Просто шеметен фарс

Millennial Contest #3

by Roger Zelazny, Robert Sheckley, Роджър Зелазни

The play’s the thing in this comic fantasy from the authors of Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming and If at Faust You Don’t Succeed

It’s that quiet time between Millennia, and the demon Azzie is becoming bored and restless. Then inspiration hits. On a devilish sabbatical in Europe, Azzie discovers that morality plays are all the rage. He decides to strike back by producing an “immorality play,” in which seven nondescript human pilgrims will be allowed by magic to attain their hearts’ desires.

But the forces of Good are determined to close the play before it opens. New characters suddenly start romancing the stage, such as a Grateful Dead–listening Cyclops, and Azzie’s own protagonists begin changing their hearts’ desires on the slightest whim. This is one theatrical production that could do without an angel—and there’s even worse news waiting in the wings. . . .

“Zelazny and Sheckley make for a synergy that’s just about unequaled in . . . fantasy humor.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Science Fiction Fantasy, Religion, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American fantasy and science fiction writer known for his short stories and novels, best known for The Chronicles of Amber. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo Award six times (also out of 14 nominations), including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad (1965), subsequently published under the title This Immortal (1966), and the novel Lord of Light (1967).

Reviews

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Донеси ми главата на принца. Ако с Фауст не успееш. Просто шеметен фарс” на Роджър Зелазни и Робърт Шекли! Три големи романа, от двама големи автора в един голям том в страхотна (и стилна) твърда корица. Какво да ви кажа, когато от издателство „Бард” са решили да кръстят поредицата си „Велики майстори на фентъзи и фантастика” съвсем не са се изхвърлили. А че трилогията „Millennial Contest” си е точно за тук – в това няма никакво съмнение! А шеметен фарс ще получите и то в изобилие. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Lammoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Поредното великолепие от Зелазни и Шекли!

Отново се срещаме със симпатичния злодей Аззи и отново той крои мащабни планове. Този път подготвя пиеса, чиито герои ще са реални хора, а сцената ще е реалния свят. Целта му е да докаже, че Седемте смъртни гряха са истинския път към прекрасен живот и да разкрие лицемерието на разните "добротворковци". Действията ще се развиват в точно подобие на Венеция, след което Аззи ще я намести във време-пространството така, че да се слее с реалността, с истинската Венеция и пиесата ще се превърне в част от световната митология, а историята ѝ ще наклони везните в полза на Злото. Защото, ако печели само Доброто, няма да е интересно и няма да има прогрес....

Обаче....пак всичко се обърква....
Неволно Аззи прецаква цялата механика на Вселената и тя е на път да се разпадне.

Ревю: http://lammothsblog.blogspot.com/2012...

[J.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the other two books in this series and loved them. That was a while ago, but I still felt this one wasn't quite up to par with the other two. Still, humorous and unique, if nothing else.

[Daryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the last book published by Zelazny during his lifetime (he died about two months after its release), his third collaboration with Robert Sheckley in the Millennial Contest series, and sadly, not a very good one. I held out some hope when I started it, as Azzie Elbub is back as the main character (he was in the first one, but a very minor character in the second), but that doesn't do much to save it. There's no contest here (and, in fact, the Millennial Contest title should probably be put to rest), as Azzie just decides to create an "immorality play" after seeing the morality plays of the Dark Ages/Renaissance period. In itself, not a bad idea, but, of course, it goes nowhere in the course of the novel. This is an easy read, but it's nor particularly interesting and not at all funny. As I've read through all of Zelazny's works to this point (not including his posthumous publications; those are still to come), I'd recommend sticking with his earlier work (for the most part) and avoiding his collaborations (for the most part).

[Lupe]

Така, на Аззи му се ще да постави пиеса, с която да възхваля мързела и простодушието като достоен път към блажено щастие. Актьорите играят себе си на сцената на своя живот. Дотук добре, Шекспир кима, Хорацио се съгласява, но на мен ми е някак скучно и до средата историята се довлачва, аха да се случи нещо. Разбира се, после динамиката се заплита, включват се всички стари познайници и Зелазни бута на масата приятна доза непредвидимост. Особено приятни моменти са включванията на Пандора, отряда без глави, съдбинния гоблен на времето, както и великаните, които духат вярър, но частите са кратки, на места почти сякаш орязани, а диалозите - не така свежи, в сравнение с двете по-ранни книги. Бих се оплакал, че можеше много повече, но всъщност и това е предостатъчно. Пишейки книгата, Зелазни вече е знаел, че има рак и това е един от последните подаръци на този толкова любим автор преди да си замине. Поклон!

[Orihara Izaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, heartwarming, made me think about many things. Will re-read this trilogy many more times

[Fingon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neuporedivo bolje od drugog dela i dosta slabije od prvog. Sve u svemu, not bad.

[Deian Tzvetkov · Rating 3 out of 5]

В последната част на трилогията Аззи иска чрез един венециански драматург да постави пиеса, в която самите хора да решат какво да правят. Стига се до там, че се намесва Безименното, което иска да унищожи всичко старо и да въдвори нов ред. Всички богове и демони се съюзяват, за да го спрат и в крайна сметка успяват и спасяват всичко

[Renie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interessante und leichte Geschichte. Recht verspielt, aber am Ende könnte man sich doch eine moralische Frage stellen - ist das Böse immer böse und das Gute gut?

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmissable satire.

[Paul Sand · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Imported automatically from my blog. Some formatting there may not have translated here.]

Another "catch up" book: I should have read it sooner after I bought it. (I had the receipt stuck in between the back cover: purchased at the long-defunct Stroudwater Books in Dover, NH on April 5, 1996. Hey, a mere 22 and a half years, give or take!)

It is the concluding entry in the so-called "Millennial Contest" series writtn by Robert Zelazny and Robert Sheckley, now both passed on. I read the previous books (Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming and If at Faust You Don't Succeed) at some point before I kept track of such things. Fortunately, the book is enjoyable as a standalone.

The book is copyright 1995; Zelazny died in June of that year. So who knows what the Sheckley/Zelazny ratio of book content is?

The demonic protagonist of the previous book, Azzie Elbub, is still looking for ways for Evil to triumph over Good. He's in the Renaissance era, and morality plays are all the rage. Hey, Azzie thinks, how about an immorality play? He hires/tempts a cynical playwright with his idea: take some ordinary folk, offer them their dearest wish, which will be granted them despite their lack of heroic effort and manifest character flaws. The real-time, real-life results will be immortalized in the play.

A simple scheme, and it would have worked too, except for those darned kids the intervention of the forces of Good, and a whole lot of unintented consequences that threaten to rip apart the nature of reality.

To be honest, these books are frothy and forgettable (I've already forgotten about the first two), but a lot of fun to read.

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a series that I spent several years trying to find I must say I wasn't truly impressed.

I had seen this on the shelves at my local bookstore for a very long time, yet didn't have the cash to pick them up at the time. As is the case with mass market paperbacks, they left the shelves not to return once I got the money.

But through the fotuitous offerings of eBay, I was able to locate these books and hastily bought them.

Given the premise of the novels (Good vs. Evil having a Millenial contest to decide the moral leanings of the human race for the next thousand years) I was expecting some funny commentary on Good, Evil and human beings foibals regarding either. Something akin to the book Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Instead I was given a series akin to the writings of Piers Anthony. Not to disparage Piers Anthony's writtings, but more to the fact that he has very good ideas that he either beats to death (Xanth) or he poorly executes (Steppe).

I was glad to have read more materials by my favourite author (Roger Zelazny) but was rather disappointed that such a good idea was so poorly executed.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of the Millennial Contest cycle, and one of the last books Zelazny wrote, it starts off slow and a bit clunky, but by the second third is in full swing and very readable- the wit piles on in classic Zelazny style and there are some flat out, laugh out loud moments. The ending is a bit chaotic, almost Lynchian in its penultimate twist, but very touching, especially when you realize he knew he was dying of cancer (more or less) by that point. A fine conclusion to a wonderful trilogy for lit and fantasy geeks alike.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, I really liked the 1st book in the series and kept reading because of that.
The pacing felt odd. Very slow to start then moved very fast, too fast. It felt like parts were forced and did not flow well. Fun story, but lacking in presentation.

[Howard Brazee · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the all time best SF authors in a collaboration that is less than what either authors could do before. I don't know if this is one of those Zelazny wrote in a hurry when he knew he was going to die and leave his family without a breadwinner.

[Kiro Selanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a good book. I wanted some light reading, but this novel was so light it had no substance. It wasn't interesting, and I kept waiting for something to happen but it didn't. So after a little under 100 pages I decided to cut my losses and move on.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't bad, but for me the others (especially the first) were better! But also like it...

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

good.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clever but felt like something was missing. The conclusion came way too soon and was rather anticlimactic.

[Geir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the first 2 in the series. There are some pacing problems. Still, when it's good, it's great, and Zelazny can be pretty damn good.

[Nancy Raines]

Millennial Contests Book 3

[dVicko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. A bit more mild than "Bring me the Head of Prince Charming", but still very good. (y)

[Laura Gilfillan]

Azzie, the demon, wants to counter all the morality plays with an immorality play. And he wants it to be original and fresh. All the magic horses end up getting him in trouble though...

[Charl]

I just can't get into it. Maybe I'll try it again some other day.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last in the series and I endured.

[Bobby Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alas, the worst of the three Millennial Contest books. I'm glad Zelazny and Sheckley stopped after this one.

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny/10
the ending confused me a lot tho