This is an interesting book.

I can clearly see the reasons why it won the Hugo. It must have had some remarkable qualities that caught the attention of the judges.

But at the same time, as I was reading it, I really struggled to engage with it or truly "care" about it.

I kind of wonder if it was similar to the experience I had with Amber. When I first started reading Amber, I just didn't "feel it", but later when I returned to it, I found it much more engaging.

However, for this particular read-through, I was not enamored. I didn't have that sense of excitement or connection that I usually look for in a great book.

Maybe it was just the wrong time for me to read this book, or perhaps my expectations were too high.

Nonetheless, I can still appreciate the fact that it won the Hugo and that many other people have found it to be a great read.

Perhaps I will give it another chance in the future and see if my opinion changes.

|Book Review - This Immortal|
1.5/5
I thought that when the author's The God of Light book was so loved and praised, this book couldn't possibly be inferior to it. But unfortunately, it was a complete fiasco for me. When I read the plot of the book on the back cover, I found it very interesting. However, the author wrote the plot so chaotically that I had to read the pages twice many times to understand what I was reading. And when this happened, naturally I cooled off from the book. I ended up the book thinking, "What am I reading? What's going on? What will happen? Will it be like this?" And when it ended, unfortunately, I couldn't respond with anything other than "Well, what happened now?" It was a book that I just read straight through and it was over. If there's a know-it-all who says, "Science fiction? There's no way I won't understand what's being told," tell him to read it. I don't know what else to say.

The overall plot of this work is, to be honest, a little on the weak side. However, the ending truly came as a surprise to me. It was completely unexpected and added an element of excitement that I wasn't anticipating.

But despite the somewhat lackluster plot, the prose is pure Zelazny. It has that unique charm and style that only he can bring. The way he weaves words together, creates vivid images, and draws the reader into the story is truly remarkable. It makes the entire journey, from beginning to end, well worth the price of the ticket.

In fact, I was so impressed by this work that I've read it not just once, but twice. Each time, I discovered new details, new nuances, and a deeper appreciation for Zelazny's talent as a writer. It's a book that I will definitely be recommending to others.

Zelazny's debut novel is truly a remarkable one. Set on a ravaged future Earth, it features a Greek immortal turned terrorist as the protagonist. By this time, Zelazny was nearly at the zenith of his creative powers. In his late twenties, he achieved a level of quality that was hard to replicate in his later, more comfortable years. The familiar themes of death and fatherhood are already present. Conrad/Konstantin loses his wife in an earthquake, and two other likable characters die naturally. His son, also immortal but without eternal youth, plays a crucial role by uttering prophecies and providing help at a critical moment.

Two aspects make this book outstanding. Firstly, the narrator's character is fascinating. His hard-boiled yet occasionally lyrical voice, which becomes familiar (perhaps overly so) in Zelazny's later works, was refreshing in 1965. His past as a fighter against the alien Vegans and their human collaborators, combined with his present role as a chief administrator collaborating with the administration, keeps us guessing about his true motives. He is a hero trying to hide his heroic identity, doing things like dismantling the Great Pyramid for fun and attending his friend's daughter's birthday party.

The other aspect is the writing itself. The description of the strange and desolate landscapes of future Greece, the voodoo celebration in Haiti, the shift in perspective during the fight with the golem, and the Athens hotel room covered in plaques commemorating Conrad's life as Konstantin are all masterfully done. And of course, the humor is excellent. Zelazny had the skill to combine the demotic and epic styles in a way that was both funny and not cheap.

However, the book is not without flaws. The plot has several holes, and the conspiracy among some of the characters is not entirely convincing. Conrad's marriage to Cassandra without telling her his true age and her survival and subsequent disappearance for weeks before showing up to save the day are a bit far-fetched. Also, the invisibility of Conrad's immortality to the administrative system is less believable than that of the protagonist in Zelazny's later My Name Is Legion.

Despite its flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this book and am considering making Zelazny's complete works one of my future reading projects. (I should mention that I got the idea of setting myself reading projects after learning from a biography that Zelazny planned his own leisure reading quite meticulously.)

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5/5 Stars (%88/100)

I had the pleasure of reading the Turkish edition of this book before, and I absolutely adored it. In fact, I believe it was my very first encounter with Zelazny's works. Now, as I am delving into it in the original language and having become familiar with Zelazny's unique style, I find myself able to appreciate it on an even deeper level. I must admit that it still doesn't quite reach the same heights as Lord of Light, but that book is truly phenomenal.

This Immortal centers around a mysterious man named Conrad Nomikos. He has an intriguing past that he would rather keep to himself, and he is apparently the Art Commissioner of Earth. When an alien arrives on Earth, Conrad is assigned as his guide. However, everything takes a dramatic turn when someone attempts to assassinate the alien, and Conrad steps in to save him.

In my opinion, Conrad's character is truly brilliant. Zelazny himself has even admitted that he is like a prototype for Sam from Lord of Light, meaning he is both supernatural and yet, in many ways, ordinary. The identity of Conrad remains an enigma throughout the book. He could potentially be Great God Pan or a kallikantzaros (a type of goblin), or perhaps neither or both. We simply don't know, and that is precisely what makes it so captivating. There are numerous plotlines and events unfolding in the story, but you can't help but be constantly curious about Conrad's true identity. The ending of the book is also masterfully crafted. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

This is a science fiction classic that shares the Hugo Best Novel Award with The Immortal Dune. Due to this feature, it is regarded as one of the milestones of science fiction. When the elements it contains are also taken into account, we are faced with a fiction and narrative far beyond the era in which it was written.

The world is now a completely different place. From all past cultures, only a few works and settlements remain. Different races dominate the universe and hold power in their hands. However, the history of the Earth is still interesting.

With a Vegan, an art connoisseur, and a group of tourists, we embark on a journey between the past of the Earth and the point it has reached. Interestingly, Zelazny has chosen mythology as the element that connects the past to the present, and has made numerous references especially to ancient Greece.

While reading this book, I experienced very similar feelings to when I was reading Hav. Of course, the presence of some similarities in terms of the story may have triggered this (by the way, there are completely two different fictions and narratives, and I seem to have overlooked this note). However, there is the feeling that "I don't think I can catch all the hidden references at the moment," and I couldn't get rid of it no matter what. Therefore, I had difficulties understanding the events in some places while reading. Whether one of the reasons for this is the translation, I have no idea. A comparison with the original is necessary.

If we put all these aside, I must say that it is a unique and extraordinary work. I recommend it to science fiction lovers.

Sevemedim, olmadı. The topic had really interested me because I love mythology and I also love science fiction. However, I just couldn't get into the book no matter what. I couldn't bring to life in my mind what was being described, and I couldn't feel what the characters were feeling. I didn't even care about the ending. Maybe it was because I had to read the book over a long period of time, I don't know, but we just didn't click. It's a pity because the idea behind the book seemed so promising. But sometimes, no matter how good a book sounds, it just might not be the right fit for us. And that's okay. There are so many other great books out there waiting to be discovered.

I wanted to rate it a 2, but it IS bearable. Not near as torturous as Lord of Light, in my opinion (IMO). So, think very low 3 star.

This plotline was actually something I could follow. A man named Conrad begins our story. He lives in a post-Earth society with his wife, Cassandra. His age is incredibly nebulous, implying he might be immortal. But he is asked to escort an alien from Vega around Earth. What is seen as an arduous and boring assignment for him becomes more than he bargained for when there begin to be assassination attempts on the alien in between the long explanations of ancient Greek god mythos. Until ultimately, we learn the very fate of Earth itself is at stake.

It is hard not to notice the similarities in Conrad’s life and personality and the Greek and Roman tales he tells.

While I followed this story, I just didn't connect with it. I found it unnecessary and have indeed confirmed Zelazny is not for me. It should be noted that I read this under duress (I placed upon myself) to complete my goal of reading all the Hugo winners. However, if you enjoy Zelazny's narrative or his weird mash of space and mythos, this is a far more palatable story than his other work.

Perhaps for those who are fans of Zelazny's unique style, this book will offer a captivating and engaging read. But for me, it just didn't quite hit the mark. I struggled to find the emotional connection that would have made this story truly resonate with me.

Nonetheless, I can appreciate the effort and creativity that went into crafting this tale. The combination of science fiction and mythology is an interesting one, and Zelazny does a decent job of weaving the two together.

Overall, while this book may not be for everyone, it is still worth a read for those who are curious about Zelazny's work or who enjoy exploring different genres and styles of literature.

To begin with, this book really shouldn't be named This Immortal. It's truly a dreadful title. In fact, by all reports, Zelazny himself favored the name he used when he serialized the novel, which was ...And Call Me Conrad. It's not hard to see why.

Zelazny is widely regarded as one of the cleverest and most exciting writers in the field of SF. His heroes are larger than life, and the adventures they embark upon are even more grandiose. They are set against richly imagined settings and are accompanied by a diverse and engaging supporting cast. However, none of this is the most crucial aspect. What truly matters is that he was a masterful stylist. His writing is smart, specific, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

...And Call Me Conrad is by no means a flawless novel. It follows a fairly typical plotline of a "nuclear war has left the Earth a ravaged, post-apocalyptic hellhole" adventure, although it does throw in creatures from various mythologies to add some excitement. But despite its flaws, it is truly awesome. The joy that Zelazny had while writing this book is palpable on every page. It comes highly recommended for those who enjoy thrilling and entertaining SF novels.

This article focuses on Roger Zelazny's "This Immortal" and "Call Me Conrad." The story likely involves wisecracking aliens and takes place in hot places.

Zelazny's work is known for its unique and imaginative concepts. In these particular stories, the combination of witty aliens and warm settings creates an interesting backdrop.

The link provided, http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/01/wise..., might offer further insights and analysis into these works.

By exploring this link, readers can gain a deeper understanding of Zelazny's creative vision and the specific details of these engaging stories.

Overall, "This Immortal" and "Call Me Conrad" seem to be captivating tales that blend humor, science fiction, and an exotic setting.

In "This Immortal", the focus is on what happens to the world and its people after a great nuclear war. After the war, the world becomes such an uninhabitable place that intergalactic migration occurs. People become refugees on different planets in various galaxies. As they start to adapt to their new lives, the idea of returning to Earth completely fades away. One day, an official from one of the planets where most people have migrated decides to visit some regions, and it is decided that our narrator Conrad will guide him on this journey. Conrad is an employee of the Earth State, but he is much more than that. He is an immortal who has lived for centuries and has witnessed and experienced many things about the world. When he tells the story, it feels like listening to a myth. The travel group visits the continents and countries of the world that are on the verge of disappearing, and the cities that are trying to stay upright but can never be the same as before, and they get themselves into all kinds of troubles.

For example, there is a part where they visit Egypt. The scene they encounter is quite astonishing. The local people are demolishing the pyramids. Conrad explains the reason: Since everything in Cairo is still radioactive, there is a shortage of construction materials in the area. And he adds, "There can be nothing cheaper than past glory. What interests us today."

However, despite all these interesting and wonderful extras related to this book, I have some problems. Although I really like the characters and the events, I couldn't get into the book. Due to the character being Greek, the inside of the book is full of references to Greek Mythology, which is one of the areas I am least familiar with. Even though I knew this, I still couldn't say what made me start reading "This Immortal". Anyway, as a result, because I didn't understand many of the references, I constantly had to use the dictionary and Google, which also distanced me from the book.

I mean, if there were (even if not often, but in moderation) footnotes in the book, maybe it could have been a much better reading experience. I really wonder why not even a single footnote was considered necessary for such a thing. Because I'm sure a thorough research was done when translating. So, despite starting with great expectations, I ended up with a book that was average for me.
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Still intermittently working my way through the Hugo Award Winners for Best Novel, I happened upon my first bit of Roger Zelazny's work in "This Immortal".

When you reach the conclusion of this book, it is rewarding. As you witness the entire concept come together and conclude rather nicely, it is a decent piece of work. However, it is the journey to that end that can be a bit of a challenge.

Conrad Nomikos, a human (?), or an Earthling at any rate, is hired to guide Vegan explorer Myshtigo on a tour of an almost completely destroyed planet Earth. There may be a plot underway to kill Myshtigo, but he will not cease until his "work" is accomplished, and Conrad is tasked with escorting and thereby safeguarding him.

If you are planning to flip through this one, I truly hope you are prepared for a genre-hopping experience. This book couldn't seem to decide whether it wanted to be a mystery, a sci-fi novel, a fantasy, or some sort of tribute to obscure mythology.

There were certain images in "This Immortal" that will, well... be immortalized in my mind, along with some skillfully written prose passages, one-liners, and quotable quotes that were truly excellent. But was that sufficient to make me really enthusiastic about it? Not really.

If I had to choose between the two Hugo novel winners for 1966, I believe I would have to go with "Dune".

This one is not terrible, but it's not great either.

*-This book tied with "Dune" by Frank Herbert for the Hugo Award for Best Novel for 1966.