This Immortal

"Do you not see a convergence of life and myth, here, during the last days of life on this planet?"

Somewhere between the dark and mysterious "Heart of Darkness" and the captivating "Tales of the Dying Earth", Roger Zelazny unearthed yet another enthralling story. In this narrative, set in the desolate aftermath of a world war, ordinary people find themselves acting like Gods. "Lord of Light" might be my top favorite in Zelazny's extensive catalogue, but "This Immortal" closely trails behind. Instead of delving into the complex Hindu Pantheon as he did before, this time the author turns his attention to the rich and fascinating classical Greek mythology.

"What is wrong with being born on Christmas?"
"The gods, deem it a bit presumptuous. For this reason, children born at that time are not of human blood. They are called the kallikanzaroi. Ideally, they look something like those guys with horns and hooves and all, but they don't have to. They could look like me, my parents decided – if they were my parents. So they left me on a hilltop, to be returned."

Conrad, born under an inauspicious sign, endeavors to make the most of the cards that Fate has dealt him. Whether due to a godlike intervention or as a result of radiation from a nuclear war that has ravaged the planet, Conrad has become an immortal. He is like an Earth spirit who refuses to abandon his home while the rest of the human survivors of the cataclysm have fled to the stars, seeking refuge on the planets ruled by the more advanced Vegan civilization.

With his mutant genes, Conrad has also inherited some of the cunning intelligence of his ancestor Odysseus. This enables him to switch identities and deceive databases, preventing them from accurately determining his real age. Known by various names such as kallikanzaroi, terrorist, mutant, changeling, Nomikos, Karaghiosis, and Ozymandias ("I walked on through the mess time makes of greatness."), Conrad initially ignores the dire warnings from his girlfriend Cassandra ("I have a feeling," she said, "that you are heading into some sort of danger."). He then embarks on a mission for the planetary government, where he serves as the Commissioner of Arts, Monuments, and Archives. His task is to guide a VIP alien from Vega on a tour of the Old Earth ruins, including ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and more.

"Who is Cort Myshtigo?"
"Vegan actor, journalist. Important one. Wants to write about what's left of Earth. So I've got to show it to him. Me. Personally. Damn!"

Cort Myshtigo may have a hidden agenda for inspecting the Earth. It could be to develop it as a tourist resort for wealthy Vegans or to recommend completely abandoning the planet. Conrad and the other humans who refused to go into exile, some of whom also possess supernatural powers, are too impoverished to survive without Vegan assistance. However, they are too proud to become third-rate immigrants for the aliens. So, they roll out the red carpet for Cort Myshtigo and assign Conrad to uncover the true nature of the deal.

The Vegans would like to get the home world problem off their hands. Sure, they want to visit it. It is instructive, sobering, humbling, and downright frightening for them to come here and see what can be done to a world.

The journey through the shattered Earth, filled with radioactive hotspots, mutant beasts, and myths roaming the deserts of North Africa and the rocky hills of Peloponnese, is not only instructive, sobering, humbling, and downright frightening for the reader but also for Conrad. He discovers that one or two assassins have infiltrated his party, and he is forced to act as the alien's bodyguard while simultaneously deciding if it might not be better to kill the tourist himself. There is a great deal of action in this short story, and Conrad plays many wily tricks on his companions ("Born to knot a tiger's tail, that is the saying for people such as you."). In the end, the novel becomes a poignant elegy for what was lost in the collective madness of our human race.

The forces of final disruption were already goose-stepping amidst the ruins, arms upraised...

Conrad / Nomikos / Karaghiosis may appear as unattractive as sin to an outsider, but he has the power of the earth coursing through his blood. Like Antaeus, he draws strength from the land, and he may yet lead us towards a reborn Earth. I don't want to reveal the outcome of his confrontation with homegrown terrorists, alien spies, and reawakened mythological beasts, but I highly recommend that you give this intense post-apocalyptic story a try for yourself.

Zelazny is in the mythic romance mode in this story. The protagonist, Conrad, is protecting his new bride, Cassandra, from the foggy foggy dew.

It's great stuff and has an immediate resonance for this reader, even after many decades have passed. Published in an era when a complete novel was often well under 200 pages, or what today would be considered a long novella, it's truly remarkable. Bravo!

However, I stalled at about page 100 when I temporarily ceased to care about the Radpol irredentists. I mean, if Terrans are happy in their new homes, working for Vegans, how is this different from any other diaspora? Those are basically irreversible, although individuals may return to their ancestral homes. So, why should I care?

Well, the answer lies in the fact that there's a great fight scene coming up between Hasan and Conrad! If my memory serves me right.

OK, this one works much better than it should. I guess I'll add a serious spoiler notice. First, there are two testosterone-fueled fights between Conrad (or whoever) and Hasan the Assassin. Both are exciting and well-written but completely unnecessary. Although they are fun to read for fight-story fans. Second, the first fight was because Cassandra, Conrad's new wife, was killed in an earthquake (it's a long story). But here's the thing: she wasn't! She reappears to shoot the Black Beast of Thessaly with Conrad's elephant gun, smiling faintly. And there's not one word of explanation as to where she'd been. Third, you get the idea. Logical plotting and structure weren't high on Zelazny's priority list. Fortunately, he was one hell of a storyteller, and the thing just hits you with total mythic force! I don't think this is the best place to start if you're new to Zelazny. That would be "A Rose for Ecclesiastes", another Hugo winner. But this one is right up there. It was first published (abridged) as a two-part series in F&SF in OCT-NOV 1965 and won the Hugo for best novel in 1966. This was his first novel!

10/10 stars

My full review on my blog.

Drat! Zelazny did it again! Or rather, he did it in 1966 for the very first time. He won a Hugo Award for his debut novel This Immortal in a tie with Herbert’s Dune. Dune is widely known, with a new, beautiful edition by Folio Society and several movies based on it. But what about This Immortal? It’s not even the most popular or best-known of Zelazny’s books. Those titles probably go to the Amber series or Lord of Light. I only added This Immortal to my TBR list after learning that Zelazny himself considered it one of his favorites.

[...]

It’s a small, unassuming book, less than 200 pages long (precisely 174 pages). Compared to most modern books, it almost seems like a novelette rather than a full-fledged novel. But don’t be deceived by its length. One crucial thing about Zelazny is that he was first and foremost a poet. He excelled in short forms, and the majority of his novels are rather concise. However, this in no way diminishes their value or the deeply ingrained poetry within them. Zelazny was a master of words.

And this is precisely the case with This Immortal. The book was the first in a series of Zelazny’s highly successful and original attempts at reinterpreting myths, from Greek mythology through Hindu and Buddhist, to Egyptian. The new twist, the new life Zelazny gave to those myths emphasizes the importance of the story itself in a very structuralist way. I’m sure Claude Lévy-Strauss would have been thrilled :).

[...]

It’s a great little story, fantastical and whimsical, with a delicious bit of social commentary. A real treat for Zelazny’s fans, and I’m not at all surprised it won the Hugo. You’ll enjoy it even if you’re not interested in Greek mythology. But for those who are, like me, This Immortal is a perfect read. There are countless allusions to classical and pop culture, new renderings of different Greek myths, wit, poetry, and that bit of self-aware irony that over the years became Zelazny’s trademark.

There’s really nothing quite like someone’s wanting you dead to make you want to go on living.

It’s also a groundbreaking novel in some aspects. I can’t think of anyone who wrote sf or fantasy in this way before Zelazny. His influence can be easily detected in many contemporary works, in the unique perspective where the story itself has the power to shape and change events.

Maybe it’s more difficult to find fault in a book so short, or maybe it just doesn’t have any. Either way, I didn’t. It’s a crazy ride, dreamlike, phantasmagoric, chimerical, and capricious like Conrad himself. It’s not for everyone. The reader is drawn into the book on equal rights with the author, invited to explore and discover, to create their own meanings. And that means it’s a demanding read as well. But if you decide to play along, the ultimate reward is more than worth it.

Roger Zelazny was a remarkable writer who excelled in short stories, yet he also penned numerous novels. In the late 1960s, he had a particular formula. He would take a classic set of myths and rework them into science fiction.

For instance, in Lord of Light, he delved into Hindu and Buddhist mythology, creating a very good and engaging work. However, in Creatures of Light and Darkness, which focused on the Egyptian gods, the result was rather dull.

This Immortal, on the other hand, is an SF retelling of the Hercules legend. It is quite a decent effort. Although it doesn't possess the epic scope or the poetic beauty of Lord of Light, the Hercules character, who is also the narrator, is sympathetic. The story unfolds in a nice and engaging manner, keeping the reader interested from start to finish.

Overall, Zelazny's work in reimagining myths through the lens of science fiction is an interesting and diverse body of work that showcases his creativity and literary talent.

How could you not love Zelazny? His works are filled with gems like these:

Phil (...) had not always been the wielder of the bladeless sword without a hilt.

Or:

As Commissioner of Arts, Monuments and Archives, I received special considerations. I got The Suite: Number 19.

It wasn’t exactly the way I’d left it. It was clean and neat.

The little metal plate on the door said:

This suite was the headquarters of Konstantin Karaghiosis during the founding of the Radpol and much of the Returnist Rebellion.

Inside, there was a plaque on the bedstead which read: Konstantin Karaghiosis slept in this bed.

In the long, narrow front room I spotted one on the far wall. It said: The stain on this wall was caused by a bottle of beverage, hurled across the room by Konstantin Karaghiosis, in celebration of the bombing of Madagascar.

Believe that, if you want to.

Konstantin Karaghiosis sat in this chair, insisted another.

I was really afraid to go into the bathroom.

(To appreciate the latter, you should know that the first person narrator is--or used to be, at some point of his rather long life--said Konstantin Karaghiosis.)

Zelazny's writing showcases great erudition, with detailed and imaginative worlds. His action scenes are thrilling and engaging, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The word-fu he employs is masterful, creating a unique and captivating language. It's all great fun to read, and there's not too much of that all-pervading sense of loss which is present in many of his later books. With all these wonderful qualities, what's there not to love about Zelazny's works?

As you can tell from the title, "This Immortal" is about an immortal.

The Earth is in a terrible state after a three-day nuclear exchange. Most people have fled Earth for Vega, where they are treated as second-class citizens. Conrad, the immortal of the title, is assigned the task of escorting a Vegan on a tour of various Earth ruins. He is accompanied by several other people, most of whom want the Vegan dead and the Earthlings on Vega to return home.

Despite the significant amount of time it took me to read this, I really liked it a great deal. The characters were fascinating, especially Conrad and Hasan, the assassin entrusted with killing the Vegan. The strange relationship between Conrad and Hasan was perhaps my favorite aspect of the book. It added an element of mystery and complexity that kept me engaged throughout. The ending was also a pleasant surprise, which is the highest accolade I can bestow upon a book these days. It left me with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to explore more of the author's work.

Overall, "This Immortal" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in science fiction or stories that explore themes of identity, loyalty, and the consequences of war.

Check out my full, spoiler free, video review HERE.

The story presents an amazing premise. The earth has been devastated by a nuclear event, causing mutations in both humans and animals due to radiation. An alien race from Vega, known as Vegans, is intrigued that humans managed to nearly wipe themselves out and now use earth as a tourist destination.

The characters are well-developed. Our main character, Conrad, is tasked with guiding an important Vegan on a tour of earth, but he suspects there are mysterious intentions hidden behind the Vegan's façade.

The writing is engaging, making it a captivating read throughout the 190 pages. I truly enjoyed the book. However, the abrupt ending prevented it from being a 5-star read for me.

Despite the ending, this book is still worth checking out. It offers a unique and thought-provoking take on a post-apocalyptic world and the interactions between different species. You might just find it as interesting as I did.

Konačno je i Zelazny stigao na red za čitanje.

I don't know why the first book I finished reading was this one, but... It is a very charming book, short yet extremely interesting.

Perhaps it could even get a 4*, but I'm sure I will read something better in the future, so... But I liked it. Really...

This book by Zelazny has a certain allure that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Even though it's not the most complex or profound work I've ever encountered, it has its own unique charm.

The story is told in a concise yet captivating way, and the characters are well-developed considering the short length of the book.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of Zelazny's works and seeing if they can match or exceed the enjoyment I got from this one.

Overall, it was a pleasant reading experience, and I would recommend it to others who are looking for a quick and interesting read.