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fearmeforiampinkI am not much one for having a favourite of something — be it for films, for music, TV, or whatever — I have various things I'm particularly fond of, and there's a slow change in those over the years, but saying "This one is the best", or trying to rank things into a top 10… it just doesn't really make sense to me as an idea, some things are better for certain times, others for other times.
There is one exception to that, and that is the above mentioned book, Lord of Light by Roger Zelanzy. I've gone through quite a few copies of it — I think I've lost one, maybe two, had two fall apart from repeated re-reading, and being taken around the place whilst re-reading them. My current copy is now missing its cover, so whilst it's probably got a while left in it, it'll need to be replaced at some point. I think I've also given it to half a dozen friends as birthday presents.
I came to it via the Chronicles of Amber by the same author; a richly described setting of powerful beings who walk through many alternate worlds, I remember searching through Hereford town library to read every last part of it. It went downhill a little at the end, with Merlin, the second main character given too much extra power, the stakes raised too high. But it was an interesting universe, with intricate rules and magic that still made sense and were consistent, and which had characters that weren't nice people, who did stuff for selfish reasons — Corwin, the main character of the first half of the series, spends two books after a throne basically because he wants it rather than because it's rightfully his — but who still do what needed to be done when push came to shove.
Lord of Light is also a book about powerful beings bestriding the world, who have great powers (that still have limits and work according to some consistent rules). It's an example of what I'd call 'science fantasy' for lack of a better term — something that looks like a fantasy novel, with a setting that comes across as being in the past, and fantastical beings and powers. Yet those beings and powers all fall within the realm of science; the beings are aliens or created life, the powers are psychic or bred. the Dragonriders of Pern novels are another example of such.
Lord of Light initially comes across as being set in Hindu mythology, with Brahma, Yama, Kali, Ganesha, and many other gods being important characters in the story, as well as Raksha demons, and Siddhattha, the Buddha. Reincarnation is an important part of the story too.
Yet the gods are merely the eldest humans on the planet, principally the crew of the spaceship that brought humanity to this world, their godly powers are essentially psychic, forging their ego into an Aspect that focuses their personality and capabilities, and into Attributes that are capabilities beyond normal human reach (a description that has always made me think they'd work quite well in a roleplaying game). The reincarnation is the electronic transfer of consiousness from an old or dying body into a new-grown one from the vats, the demons are the previous inhabitants of the planet, who turned themselves into energy beings.
And into all this, this world of demons and dharma, of 'prayer lotuses' atop a, sending out many megawatts of prayer, walks Sam. Sam is first described in what is probably my favourite quote from the book (apart from perhaps the hidden pun that was apparently the original inspiration for the entire book):
Sam is another character, like Corwin, who's not a do-gooder. But who's someone that is forced into a corner, and who sees something he's not prepared to let slide any more, so does something about it. I have a fondness for this sort of character; generally those ending up on the 'good guys' side, but who aren't really goodly themselves, just doing that which they consider necessary. That's also a fairly accurate description of most of the tabletop RPG characters I play — I've tried to play characters who are actively good, but I just can't get into their headspace.
Sam adds Buddhism to the mix on this faraway world, as a long term plan to destabilise the Hindu hedgemony his past crewmates have set up for themselves, he gambles with demons… a lot happens. It's a book that manages to get over the grandeur of gods and of grand deeds with evocative words:
All these factors together; the interesting science-fantasy setting, the 'magic' that makes sense, the slightly amoral main character, the beauty of the prose, all these things come together to make it my favourite book. Given the author died nearly two decades ago, I'm not particularly expecting anything else to push it off the top spot. If you've not read it, I would very strongly recommend you give it a look.
There is one exception to that, and that is the above mentioned book, Lord of Light by Roger Zelanzy. I've gone through quite a few copies of it — I think I've lost one, maybe two, had two fall apart from repeated re-reading, and being taken around the place whilst re-reading them. My current copy is now missing its cover, so whilst it's probably got a while left in it, it'll need to be replaced at some point. I think I've also given it to half a dozen friends as birthday presents.
I came to it via the Chronicles of Amber by the same author; a richly described setting of powerful beings who walk through many alternate worlds, I remember searching through Hereford town library to read every last part of it. It went downhill a little at the end, with Merlin, the second main character given too much extra power, the stakes raised too high. But it was an interesting universe, with intricate rules and magic that still made sense and were consistent, and which had characters that weren't nice people, who did stuff for selfish reasons — Corwin, the main character of the first half of the series, spends two books after a throne basically because he wants it rather than because it's rightfully his — but who still do what needed to be done when push came to shove.
Lord of Light is also a book about powerful beings bestriding the world, who have great powers (that still have limits and work according to some consistent rules). It's an example of what I'd call 'science fantasy' for lack of a better term — something that looks like a fantasy novel, with a setting that comes across as being in the past, and fantastical beings and powers. Yet those beings and powers all fall within the realm of science; the beings are aliens or created life, the powers are psychic or bred. the Dragonriders of Pern novels are another example of such.
Lord of Light initially comes across as being set in Hindu mythology, with Brahma, Yama, Kali, Ganesha, and many other gods being important characters in the story, as well as Raksha demons, and Siddhattha, the Buddha. Reincarnation is an important part of the story too.
Yet the gods are merely the eldest humans on the planet, principally the crew of the spaceship that brought humanity to this world, their godly powers are essentially psychic, forging their ego into an Aspect that focuses their personality and capabilities, and into Attributes that are capabilities beyond normal human reach (a description that has always made me think they'd work quite well in a roleplaying game). The reincarnation is the electronic transfer of consiousness from an old or dying body into a new-grown one from the vats, the demons are the previous inhabitants of the planet, who turned themselves into energy beings.
And into all this, this world of demons and dharma, of 'prayer lotuses' atop a, sending out many megawatts of prayer, walks Sam. Sam is first described in what is probably my favourite quote from the book (apart from perhaps the hidden pun that was apparently the original inspiration for the entire book):
His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god.It's the use of language, the artistry of the word use, that hold this book above any others I've read.
He preferred to drop the Maha- and the -atman, and called himself Sam. He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god.
Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of any benefit. Silence, though, could.
Sam is another character, like Corwin, who's not a do-gooder. But who's someone that is forced into a corner, and who sees something he's not prepared to let slide any more, so does something about it. I have a fondness for this sort of character; generally those ending up on the 'good guys' side, but who aren't really goodly themselves, just doing that which they consider necessary. That's also a fairly accurate description of most of the tabletop RPG characters I play — I've tried to play characters who are actively good, but I just can't get into their headspace.
Sam adds Buddhism to the mix on this faraway world, as a long term plan to destabilise the Hindu hedgemony his past crewmates have set up for themselves, he gambles with demons… a lot happens. It's a book that manages to get over the grandeur of gods and of grand deeds with evocative words:
"I shall tear these stars from out the heavens," he stated, "and hurl them in the faces of the gods, if this be necessary. I shall blaspheme in every Temple throughout the land. I shall take lives as a fisherman takes fish, by the net, if this be necessary. I shall mount me again up to the Celestial City, though every step be a flame or a naked sword and the way be guarded by tigers. One day will the gods look down from Heaven and see me upon the stair, bringing them the gift they fear most. That day will the new Yuga begin.Yet those gods are people, and they are humanised, they are given depth. Sam is as much a trickster as he is a leader. And with a few twists upon the way, and a narrative composed principally of extended flashbacks, you come to the new Yuga (age) mentioned above.
All these factors together; the interesting science-fantasy setting, the 'magic' that makes sense, the slightly amoral main character, the beauty of the prose, all these things come together to make it my favourite book. Given the author died nearly two decades ago, I'm not particularly expecting anything else to push it off the top spot. If you've not read it, I would very strongly recommend you give it a look.
