Article-I.D.: topaz.2267
Posted: Wed Jun 12 08:46:15 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Jun-85 02:34:00 EDT
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 44

From: stever@cit-vax (Steve Rabin  )

First off, LoL is not Zelazny at his best.  Just because a book
has an opinion on everything does not make it good.  For Zelazny
at his best try "Doorway in the Sand", "Isle of the Dead" or
"To Die in Italbar" (more of the recurring pantheon in all
RZs books...).  I can only explain this with the hypothesis
that RZ was a devout Hindu in a prior life.

Having just finished "Trumps" (which I liked a lot), I conclude
that RZ cannot deal with computers and should exclude them from
future plots.  Coils sucked (S's fault?).  Changeling was weak.
On the other hand "My Name is Legion" (the short story, in the
collection of the same name) is the best short I've ever read,
but it deals with robot hardware rather than computer software,
and I think the hand waving about software is where RZ falls down.

I also have stylistic problems with RZ.  When I read a book like
Tanith Lee's "To Kill The Dead", I see a power of characterization
RZ cannot touch.  Maybe RZs so busy making statements on things (remember
Tokyo Bay?) he has no time for Dick-ian trips.  When is the last
time you've been surprised by RZ, the way Wolfe, Rucker or Brust (more
later) surprises?  Has RZ ever had a truly morbid character?
(Shadowjack sought vengeance which is a quite different thing)
Can he write about love?  Of his last dozen books I'd say half
have been lemons.

Brust, ahhm yes.  Your style seems derivative of RZ's, and shares
the same weaknesses.  On the other hand the names you choose for
places and characters are indeed inspired.  I enjoyed Jhereg and
Yendi.  You are willing and able to undercut my response to your
prose - and seem quite sensitive to my mood.  One passage had
me chuckling for half an hour.  I started in on TRiH, but it was
less gripping, and I've not yet found time to finish it or to
review Jhereg/Yendi.  I hope you can turn your talent to deeper
issues and meaning without losing humor and narrative.

You said audience participation was what ruined Rocky Horror.
Well isn't audience participation the big draw at Dead Shows?
(btw I trade concert tapes.. )  While I agree with you that RHPS
is in ruins, RHPS had nothing going for it even before audience
participation.  RHPS was ruined in conception.

-s