Hughtopias

Roger Zelazny's science-fantasy novel Lord of Light is widely regarded as one of the best SF novels ever written. It sets up a series of puzzles, the action is non-stop, and plot still gave me small surprises even though this is the fourth time I have read it. It uses Hindu mythology to re-envision the often-told story of a planetary colony that develops an oppressive ruling class. It is clearly a work by an exceptional poet and professional writer at his best. It shares a core narrative with many other Zelazny stories: a seriously imperfect self-centred immortal protagonist surrounded by vividly defined supporting characters. If you take a look at Isle of the Dead, Lord Demon, and the carefully crafted Roadmarks you will see a pattern that evolves to its most profitable form in the Princes in Amber potboilers. Zelazny was part of the New Wave of science fiction of the 1960s, postwar writers who had the freedom to challenge the dominant social ideas about religion, sexuality, socia