This is truly iconic and classic science fiction from the author whom I regard as the absolute master of them all!

There has been an abundance written about this book, and I truly don't believe I can offer anything additional of great significance. However, if you are intrigued by my intense and unrestrained admiration for it, I go on and on about it on YouTube for a certain period of time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNGeY... It's a work that has captured the imaginations of countless readers over the years. The author's ability to create a vivid and immersive world, filled with unique concepts and characters, is simply remarkable. Whether you're a die-hard sci-fi fan or just dipping your toes into the genre, this book is well worth a read. So, head on over to YouTube and listen to my rant if you want to know more about why I love this book so much!

After 12 years, I am reading the book again. And in 12 years, a person changes. Now, I would give it an even higher rating than the 4 that I remember from that time... but here it is. The Iron King was and remains in my life. The author who opened the doors to the worlds of fantasy for me. And I know that I will read all his books again and give them even higher ratings. Written beautifully, with detailed descriptions and wonderful thoughts. Only now there is a bit too much action in the book for me. Obviously, when I was younger, such things didn't bother me, but now I have skipped over them.

This experience of rereading has made me realize how much I have grown and changed as a reader. It's interesting to see how my perspective has shifted over the years. Despite the slight flaw of too much action for my current taste, I still have a deep appreciation for the book and the author. I look forward to exploring more of his works and seeing how they will resonate with me in the future.

It's amazing how a single book can have such a lasting impact on our lives. The Iron King will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'm sure it will continue to do so for many years to come.

DNF for the third time before the final - I just can't anymore.

There are many references to Greek mythology, but sometimes they are incorrect. There is a lot of grandiosity in empty places.

The characters didn't interest me. In short, it was boring.

Perhaps I should have read it earlier or it is a product of its time, when there were different rules in fantasy.

Maybe the author was trying to create a unique and immersive world, but for me, it just didn't work.

The story seemed to lack a clear direction and the pacing was slow.

I found myself constantly losing interest and having to force myself to keep reading.

Overall, it was a disappointing read and I don't think I will be picking up this book again.

What he wanted to convey would have been completed if he had also been able to convey it. You know, I don't know what, if Roger Abi had described the fights in 1 - 2 paragraphs instead of 5 - 6 pages :/.

It seems that there is a bit of a criticism here about the length of the fight descriptions. Maybe the person is suggesting that a more concise approach would have been better.

However, it's also possible that Roger Abi had his own reasons for writing in such detail. Perhaps he wanted to really bring the action to life and make the reader feel as if they were right there in the middle of the fight.

In any case, it's important to consider both the author's intentions and the reader's experience when evaluating a piece of writing. Sometimes, a longer description can add depth and authenticity, while other times, a shorter and more direct approach might be more effective.

I've worn out several paperbacks of this book. It's truly brilliant and well worth multiple re-reads.

Each time I pick it up, there's always a new tidbit to discover, and it takes me on a wonderful journey. Zelazny poetically and subtly weaves classical references into the fabric of a 'fantastic' post-apocalyptic world.

On the surface, the book is a great, straightforward SF story with a touch of PSI powers added to the radioactive mix. However, the subtexts and foreshadowing are masterfully done, all presented in prose that is often poetic.

When I learned there was an audio version, I simply had to listen to it. At first, I thought the reader, Victor Bevine, was dreadfully slow, but now I'm beginning to appreciate his slow rhythm more. Although there are still times when I want to urge him on.

He has a fairly deep voice that suits the story well, especially since it's told in the first person, past tense. Unfortunately, he lacks much inflection. Every sentence is read in a similar manner, regardless of the action.

Sometimes, though, Bevine's steady voice really works. Conrad, the narrator, has a tendency to understate everything, as seen in their sudden encounter with a cannibal tribe while he twirls a sling with a stone in it.

The humorous moments in the book are not all as dark as this one. The discussion of a new species includes an amusing exploration of its attributes.

If you have a good familiarity with the classics and Greek mythology, this book is much more than just a journey across a bit of the ruined earth.

It's easy to find the subtle references to the fantastic side, especially on a re-read. The mystery of Conrad, whether he's really the great Pan or not, remains unsolved, and that's what makes it even better.

The book concludes wonderfully, leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction. I've also reviewed this book in paperback with a few more details here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

4.5 stars

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

The Earth has been largely depopulated as humans have uncovered more advanced and comfortable civilizations elsewhere in the universe. A significant portion of its infrastructure was demolished during “The Three Days,” and most of the mainland regions remain “hot.” Genetic mutations have led to the emergence of creatures once believed to be mere myths. Now, Earth is a strange and perilous place, suitable only as a tourist destination and a vacation spot for the Vegans.

However, some individuals still hold a deep affection for Earth, among them being Conrad Nomikos, the Commissioner for the Arts. Conrad despises the Vegans, and he is not pleased about being assigned as the tour guide for Cort Mishtigo, a wealthy Vegan who might be planning to acquire more of Earth. But what is even more fascinating than Mishtigo’s plans for Earth is the true nature of Conrad himself. Who exactly is he?

This Immortal is a magnificent novel, and Conrad Nomikos makes an outstanding hero, comparable to Corwin from Zelazny’s later Amber Chronicles. Conrad’s love for Earth, and especially for his Greek heritage, is filled with beauty and passion:

You will pass, but the hills of Greece will remain, unchanged, with the smell of burning goat thigh bones, a blend of blood and wine, a taste of sweetened almonds, a cold wind at night, and skies as blue and bright as the eyes of a God during the day. Touch them, if you dare… That is why I am rejuvenated whenever I return, because now that I am a man with many years behind me, I feel this way about the entire Earth. That is why I fought, and why I killed and bombed…

I listened to This Immortal on audio (Brilliance Audio) and was captivated by narrator Victor Bevine. His deeply resonant voice flawlessly captured the strength and depth of Conrad, the tenderness of Conrad’s wife Cassandra, the alien nature of the Vegan, the gentle deadliness of Hasan the Assassin, and even the zealous geekiness of George, the scientist whose curiosity and ambition drive him to experiment on his own friends, pets, and unborn child.

The conclusion of This Immortal wraps up a little too hastily — I yearned to remain longer with Conrad on our ravaged planet. I hope everything works out well…

— Eşti un kallikanzaros! (în greacă spiriduş), proclamă ea, dintr-o dată.

M-am întors pe partea stângă şi am zâmbit prin în­tuneric.

— Mi-am lăsat copitele şi coarnele la Oficiu.

— Ai auzit povestea!

— Numele meu este Nomikos!

M-am întins după ea şi am găsit-o.

— De data asta ai de gând să distrugi lumea?

Am râs şi am tras-o lângă mine.

— O să mă mai gândesc. Dac-aşa se face Pământul praf...

— Tu ştii că acei copii care s-au născut aici, de Cră­ciun, au în ei sânge de kallikanzaros şi odată chiar mi-ai povestit că ziua ta de naştere...

— Bine, bine!... Mi-a trecut prin minte că ea glumea doar pe jumătate. Cunoscând unele dintre lucrurile ce pot fi găsite întâm­plător în Locurile Vechi, devenite acum Locurile Fier­binţi, aproape că ajungi să crezi în mituri fără vreun efort suplimentar — cum e cazul poveştii cu spiriduşii aceia semănând cu Pan, care se adună în fiecare primă­vară să-şi petreacă zece zile cu tăiatul Pomului Lumii, doar pentru a fi împrăştiaţi în ultimul moment de sune­tul tălăngilor de Paşti. (Cling-cling — tălăngile, cranţ-cranţ — scrâşnetul dinţilor, tropa-tropa — copitele etc.) Cassandra şi cu mine nu obişnuiam să discutăm în pat probleme de religie, de politică sau de folclor egeean (deşi, pentru mine, născut fiind în această zonă, aminti­rile sunt încă vii, oarecum).

The conversation between the two individuals takes an interesting turn as she suddenly proclaims that he is a kallikanzaros. He responds with a smile in the darkness, joking that he left his horns and hooves at the office. She then mentions that he has heard the story and he reveals his name as Nomikos. As he reaches out and finds her, she asks if he intends to destroy the world this time. He laughs and pulls her closer, saying he will think about it. She reminds him about the children born here on Christmas with kallikanzaros blood and even mentions his birthday. He acknowledges her words, but in his mind, he realizes she is only half-joking. Given the strange things that can be found in the Old Places, now the Hot Places, it's almost easy to believe in myths without much effort, like the story of the spirits similar to Pan who gather every spring to spend ten days with the cut World Tree, only to be scattered at the last moment by the sound of the Easter bells. Cassandra and he don't usually discuss religious, political, or Aegean folklore issues in bed, but for him, being born in this area, the memories are still vivid, in a way.

**Title: An In-depth Review of a Fascinating Book**

The author begins by stating that as humanity emerged from the darkness, it brought with it the legends, myths, and memories of incredible creatures. Now, we are being buried back in the same darkness. Our vitality is waning and becoming unreliable, and we are experiencing a return to the original forms that have endured as faint racial memories for a long time.

Since the summary of the book can be found on the back cover and in many places, the author skips that part and directly proceeds to the review. While considering giving it 4 points, the last few pages almost pushed the author to give it 4.5 or even 5. The author confesses that the first 40 - 50 pages are a bit heavy and confusing, which is due to the "in medias res" technique. With this technique, the story suddenly starts in the middle of everything. We learn almost nothing about who the main character is, who the people being talked about are, or where these places are. Nevertheless, the book somehow draws you in. However, there is still a sense that we don't learn much about our main character and this world. It is a book full of mysteries, but it has a certain beauty; with its abundant mythological elements, it is also open to theorizing. In this way, you can guess many things from the tiny clues left by the author. Now that the author has talked about the general things, let's talk about something that caught the author's eye and made the author curious while reading.

The author mentioned earlier that there are abundant mythological elements. Besides Neil Gaiman, the author has not seen anyone who can incorporate mythological elements into a science-fiction and fantasy-style book so naturally. Many mythological and historical characters and places that assert their existence but are never thrust into your eyes are being discussed. This feature became the author's favorite aspect of the book. Now let's come to what the author really wants to talk about. Our main character is immortal, but we know very little about him. However, throughout the story, by gathering the clues, the author decided that he could be Pan in Greek mythology. (In some sources, he is also considered a god.) Whether it's his Greek origin, the fact that his two eyes are of different colors, his playing the panpipe, his physical appearance at birth, his good relationship with satyrs, his behaviors, and his way of speaking, tiny clues are scattered, and as the author approaches the end of the book, the author believes that Conrad is Pan. In fact, towards the end of the book, a character even says to Conrad, "You might just be the Great God Pan who has only been pretending to be dead." Besides this, the author found many things to discover and theorize about. In a word, it has become a perfect book.

Zelazny has an extraordinary talent, one that is truly enviable. He has the remarkable ability to braid together action, philosophy, and humor into an airy yet intricate dance.

This dance of his drags the reader, without mercy, along blind corridors and sudden turnings. You find yourself completely immersed, hours or even days later, emerging bewildered and dazed. But within that confusion, there is a glimmer of wisdom gained and a profound sense of happiness.

It's a wild, chaotic, bacchanal taking place among monsters and men, in a ruined world. Despite all the terror that is implied, there is still a joyous and enchanting quality to it all. I loved every single moment of it, and deep down, I knew I would.

Zelazny's writing is like a magical journey that takes you to places you never expected, leaving you changed and delighted.

A truly unique story unfolds before our eyes, filled with highly imaginative elements that transport the reader to a world beyond their wildest dreams.

However, it is still rather difficult to fathom how This Immortal could be considered on par with Dune. There is simply no way that they can be equated in terms of literary merit and significance.

To me, it seems as if there might be some underhanded Hugo Award politics at play here. It makes one wonder if there are other factors influencing the perception and evaluation of these works, rather than just their inherent qualities.

Perhaps a closer examination is needed to truly understand the real value and standing of each of these literary masterpieces.

The mystery that was so intriguingly set up in the first half of the story, disappointingly, loses some of its allure in the second half. Instead of maintaining the suspense, there are just a few pages at the very end that attempt to explain certain aspects of it. While I wasn't completely immersed in the fictional world, I would have really appreciated having a bit more detailed information about what exactly happened to Earth and who the Vegans are.

I did like the main character, Conrad. He had a certain charm and appeal. However, when it comes to the other characters, there isn't much in the way of development. They seem rather one-dimensional and lack the depth that would have made them more interesting and engaging.

This book must have been truly significant when it was first released. After all, it tied with Dune for the Hugo award and managed to beat The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which won the following year. These two books are generally regarded as classics, and for this book to hold its own against them is quite an achievement.

** Hugo/ Nebula Awards Reading Challenge - 58 of 98 **


This wasn't my initial encounter with Zelazny's work, and it most definitely won't be my final one. His writing style is truly one of a kind. It has this remarkable ability to draw you in and keep you engaged, almost as if you're being pulled along a mysterious path while you're busy looking around, trying to make sense of the rabbit hole you've just tumbled into. It's simply superb.


Unlike numerous other works from its era that often seem outdated when read today, Zelazny's novel could have been submitted to his publisher just yesterday, and it would still bring something fresh and new to the literary cannon. It's yet another precious gem from the Hugo list. His stories have a timeless quality that continues to captivate readers, regardless of when they are read. It's a testament to his incredible talent as a writer.