THIS IMMORTAL

Two novels won Hugo Awards for Best Novel in 1968. The first was Frank Herbert's DUNE, and the second was Roger Zelazny's first novel, THIS IMMORTAL. Victor Bevine narrates, assuming the first-person role of Conrad Nomikos, a mutated human on post-apocalyptic Earth who is called on to protect an alien with plenty of enemies. Bevine is a great choice for the novel, and he performs well, bringing the enigmatic characters to life while giving an alien atmosphere to the reading through deliberate speech patterns. For those unfamiliar with Zelazny, he's a precursor to authors like Neil Gaiman. Gods and supermen permeate the story, and the main character is both less and more than readers are led to believe. S.D.D. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2008]