit that I knew almost nothing about Buddhism and Hinduism before reading this book, and I still don't know precisely how much I've learned, as I don't know exactly what parts Zelazny took from established religions and what parts he fabricated himself. But ultimately, it doesn't matter. Sam's crusade is one that I find myself wholeheartedly supporting, regardless of my real-world beliefs.

The book had a somewhat rocky start for me because the prose was a bit more poetic than what I'm accustomed to seeing from Zelazny. At first, it was a little off-putting as it wasn't as easy to read as some of his other works. However, I soon settled into the style of the voice and came to appreciate the beautiful imagery that he was able to create with his words.

I also found it a bit challenging to fully immerse myself in the story early on because there were a lot of names being introduced and past events being discussed, about which I had no prior knowledge. So, I found myself having to flip back a few pages in the first chapter to re-read certain excerpts. But once I got things sorted out, it was smooth sailing.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an element of religion or mythology in their fiction (similar to Neil Gaiman's American Gods). However, I would ensure that the person knew what they were getting into, and I certainly wouldn't make this the first Zelazny book I presented to someone. It's a bit difficult to get started, and I would hate for someone to give up on this book and never give Zelazny another chance.

Five stars, well deserved.

On a second reading in 2011, I was truly amazed. I had initially had some doubts about whether I truly loved Lord of Light or was just influenced by the hype. But after this second read, I know the truth - it is an absolute masterpiece. Everything about it is perfect. I don't know how else to describe it. I'm 100% certain that these are my own views, and I'm no longer wondering if the book's reputation is preceding it. It's been a long time since I've read a book that I was as into as Lord of Light. And that's saying a lot considering I've been reading many books that offer entirely new experiences.

In 2014, on my third reading, I was once again blown away. I can't believe it's been nearly three years since I last read this book. What was I thinking? (It's still awesome, by the way.)

Check out my full, spoiler light, video review HERE with special guest Chris from Liminal Spaces.

While I can see why this is considered a masterpiece and I understand the technical writing ability Zelazny needed to pull this off, it still left me with a sense of longing after all the effort I put in trying to follow the characters, themes, and fragmented plot.

This is a science fiction novel that masquerades as a Hindu/Buddhist fantasy. The way Zelazny takes Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices and uses loosely described science to explain them is truly amazing.

Even though this reads almost entirely like a fantasy novel, there are hints throughout, right up to the end, of what is really going on here, and it's clear that at its core, this is a science fiction story.

The hardest part was keeping up with all the named characters as they are reincarnated. Now that I know more about this story, I feel like a re-read would be extremely enlightening. It would give me a better chance to fully understand the complex web of relationships and the true nature of the story.

I'm looking forward to delving back into this unique world and seeing what new insights I can gain.

The front cover of this book labels Lord of Light as "The Legendary SF Classic". The blurb on the back cover starts with:

Earth is long since dead. On a colony planet, a band of men has gained control of technology...

Based on these two pieces of information, I was certain that I was about to embark on a straightforward sci-fi adventure, perhaps in the style of Robert A. Heinlein or Ray Bradbury. However, what I should have paid closer attention to was the enormous fucking Buddha statue on the front cover and the conclusion of the back cover blurb:

...made themselves immortal, and now rule their world as the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Only one dares oppose them: he who was once Siddhartha and is now Mahasamatman. Binder of Demons, Lord of Light.

This second part of the quote, when taken out of the aforementioned sci-fi context, reads much more like an epic fantasy, which is indeed what this book truly is - albeit with a diverse range of actual established religions from our culture.

Once I adjusted my expectations, accepted the non-linear storytelling, and figured out the numerous names - not to mention the body/gender switching - for each character, I truly became engrossed in this book.

That being said, there is no valid reason to give the protagonist so many names and freely switch between them in the text:

However, who knows why, most people prefer worldly pursuits over religious ones.

Organized religion represents a perpetual threat to the development of every society in the universe... Myths themselves are valuable and interesting to study, but if they are used to impose totalitarian power, then they acquire an evil character.

Robert Zelazny was definitely inspired by Indian mythology, as he skillfully weaved elements from it into his excellent story "Lord of Light"! In the future, high-tech versions of the Indian gods have conquered and controlled a distant planet, and have also found a way to be practically immortal. However, this is not enough for them, and over time, they have established a terrifying religious dictatorship, suppressing every attempt by ordinary people at enlightenment or industrial progress. The main hero in the book is the futuristic Siddhartha (Buddha). He gets the opportunity to join the deities, but decides to oppose them, fighting against their absolute power... Subsequently, many exciting twists and epic battles occur... and the book also contains a wonderful sense of humor!

"When there is no real hope, we must create it ourselves. Even a counterfeit coin can sometimes be useful."

"We will drown him again in the vortex of life. Only in this way will we succeed in freeing him from the divine shackles."

"— My congratulations. Even if I have some bad karma, surely it has already dissolved in alcohol.
— The definition of 'bad karma' applies to everything that our friends don't like."

"While nature can exist without large cities, the inhabitants of the City need not only synthetic distractions. Even if the whole world were a city — Vishnu reasoned — the inhabitants would turn part of it into a desert, because within every person there is something greedy, waiting for order to end and chaos to begin."

"Never play with a god before you have defeated him!"

"Don't claim to be a god, but don't deny it either. Given the circumstances, neither of the two statements could bring him any particular benefit."

If you like this review, I now have a website: www.michaelkamakana.com



Childhood: Later addition: I was comparing this to a massive ‘Game of Thrones’ epic fantasy. For me, ‘Game of Thrones’ is far too long for its limited plot, ideas, and world. Although it is Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber etc that is the fantasy comparison, I have been unable to read much of either. For me, these fantasies are not coherent even in the created world and are not interested in magic but rather politics and war. When GRR says GOT is basically the fantasy of ‘War of the Roses’, well, why did he not just write historical novels on the War of the Roses? I must reaffirm my five for this book. Even if the treatment of the central texts that inform the development of India is sort of cast aside for Buddhism, this book does not seem to model on any particular ‘real history’ stories. And yet, this book is not a big dumb object, first contact, triumph of science, or post-apocalypse, which are common in SFF. Rather, it gives that essential ‘sense of wonder’ in creating its own story...


Later addition: Now I have read this 4 times (episodically while watching hockey playoffs...), informed by much of the Indic philosophy I have read, if not the religious texts out of which Hinduism is born (Vedas, Upanishads, etc...). So perhaps I come to this fantasy/science fiction work more educated. This is probably for me an early tale of how Buddhism operated (or continues) as an enlightening force on sclerotic, oppressive, caste-bound Hinduism. There is some exoticism and some fascination in the depiction of various gods of said pantheon, though I can see they are sort of reduced to superheroes. The humour continues to be jarringly'modern'. Serious exploration of the attributes, foci, reality of gods is revealed as so much sfnal tech/magic... Probably not a beloved aspect of this story to believers. Rather like how some fundamental Christians took 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. But this is colourful, engaging, exciting, action adventure. Fast, easy to read, easy to identify with characters, ideologies, desires... Only problem for me: it is too short!...


First review: I have read this at least 3 times: in different eras of my life - once as a teenager, once at university, and once just a year ago to see if it would work for a friend who is a graphic illustrator (he loved it). It confused him for the first 30 pages, which is a framing set-up the author does not openly notify the reader. Then, once you get into it, it's great. It is somewhat episodic and is said to follow certain Hindu stories, but I don't know any and it works fine. I did remember certain sequences quite well. I got over the jarring different voice in comic scenes. I loved the ending, which is often a disappointment to me...

Overall, this book has had a lasting impact on me, and I highly recommend it to others who enjoy engaging and unique fantasy/science fiction.