It's 2103 and people can change their bodily appearance practically at will. Everyone has chosen (this month) to be sleek-skinned, athletic, blue-eyed blondes. Into this world comes a man born in 1967, with all his bodily flaws, lumpy nose, dark hair, and quaint attitudes. He's a renowned curiosity, the world's greatest novelty, and gets to have sex with many women. But popularity in this world has a price... The technological setting of the story is a bit vague outside of the body modifications, and there's no explanation how the Caliban-character got to the future.
This story is Chapter 4 of Majipoor Chronicles.
One of the strangest incidents in the 14,000 year history of humans on Majipoor involves the Pontifex named Arioc, who, upon the death of the Lady of the Isle of Sleep, declares that he is a woman and will be her successor. Calintane, a young man in the bureaucracy who witnessed the happenings, shares what really went on.
This novelette appears with a dedication "In Memoriam: RZ" and represents a "conscious effort to use his (Roger Zelazny's) manner and themes." It succeeds brilliantly. It's the story of a mostly-forgotten character from Greek mythology, the Titan called Typhoeus, whose purpose it was to destroy the newcomer Zeus who had taken over Mount Olympus. A volcanic eruption frees the Titan from his mountain prison and he bursts forth into our world to exact his revenge on Zeus. But Zeus is, to say the least, elusive. This story evokes the style and mood of Zelazny's best works (Lord of Light and so on) marvelously. |
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Nikki is the ultimate party girl of 1999, and for her birthday, she goes to a party featuring a telepath, an Arab rabbi, a billionaire, and a man who's 1017 years old. Needless to say, it's an unusual night.
An early example of the now-common organ-transplants-gone-awry genre. In a society controlled by powerful old men (like ours), young, healthy citizens have their organs requisitioned to prolong the lives of seniors. Setting is not too far future, with no noticeable technology aside from widespread transplantation and some artificial organs.
Not a story, a poem.
Became part of Lest We Forget Thee, Earth.
Have you ever felt like you don't know how your life got to be how it is? Like it must have been someone else who got your job, married your wife? That you're supposed to be living a very different life? By some unexplained occurrence at the ruins of Teotihuacan in Mexico, a man suddenly finds himself (apparently) in an alternate Earth, where he's a market researcher, not an art gallery owner, where he's married instead of single. Needless to say, it's hard to get anyone to believe him...
Became part of The Shrouded Planet.
A spaceship lands on an unexplored planet. On board are three men: the pilot and two zoologists. Their mission is to gather animal specimens for the Bureau of Interstellar Affairs and bring them back to Earth. The planet is almost too good to be true--within minutes of their landing, more bizarre creatures than they can count are sniffing around to see what's up. It's as if they stumbled upon a ready-made zoological catalog. What could go wrong?
This is part of the novel The Alien Years.
A fading former star of stage and screen turns to a new form of psychotherapy to resurrect his acting career. It works brilliantly, but there's a price to pay. Send this one off to the producers of the new Outer Limits.
Chapter 7 of Majipoor Chronicles. I do not know of any publication apart from that book.
During the reign of Lord Kinniken, not long before the time of Lord Valentine, a very rare event occurs on Majipoor: a murder. A businessman named Sigmar Haligome argues with one of his suppliers, a man named Gleim, and ends up pushing him off a balcony into the River Stee. As there are no witnesses, Haligome pretends nothing has happened and resumes his life. Until, that is, the dreams start. Horrifying dreams sent by the King of Dreams, that mysterious Power of Suvrael. This story is an exploration of how justice works on Majipoor, and what role the King plays in it, as well as being a study in guilt and redemption.
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Last updated October 21, 2002
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