Customer Reviews

Forever After

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this last work of Roger Zelazny, he culled together a grouping of four absolutely top-notch authors for a collaborative effort. Mike Stackpole, David Drake, Robert Asprin and Jane Lindskold each chronicle an individual quest of recently separated companions. The quests are to return to safekeeping various magical items whose combined presence is tearing up the very fabric of reality.

Stackpole gives us the story of the loyal assassin and his mission to return a powerful amulet to its former resting place, now that it's use is no longer required. In his quest for the most absolutely perfect ways of killing his enemies, the assassin has surpassed all others, confronting his former teacher in a climactic battle over ownership of the powerful item. I personally feel this to have been one of Stackpole's best works, and on its merit alone is this book an excellent read.

David Drake gives us the story of an elf and a norse woman determined to rid themselves of a powerful ring. They set out across a terribly desolate region to dispose of the ring, with incredible danger and death hounding them the whole way. Personally I considered this the least of the stories -- I just could not get into it, although the dialogue between the questors and the ring is amusing at times.

Asprin provides the funniest of the stories, with a dragon's perspective of an encounter with a warrior. You see, the warrior figures to get the dragon to guard the deadly sword he has been commissioned to dispose of. The dragon has other ideas. The solution to the dilemma is very nicely devised by the hero, as is the slight twist ending. I really enjoyed this story.

Lindskold gives us the quest of the Army's best commander to return an ancient scroll from whence it came. During the journey, various things arouse her suspicions as to the true motives behind the quests on which she and her erstwhile companions have been sent. Realizing a great danger is building, she hastens home to the upcoming wedding and coronation of the nation's newly acknowledged monarchs.

Preceding each story, and wrapping up the saga is a bridging story by Zelazny himself. These stories form the backbone of the global picture, as it were. In fact, these could almost be read as a well-written story unto themselves, with the intervening stories merely fleshing out the details. Since that was the plan, it was carried off quite successfully. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who enjoy slightly off-the-wall fantasy, as this book possesses that in spades. Happy reading!

To my knowledge this is the last work of Roger Zelanzny probably best known for his "Amber" series. To the end he was a great writer and I am sure that anyone who has read his work will regret the fact that no new masterpieces will be coming. I am glad, however, that he finished as he started - working on a fun book which any fantasy readers should enjoy.

"Forever After," is a fantasy story which is reportedly about what happens after the villain is defeated. What happens after the hero and heroine live "happily ever after?" Here some of the closest friends and companions of the hero Rango, soon to be King, are sent on four separate quests to hide the magic tools needed to win the war, but which now, by being so close together, disrupt reality and threaten the kingdom itself.

Each quest is written was by a different author. They include Michael Stackpole, David Drake, Robert Lynn Aspirin and Jane Lindskold. The prefaces, interlude and postlude are written by Roger Zelazny. Remarkably, the quality of most of the stories is very high. I especially enjoyed reading Robert Aspin, one of the funniest fantasy writers around, (Remember Skeeve?) telling the story of a noble knight and a dragon, from the dragon's perspective.

Stackpole's story, about a gloomy assassin heart sick over a woman general who has rejected him, burdened by a fat, but well meaning servant, and searching for his father's killer, his former master, was outstanding. In the end, my discovery of Mr. Stackpole, probably was the best thing about reading this book. He is a superb writer and I look forward to reading his other work in the future.

It is fitting that "Forever After's" theme, that life continues even after the story is over, was Zelanzy's last work. Life does go on. But, if it does, does that mean we can't stop and say thank you to someone who entertained so much and so well over the years? Thanks and good bye Mr. Zelazny. I hope the afterlife appreciates you as much as your fans down here do.

It is a pleasure to read Zelazny, best known for his epic fantasy Chronicles of Amber, doing farcical fantasy humor. Who better to spoof a genre than one who has mastered it?

I liked this book a lot. Some good twists, some great characters and a lot of fun make this book far above average. I will really miss Roger Zelazny.

I suppose this book kept me reading to the end. It didn't have the joy and humour of "Doorways in the Sand". It didn't have the feeling that anything really mattered as did "Lords of Light". However it was clearly meant to be a bit of collaborative fun, nothing more. What I really remember about this book is that I learned that Zelazney was dead from the synopsis or cover or such like. Shame. I can't find "Doorways in the Sand" in Amazon, else I'd review it now in honour of the departed.

The idea is nice, the settings work - had Zelazny written it, it would probably have been a great book. As it is, it's simply a missed opportunity. Too bad. One or two of the chapters are OK, most are just boring, and none are Zelazny - style. Don't bother.

I really enjoyed this book. It gives a new twist to the old fantasy plot of the quest to find the magic items that will defeat the bad guy (as in, how did the magic items get hidden away so well in the first place?) When I heard the twist, I had to read the book and it met my expectations grandly!

The last book authored by Zelazny. It's a reverse quest, and it is, unfortunately, another novel that was finished posthumously. Established in an archtypal fantasy setting, the plot revolves around quests that either return powerful artifacts or hide them once again in case they are required to be used some time in the future.
The tone is jovial, for the most part, with bit parts, humour, slaptstick and even the ever present straight man (or woman) required for dry wit and flat puns. Keeping a straight face throughout the novel is more than difficult, especially some of the fight scenes that include a northern barbarian maid with a battle ax fondly named 'Castrator'.

It didn't become apparent to me the first time through until I got to the second story. Zelazny's interludes all seem pretty serious, but the actual stories themselves are meant as comedies, and work pretty well as such. Also, don't be fooled by the cover. Most of this writing was not done by Zelazny himself. But they are good stores nonethless and worth picking up.

I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit. Strangely enough, the sections that were by authors I have never heard of actually came out better than the sections by authors I'm familiar with and enjoy reading on a regular basis. The premise in that the war is won, and the land is now in the process of getting on with "Happily ever After" part. Except, well, maybe not.