Roger Zelazny

Roger Zelazny was a science fiction writer of the 1960s who combined poetic prose with fearless literary ambition to become one of the most influential writers of the time. F. Brett Cox surveys the landscape of Zelazny's creative life and contradictions, looking at his overnight success, commercial triumph, and renewed acclaim for Hugo-winning novellas. Cox analyzes aspects of Zelazny's art, such as his preference for poetically alienated protagonists and his plots that reflected his determined individualism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2021
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Roger Zelazny, a daring SF nonconformist, defied conventions by seamlessly blending poetic prose with an audacious literary ambition. Despite his immense influence in the 1960s, many critics deemed his later novels underwhelming and his foray into fantasy a letdown. F. Brett Cox delves into the landscape of Zelazny's creative life, exploring his contradictions. His journey began with the iconic 1963 short story "A Rose for Ecclesiastes," which swiftly earned him the Hugo Award for Best Novel with "And Call Me Conrad" and two years later with "Lord of Light." Cox examines Zelazny's meteoric rise to fame and follows him into a period of ongoing formal experimentation, the commercial triumph of the "Amber" sword and sorcery novels, and a resurgence of acclaim for Hugo-winning novellas like "Home Is the Hangman" and "24 Views of Mt. Fuji," by Hokusai. Throughout, Cox analyzes various aspects of Zelazny's art, including his preference for poetically alienated protagonists and the ways his plots reflected his unwavering individualism. This comprehensive and insightful reassessment of Zelazny offers a fresh perspective on an often misunderstood SF maverick.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 154 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252085758