Jack of Shadows (23) (Rediscovered Classics) Paperback – May 1, 2016

When one reads one of these older seminal books, if one is not struck by the blinding originality, the vision, and the quality of the writing, one simply has to remember that the book was written almost a half a century ago. Others have built on the foundations these earlier great authors laid down, which can soften the impact of the original works.This is a work with impact, and with a level of craftsmanship so rarely seen today.Jack of Shadows is a nasty little fever dream of a book. Zelazny is never afraid of with-holding details or information from the reader; thus the narrative is pared down to its essence, and one only discovers the point of the protagonist's journey at the very denouement.I can't say that Jack is an anti-hero. He's nowhere near that pretty. And, I can't say that the characters he faces have redeeming qualities. Most of them don't. And, those that do suffer for it. At the last instant, there is redemption ... maybe. Zelazny leaves the possibility hanging.Zelazny's world building here is unique - and troubling. There seems to be no room for anything but pain, anything but hatred and self interest. It is a world half of magic, and half of technology - yet the two mix only through a lens of fear and ignorance. And, frankly, the author pays little attention to the mechanics of either, because the story is really about the characters, the ugly characters.This is a book to be read for the vision and the experience. Zelazny's is a writing style rare a half century ago and rarer now, as he weaves visions with what he doesn't say as much as what he does. And, the subtleties of his craft are often hidden under a bald, surface narrative.At only 200 pages, it's a quick jaunt down a dark corridor, and worth the trip.

It ain’t Amber, but what is? What the story lacks in substance, it makes up doubly so in imagery and atmosphere. Recommended. 👍🏻

This was and is a masterpiece by Roger Zelazny. We lost you much too soon. I have read you from when I was a child. There is one more book in this Universe. Much shorter than this book. It plays science against religion in a form of yin/yang, with the mysteries of the underworld a metaphor for the unknown in both worlds. Jack of Shadows is a man of power rooted in an ephemeral quality of shadow, unlike his fellow contemporaries who are rooted to geographical places. So in a sense Jack is the free agent able to move freely across the world.So it is that he is the one to achieve the knowledge of Kolwynia, the key that was lost and is now found, the key to the power to shape the world, apparently. Morningstar is a mysterious figure who is embedded in stone kept from viewing the dawn that is always imminent that would release him, due to some hinted at deed done in the past, likely at the formation of the world as it was constituted in the majority of the book. Who knows, perhaps the affinity of Jack to Morningstar on Mount Panicus in the Rennsial Mountain is caused by a link that Jack knows nothing of that is related to Morningstar. Perhaps Morningstar created Jack against the will of the powers that created the world and was embedded into the mountain to await the dawn as punishment. So it is just that Jack is the one who, through his efforts, put into motion the actions that free him, or not.Regardless this is one of my favorite books and I have read it many times over the years.

In the past Zelazny was never at my list of favored sci-fi authors but, after seeing the tempting but short-lived Amazon offer, I decided to give it another try.The great thing about this book is that it pulled me immediately into its gloomy and full of mysteries fantasy world. The one half of Jack’s planet is permanently submerged in darkness and full of all kinds of dangerous creatures and dark magic. The other half is constantly exposed to light and it is similar to our real world. Jack operates in shadows and can wander through both worlds.The book is very dark and brimming with mysticism.Jack is not human and because of this his motivations and actions are difficult to comprehend. Zelazny is prized for his talent of describing not-human intelligence. But, to me, Jack was just too alien to enjoy reading about him. Also the rules governing the Jack’s magical world are never explained. I never learnt what kept the planet from turning, what kind of magic was used to keep Jack’s beloved one in emotional confusion, what was really happening inside the jewel and if any of this was true. There are many other unanswered questions. All of the above adds to the general mystical atmosphere of the book but for me it was a big disadvantage. I like some logical explanation, even for not logical world.

It's a shame that modern sf and fantasy writers devote themselves to monetizing series. Jack of Shadows is a one off novella that bares much of the human spirit.