The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth

I was craving to read something retro, old school scifi, and it had to be short stories. And Zelazny is an author who, in general, I really like because of his sense of humor. The short stories in this book are a constant WTF, and I haven't understood half of them clearly. I don't know what to think.

Maybe it's because the style of these stories is so different from what I'm used to. They seem to be full of strange ideas and unexpected twists that keep throwing me off. But at the same time, there's something about them that keeps me interested.

Perhaps I need to read them again, or maybe I just need to accept that some stories are meant to be a bit of a mystery. Either way, I can't deny that Zelazny has a unique talent for creating these strange and wonderful worlds within his short stories.

I can't believe I never read Zelazny before.

His works are truly a hidden gem that I have unfortunately overlooked for far too long.

It's astonishing to think of all the wonderful stories and unique worlds that I have missed out on.

But now that I have discovered him, I am eager to explore his entire body of work.

If you also haven't read Zelazny, I highly recommend that you do so.

You will be transported to places you've never imagined and introduced to characters that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

His writing is engaging, his plots are thrilling, and his imagination knows no bounds.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

Open up a Zelazny novel today and embark on an unforgettable literary adventure.

I'm generally not a sci-fi enthusiast, but I'm definitely a die-hard Zelazny fan. And, of course, Zelazny managed to make me fall in love with sci-fi through this book, because he's simply that talented.

Rather than providing a general overview of the book, I think I'll go story by story. This way, I can better remember the details when my memory of reading this collection fades in about 3 months.

1. The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth: This is one of my absolute favorite stories in the book. It's about a fisherman on Venus who is after more than just a huge fish.

2. The Keys to December: It took me a while to get into this story about cat-people colonizing a new planet, but it ended up being quite good. I really liked the way things were resolved towards the end.

3. Devil Car: A decent story about sentient vehicles and their interactions with the world and their drivers. It's not the best in the book, but it's not bad either.

4. A Rose for Ecclesiastes: I can't help but wonder if I liked this story so much because it's so famous as one of Zelazny's greatest shorts. In any case, I did enjoy this tale of Martian/Human relations, romance, and faith. The last line is one of the best in the book.

5. The Monster and the Maiden: A very short story (only 2 pages) that I can't even summarize without spoiling it. But it was interesting, I'll give it that.

6. Collector's Fever: Another fairly short one, almost entirely in dialogue. Zelazny always wrote great dialogue, and the use of a funny-sounding made-up word adds a touch of humor. I definitely enjoyed this one quite a bit.

7. This Mortal Mountain: A man attempts to climb the largest mountain in the known universe and encounters some unusual complications along the way. One of my favorites in the book.

8. This Moment of the Storm: I didn't like this one as much as I thought I would. I can interpret the message in two ways, both of which are interesting, but the story itself just wasn't to my taste.

9. The Great Slow Kings: Another really short and delightfully enjoyable story about a pair of kings who are extremely slow in making decisions for their kingdom.

10. A Museum Piece: I was quite tired when I read this one, which may have affected my enjoyment. I should probably read it again, as my memory is a bit foggy. But I know it wasn't bad, because Zelazny just doesn't write bad stories.

11. Divine Madness: This ranks among my favorites in the book. It's fairly short and written almost entirely in reverse, another successful experiment with form by Zelazny.

12. Corrida: I didn't read this one as I've already read it in another collection. But I remember thinking it was quite interesting for such a short story.

13. Love is an Imaginary Number: I can definitely see traces of the Amber series here. It also has elements of mythology, in classic Zelazny style.

14. The Man Who Loved the Faioli: I probably shouldn't have been reading while so sleepy, but Zelazny just makes me stay up late. I should give this one another read, but it seemed good based on what I remember.

15. Lucifer: An interesting little tale about a man trying to regain what he's lost. The title gives it an extra layer of meaning that I might not have otherwise noticed.

16. The Furies: I read this one in Manna From Heaven and didn't reread it. I seem to recall thinking it was okay, but I didn't like it as much as others. Maybe I'll have a different perspective now that I've read more of Zelazny's work.

17. The Graveyard Heart: The longest story in the book and my least favorite. I was trying to finish the book last night and may have read beyond my attention span. It's about a group of people who form an upper-class society and remain virtually immortal by freezing themselves between parties. It just didn't do much for me.

Overall, this is a great collection. It seems that Zelazny may have been dealing with some relationship issues during this time, as many of the stories have a romance angle as the main focus. While this review may not be very useful to others, it's mainly for my own benefit. I know I'll start to forget the details of the stories soon, so I'll be using this as a reference for myself. But one thing I won't forget is that Zelazny was a literary god.

What an amazing book!

I was completely captivated by all these short stories. Each one was a unique and fascinating journey into different worlds and experiences. However, my absolute favorite among them is This Moment of the Storm.

The words in this story are truly powerful. It makes you realize just how alone a person can be. You're not just a man without a country or a world, but without a time as well. You and the centuries seem to exist in different realms, not belonging to each other. It's as if you're like the rubbish that drifts aimlessly between the stars, lost and adrift in the vastness of the universe.

Zelazny has an incredible talent for creating these beautiful and interesting worlds. The format of the short stories allows for a very rich and dense storytelling. He manages to pack so much emotion, depth, and imagination into each one, leaving the reader in awe. I can't wait to explore more of his works and see what other amazing worlds and stories he has in store for us.

This is without a doubt one of the finest collections of short stories I have ever encountered.

The stories were incredibly diverse, each one filled with poignant emotions that tugged at the heartstrings. The descriptions and the atmosphere were so vivid and detailed that it was truly a shame to see them come to an end.

On some occasions, the plot could get a bit confusing, but it was easily forgivable considering the beautiful scenery and the engaging narratives.

"Keys to December" remains my absolute favorite, even though it is a cleaner and lighter version of "Divine Madness". I never felt the urge to skip any of the other stories either.

However, my only minor criticism is that I had the impression that the stories became darker as I delved deeper into the book. The last story, in particular, lacked even the tiniest glimmer of hope or reprieve for the character.

In that regard, I would have preferred if there had been an epilogue or something that felt more 'complete' as the closing story.

Nevertheless, this collection is a very well-deserved Nebula winner and is definitely something that any sci-fi fan should explore at least once. It offers a unique and captivating reading experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The Doors of His Face: *** 1/2

December World: ****

The Devil's Wagon: ****

The 2224 Dances of Locar: ****

The Dragon and the Maiden: ***

The Collector: ***

The Gray Sister: ***

Storm over Tierra del Cygnus: *** 1/2

The Great, Lazy Rulers: **

Museum Piece: **

Divine Madness: ***

Corrida: **

Love is an Imaginary Number: **

The Man Who Loved the Faioli: ***

Lucifer: ***

This list presents a diverse range of titles, each with its own unique allure. Some, like "December World" and "The 2224 Dances of Locar," seem to promise rich and imaginative worlds or experiences. Others, such as "The Gray Sister" and "Lucifer," carry an air of mystery and perhaps a touch of the supernatural. "Love is an Imaginary Number" is an intriguing and thought-provoking title that makes one wonder about the nature of love and how it can be represented in such an abstract way. Overall, this collection of titles offers a tantalizing glimpse into a variety of literary or artistic works that are sure to capture the reader's or viewer's attention.

It's truly a challenging task to assign a star rating to a collection of short stories. This is because, inevitably, there are always some that I have a greater affinity for than others. Generally speaking, this was a very good compilation. I was vacillating between awarding it three or four stars. I deducted a point because it sometimes seemed a bit too firmly rooted in its era. Perhaps this is unfair, but the portrayal of female characters in the stories ranged from merely tolerable to downright abysmal.

The prose throughout the collection boasted an intriguing style. It was clear and solid, with intermittent bursts of vivid imagery that breathed life into the stories. Even the briefest of shorts had a certain something that made them feel like fully realized worlds, despite only drawing on a small portion of that world. The stories encompassed a wide range, from plotless snippets to more extended narratives. Both types generally worked quite well, although there were a couple that I found less than entirely satisfying. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or my own reading approach, but some stories required me to read a page or so before I could really get into them, and I often had to reread the beginning. However, it was usually worth the effort when I did.

My favorite story was probably "The Great Slow Kings," which was about reptilian monarchs who took centuries to accomplish anything. "A Museum Piece" was another enjoyable short, centering around an artist who decides to become a museum statue. "Collector's Fever" offered an amusing perspective on intelligent rocks. Among the novelettes, I believe "The Mortal Mountain" was the best, dealing with climbers attempting to conquer the tallest mountain in the known universe. "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" was also quite interesting, focusing on the attempt to capture a colossal sea creature. I liked the way that both of these stories addressed humanity's insatiable curiosity and unwavering insistence on "defeating" nature, but in very distinct ways. On the other hand, I felt that "The Moment of the Storm" didn't have quite the same impact, and it didn't really seem to go anywhere, either in terms of its narrative or its central point.

Aside from the rather dated 1960s attitudes towards women (which are understandable given the era but still not particularly enjoyable), my biggest criticism was probably the lack of truly standout characters. Most of the stories were told in either the first person or a limited third person perspective, and all of the narrators seemed to have the same voice and a similar personality. It's not a huge flaw, but it did stand out. The best aspect was probably the strength of the ideas, with a plethora of different worlds and future-oriented narratives. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable collection that I would recommend to fans of short fiction.

Zelazny is truly a remarkable author. He has the most amazing and innovative ideas that seem to come from the farthest reaches of his imagination. However, as much as I can appreciate the creativity and ingenuity behind his concepts, his stories just aren't really my kind of thing.

Maybe it's the way he presents them, or perhaps it's the overall tone and atmosphere that doesn't quite resonate with me. I find myself struggling to connect with the characters and their experiences on a deeper level.

Despite this, I can't deny the fact that Zelazny's work has had a significant impact on the literary world. His ideas have inspired countless other authors and continue to be a source of inspiration for new generations. While his stories may not be for me, I can still respect and admire the talent and vision that went into creating them.