The Last Defender of Camelot by roger zelazny

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A Great Challenge

Zelazny is by no means an effortless author to read. His works present a significant challenge to the reader. However, the effort invested in reading his books is always richly rewarded.

His short fiction is a prime example of this. It often takes the reader half of the story to begin to understand what is actually happening. But once that initial confusion is overcome, the reader is plunged into a truly powerful tale that has the potential to linger in the mind for years to come.

Zelazny's writing style is complex and multifaceted, demanding the reader's full attention and engagement. Yet, it is precisely this complexity that makes his work so fascinating and unforgettable.

If you are looking for a literary experience that will stretch your mind and expand your horizons, then I highly recommend giving Zelazny's work a try. Read it and discover the unique world that he has created.

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Myrmiderp

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

My all-time favorite Zelazny short story is "For a Breath I Tarry."

This story showcases Roger Zelazny at his absolute finest. The narrative is a captivating exploration of time, consciousness, and the meaning of existence.

Zelazny's writing style in this story is both lyrical and profound, drawing the reader in and making them reflect on the nature of the universe and our place within it.

The characters are vividly drawn, and the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

"For a Breath I Tarry" is not just a short story; it is a work of art that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire and delight readers today.

If you haven't read this story yet, I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.

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Megid

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is essentially an odds-and-sods collection of Zelazny's works.

The centerpieces are two novellas that would later be expanded into novels. Zelazny claims, in the introductions to both, that he prefers them in this form. Of course, if this weren't the case, there would be no reason to publish them.

The first novella is “He-Who-Shapes”. It benefits from a better title than its novel-length successor, “The Dream Master”. The story of Render, the Shaper, has the simple, classical power of pride-goeth-before-a-fall. Additionally, some of the dream scenes are well executed. However, for some reason, the novella is larded with Render's musings about the increase in suicides in the future society. Maybe this is meant to hint at a death-drive in Render's behavior, but mostly it just distracts from the story. Moreover, the whole thing is permeated with a rather off-putting fear of the power of women.

The other novella, “Damnation Alley”, later expanded into a novel of the same name, is not as good. Zelazny writes in his introduction that he wrote it after reading Hunter Thompson's “Hell’s Angels”. It shows all the signs of an infatuation with stereotypically brutish masculinity. The main character is literally called Hell. Luckily, that doesn't matter as he's not a real person but a literary idealization of a biker outlaw. Zelazny's post-apocalyptic world isn't real either. How are Los Angeles and Boston supposed to have survived the nuclear exchange? The terrain between them is not a nuclear wasteland but filled with video-game hazards. Also, the appearance of wave after wave of bikers for Hell to mow down at the end and the woman who falls into his arms after he kills everyone she knows are rather video-game like. Unlike in a game, there is no struggle to win to distract from the predictability of every plot point, the lack of memorable characters, and the fact that the whole thing is just a misguided ode to violent machismo.

The rest of the stories are mostly short, consisting mainly of an idea and Zelazny's style. It's a decent combination, but the stories don't leave a lasting impression. The only exception is the title story, which finds an interesting and different angle on the Arthurian legend. However, it really needs to be longer to flesh things out and make the characters more believable. Zelazny undeniably has style, but too much of this book consists of him failing to marry that style with something truly worthwhile.

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rohan121

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I embarked on this reading journey with extremely high expectations.

And truly, this compilation of Roger Zelazny stories did not disappoint in the slightest.

Zelazny's short stories are like a veritable cornucopia filled with the most beautiful and poetic prose.

Despite their relatively short length, they manage to develop intricate plots and deep character connections with remarkable skill.

Whether you are an ardent fan of Zelazny himself, having followed his works religiously, or simply someone who has a penchant for this particular genre,

you simply must not pass up this collection.

It offers a unique and captivating reading experience that is sure to leave you enthralled and eager for more.

So, do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Roger Zelazny's short stories.

You won't regret it.

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gmgkng

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Nice change!

I really love this kind of book that consists of short stories.

Short stories have a unique charm. They can present a complete and engaging narrative within a relatively short篇幅. Each story is like a precious gem, shining with its own light.

Reading short stories allows me to experience different emotions and perspectives in a short period of time. It broadens my horizons and enriches my imagination.

Moreover, this kind of book is very convenient to carry around. I can pick it up and read a story whenever I have a spare moment, whether it's on the bus, during a break at work, or before going to bed.

In conclusion, this book of short stories is a wonderful find, and I look forward to exploring more of its contents.

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Shura-shurato

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The 2002 ibooks version of this was included in the "Humble Book Bundle: Sci-fi Classics".

However, it should be noted that the ibooks version (which is the same as the kindle version) is extremely different from the original.

The 1980 version includes author introductions, while the two versions also have a distinct list of stories.

Most significantly, the 2002 ibooks version is lacking text.

For instance, in the short story "Engine At Heartspring's Center", the first 250 or so characters are missing.

The text in this edition commences with the sentence fragment "week at most—in their migrations", whereas the actual story begins with "Let me tell you of the creature called the Bork."

Evidently, the ibooks version has no memory of this.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the 2002 ibooks version.

One should seek out the original or a more complete version to fully appreciate the content and not be misled by the deficiencies of this particular edition.

This serves as a reminder to always be cautious when choosing an e-book version and to ensure that it provides an accurate and complete reading experience.

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Frogfrog_

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Finished re-reading this awesome book.

Roger Zelazny is truly one of my all-time favorite authors. This collection contains some remarkable short stories that span from the early 1960s to the mid-1970s.

"The Stainless Steel Leech" is a humorous tale about a "werebot," a vampiric robot that preys on the energy of other robots in a post-apocalyptic world.

"Auto Da Fe" is a clever play on words, taking inspiration from the Inquisition's "Act of Faith." Here, Zelazny uses it to describe the great "El Mechador," a matador who battles automobiles instead of bulls in the ring. First published in Harlan Ellison's "Dangerous Visions," it's a unique and engaging story.

"He Who Shapes" won the Nebula Award in its first year. The story was later expanded into the novel "The Dream Master," but the short story version is arguably better. It contains concepts that have been widely used in other stories, such as those in Philip K Dick's work that inspired the movie "Total Recall" and the hit movie "Inception." It follows a psychiatrist who enters a patient's subconscious dream state to assist with their recovery, but he has a fatal flaw.

"Damnation Alley" served as the basis for a later novel and a 1977 science fiction movie by 20th Century Fox. However, the movie was a disappointment, starring Jan Michael Vincent and George Peppard. In contrast, the short story in this collection is an exciting action adventure. Zelazny was inspired by "Hell's Angels" when writing it, and the protagonist rides a motorcycle through key parts of the story.

Other great stories in the collection include "For a Breath I Tarry" and "The Last Defender of Camelot," which continues the Arthurian story in a present-day setting, setting up a final battle between Lancelot, Morgan Le Fay, Merlin, and a ghostly "suit of armor" powered by Merlin's magic.

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eggrollSource

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The short story with this title is truly among the very best stories I have ever come across in my entire life.

In fact, when I reflect on all the short stories I have read over the years, I can think of only two others that have managed to remain so vividly in my mind.

Interestingly enough, Zelazny is the author of one of those two other remarkable shorts, namely "Unicorn Variations".

Now, it must be said that this particular story may not be to the liking of those who are die-hard purists when it comes to the legend of Camelot.

However, for me, it is nothing short of amazing.

It has a certain charm and appeal that simply captivates me and keeps drawing me back to it time and time again.

I find myself constantly in awe of the author's ability to craft such a unique and engaging narrative within the confines of a short story.

It is truly a literary gem that I will cherish for a long time to come.

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The Last Defender of Camelot

roger zelazny robert silverberg

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