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Millennial Contest #1
袛芯薪械褋懈 屑懈 谐谢邪胁邪褌邪 薪邪 锌褉懈薪褑邪
A riotous new fantasy series that will challenge the funniest the field has to offer--from the creator of the bestselling Amber series and one of the genre's legendary humorists. Azzy Elbub, demon, has his sights set on the Millenial Evil Deeds Award, given to the being whose acts do the most toward reshaping the world. But his evil plans go far astray. . . .
270 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
42 people are currently reading
2,884 people want to read
About the author
Roger Zelazny
728听books3,800听followersRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American fantasy and science fiction writer known for his short stories and novels, best known for The Chronicles of Amber. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo Award six times (also out of 14 nominations), including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad (1965), subsequently published under the title This Immortal (1966), and the novel Lord of Light (1967).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
March 1, 2024
This is a humorous fantasy that lampoons conventional fantasy and fairy tales by presenting a regularly scheduled contest between good and evil. I remember thinking that it might have been a better book by either of the collaborators working on their own, but there were some genuinely funny lines and situations, along with a few bits of serious business that were a bit jarring in contrast. It's similar in feel to Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman, so if you liked that one...
November 26, 2019
Memorable and hilariously original!
I read this book while I was studying Grimm's Fairy Tales and that may be the perfect way to experience the story. It was really fun to hop back and forth between the old-school fairy tales and their modern parody. With the world being as dark as it is, it was really refreshing to read a story poking fun at the idea of good and evil.
If the state of the world is getting you down pick up this book!
I read this book while I was studying Grimm's Fairy Tales and that may be the perfect way to experience the story. It was really fun to hop back and forth between the old-school fairy tales and their modern parody. With the world being as dark as it is, it was really refreshing to read a story poking fun at the idea of good and evil.
If the state of the world is getting you down pick up this book!
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February 12, 2024How can a demon do some "good Evil" (?????) with an inspector of "Good" watching over his shoulder?
The Millenium is coming and the Christian mythological battle of Good v Evil, with a twist, is raging in a "TV reality show contest" to win the souls of mankind.
As implied by the title, this fantasy novel by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley is a sharp satire of the traditional fairy tale theme, theological mythologies and more.
Mostly it's a spin-off of the "sleeping beauty & Prince Charming" fairy tale, with a twist (yes, another one).
Frankenstein syndrome; A sleeping beauty that is just "napping"; A cowardly prince Charming; A psychopath "Excalibur" with a life of its own but with very low witts; Parsifal on steroids and "high" on...whatever, raping an angel; Ancient Greek gods advising demons; Harpies, Sirens, Dwarves, Cinderella, dragons, Aladim, converted witches... brief, the whole lot.
The characters are not deeply developed since almost all of them, save the main one, are "stock characters", or archetypes; those are a type of character in a narrative whom readers recognize across many previous narratives or as part of a storytelling tradition or convention. The presence of a collection of stock characters is a pivotal component used as a time-and-effort saving shortcut for story creators, as authors can populate their tales with existing well-known character types easily recognised. Another benefit is that stock characters help to move the story along allowing the readers to immediately understand the characters and their motivations. Furthermore, they can be used to build expectations and, in some cases, they can also enhance narrative elements like suspense, irony, or plot twists if those expectations end up subverted. And here, Zelazny & Sheckley excelled and made full use of the "trick".
The novel lacks a little cohesion in my opinion; certain characters seem to be forgotten along the way and the climax comes and goes too fast. The idea behind the story is brilliant, but I felt the plot was somehow unsatisfying, it could have been far more expanded, as it is it seems they were in a hurry to finish the book. Perhaps because it was written as "two hands" and sometimes such collaborations don't work as well as intended.
Even if the book is not at the same level as previous works from these two writers, still, there is a lot of fun and laughs to be found in these pages of a very amusing book about an entertaining fantasy.
The Millenium is coming and the Christian mythological battle of Good v Evil, with a twist, is raging in a "TV reality show contest" to win the souls of mankind.
As implied by the title, this fantasy novel by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley is a sharp satire of the traditional fairy tale theme, theological mythologies and more.
Mostly it's a spin-off of the "sleeping beauty & Prince Charming" fairy tale, with a twist (yes, another one).
Frankenstein syndrome; A sleeping beauty that is just "napping"; A cowardly prince Charming; A psychopath "Excalibur" with a life of its own but with very low witts; Parsifal on steroids and "high" on...whatever, raping an angel; Ancient Greek gods advising demons; Harpies, Sirens, Dwarves, Cinderella, dragons, Aladim, converted witches... brief, the whole lot.
The characters are not deeply developed since almost all of them, save the main one, are "stock characters", or archetypes; those are a type of character in a narrative whom readers recognize across many previous narratives or as part of a storytelling tradition or convention. The presence of a collection of stock characters is a pivotal component used as a time-and-effort saving shortcut for story creators, as authors can populate their tales with existing well-known character types easily recognised. Another benefit is that stock characters help to move the story along allowing the readers to immediately understand the characters and their motivations. Furthermore, they can be used to build expectations and, in some cases, they can also enhance narrative elements like suspense, irony, or plot twists if those expectations end up subverted. And here, Zelazny & Sheckley excelled and made full use of the "trick".
The novel lacks a little cohesion in my opinion; certain characters seem to be forgotten along the way and the climax comes and goes too fast. The idea behind the story is brilliant, but I felt the plot was somehow unsatisfying, it could have been far more expanded, as it is it seems they were in a hurry to finish the book. Perhaps because it was written as "two hands" and sometimes such collaborations don't work as well as intended.
Even if the book is not at the same level as previous works from these two writers, still, there is a lot of fun and laughs to be found in these pages of a very amusing book about an entertaining fantasy.
January 5, 2015
This book could have been a whole lot better. Okay, so basic principle is that there's a contest once every millenium between the forces of Dark and Light. The entry that ends up influencing the world the most wins its side the right to have the more predominant charge of man. A demon, Azzie Elbub, decides to enter this contest to create a fairytale gone wrong. But bureaucracy gets in the way, time and time again...
The biggest problem here was that I couldn't work out how this one little fairytale would have any bearing on the universe.
The difficulties Azzie runs into are funny, sure, but the thing is, he gets into them and out of them in the blink of an eye. It's so episodic. He never really gets personally inconvenienced, and there's never more than one thing going wrong at a time.
What's worse, the events don't culminate into something massively big!
The humour is present, but, considering what it is, it's not obvious the way it should be. Random dashes of blood, gore and sexual references also contributed to its unfunniness.
The characters seemed to be jerked about on strings. There was no development to them, and Ylith (they spelt her as 'Zlith' on the cover) and Babriel were rather... insipid.
Despite all of that, it was entertaining. Two stars.
The biggest problem here was that I couldn't work out how this one little fairytale would have any bearing on the universe.
The difficulties Azzie runs into are funny, sure, but the thing is, he gets into them and out of them in the blink of an eye. It's so episodic. He never really gets personally inconvenienced, and there's never more than one thing going wrong at a time.
What's worse, the events don't culminate into something massively big!
The humour is present, but, considering what it is, it's not obvious the way it should be. Random dashes of blood, gore and sexual references also contributed to its unfunniness.
The characters seemed to be jerked about on strings. There was no development to them, and Ylith (they spelt her as 'Zlith' on the cover) and Babriel were rather... insipid.
Despite all of that, it was entertaining. Two stars.
May 21, 2023
There is this tantalizing mystery:
two American writers, Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley, published this book in 1991;
while two British writers, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, published in 1990.
Both books feature: an angel and a demon; a witch; a contest between Good and Evil; and plenty of humour.
Was this a kind of contest, too, a challenge? If anybody is friendly with Neil Gaiman, could you please ask him?
It's hard not to compare this to 'Good Omens'. The demon Azzie is not as charismatic as the demon Crowley - but then he didn't get to be played by a Scottish actor - I mean, the charm of 'Good Omens' for me has been enhanced by an adaptation featuring some very special music, while Azzie has to fend for himself.
Both books are funny, but this one is grosser in details; and both are page-turners. I certainly do not regret the time I spent with this book, but I'm in no hurry to read the sequel, .
two American writers, Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley, published this book in 1991;
while two British writers, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, published in 1990.
Both books feature: an angel and a demon; a witch; a contest between Good and Evil; and plenty of humour.
Was this a kind of contest, too, a challenge? If anybody is friendly with Neil Gaiman, could you please ask him?
'Don't be a defeatist like so many other young demons,' Hermes said sternly.
It's hard not to compare this to 'Good Omens'. The demon Azzie is not as charismatic as the demon Crowley - but then he didn't get to be played by a Scottish actor - I mean, the charm of 'Good Omens' for me has been enhanced by an adaptation featuring some very special music, while Azzie has to fend for himself.
Both books are funny, but this one is grosser in details; and both are page-turners. I certainly do not regret the time I spent with this book, but I'm in no hurry to read the sequel, .
'Charming knew, in the part of his mind which housed ancient wisdom, that shaggy little ponies who appeared mysteriously in the woods could be counted on to give good advice.'
June 11, 2014
A little slow in the beginning, but once all of the characters are introduced, the fun begins. I find this trilogy original and witty, it reminds me a bit of "Good Omens" by Pratchett and Gaiman.
Still, the ending was a somewhat disappointing, as were most of the climatic moments. With all the fuzz, you would expect a more spectacular closure to the major conflicts. There were several moments in the book, where I didn't feel convinced, I know it should be funny, not authentic, but I felt like the author was just being lazy and not really thinking about the situation or how his characters would react, he was just giving us easy explanations, so the story would continue. And I have read all ten Amber-related books and I know this is not how Zelazny does stuff, so I have decided it's Sheckley's fault.
...
Love the book though :D
Still, the ending was a somewhat disappointing, as were most of the climatic moments. With all the fuzz, you would expect a more spectacular closure to the major conflicts. There were several moments in the book, where I didn't feel convinced, I know it should be funny, not authentic, but I felt like the author was just being lazy and not really thinking about the situation or how his characters would react, he was just giving us easy explanations, so the story would continue. And I have read all ten Amber-related books and I know this is not how Zelazny does stuff, so I have decided it's Sheckley's fault.
...
Love the book though :D
October 7, 2012
"袛芯薪械褋械褌械 屑懈 谐谢邪胁邪褌邪 薪邪 锌褉懈薪褑邪" 械 褉芯屑邪薪-锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪, 锌褉芯锌懈褌 芯褌 褔械褉械薪 褏褍屑芯褉, 褔械褉胁邪 懈 泻褉褗胁. 袛械屑芯薪褗褌 袗蟹蟹懈 褉械褕邪胁邪 写邪 褋械 胁泻谢褞褔懈 胁 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈械褌芯 屑械卸写褍 褋懈谢懈褌械 薪邪 写芯斜褉芯褌芯 懈 蟹谢芯褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 锌褉芯胁械卸写邪 胁褋褟泻芯 褏懈谢褟写芯谢械褌懈械, 懈 泻芯械褌芯 芯锌褉械写械谢褟 褋褗写斜邪褌邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 蟹邪 褋谢械写胁邪褖懈褌械 褏懈谢褟写邪 谐芯写懈薪懈 - 写邪谢懈 写邪 斜褗写械 褍锌褉邪胁谢褟胁邪薪芯 芯褌 写芯斜褉懈褌械 邪薪谐械谢懈 懈谢懈 芯褌 蟹谢懈褌械 写械屑芯薪懈. 袗蟹蟹懈 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯械泻褌懈褉邪 褋胁芯褟 泻芯胁邪褉械薪 锌谢邪薪, 邪 褌芯泄 械 写邪 锌褉械褋褗蟹写邪写械 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪褌邪 蟹邪 小锌褟褖邪褌邪 泻褉邪褋邪胁懈褑邪. 袧芯 薪褟屑邪 写邪 蟹邪胁褗褉褕懈 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 谢懈谐邪胁芯 懈 褉芯屑邪薪褌懈褔薪芯, 邪 泻褉邪褋邪胁懈褑邪褌邪 褖械 褍斜懈械 锌褉懈薪褑邪. 孝邪泻邪 袗蟹蟹懈 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褋谐谢芯斜褟胁邪 褋胁芯褟 锌褉懈薪褑 懈 锌褉懈薪褑械褋邪, 胁蟹械屑邪 蟹邪 芯褋薪芯胁邪 谐谢邪胁懈褌械 薪邪 褌褉邪谐懈褔薪芯 蟹邪谐懈薪邪谢邪 写胁芯泄泻邪 胁谢褞斜械薪懈, 褔懈泄褌芯 褋褌褉邪褏谢懈胁 屑褗卸泻懈 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁懈褌械谢 械 懈蟹芯褋褌邪胁懈谢 卸械薪褋泻懈褟. 袙蟹械屑邪 蟹邪 锌芯屑芯褖薪懈泻 懈 谐褗褉斜邪胁懈褟 胁械褉械薪 褋谢褍谐邪 肖褉懈泻械, 泻芯泄褌芯 锌芯褋谢褍褕薪芯 懈蟹泻芯褉屑胁邪 泻褉邪泻邪, 褉褗褑械 懈 谐谢邪胁懈, 蟹邪 写邪 芯褋懈谐褍褉懈 薪械芯斜褏芯写懈屑懈褌械 褔邪褋褌懈 薪邪 谐芯褋锌芯写邪褉褟 屑褍 袗蟹蟹懈.
袧芯 薪邪泻褉邪褟 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褋械 芯斜褗褉泻胁邪....
袨褋褌邪薪邪谢邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褉械胁褞褌芯:
袧芯 薪邪泻褉邪褟 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褋械 芯斜褗褉泻胁邪....
袨褋褌邪薪邪谢邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褉械胁褞褌芯:
July 6, 2016
Well, once again I tried reading (Millennial Contest, #1)by & . No go. I like both authors separately & might like them together, but the book is supposed to be humorous & I just don't find it funny. I managed maybe 100 pages & just put it down from sheer lack of will to pick it back up.
January 20, 2017
鈥炐斝拘叫笛佇� 屑懈 谐谢邪胁邪褌邪 薪邪 锌褉懈薪褑邪. 袗泻芯 褋 肖邪褍褋褌 薪械 褍褋锌械械褕. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 褕械屑械褌械薪 褎邪褉褋鈥� 薪邪 袪芯写卸褗褉 袟械谢邪蟹薪懈 懈 袪芯斜褗褉褌 楔械泻谢懈! 孝褉懈 谐芯谢械屑懈 褉芯屑邪薪邪, 芯褌 写胁邪屑邪 谐芯谢械屑懈 邪胁褌芯褉邪 胁 械写懈薪 谐芯谢褟屑 褌芯屑 胁 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪邪 (懈 褋褌懈谢薪邪) 褌胁褗褉写邪 泻芯褉懈褑邪. 袣邪泻胁芯 写邪 胁懈 泻邪卸邪, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 芯褌 懈蟹写邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 鈥炐懶把€写鈥� 褋邪 褉械褕懈谢懈 写邪 泻褉褗褋褌褟褌 锌芯褉械写懈褑邪褌邪 褋懈 鈥炐捫敌恍感盒� 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉懈 薪邪 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 懈 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪鈥� 褋褗胁褋械屑 薪械 褋邪 褋械 懈蟹褏胁褗褉谢懈谢懈. 袗 褔械 褌褉懈谢芯谐懈褟褌邪 鈥濵illennial Contest鈥� 褋懈 械 褌芯褔薪芯 蟹邪 褌褍泻 鈥� 胁 褌芯胁邪 薪褟屑邪 薪懈泻邪泻胁芯 褋褗屑薪械薪懈械! 袗 褕械屑械褌械薪 褎邪褉褋 褖械 锌芯谢褍褔懈褌械 懈 褌芯 胁 懈蟹芯斜懈谢懈械. 袩褉芯褔械褌械褌械 褉械胁褞褌芯 薪邪 "袣薪懈卸薪懈 袣褉懈谢械":
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May 31, 2018Znam da sam odavno procitao Hronike Ambera i Gospodar Svetlosti, i da su mi se svidele. Ali ako ih uporedim sa ovom knjigom, moram reci da sam pomalo razocaran... Zato mislim da je bolje da je ni ne ocenim... 馃様
June 21, 2019
携 蟹邪锌谢邪薪褍胁邪谢邪 褑械 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪芯 写芯 锌褍薪泻褌褍 褔械谢械薪写卸褍 "泻薪懈谐邪 胁 褋锌褨胁邪胁褌芯褉褋褌胁褨" 褨 锌芯泻谢邪写邪谢邪 薪邪 薪械褩 胁械谢懈泻褨 薪邪写褨褩. 楔械泻谢褨 褌邪 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈 - 蟹 屑芯褩褏 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈褏 邪胁褌芯褉褨胁, 褌芯卸 胁褨写 褩褏 褋锌褨胁锌褉邪褑褨 褟 褔械泻邪谢邪 褔芯谐芯褋褜 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪芯谐芯.
袗 泻薪懈谐邪 胁懈褟胁懈谢邪褋褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褏芯褉芯褕芯褞, 谐邪褉薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯褞, 写芯褋懈褌褜 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 斜械蟹 褌邪泻芯谐芯 "蟹邪屑懈褉邪薪薪褟 锌芯写懈褏褍", 褟泻 斜褍谢芯 胁 屑械薪械, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 胁褨写 "袣薪褟蟹褟 褋胁褨褌谢邪" 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈, 褔懈 胁褨写 啸褉芯薪褨泻 袗屑斜械褉褍.
袦邪斜褍褌褜, 褑褟 泻薪懈谐邪 薪邪 褋胁褨泄 褔邪褋 斜褍谢邪 写芯褋懈褌褜 薪芯胁邪褌芯褉褋褜泻芯褞: 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜邪 褋胁褨褌谢邪 褌邪 褌械屑褉褟胁懈 蟹邪 褔邪褋 褟泻芯褏 写械屑芯薪 褨 褟薪谐芯谢 锌芯写褉褍卸懈谢懈褋褟 -褋褞卸械褌 锌褨蟹薪褨褕芯褩 胁褨写芯屑芯褩 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 褟泻芯褞 褌械锌械褉 蟹薪褟谢懈 褋械褉褨邪谢. 效邪褉褨胁薪邪 泻邪蟹泻邪, 褖芯 锌械褉械褋邪褌邪谢邪 斜褍褌懈 褌邪泻芯褞 胁卸械 褔邪褉褨胁薪芯褞, 泻芯谢懈 褩褩 薪邪褋械谢懈谢懈 谢褞写懈 褖芯 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褞褌褜 褌邪 写褍屑邪褞褌褜 - 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褌械锌械褉 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪懈泄 褏褨写. 携 写褍屑邪褞, 褖芯 褨 泻芯褏邪薪薪褟 胁褨写褜屑懈 褌邪 褟薪谐芯谢邪, 胁褨写 褟泻芯谐芯 薪械 褟薪谐芯谢褍 褋褌邪谢芯 蟹谢械, 邪 卸懈褌褌褟 褌邪 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌褨褋褌褜 胁褨写褜屑懈 蟹薪邪褔薪芯 锌芯泻褉邪褖懈谢懈褋褟 褌芯褔薪芯 写械褋褜 芯斜褨谐褍胁邪谢芯褋褟, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褟 褑械 褖械 薪械 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪.
袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 斜褍谢邪 薪懈蟹泻邪 褋褑械薪, 褖芯 褋褌褉邪褕械薪薪芯 屑械薪褨 褋锌芯写芯斜邪谢懈褋褟: 锌褉芯 泻邪褋褌懈薪谐 薪邪 褋谢褍谐褍 蟹谢邪, 谢芯胁懈 写械屑芯薪邪 褌邪 斜邪薪邪褌芯 褨薪褕懈褏.
笑械泄 褌械泻褋褌 写褍卸械 褏芯褉芯褕懈泄 写谢褟 胁褨写锌芯褔懈薪泻褍: 褉芯蟹胁邪卸邪褦, 褍褌褉懈屑褍褦 褍胁邪谐褍, 屑邪褦 褋褌邪斜褨谢褜薪懈屑 锌械胁薪懈泄 谐褉邪写褍褋 褨褉芯薪褨褩.
效芯褌懈褉懈 蟹褨褉芯褔泻懈 褟 褋褌邪胁谢褞 谢懈褕械 褌芯屑褍, 褖芯 褋锌芯写褨胁邪谢邪褋褟 "蟹械屑谢械褌褉械褋褍 褌邪 蟹芯褉械锌邪写褍", 邪 薪邪褌芯屑褨褋褌褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁褨写锌芯褔懈谢邪 褌邪 谐邪褉薪芯 锌褉芯胁械谢邪 褔邪褋 .
袗 泻薪懈谐邪 胁懈褟胁懈谢邪褋褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褏芯褉芯褕芯褞, 谐邪褉薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯褞, 写芯褋懈褌褜 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 斜械蟹 褌邪泻芯谐芯 "蟹邪屑懈褉邪薪薪褟 锌芯写懈褏褍", 褟泻 斜褍谢芯 胁 屑械薪械, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 胁褨写 "袣薪褟蟹褟 褋胁褨褌谢邪" 袞械谢褟蟹薪懈, 褔懈 胁褨写 啸褉芯薪褨泻 袗屑斜械褉褍.
袦邪斜褍褌褜, 褑褟 泻薪懈谐邪 薪邪 褋胁褨泄 褔邪褋 斜褍谢邪 写芯褋懈褌褜 薪芯胁邪褌芯褉褋褜泻芯褞: 斜芯褉芯褌褜斜邪 褋胁褨褌谢邪 褌邪 褌械屑褉褟胁懈 蟹邪 褔邪褋 褟泻芯褏 写械屑芯薪 褨 褟薪谐芯谢 锌芯写褉褍卸懈谢懈褋褟 -褋褞卸械褌 锌褨蟹薪褨褕芯褩 胁褨写芯屑芯褩 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 褟泻芯褞 褌械锌械褉 蟹薪褟谢懈 褋械褉褨邪谢. 效邪褉褨胁薪邪 泻邪蟹泻邪, 褖芯 锌械褉械褋邪褌邪谢邪 斜褍褌懈 褌邪泻芯褞 胁卸械 褔邪褉褨胁薪芯褞, 泻芯谢懈 褩褩 薪邪褋械谢懈谢懈 谢褞写懈 褖芯 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褞褌褜 褌邪 写褍屑邪褞褌褜 - 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褌械锌械褉 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪懈泄 褏褨写. 携 写褍屑邪褞, 褖芯 褨 泻芯褏邪薪薪褟 胁褨写褜屑懈 褌邪 褟薪谐芯谢邪, 胁褨写 褟泻芯谐芯 薪械 褟薪谐芯谢褍 褋褌邪谢芯 蟹谢械, 邪 卸懈褌褌褟 褌邪 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌褨褋褌褜 胁褨写褜屑懈 蟹薪邪褔薪芯 锌芯泻褉邪褖懈谢懈褋褟 褌芯褔薪芯 写械褋褜 芯斜褨谐褍胁邪谢芯褋褟, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褟 褑械 褖械 薪械 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪.
袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 斜褍谢邪 薪懈蟹泻邪 褋褑械薪, 褖芯 褋褌褉邪褕械薪薪芯 屑械薪褨 褋锌芯写芯斜邪谢懈褋褟: 锌褉芯 泻邪褋褌懈薪谐 薪邪 褋谢褍谐褍 蟹谢邪, 谢芯胁懈 写械屑芯薪邪 褌邪 斜邪薪邪褌芯 褨薪褕懈褏.
笑械泄 褌械泻褋褌 写褍卸械 褏芯褉芯褕懈泄 写谢褟 胁褨写锌芯褔懈薪泻褍: 褉芯蟹胁邪卸邪褦, 褍褌褉懈屑褍褦 褍胁邪谐褍, 屑邪褦 褋褌邪斜褨谢褜薪懈屑 锌械胁薪懈泄 谐褉邪写褍褋 褨褉芯薪褨褩.
效芯褌懈褉懈 蟹褨褉芯褔泻懈 褟 褋褌邪胁谢褞 谢懈褕械 褌芯屑褍, 褖芯 褋锌芯写褨胁邪谢邪褋褟 "蟹械屑谢械褌褉械褋褍 褌邪 蟹芯褉械锌邪写褍", 邪 薪邪褌芯屑褨褋褌褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁褨写锌芯褔懈谢邪 褌邪 谐邪褉薪芯 锌褉芯胁械谢邪 褔邪褋 .
April 17, 2022
Odavno me ne拧to nije ovoliko nasmejalo
January 4, 2009
Two authors collaborate on a bit of fluff. Both authors are fine writers so the individual sentences flow smoothly but overall the book never develops a heart. It reads like a bunch of concepts they found funny while drinking together, but after the drinking bout neither took enough ownership to create a sharp point or graceful story arc for the book.
May 10, 2018
I could go on a diatribe of great length about this book, but I believe the point will be made if I keep this short and sweet:
This book reads like a 4th grader wrote it.
'Nuff said.
This book reads like a 4th grader wrote it.
'Nuff said.
December 18, 2022
Welcome to 999 Anno Domini. Prepare for the millennium year along with The Millennium Contest #1, 鈥淏ring Me the Head of Prince Charming.鈥�
If you like touches of irony, the centerpiece of classical comedy, you may enjoy the re-emergence of ancient storytelling in book one of this series by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley. BTW, in the tenth century in Saxony, a rediscovery of ancient literature and the ethic of public service became important in the Holy Roman Empire, so reverting to ancient comedy is, well, period :) . Yes, Zelazny and Sheckley鈥檚 twisted use of traditional-fairy-tale motifs dates from 1991, Ballantine Spectra, but is only the beginning of a series.
In the first installment, we learn about The Millennium Competition, when Good and Evil compete in a once-in-a-thousand-years contest to inspire or perhaps dispel satisfaction鈥攂ringing on sudden dispair and hopelessness. For the second millennium, who will win? Will the Gothic cathedral amaze and empower the Forces of Light to inspire the next thousand years or will the Forces of Darkness overwhelm the judges with a grim parody of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming? Will the Demon Azzie Elbub鈥檚 demonic reality-play, acted out by living participants, drain away all hope for meaning? The answer, well鈥poilers ;)
Good-narrative flow, combines with light humor with heaps of irony and all-too-familiar encounters with bureaucracyUnfortunately this may be uncomfortably recognizable for any of us who have had carefully submitted applications suddenly tossed out because a bureau chief just wanted too. I am thinking of you US Department of Education.
The theme and narrative may challenge those of us who expect the dramatic, so be prepared for disappointment and encounters with strange complexities of 鈥渇ree will.鈥� Will grace or demonic plotting prove superior? The structure adheres to ironic plot development, rather like 鈥淎rsenic and Old Lace鈥� by Joseph Kesselring, or 鈥淭he importance of being Ernest鈥� by Oscar Wilde.
As developing-fiction writers, Lynn and I enjoyed the diversion from the heavy plot forms and sudden dramas we all enjoy. All things considered, Five Stars for good storytellling and sentence structure, as well as the music of the words. We will add Book #2 to our upcoming reading-list.
If you like touches of irony, the centerpiece of classical comedy, you may enjoy the re-emergence of ancient storytelling in book one of this series by Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley. BTW, in the tenth century in Saxony, a rediscovery of ancient literature and the ethic of public service became important in the Holy Roman Empire, so reverting to ancient comedy is, well, period :) . Yes, Zelazny and Sheckley鈥檚 twisted use of traditional-fairy-tale motifs dates from 1991, Ballantine Spectra, but is only the beginning of a series.
In the first installment, we learn about The Millennium Competition, when Good and Evil compete in a once-in-a-thousand-years contest to inspire or perhaps dispel satisfaction鈥攂ringing on sudden dispair and hopelessness. For the second millennium, who will win? Will the Gothic cathedral amaze and empower the Forces of Light to inspire the next thousand years or will the Forces of Darkness overwhelm the judges with a grim parody of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming? Will the Demon Azzie Elbub鈥檚 demonic reality-play, acted out by living participants, drain away all hope for meaning? The answer, well鈥poilers ;)
Good-narrative flow, combines with light humor with heaps of irony and all-too-familiar encounters with bureaucracyUnfortunately this may be uncomfortably recognizable for any of us who have had carefully submitted applications suddenly tossed out because a bureau chief just wanted too. I am thinking of you US Department of Education.
The theme and narrative may challenge those of us who expect the dramatic, so be prepared for disappointment and encounters with strange complexities of 鈥渇ree will.鈥� Will grace or demonic plotting prove superior? The structure adheres to ironic plot development, rather like 鈥淎rsenic and Old Lace鈥� by Joseph Kesselring, or 鈥淭he importance of being Ernest鈥� by Oscar Wilde.
As developing-fiction writers, Lynn and I enjoyed the diversion from the heavy plot forms and sudden dramas we all enjoy. All things considered, Five Stars for good storytellling and sentence structure, as well as the music of the words. We will add Book #2 to our upcoming reading-list.
November 1, 2018
Funny at times and enjoyable, a bit macabre at times but a fast nice read. Not particularly found of reading about demons but this worked.
January 19, 2022
袪邪蟹泻芯褕薪芯 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪芯 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈. 袦薪芯谐芯 褋械屑锌谢芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯 懈 褋 胁懈褏褉械薪邪 写懈薪邪屑懈泻邪.
November 26, 2022
讝讛 讗讞讚 讛住驻专讬诐 讛诪讛谞讬诐 砖拽专讗转讬. 讛讬讜 拽讟注讬诐 砖诪诪砖 爪讞拽转讬 讘拽讜诇. 讛谞讗讛 爪专讜驻讛.
September 6, 2024
Odlicna!
July 7, 2018
Oh now this was just an utter deLIGHT! There are sequels! Be right back.
September 30, 2020
I remember loving this and being vastly amused by a lot of it when I first read it.
July 23, 2010
I knew Roger Zelazny was my favorite author the moment I read the Amber series, but that was back when I didn't do a whole lot of reading, so I never really delved into his other works. I've since started checking out more of his stuff, and the title and back cover of this book were more than enough to get me sucked in.
For starters, Zelazny's voice is like no other. Even if one of his stories were dull, I'm pretty sure I would enjoy it just because of the way he writes. His characters are always witty, his narration always top notch.
That being said, I found myself flying through this book simply because of the voice in which it was written. As far as the plot and characters go--well, there were times when I felt largely unnecessary things were happening just to make the book a little longer. A lot of occurrences seem somewhat random, but I was OK with them because they were still a delight to read since--once again--I just can't get enough of Zelazny's writing.
The concept is great (a demon trying to win a contest that involves doing the most evil deeds imaginable, only to run into every perceivable problem along the way), but it seems like there just wasn't enough content to warrant this being a full-length novel (or at least not one of this size). Or maybe I'm mistaken, and I just haven't taken enough time to digest the story yet (this is what I get for logging onto 欧宝娱乐 immediately after closing the book).
I was dangerously close to giving this book 5 stars, but ended up settling on 4. As far as the plot and characters are concerned, it's probably not a 5-star book. Yet I was drawn into longer reading sessions with this book than I have been in a lot of other books I've rated 5 stars. So, in a way, I enjoyed this book even more than some books I've rated higher, but I realize that from a storytelling standpoint, it's probably not quite as good (though, don't get me wrong, it's still pretty damn solid).
Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming definitely isn't the first Zelazny book I'd recommend to someone, but that doesn't keep it from being an enjoyable read from start to finish.
For starters, Zelazny's voice is like no other. Even if one of his stories were dull, I'm pretty sure I would enjoy it just because of the way he writes. His characters are always witty, his narration always top notch.
That being said, I found myself flying through this book simply because of the voice in which it was written. As far as the plot and characters go--well, there were times when I felt largely unnecessary things were happening just to make the book a little longer. A lot of occurrences seem somewhat random, but I was OK with them because they were still a delight to read since--once again--I just can't get enough of Zelazny's writing.
The concept is great (a demon trying to win a contest that involves doing the most evil deeds imaginable, only to run into every perceivable problem along the way), but it seems like there just wasn't enough content to warrant this being a full-length novel (or at least not one of this size). Or maybe I'm mistaken, and I just haven't taken enough time to digest the story yet (this is what I get for logging onto 欧宝娱乐 immediately after closing the book).
I was dangerously close to giving this book 5 stars, but ended up settling on 4. As far as the plot and characters are concerned, it's probably not a 5-star book. Yet I was drawn into longer reading sessions with this book than I have been in a lot of other books I've rated 5 stars. So, in a way, I enjoyed this book even more than some books I've rated higher, but I realize that from a storytelling standpoint, it's probably not quite as good (though, don't get me wrong, it's still pretty damn solid).
Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming definitely isn't the first Zelazny book I'd recommend to someone, but that doesn't keep it from being an enjoyable read from start to finish.
December 20, 2014
Bring Me The Head of Prince Charming begins just before the start of the millenium, the first one, not the Y2K one. The powers of Darkness and Light are having their turn of the millenium contest to see who will rule the next 1000 years. The anti-hero is the demon Azzie, who stages a garbled version of the classic fairytale 'Sleeping Beauty' to prove evil's case. His only real competition is Good's entry, Gothic Cathedrals, so Azzie stands an excellent chance of winning even as he's hampered by evil's very nature...
I love fairytales, and when I saw that this one was written by the unlikely duo of Zelazny and Sheckley, I just had to read it.
Zelazny and Sheckley could easily have easily have gotten it all wrong considering the subject material. But they haven't.
Bring Me The Head Of Prince Charming is deliciously light and sublimely subversive. It retains all the characteristics of a twisted fairytale with the wit of all ages running through it. How could anyone not enjoy this, even without ichor running through their veins.
I love fairytales, and when I saw that this one was written by the unlikely duo of Zelazny and Sheckley, I just had to read it.
Zelazny and Sheckley could easily have easily have gotten it all wrong considering the subject material. But they haven't.
Bring Me The Head Of Prince Charming is deliciously light and sublimely subversive. It retains all the characteristics of a twisted fairytale with the wit of all ages running through it. How could anyone not enjoy this, even without ichor running through their veins.
August 2, 2016
袦薪芯谐芯 薪械褖邪 胁 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 屑懈 薪邪锌芯屑薪褟褏邪 薪邪 写褉褍谐懈. 袠屑邪褏 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯, 褔械 胁械褔械 褋褗屑 褟 褔械谢邪. 袟邪 屑械薪 褌褟 斜械褕械 褋屑械褋懈褑邪 芯褌 袝褉懈泻 薪邪 孝械褉懈 袩褉邪褌褔械褌, 袝锌懈写械屑懈褟 胁 袪邪褟 薪邪 Z芯褌芯胁, 袣薪懈谐邪 蟹邪 谐褉芯斜懈褖械褌芯 薪邪 袧懈泄谢 袚械泄屑褗薪 懈 谢褞斜懈屑邪褌邪 屑懈 邪薪懈屑邪褑懈褟 - 袘褍谢泻邪褌邪 褌褉褍锌 薪邪 孝懈屑 袘褗褉褌褗薪. 啸褍屑芯褉, 斜褞褉芯泻褉邪褑懈褟 懈 褎械薪褌褗蟹懈 胁 谐芯谢械屑懈 写芯蟹懈 - 褋锌芯谢褍褔谢懈胁邪 泻芯谢邪斜芯褉邪褑懈褟 屑械卸写褍 袟械谢邪蟹薪懈, 泻芯泄褌芯 芯斜懈褔邪屑 褋 褑褟谢芯褌芯 褋懈 褋褗褉褑械 懈 楔械泻谢懈, 泻芯泄褌芯 褔械褌邪 蟹邪 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌. 袙褋懈褔泻芯 褌芯胁邪 谐邪褉薪懈褉邪薪芯 褋 屑褗写褉芯褋褌 薪邪 褎芯薪邪 薪邪 胁械褔薪邪褌邪 斜懈褌泻邪 屑械卸写褍 小胁械褌谢懈薪邪褌邪 懈 袦褉邪泻邪 - another good read for this year.
June 28, 2012
I'm going to skip read-the-book-first-and-then-comment because I've read it 3 times already, an unbelieveably funny novel (don't read its sequels, horrible!). You can imagine my genuine happiness when I stepped in my local library, not looking for anything in particular and then finding this book. Finally in English. Plus the fact that the book has been out of print for quite some time now.
Anyway, if you by any chance happen to cross paths with this novel, be sure to give it a try.
Anyway, if you by any chance happen to cross paths with this novel, be sure to give it a try.
October 11, 2023
Ovo je bila prva knjiga koju sam zaradio davne 1999. kada sam radio na 拧tandu prodavaju膰i knjige, eto sre膰om jednog lijepog dana gazda nije imao pare da mi isplati te mi rekao da si izaberem par knjiga. Izabrao sam ovu i U planinama ludila...i dalje mi je ovo skroz simpati膷an roman, iako nije u stilu Zelaznya kakvog volim nego vi拧e Sheckleyevski, radnja je dobra, likovi su simpati膷ni...mo啪da nastavim sa serijalom
December 1, 2014
Oh dear god this was boring, I fought it to 20% and abandoned it. People who think this is like hitch hikers or Pratchett are sorely mistaken I'm afraid. The crux of the problem is that it's clearly not finished, perhaps there was a deadline? The basic plot is there but a lot of the language and prose feels like ideas or holding sentences written by a 15 year old who thinks they are a lot funnier than they really are.
January 8, 2010
Love this book: a total western lit geek's feast, silly but well written, and there are even a couple moments of genuine sweetness and some interesting philosophical nuggets to chew on. The best of the trilogy, but the whole trilogy is a delight and worth checking out if fantasy and/or western culture is your forte and you don't take it or yourself too seriously.
March 22, 2012
Great humour! Great thoughts too! A parody of most of the well-known fairy-tales, a book written with great imagination, but also a book that could make anyone think about the difference between good and evil and why good is actually better than evil...
August 17, 2023
Rather creepy in the beginning (and up to the first half of the book), somehow funny afterwards. To me it looked as if Zelazny started the book and Sheckley finished it. It was enjoyable but not something I will pick up again, and I might give up on Zelazny for good.
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