Purchased: 5 stars/5 stars
I realize I am likely the last person on earth to read (and review) Roger Zelazny¡¦s A Night in the Lonesome October but I am damn glad I finally read it! This book came to me as a recommendation from a well-read friend and I won¡¦t lie, I was a bit afraid I just wouldn¡¦t ¡§get¡¨ this book. Quite to my delight, not only did I get this book but I loved it, devoured it, and am fairly certain I will read it again and again.
Nearly all of Lonesome October is told from the perspective of animals, a device I have been absolutely partial too since first reading Christopher Moore¡¦s The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove. Among the animals are Snuff the dog, Graymalk the cat, Needle the bat, and Nightwing the owl; each of the animals are companions to the Players in the Game. Among the Players are Jack, the Mad Monk, the Count, the Good Doctor, and the Great Detective. One quickly figures out that yes, all of these characters are exactly who you think they are and it makes the read so much more fun.
Each of the animals has his/her own unique voice and personality; the reader is able to connect with these characters just as they would any human character. The interactions between the animals are brilliantly conceived; each animal is, for all intents and purposes, just as much a part of the Game as their human companions. In fact, much of the Game is set up and determined by the animals themselves who barter and bargain with one another for information that will help their companion win the Game. One of the book¡¦s pure highlights is the animal to animal interactions: the animals are strong characters with intelligence, cunning, humor, and loyalty and every characteristic plays out throughout the novel!
While the reader is left mostly in the dark about what the Game actually is, the reader doesn¡¦t care. The book moves swiftly, the dialogue is very well written and witty, and there is so much going on that the particulars of the Game don¡¦t really matter until the end. And the end, dear reader, is when you need to know the particulars of the Game. While the Game, and by extension, the ending could have been long and drawn out, Zelazny doesn¡¦t dawdle. Everyone, including the completely involved reader, comes together in the last chapter to play out the Game. If you¡¦re not rooting for your ¡§team¡¨ at this point, you need to start from the beginning and read the book again!
Bottom line: I adore this book! Zelazny plays to one of my greatest loves in books, giving the animals their own voice. Why shouldn¡¦t the animals talk or tell the story? After all, the animals are always present and paying attention º (Side note: it would probably suck for me if my animals ever grew a ¡§real¡¨ voice and started talking) From a technical perspective everything about this book is excellent as well: the writing style is smooth, the dialogue is top-notch, and the action moves swiftly and smooth straight through from start to finish. As for whom I would recommend this book too: any adult or mature young adult with a love of the paranormal, animals, and a sense of humor! Happy reading :)
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Reviews with images
A True Halloween Classic
After a long rough year slogging through disappointing and mediocre novels I have just completed one of the most satisfying pieces of work I have ever experienced. The whimsical narration and characters of this book slowly peel away as each chapter which is set on a different night in October, reveals increasing shades of darkness. This was my first Zelazny novel and it will definitely not be my last. When I finished the final page I actually cheered with delight. Books have made me cry, angry, bewildered but I don't know if any piece of written fiction has ever made me this jubilant at its end and I absolutely needed it. The only perplexing part of this experience was that I hadn't discovered this book decades earlier. It will be one that I anticipate revisiting every year for as long as I live.
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Top reviews from other countries
Rhiannon
Perfect for a cold October night
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2021Customer
Keep up the good work
Reviewed in India on December 25, 2020
Customer
Reviewed in India on December 25, 2020
Appreciate the efforts of the seller, ABC Book Shop. Keep up the good work 👍
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Mister Madel
Große Kunst-hierzulande Unbekannt!
Reviewed in Germany on February 22, 2019