Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

A Night in the Lonesome October

by Roger Zelazny, Gahan Wilson (Illustrator), James Warhola (cover artist)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 2,090 ratings · 253 reviews

Snuff, a guard dog who performs thaumaturgical calculations, accompanies his master, Jack, on collecting expeditions into the Whitechapel slums of nineteenth-century London.

Zelazny manages to cleverly combine Jack (the Ripper), Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Frankenstein, and Dracula together with witches, werewolves, druids and many others in this amusing tale of an approaching con...more

Mass Market Paperback, 280 pages

Published September 1st 1994 by Avon Books (first published August 1993)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

Creatures of Light and Darkness by Roger Zelazny

Roger Zelazny (Your favourite)

4th out of 51 books — 73 voters

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Bo Hampton

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

Best Halloween Books

12th out of 236 books — 203 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Sep 21, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: genre-defiers, October fans

Shelves: awards, classic, fantasy

Zelazny is a genius... although I have a sneaking suspicion his genius may be drug related. Where else would you come up with the idea of telling a Victorian mystery-humor-horror story from the point of view of a dog?

The first clue of the kind of upcoming weirdness comes from the dedication, which is to Shelley, Poe, Stoker, Doyle, Lovecraft, Bradbury, Bloch, and Terhune (dog breeder and writer). That means not only does the cast of characters include the watchdog Snuff, and his master, Jack, a...more Zelazny is a genius... although I have a sneaking suspicion his genius may be drug related. Where else would you come up with the idea of telling a Victorian mystery-humor-horror story from the point of view of a dog?

The first clue of the kind of upcoming weirdness comes from the dedication, which is to Shelley, Poe, Stoker, Doyle, Lovecraft, Bradbury, Bloch, and Terhune (dog breeder and writer). That means not only does the cast of characters include the watchdog Snuff, and his master, Jack, a man who is particularly talented with a knife, but a host of horror and mystery classics. The Great Detective and his sidekick are in the vicinity, investigating the sudden uptick in activity and maybe solve a murder or two. The Count drops by in his flowing, dark glory. The Good Doctor has moved into a nearby farmhouse looking for some quiet space in which to conduct various experiments using lightening. Is it any surprise he has a misshapen dwarf sidekick and an experiment man? And perhaps, in the vein of Bloch, there's a bad pun or two--really, Zelazny, really??

The structure is the daily dairy of a mathematically-talented watchdog, Snuff, as he and Jack prepare for a final confrontation on October 31 between those who would open a door to other worlds and those who would keep it closed. Spell and geographical preparations need to be made while strategizing against the other participants. I have to admire how Zelazny takes simple sentence structure to initially build believability in a dog narrator (although, to be fair, there are hints he might be more than canine), but by story end, he is at his usual level of sophistication and imagery. Actually, the sense-world of the canine rather lends itself to Zelazny's imagery.

Underneath the spell-preparing shenanigans is the building of a serious conflict. Preparations make for strange bedfellows, and Snuff finds himself relying on Ms. Greymalk the cat. He also interacts with a variety of other animal companions to the main human(?) players.

Zelazny must of had a blast writing this. There's amusing variations on a theme wandering through the month. Notable are the many disguises of the Great Detective, and the variety of injuries his companion displays. There's a particularly fun ongoing riff using the Things that Jack and Snuff guard. The Things in the Mirror, Thing in the Wardrobe, the Thing in the Steamer Trunk and the Thing in the Circle downstairs are always trying to escape, but are kept under control by Snuff's ferociousness. The Thing in the Circle has settled for deception as its escape strategy, and daily turns into some type of dog, hoping to tempt Snuff.

"Down in the cellar the Thing in the Circle had become a Pekingese.
'You like little ladies?' it asked. "Come and get it, big fella.'
It still smelled of Thing rather than dog.
'You're not really very bright,' I said.
The Peke gave me the paw as I departed, and it's hard to turn your leg that way."

Why not five stars? Well, there is a section where Zelazny indulges in his trademark other-world building that didn't seem to be particularly germane to the narrative. While a fun read, it just didn't hit '5' on my 'must own now' scale, but I'd rate it at 4 and a half stars. A lot of fun, worth a read or two and I'd certainly give it space if a cheap copy came my way--it could nestle up to the Amber series and his short story books I already own.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2012/1...(less)

25 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, horror, favorites

An entertaining, interesting story on the face, the understory is even better. Zelazny's sheer number of allusions and amount of sources truly make it a lunatic scavenger hunt that lead to research in some very dark & dusty corners of history, film, myth, & writing.

2012: Re-reading yet again with the Beyond Reality group.
By Day: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
Cover & other Art: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
Both of these topics contain spoilers.

I'm armed with 20 p...more

18 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Chris by: Jim

Shelves: scifi-fan-group, zelazny-group

A very enjoyable read from Roger Zelazny, consistent with other material I've read by him.

The tone is light, although the subject matter is grim. It seems that on Halloween night, unimaginable horrors will attempt to enter this world. A gathering of powers has come together, some to hold it back, and some to try to help it along.

Throughout the month, these opposing forces are playing a game of positioning, alliances, and grabs for talismans to help their cause or hinder the opposition.

The story...more

12 likes · like · see review

Feb 25, 2011 Dan Schwent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zelazny, plan-on-rereading-one-day, favorites, great-titles

A Night in the Lonesome October is about a gateway to a dimension of Lovecraftian horrors and the two opposing forces dedicated to opening the gate or making sure it stays closed. The story is told from the point of view of Jack the Ripper's dog Snuff. Yeah, you read that right.

I was hooked right away, around the time Snuff and the graveyard dog had a funny conversation and asked to see one another's teeth. One of the characters calls The Game, as it is known, a lunatic scavenger hunt. That's pr...more

27 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2011 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, horror, favorites

Oct2011: I made up a set of notes this year from discussions over the past couple of years in the Roger Zelazny group here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

This year we discussed the cover art & I even traded some emails with James Warhola. Hopefully he'll remember to look up his notes & fill me in on who is who. While some of the characters are obvious, several are not. Here's the full picture, much of which is cut out on the cover:
http://www.full-wallpaper.com/affiche...

As alway...more

15 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy, multi-dimensional, mystery-and-thrillers, mythology, nook, reviewed, science-fiction, vampires, challenge-1010

This was my second attempt at reading Zelazny, and although I enjoyed this one more than the last one, I am beginning to think that Zelazny's style just doesn't agree with me.

The best way that I can think to describe it is that I feel like I'm seeing the events of the story out of the corner of my eye, that I can never quite get the full picture. We're given hints, references to puzzle out, dialogue that both reveals and obscures, and a narration that is restrained and secretive. Everything is...more This was my second attempt at reading Zelazny, and although I enjoyed this one more than the last one, I am beginning to think that Zelazny's style just doesn't agree with me.

The best way that I can think to describe it is that I feel like I'm seeing the events of the story out of the corner of my eye, that I can never quite get the full picture. We're given hints, references to puzzle out, dialogue that both reveals and obscures, and a narration that is restrained and secretive. Everything is parceled out in small increments of info... a hint here, a clue there, which matches the fact that most of the characters are also figuring it out, but there is knowledge and history that our narrator has but doesn't share with us. At the same time, we're just thrown into it and expected to either sink or swim, get it or don't, or just go with it and hope it makes sense by the end.

This is really frustrating for me, because I want to be drawn into the story and live in it a little while and just enjoy it for what it is. But Zelazny's style, in both this story and the previous one I read, requires the reader's having external knowledge in order to understand what's going on. The previous one required quite a bit of classical Greek history and mythology knowledge, and this one requires quite a bit of classic mystery and/or horror and lore knowledge as well. If one is not a classic reader, they will not get or understand many of the references here. And there are MANY, MANY references to be found. I have read many of the classics referred to, and I still felt like... well, like I could only see part of the picture.

I'm sure that this kind of style works for a lot of people, especially those who like to puzzle things out and find those little Easter Eggs and such. And usually, I am that type. I like stories that don't give up all of their secrets all at once, that allow you to find something new with each reading. It's one of the things that I loved about the Harry Potter series, seeing all the mythological and historical references and figuring them out and trying to see if they signified anything that was to come in the main storyline. But the difference, at least as I see it, is that even if one didn't see those references at all in Harry Potter, there was a story to be enjoyed anyway. The characters were well developed on their own, the history was provided, and we knew what was going on, and the storyline made sense without needing to know that Albus means "white", etc. In a story like Harry Potter, those references are like the edible glitter on top of the icing of a cake. They add depth and something special... but without them, you still have a damn delicious cake.

I don't feel like that was the case here. I got quite a lot of the references, because I HAVE read many of the books hinted at, and have at least a semi-passing knowledge of other types of lore, but I know that were I to have more knowledge, I would have enjoyed this story more. I have nothing against Zelazny, but I do feel like he kind of has an "ideal audience" in mind for his stories. I'm just probably not in it.

Anyway, I did like this story, after I hit the halfway mark and the chapters got longer than 1 or 2 pages. I did like the references to the classics, and enjoyed the overall concept itself. I liked the Lovecraftian feel of the Things and the slitherers, and the 'through the stones' section. I liked how the mystery kept building up, but I would have liked for the resolution to be more complete and explained.

Overall, I thought the story was good, but I would have liked it to be more fleshed out as a whole. I'm glad that I read it, it's a good Halloweenish story, but giving a bit more background and filler knowledge would have benefited it, I think.

Horror October 2011: #6(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2012 Alazzar rated it 5 of 5 stars

[Originally read May 1-May 2, 2010.]

I'll start by saying that I came upon this book largely by accident, and it turned out to be one of the greatest accidents of my life -- WAY better than that time I soiled myself on stage during my first-grade performance of the Nativity story ("Three wise men?" More like "Two wise men and their dumpy friend with no control over his bladder").

Anyway, I'd gotten on ye olde Internet before heading to the library so I could figure out what they had checked in th...more

like · see review

Oct 06, 2008 Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, fantasy

I'm not sure how to describe this book, although the phrase "a fun romp" pops into my head. I'm not sure why, since I'd never use "a fun romp" in a verbal conversation, but I can't think of anything more appropriate. The story starts off vague as we follow a dog through the days of October as his companion, Jack the Ripper, participates in a sort of scavenger hunt for reasons not revealed until much later. Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and other classic horror creatures join in as well...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Felina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, holiday, star-4, 1own-dead-tree

I really enjoyed this book. I think I'll try to pick it up every October. Maybe this year I'll read the books that are referenced so its more of an enlightened experience next year. I do think I would rate it higher if I saw all the references.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Amy Sturgis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 20th-century, sherlockiana, whitechapel, lovecraftian, gothic, science-fiction-contemporary, fantasy

While this would be ideal reading for October, I'm glad I didn't wait until then to read it. This book has been recommended to me several times, and I now understand why. It's a perfect storm of Lovecraftian Victoriana: figures such as Jack the Ripper, Count Dracula, the Wolfman, Victor Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, and other identifiable "types" (a mad monk, a witch, a druid, occultists, etc.), most with animal familiars, draw together to either open or close the door that will...more While this would be ideal reading for October, I'm glad I didn't wait until then to read it. This book has been recommended to me several times, and I now understand why. It's a perfect storm of Lovecraftian Victoriana: figures such as Jack the Ripper, Count Dracula, the Wolfman, Victor Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, and other identifiable "types" (a mad monk, a witch, a druid, occultists, etc.), most with animal familiars, draw together to either open or close the door that will allow Lovecraft's Great Old Ones to enter and reclaim the world on the night of Halloween.

It's told over the thirty-one days of the month, and it balances a light tone with grim subject matter. The entire tale is recounted by Snuff, Jack the Ripper's dog, with wit and sometimes surprising poignancy. Zelazny is having fun here, but it's a loving, informed, and thoughtful kind of fun. Knowledge of Lovecraft and Gothic Victoriana isn't required, but it most certainly helps, and it's very richly rewarded.

I'll be reading this one again.

Here's one of the many passages that I found to be touching. Snuff is describing Sherlock Holmes, disguised for his investigation as a woman, playing his violin for a Gipsy audience:

He played and he played, and it grew wilder and wilder--

Abruptly, he halted and took a step, as if suddenly moving out of a dream. He bowed then and returned the instrument to its owner, his movements in that moment entirely masculine. I thought of all the controlled thinking, the masterfully developed deductions, which had served to bring him here, and then this -- this momentary slipping into the wildness he must keep carefully restrained -- and then seeing him come out of it, smiling, becoming the woman again. I saw in this the action of an enormous will, and suddenly I knew him much better than as the pursuing figure of many faces. Suddenly I knew that he had to be learning, as we were learning other aspects, of the scope of our enterprise, that he could well be right behind us at the end, that he was almost, in some way, a player -- more a force, really -- in the Game, and I respected him as I have few beings of the many I have known.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2010 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, horror-esque, historical-fiction, group-read, whodunit-supernatural

I read this in group, and we did a chapter a day, to keep with the sort of diary format of the story. I got behind a few times and had to catch up, but, for the most part, I kept with the chapter a day style.

It was fun, especially in the beginning, to see the Players being introduced, and catching the various historical and fictional allusions. And then to see the characters various interactions, and learn who was on which side for the Game - the attempt to open or keep closed to Gates for the O...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2008 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is possibly the most fun book I have ever read. I enjoyed every minute of it and I re-read it frequently. I think most anyone with an appreciation for literature will enjoy Zelazny's delightful puns and amusing literary jokes and references.
It's good fantasy and great fun.
Also, I should add that I cannot tolerate any of Zelazny's other works because of his overwhelming sexism, even though he is most definitely a brilliant storyteller of terrific wit and humor. (Or was, I should say, since...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2008 Kathryn added it

Shelves: stalled

Well, Tyler and I *tried* to read this. We got about thirty pages into it yet could not get INTO it. I'm not sure why... I think simply because it was really hard to tell where it was going and what was meant to be happening. Also, the doggie narrator was a bit odd; I kind of liked him, but still, the style was mostly dialogue and I just couldn't get that excited about it. (The possibility of gross Halloween-y things happening on every other page could have been a bit of a damper for me, too...)...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2008 Jon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: SciFi and Fantasy Book Club October Theme Book

Shelves: fiction, science-fiction, horror, read-in-my-40s, nebula-nominee

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2008 Petya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

My favourite Zelazny book. Light, easy to read, witty.

It's a journal of Jack Reaper's dog Sniff. It's actually told from the point of view of a dog :)
In the book you meet a lot of different characters you already know from fantasy, history and detective stories - Jack Reaper, Dracula, Frankenstein, Rasputin, Sherlock Holmes, a witch, a gnome and so on. Each character has an animal companion.

The plot - every few decades the night of Halloween has a full moon and then the fabric of reality thins...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 17, 2008 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy_sci-fi, fiction

I never managed to get through any other Zelazny novels (serial books are really not my thing), but I was quite pleasantly surprised by this droll tale, whose central character is a dog, Snuff. No ordinary dog, this. Not only is Snuff preternaturally intelligent, his master is none other than Jack the Ripper. Oh, and Jack is no mere unhinged murderer -- he's a sorcerer. All sorts of magical forces are at work, and there's a riotous assembly of characters -- everyone from Sherlock Holmes to a wer...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 29, 2008 Kristjan rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Gothic Fantasy Fans

Recommended to Kristjan by: GR Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club

Shelves: book-club-selection, dark-fantasy, reviewed

Selected as the Theme of the Month for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club, I really didn't think that I would like this book much and was mentally prepared to put it aside; fortunately, it was short and actually quite fun (that pleasant surprise was worth an extra star here). Although the story brings together many of the Victorian horror villains (similar to "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"), the true protagonists were really their animal companions as they 'traded' clues about this ultimate g...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 26, 2007 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This books starts out in such a lightweight tone (Hi - I'm Snuff - I'm a watchdog - I fetch things for my master.) that it always surprises me as it gains depth and momentum. The story is told one day at a time, Oct 1 1887 to Oct 31, as a series of familiar occult characters prepare to contest whether to open the gates to the Ancient Ones or keep the world like it is. The characters (the Count, the Good Doctor, the Mad Monk, etc) all have intelligent animal partners to aide them. The story is to...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 01, 2008 M.D. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf

With wonderful illustrations by Gahan Wilson. A wonderful, humorous set of 31 chapters linked together by an upcoming full-moon Halloween night where the way may open for the return of the Elder Gods to Earth.

Snuff, the narrator of the story and a dog, guides us through each day where we meet a slew of strange characters (the Count, Rastov, the Good Doctor, the Great Detective) bent upon intrigue and mayhem. The human characters take a back seat to the voices of their familiars.

Zelazny has given...more

1 like · like · see review

May 20, 2013 John Blackport rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book at least ten years ago, but it still stays with me. I love it because it takes a bunch of characters (and plot elements) that are familiar to very, very many readers --- and so darn MANY of them that if anyone said they were going to write a story that contained all that stuff, it would induce universal (and well-deserved) eyerolls.

And well, lucky for us . . . Zelazny isn't just anyone.

The excessive familiarity of so many well-worn characters is balanced by an unusual narrative...more

like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny is a strange, funny, gently spooky fantasy/horror/mystery novel, perfect for Halloween reading.

Narrated by Snuff, Jack the Ripper's dog, the tale focuses on the struggle between Openers and Closers for the fate of the world. Quite what they are opening and closing is not apparent at first, only that the results of the struggle could be catastrophic. Each opener or closer has an animal familiars, and there are ever-shifting alliances between the hu...more A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny is a strange, funny, gently spooky fantasy/horror/mystery novel, perfect for Halloween reading.

Narrated by Snuff, Jack the Ripper's dog, the tale focuses on the struggle between Openers and Closers for the fate of the world. Quite what they are opening and closing is not apparent at first, only that the results of the struggle could be catastrophic. Each opener or closer has an animal familiars, and there are ever-shifting alliances between the human(ish) characters and between the animals. No one knows for certain who is on what side until near the final confrontation, so friendships occasionally form across boundaries. This complicates matters when allegiances are known, especially once someone starts killing off the Players and leaving their familiars at loose ends.

When I first saw the book, I thought it seemed terribly hokey. If ever a character needed to retire from the public eye for a while, it's Jack the Ripper, and, really, a book narrated by his dog? Even after discovering Roger Zelazny and reading every other book by him that I could get hold of, I left this one on the shelf until there were no more available. Then, I discovered that it is actually my favorite Zelazny and is firmly on the list of books I will read and reread.

For one thing, Zelazny is clearly having fun bringing in a pile of familiar figures and weaving them together into one story. Jack the Ripper? Already mentioned. Dracula? Check. Frankenstein and his monster? Yep. Lovecraft's Old Ones? Present and accounted for. Sherlock Holmes? Out there trying to figure out what is going on. I had a great time playing "spot the monster," but even those unfamiliar with the different figures can enjoy the book. I had to look a few up after reading and plan on tracking them down to their origin tales at some point.

The style and content work extraordinarily well. Unusually for Zelazny, the A Night in the Lonesome October is written primarily in short, declarative sentences; this is supposed to be a dog telling the story, after all. Due to Zelazny's skill, this apparently simple style works very well to convey a variety of tones and moods.

And did I mention it's funny? Oh yes. All that murder, mayhem, betrayal, and possible apocalypse comes with a healthy dose of humor. It runs all through, but one of my favorite scenes is the ingredient swapping in the graveyard one night:

Later, a voice very like MacCabe's called out form down the hill, "Damn! I need a left femur and this one ain't got one!"

"Left femur you say?" came an ancient croaking voice form nearby, which could have been Owen's. "I've one right here I ain't usin'. Have you a liver, though? That's my need."

....

"Hey!" came a lady's voice then, from off to the left. "While you're about it, have you a skull?"

"Indeed I do!" said the second man. "What'll you give?"

"What do you need?"

"Fingerbones!"

All of this to the dismay of the graveyard's watchdog who complains to Snuff that no one cleans up after themselves. "I'll be up kicking dirt all night."

A Night in the Lonesome October is fantasy, horror, mystery, and just plain fun.

Highly recommended, even in months that are not October.

Note: Review originally written for The Geek Girl Project. Stop by for more reviews, craft tips, movie discussions, and more.(less)

like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 David rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was one totally weird book. I'd had it on my shelf for a long time, but a recent gaming podcast mentioned that it was October and the perfect time for one of the hosts to re-read "A night in the Lonesome October." When I finished a book, I reached for this one. It was definitely an experience, but I don't think it was my kind of thing.

First, it was filled to the brim with eerie monsters and characters from horror movies, horror literature, etc. Larry Talbot, a.k.a. The Wolfman, plays a pivo...more This was one totally weird book. I'd had it on my shelf for a long time, but a recent gaming podcast mentioned that it was October and the perfect time for one of the hosts to re-read "A night in the Lonesome October." When I finished a book, I reached for this one. It was definitely an experience, but I don't think it was my kind of thing.

First, it was filled to the brim with eerie monsters and characters from horror movies, horror literature, etc. Larry Talbot, a.k.a. The Wolfman, plays a pivotal role, as does "The Count" and we know who that it is, don't we? The author goes to great pains not to actually name these fictional characters which portrays them in a different light. For example, Doc Frankenstein is "The Good Doctor" and Sherlock Holmes is "The Great Detective" and Watson "His fat companion."

The story is told from the point of view of a scruffy dog named Snuff. Snuff is a watchdog, the companion of his master Jack (the ripper?) and they are feverishly working (from October 1st) to prepare for a cataclysmic event on Halloween. A great game is on and I won't expose the details because it was pretty much concealed until most of the way through the book what exactly this game is. There are a lot of machinations going on as this jumbled assortment of characters attempt to figure out who the good guys and bad guys really are.

Each of the "players" has an odd animal companion to assist him. Jack has Snuff, another player has a cat, another a snake, and of course, the count has a bat. The animals communicate with each other, but when there is trouble Snuff can only bark and growl to alert his master that the creatures he is holding prisoner (one of the cleverest parts of the book) are getting loose.

The writing style is almost like an A.A. Milne "Winnie the Pooh" English prose which to some might seem appropriate (for a book set in England in the late 1800's) but after awhile was just an annoying style to me.

I've heard this book championed as a great book and I think it is worth reading, but I didn't manage to observe the greatness. It was a mediocre read with some cool elements that I had to force myself to finish, because honestly, about halfway through I was ready to give up. Then the pace quickened as the plot thickened and there was some mystery to be resolved.

I imagine this is a pretty good Halloween read for some.. but it was only adequate to me. (less)

like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Arthistorychick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, adult-paranormal, paranormal, humor

Purchased: 5 stars/5 stars

I realize that 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. 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 also loved it, devoured it, and am fairly certain I will read it again and again.

Nearly all of Lonesome October is told from t...more Purchased: 5 stars/5 stars

I realize that 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. 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 also 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 to 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 so much is 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 ☺ (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 smoothly straight through from start to finish. As for whom I would recommend this book to: any adult or mature young adult with a love of the paranormal, animals, and a sense of humor! Happy reading ☺(less)

like · see review

May 28, 2012 James Bojaciuk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wold-newton, sherlock-holmes

Once in every thousand so oftens, an utterly magical book comes along to captivate you.

Oh, yes, the plot certainly sounds sily; oh, yes, at first glance its going to sound impossible for anyone without a PHD in Victorian Literature to even begin to enjoy. But, when you plunge yourself into the madness, it makes perfect sense. Jack the Ripper's talking dog is endearing; the true identities of the assembled characters are bonuses for lovers of old literature--even if, God forbid that such a person...more

like · see review

May 05, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was published in 1993 and it seems as if it was before it's time,
in that it would have fit in perfectly with the sweep of affection for the magical/fantastical fiction that began with the Harry Potter series.

Actually, I think this book would make a perfect Disney movie. The main character being a dog
named Snuff who along with a cat named Graymalk assist their masters in opening/closing a door
between the old gods and the world as we know it. There's even a hint of romance between their
m...more

like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Христо Блажев rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Една нощ през самотния октомври" на Зелазни чертае магична шахматна битка
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/b...

Тази книга ми попадна благодарение на чудесно й ревю в един от класическите книжни блогове – “Палатков лагер за пингвини”.

За мен тя бе като странна шахматна игра с мноооого особени правила. Имаме два лагера, които имат срещуположна цел – да осигурят/осуетят появата на проход, през който древни богове ще се завърнат с не много чисти цели на Земята (хм, май е ясно отде е взимал Ланд...more

like · see review

Oct 04, 2011 Gabe Dybing rated it 2 of 5 stars

I know Nick is going to berate me for this rating (yep, I see it), but, really, yeah, it was "cute."

"Cute" alone isn't a deal-breaker, but there also wasn't a lot of emotional depth. This is probably because the narration is from the perspective of a dog. Moreover, the action in this novel consists of animals "making their rounds" and "talking to other animals."

"Notice anything interesting today?"

"Nope."

Or.

"Yep."

"Let's go check it out. Oh, I see a mad scientist has moved in today."

"I wonder if h...more

like · see review

Feb 03, 2011 Faire Faimallo rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always liked Zelazny's Amber and few other books I have read so having opportunity to read another book by him, I didn't hesitate. The story line is light, fast-paced and addictive - I finished the book in one evening, unable to stop before seeing the end. The story itself is set in old good London, in the times when fog was thick and Jack Ripper on loose. Zelazny is using several rather famous characters and themes, from cult of Cthulu to Dr. Frankenstein, twists them a bit and merges them in...more I always liked Zelazny's Amber and few other books I have read so having opportunity to read another book by him, I didn't hesitate. The story line is light, fast-paced and addictive - I finished the book in one evening, unable to stop before seeing the end. The story itself is set in old good London, in the times when fog was thick and Jack Ripper on loose. Zelazny is using several rather famous characters and themes, from cult of Cthulu to Dr. Frankenstein, twists them a bit and merges them in quite coherent story set in Great Britain, where magic is common and goal justifies any means used.

There are two distinctive kinds of characters: human magicians, playing the Game, and their animal familiars, while the story is told by one of the familiars, a dog. While the animals have psychology alike to humans, Zelazny adds lots of animal quirks and traits, making them quite distinctive - which is easily seen in Dogs friendship with Cat. The story itself evolves around a kind of two sided fight culminating on a certain night, but uncertain place. Ones allegiance to either of sides is quite a secret and as the story proceeds every character is trying to determine where the others stand, to determine the place of final culmination and to gain as much power as possible, usually by gathering quite unusual ingredients.

The story is convincing and has quite a drive, it is not a "serious book" but neither a shallow one. On of its strong points is that most of the story concerns mainly the familiars, their relationships among themselves and to their masters, which is quite interesting. Story uses a few typical horror and fantasy themes, but at the same time I would characterize it rather as "fantastical" - every theme used is slightly modified so that it feels fresh and fits the story neatly, as is to be expected in a story written by master Teller. In the end I would recommend this book to fairly anyone but especially to those that like mysterious, cleverly written detective stories.(less)

like · see review

Oct 11, 2010 M.T. Murphy rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the spring of 1995, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I had just finished watching a movie and stopped at the Books-a-Million next to the theatre. In the bargain aisle, a thin hardback book caught my eye. The cover had a curious scene with Count Dracula having a conversation with Sherlock Holmes while petting an old hound dog. In the background, Frankenstein’s monster fumbled around as Rasputin sat locked in passionate conversation with an attractive, raven-haired witch.

The old saying suggests...more In the spring of 1995, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I had just finished watching a movie and stopped at the Books-a-Million next to the theatre. In the bargain aisle, a thin hardback book caught my eye. The cover had a curious scene with Count Dracula having a conversation with Sherlock Holmes while petting an old hound dog. In the background, Frankenstein’s monster fumbled around as Rasputin sat locked in passionate conversation with an attractive, raven-haired witch.

The old saying suggests that a book should never be judged by its cover, but the exact opposite is true for A Night in the Lonesome October.

The story is narrated by Snuff, a grizzled old watchdog who just happens to belong to Jack the Ripper. He tells his tale over the course of thirty-one chapters, each representing a single day in the month of October. Snuff and his infamous master are charged with keeping an ancient portal to ultimate evil closed. There are other players in the game, but whether they seek to open the portal or keep it closed is a mystery.

The participants slowly reveal themselves during the month, jockeying for advantage and killing off other players when the opportunity arises. The characters are instantly recognizable from literature and popular movies: the good doctor and his brutish creation, the great detective, the vampiric count, a witch, a druid, a sadistic clergyman, a mad monk, and the wolf man Larry Talbot.

The colorful cast and story directly influenced by H.P. Lovecraft are complimented by Snuff’s cheerful narrative when interacting with the other players and their animal companions. When a writer crafts an enthralling story and truly enjoys writing it, that joy is passed on to the reader. Roger Zelazny must have had a blast writing this tale. One comical illustration per chapter by Gahan Wilson adds to the whimsical fun.

A Night in the Lonesome October is a fun and furious romp through the world built by 19th and 20th century literary and film masters. If you find this forgotten gem on an old library or bookstore shelf or floating around on eBay, pick it up. Unless the idea of Jack the Ripper and the wolf man having coffee and talking shop bores you, you will love this book.
(less)

like · see review

May 01, 2009 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars

A friend of mine lent me this, which has been on my to-read list for a couple of years now. Both she and Neil Gaiman were right--this is a clever little book, just the right blend of lightweight and "OMG DID YOU SEE WHAT HE JUST DID THERE???"

This book is such a delight--a pastiche of Victorian & gothic horror conventions, loosely strung together by a plot straight out of Lovecraft and narrated by Jack the Ripper's dog, Snuff. What's not to love? The book starts out deceptively simple--almost...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Beyond Reality: Lonesome October - Finished!	19	36	Dec 30, 2012 10:29pm
Beyond Reality: Lonesome October - By the Day	149	65	Oct 31, 2012 05:22pm
Beyond Reality: Lonesome October Artwork; Cover & Chapter	38	95	Oct 31, 2012 07:29am

combine
Other Editions (13)

More editions...

Genres

Fantasy

223 users

Horror

53 users

Science Fiction

22 users

Humor

20 users

Mystery

15 users

Paranormal > Vampires

9 users

Holiday > Halloween

8 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

8 users

Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

5 users

Gothic

5 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Roger Zelazny

Roger Zelazny made his name with a group of novellas which demonstrated just how intense an emotional charge could be generated by the stock imagery of sf; the most famous of these is 'A Rose for Ecclesiastes' in which a poet struggles to convince dying and sterile Martians that life is worth continuing. Zelazny continued to write excellent short stories throughout his career, which share the inve...more

More about Roger Zelazny...

Books by Roger Zelazny

Nine Princes in Amber (Amber Chronicles, #1)

The Great Book of Amber (Chronicles of Amber, #1-10)

The Courts of Chaos (Amber Chronicles, #5)

The Guns of Avalon (Amber Chronicles, #2)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About A Night in the Lo...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from A Night in the Lonesom...

“Such
times are rare, such times are fleeting, but always bright when caught, measured, hung, and later regarded
in times of adversity, there in the kinder halls of memory, against the flapping of the flames.” — 2 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: A Night in the Lonesome October
avg rating	preview: A Night in the Lonesome October Goodreads rating: 4.24 (2090 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62005.A_Night_in_the_Lonesome_October?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1274492048l/62005.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62005.A_Night_in_the_Lonesome_October?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny[/url]

A Night in the Lonesome October

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website