Zelazny is widely regarded as one of the great masters of fantasy. However, there is a significant gap in my coverage of this field. I thought a short story collection could be a good starting point. Unfortunately, my feelings about these stories are rather mixed. While I find Zelazny's prose to be quite poetic, at times it can be a bit too overwrought, needlessly obscuring the plots. Additionally, I had trouble liking most of his characters, which is less of an issue in short stories but still a concern.

In "24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai," a mysterious woman undertakes a pilgrimage to see the various viewpoints of a classic set of Japanese prints. Her initially confusing paranoia gradually becomes more justified. Here, the poetic decision not to provide all the relevant details works well for the story, creating a minimalist mood while slowly building tension towards a surprisingly satisfying ending. However, in "Home is the Hangman," where a space probe returns to haunt its creators, the excessive amount of unused worldbuilding makes the ending a confusing letdown. Far more is hinted at than is actually delivered. "Come Back to the Killing Ground, Alice, My Love" and "Permafrost" also promise more than they deliver.

"For a Breath I Tarry," a post-apocalyptic take on "Paradise Lost," and "Mana from Heaven," about sorcerors from Atlantis, have not aged well at all. I'm willing to concede that when they were written, they may have been ground-breaking. But now, there are far too many similar stories, and these ones are not clever enough to be particularly interesting.

I think it's the simplest stories that I appreciated the most. "The Last Defender of Camelot" is a straightforward modern Arthurian legend. "LOKI 7281" is a light-hearted humor piece that is still quite amusing. And "Comes Now the Power" is incredibly bleak but far more moving than the more flowery "Hangman" or "Alice." None of these stories are particularly original, but each is remarkably well-executed.

Sometimes authors are more experimental in their short fiction than in longer forms, so it's difficult to determine whether or not the novels will be enjoyable if you didn't love the short stories. Here, I'm impressed by Zelazny's literary pyrotechnics, but I'm not entirely sure if I want to spend a novel-length amount of time in one of his characters' heads.

A rather good collection of Zelazny short stories has come my way. This particular collection has managed to capture my interest to a greater extent than "Unicorn Variations".

The stories within this collection are filled with unique and imaginative concepts. Zelazny's writing style is engaging, drawing the reader in and making them eager to explore each new tale.

Each story offers a different perspective and takes the reader on a journey through various fictional worlds and scenarios. The characters are well-developed, adding depth and authenticity to the narratives.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection of Zelazny short stories to anyone who enjoys science fiction and fantasy. It is a great addition to any bookshelf and is sure to provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment.

This is an outstanding collection.

I can never grow weary of rereading the Master. In fact, the title itself managed to make its way into an "Amazing Stories" piece penned by George R.R. Martin.

That being said, if you truly desire to discover the essence of Zalazny, then you should read "Lord of Light," "This Immortal," "To Die in Italbar," and the remarkable precursor to "GOT," namely "The Chronicles of Amber."

This latter work is brimming with political intrigue, which adds an extra layer of excitement and depth to the narrative.

Zalazny's writing is a treasure trove of imagination and creativity, and these books are just a few examples of his literary prowess.

Whether you are a die-hard fan of science fiction or simply looking for a captivating read, these works are sure to satisfy your literary cravings.

So, don't hesitate to pick up a copy and embark on a journey through Zalazny's unique and fascinating worlds.

An entire page has been omitted from the ebook.

To be more specific, the entire first page of the third story is missing. In fact, not only that, but the last page of the previous story, "For a Breath I Tarry" is also gone. What's worse, other pages are missing throughout the ebook.

I have to say that I have never witnessed such a situation in any other ebook I have ever read. It is truly shockingly contemptuous of both the author and the reader.

I obtained this ebook over a decade after its publication, so there is absolutely no excuse for not fixing this problem.

In addition, the very title of the collection shows a blatant disrespect to both the reader and the writer. In Zelazny's lifetime, a largely different collection of stories was published with the same title in 1980. Each story in that collection had an introduction from Zelazny himself, which provided valuable insights into what he was attempting to do (and mostly succeeding) in each case. However, here there is none of that. Instead, there is just an introduction from Robert Silverberg stating that Zelazny was a great guy and a great writer.

I never imagined that the day would come when I would actively disrecommend a book by Zelazny, one of my all-time favorite authors. But unfortunately, that day has indeed arrived.

All of the stories in this collection are truly great. However, they are all readily accessible elsewhere. Most of them can be found in collections that were authorized by Zelazny during his lifetime, and many of them can even be found for free online.

Shame on ibooks, Inc. for publishing such a shoddy effort, and shame on the Zelazny estate for authorizing it. I have heard that the print edition of this collection was also poorly produced, and some buyers even found that their copies fell apart.

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I am completely and utterly biased, for this particular writer is one of my all-time favorites.

This collection truly showcases his remarkable range in a most splendid way. So very many of his stories have the power to simply draw me in, captivating my imagination with their delightful wordplay, fascinating characters, and truly cool concepts.

I freely admit that I am pretty much a fanboy through and through. There is something about his writing that speaks to me on a deep and personal level.

Each story is like a little world unto itself, waiting to be explored and discovered. I find myself eagerly devouring each page, unable to put the book down until I have reached the very end.

This collection is a testament to his talent and creativity, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

I have come across some truly remarkable stories that I am extremely glad to have had the opportunity to read. These stories are not just ordinary tales but are, without a doubt, some of the classics. They have stood the test of time and continue to captivate readers of all ages. Each story has its own unique charm and message, leaving a lasting impression on my mind. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the plots are engaging and thought-provoking. Whether it's a story of love and loss, adventure and courage, or mystery and suspense, these classics have it all. Reading them has been a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who loves a good book.

A collection of short stories, which is rather inconsistent in quality, is named after the final entry in the book: The Last Defender of Camelot. This particular story gives the impression of being a brief or a proof of concept for a much larger work.

For me, the outstanding stories were as follows.

Loki 7281 had almost a Douglas Adams-like feel. It presented a Twilight Zone-esque premise where Zelazny's computer has acquired sentience and is working towards its own mysterious purposes.

For a Breath I Tarry was a post-apocalyptic fable. In this story, robotic AIs engage in a drama that has parallels to Christian mythos. The language used was vibrant, just as I would expect from Zelazny.

Home is the Hangman was a noirish murder mystery starring a unique robotic AI. What mostly intrigued me was a secondary plot line. It involved a parallel digital reality that had become more significant in most people's lives than the actual reality. There were also a few other rather decent hits of speculative fiction that added to the overall appeal of the collection.

GREAT. GREAT. GREAT.
This simple word "GREAT" holds so much power and significance. It can describe a remarkable achievement, an outstanding person, or an extraordinary event. When we encounter something that is GREAT, it has the ability to inspire us, to make us feel excited and motivated.

A GREAT accomplishment is one that stands out from the rest. It is the result of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Whether it's winning a championship, graduating with honors, or starting a successful business, a GREAT achievement is something to be proud of.

An individual can also be described as GREAT. A GREAT person is kind, compassionate, and has a positive impact on those around them. They may be a leader, a mentor, or simply a friend who always has your back. Their actions and words inspire others to be better and to reach for their own GREATNESS.

Finally, an event can be GREAT. It could be a concert, a festival, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A GREAT event creates memories that will last a lifetime and leaves us with a sense of wonder and joy.

In conclusion, the word "GREAT" is a powerful descriptor that encompasses many aspects of our lives. Whether it's an achievement, a person, or an event, when something is GREAT, it has the ability to make a lasting impression and to inspire us to strive for more. So, let's all strive to be GREAT and to create GREAT things in our lives.

Zelazny's short stories are truly some of the finest examples of his remarkable writing.

His ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking narratives within a concise format is truly a testament to his talent.

Each story is like a precious gem, filled with unique characters, interesting plotlines, and profound themes.

I have been meaning to explore his short story collection for quite some time now, and I finally decided that I'll have to pick this up.

I'm excited to see what new worlds and ideas Zelazny will introduce me to through his short stories.

I'm sure it will be a captivating and rewarding reading experience.

I can't wait to immerse myself in his literary universe and discover the hidden treasures within his short stories.

The quality of some of the short stories in this collection, such as "Permafrost," "Halfjack," and "Alice," leaves much to be desired. However, this is more than compensated for by the truly outstanding stories like "For a Breath I Tarry" and "24 Views."

These stronger stories possess a depth and complexity that captivate the reader from the very beginning. They explore profound themes and emotions, taking the reader on a journey that is both thought-provoking and engaging.

Despite the flaws in some of the shorter works, the overall collection is definitely worth the read. It offers a diverse range of stories that showcase the author's talent and creativity. Whether you are a fan of science fiction or simply enjoy a good short story, this collection has something to offer.

So, don't be deterred by the weaker entries. Dive in and discover the hidden gems within these pages. You won't be disappointed.

A collection of Zelazny's short fiction is presented here, with each story being introduced by the author himself. The stories span from the beginning of his career all the way into the 1980s. There are several remarkable tales within this collection. The title story is an imaginative piece that explores what could occur when the wizard Merlin awakens from a 1000-year enchantment. It takes the reader on a captivating journey filled with magic and mystery.

He Who Shapes is a novella that was later expanded into the novel, The Dream Master. Although it may not be one of my personal favorite Zelazny novels, it functions better in its shorter original form. The story delves into unique concepts and characters, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

My absolute favorite tale in the collection is For a Breath I Tarry. It描绘了一个人类已经灭绝的地球，但机器仍在继续维护和修复基础设施。其中一台名为Frost的计算机，有着研究人类的爱好，这引发了各种复杂情况，并最终迎来了一个令人振奋的结局。 This story not only makes us思考人类与机器的关系，但也让我们感受到了科技的力量和生命的顽强。

Indeed, mankind's relationship with machine is a recurring theme throughout the collection. The Stainless Steel Leech, a comic tale inspired by The Stainless Steel Rat stories of Harry Harrison (or perhaps not), also features robots surviving in a world without humanity. Additionally, Halfjack, a cyborg who is half man and half machine, must decide who or what he is most content to spend time with. These stories offer different perspectives on the evolving relationship between humans and machines and are truly great stuff.

I've been in a state of hesitation regarding this matter. For quite some time, I haven't been entirely certain whether I should award it 3 or 4 stars. On one hand, I truly appreciate his extremely fertile and even somewhat weird imagination. It has the ability to transport the reader to extraordinary and unexpected places. However, here and there, it reaches a point where it becomes a bit excessive for my taste. There are instances where he delves into territory that becomes slightly obscure, making it a bit challenging to fully grasp. Or, in some cases, the scenarios he presents seem just a touch too implausible, stretching the boundaries of believability.

But then again, when I step back and think about it, isn't that precisely what science fiction/speculative fantasy is all about? It's about pushing the limits of our imagination, exploring the uncharted and the improbable. So, in the end, I'm actually inclined to give it 3.5 stars. Unfortunately, the system is forcing me to round it up. :P