You know, a part of me really wishes I could have pulled off the same trick the book's protagonist did for 13 years - remain a perpetual student supported by a cryogenically frozen uncle, free to expand my horizons, create Lobachevsky-worthy mathematical odes to beauty, and not ever having to graduate to the real adult world."'Let there be an end to thought. Thus do I refute Descartes.' I sprawled, not a cogito or a sum to my name."However, when the real adult world comes equipped with aliens undercover as a wombat and a kangaroo, even the prospect of potential never-ending student life pales in comparison.This Hugo and Nebula Awards nominee is a treasure hiding behind the funky 1970s paperback cover. It's wickedly smart and wickedly hilarious, and even its gimmicky structure (each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and the following chapter picks up the story a while later and eventually works its way back to the previous cliffhanger to explain what happened) did not lessen my enjoyment. The enjoyment that is solely due to the charm of the never-ending smartly funny banter inside the protagonist's head that Zelazny treats us to for much-too-short pages of this book."The hot sands had had shouted them through me all afternoon, then night’s frigid breezes had whispered the motto at the overdone lamb chop, my ear: "You are a living example of the absurdity of things."Fred Cassidy, as I mentioned above, is a perpetual student by day and an acrophiliac in his spare time (as in love of heights, or climbing tall buildings in Fred's case). Due to an apparent loophole in his not-quite-dead uncle's will he is entitled to a very comfortable life as long as he is getting a college degree full-time. For thirteen years, Fred takes full advantage of that, becoming probably the most broadly-educated man on the planet (and also acquiring very practical skills in basket-weaving, coming THIS close to completing a major in it - an a few dozen of other specialties as well)."And if somebody has put together a course on the subject, this one has probably taken it," said Charv. "Yes. Unfortunate."Finally graduating Fred becomes almost a mission of the university officials ((view spoiler)[they eventually do succeed, bestowing upon Fred a well-earned DhP eergeD ni ygoloporhtnA (hide spoiler)]
Every now and then I take a break from reading science books and unwind with a spot of fiction. This is often something new, but I also like to dip back into old favourites... and was so glad that I did with Roger Zelazny's Doorways in the Sand, which I haven't read for about 20 years, but was a delight to return to because it remains totally brilliant.I was a huge fan of Zelazny's Amber series in my teens (I used to haunt the SF bookshop near Piccadilly Station in Manchester, as it sold US imports, and had the latest addition to the Amber books long before they were published in the UK), and still enjoy them, despite the output getting a bit strained towards the end. Doorways, though, is SF rather than fantasy, with that same type of wisecracking hero who would have been portrayed by a young Harrison Ford in the movies.For the first few pages this could be a 1920s comedy, with a night climber at university who has a trust fund that pays him until he graduates - so every time he comes close to graduating, he changes to a different course, never quite accumulating enough points to graduate, despite the university's determined attempts to see him pass, leading to a comic encounter with the latest in a series of student advisors.However, there are strange things afoot. Fred, our main character, seems to be receiving garbled messages from the universe, while chapter endings result in sudden, often quite baffling shifts of situation. You have to be prepared to go with the flow and enjoy the scintillating words that Zelazny throws at you and eventually all will become clear (if not straightforward). The book is a total delight, and I don't know anyone currently writing in SF who can achieve this kind of masterful mind play mixing science fiction, humour and adventure. (If there is, please let me know.)If you've never read it, you really must. Come one - there's a talking wombat. Need I say more?
What do You think about Doorways In The Sand (1991)?
I just don’t get how he does it.No matter how many Zelazny stories I read, he still finds a way to surprise and amaze me. I simply cannot fathom how he keeps track of so many characters and creates plot twists that are entirely unpredictable yet still believable within the frame of the story. And then, just when you think you have everything figured out, more information is unveiled and your appreciation for the masterful storytelling increases a thousand fold.I really don’t know what else to say about Doorways in the Sand, beyond these Zelazny generalizations. It’s a fast read with an interesting premise and an interesting protagonist (not to mention an interesting cast of supporting characters). And, as I said, the plot twists and revelations are all superbly done.I’ll admit that the cover art of my edition (and the description on the back) made me think this would be more of a “galactic” sci-fi tale (for lack of a better term), but the vast majority of the book takes place on Earth in what could easily pass for modern-day society (there aren’t a bunch of flying cars zipping around, or robots tending bars, or laser-fights). And I sort of like that about the book. I don’t think you’d need to be a big sci-fi fan to like it. You could probably like it just fine if you enjoyed fantasy or even the standard thriller. (Okay, you can’t hate SF if you’re going to try this book, because there are still SF elements to it, but still . . .)Highly recommended for any Zelazny fan.
—Alazzar
This is the second Zelazny book I've gone for and I've got to say that despite all of the wonderful stuff I heard about him as a writer, I'm horribly disappointed. I couldn't even finish this one. It's his language, his use of language. He's a sci fi writer, writing this book in the 1970s, but who uses 19th century language. It's beyond distracting; it's maddening!Here's an example. On page 20, the protagonist, Fred, kicks an intruder in the groin. and then attempts to flee. Instead of saying Fred ran away or retreated or fled or anything, Zalazny writes, ""Which is why I took to my own element rather than stay there and face him.? Took to your own element??? Who the hell says shit like that??? At least in this century, or rather, the 20th century? It's like some linguistic time warp with this writer, and I barely tolerated and finished the first book of his I read due to this, and I'm not finishing this one. I have two more books of his to read, but I'm reluctant. I'll probably start one and give it one to two chapters. If the language he employs is as idiotic as this shit, it's bye bye Zelazny -- forever. I don't want to get angry and headachy when reading a book!
—Scott Holstad
I don't know why I didn't read this book sooner, or why I put it down when I first started reading it several years ago. Maybe it didn't click with me back then, but opening up the book with a character that basically wants to stay in college as long as possible definitely rang true with me this time around. From there...it takes a very Zelazny turn which I almost was blindsided by. Of all of the Zelazny books I've read, this is among the trippiest, making me wonder if Zelazny wasn't hitting the mushrooms or acid pretty hard while writing it. I love the bizarre ways his mind worked, but this book might have had just a hair too much of the crazy metaphysical. Not that it didn't have a lot happening, it's just that sometimes the stream of consciousness weirdness slowed things down or distracted from the main plot, so that's about my biggest criticism of the book. Which is weird, since normally I'm praising his trippy writing as the best part of the book.Still, overall, a rather solid Zelazny work, and among my favorites.
—Ubiquitousbastard
