Roger Zelazny's 'This Immortal' made it into a list of the top hundred science fiction novels of all time. It concerns the adventures of Conrad Nomikos, head of the Earth's department of Antiquities. Of Greek background, Conrad is fiercely strong and something of a mutant - admitting quite early that he stopped aging between 30 and 40. He still lives very largely in Greece.
But it is Greece post-Apocalypse - the world's great cities are now Hot Zones, peopled with fierce mutants and monsters. Vegans (striking blue folk from Vega) have intervened to take humans into their civilisation so that our kind might not disappear, and to marvel in horror at the price of foolhardiness. An important Vegan is to tour Earth, and Conrad acts as his escort. They have many adventures on the tour (which often reiterate ancient Greek myth) and Conrad has his hands full keeping the Vegan and himself alive.
This is a well constructed and enjoyable novel, but a pure entertainment. A few light lessons in principles and possibilities, and a relatively interesting resolution, but no fundamental revisions. It is a conservative story, a celebration of the long history of human being on the planet and a hope for long perseverance even after ecological catastrophe. Worth a look.
No comments:
Post a Comment
This is your chance to be heard, really heard! Finally the world will take you seriously. So do try to post something worthwhile.