Dilvish, the Damned

Dilvish was one of RZ's favorite characters because he kept writing stories about him for nearly 20 years. This collection of short stories centers around Dilvish's quest for revenge against the sorcerer who sent him to Hell. The stories are arranged in chronological order rather than publication date and good thing too because it almost feels like a standalone novel. The best and worst thing about this book is that you follow him and his comrade Black through one adventure and perilous spot after another, get almost to the point wherte Dilvish is to meet his mortal enemy in combat and the book comes to an end. Argh! This book is a prequal to "The Changing Land" & I highly reccomend you read them in series to find out how it all turns out (so you won't go mad)!

A Sword and Sorcery collection more in the Leiberian style, a warrior with sidekick, who just happens to be some sort of supernatural in the form of a tireless, firebreathing black horse. Much magic, swordplay, peril, and droll conversation to be found within these pages. Along with monsters, priests, sorcerers, devils and women. Dilvish the Damned : 01 Passage to Dilfar - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 02 Thelinde's Song - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 03 The Bells of Shoredan - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 04 A Knight for Merytha - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 05 The Places of Aache - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 06 A City Divided - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 07 The White Beast - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 08 Tower of Ice - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 09 Devil and the Dancer - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 10 Garden of Blood - Roger Zelazny Dilvish the Damned : 11 Dilvish, the Damned - Roger Zelazny Smart tireless horse helps when you need to give an invulnerable enemy a good kicking. 4 out of 5 Some witchy observation of Dilvish. 3 out of 5 One damned Elf bloke, one spectral horde to summon. 3.5 out of 5 "Here, dragon!" said Black. "Here, dragon! Come on, dragon!" They circled the courtyard, peering through the archways. "No dragon," Black observed. "No." "Pity. You must forgo the pleasure." ... "I find my position somewhat awkward, Merytha," Dilvish observed, "being guest to a vampire lord I've cuckolded. I don't quite know what one says on these occasions." 3.5 out of 5 Dilvish talks a goddess into going into business. 3.5 out of 5 When stuck in a supernatural maze, Dilvish and Black decide to go for the serious remodelling as opposed to solving solution. 3.5 out of 5 Have to be really hungry to brave eating Dilvish. 3 out of 5 Dilvish comes looking for a confrontation with the sorcerer who banished him to Hell. He is not the only one that wants a piece of him, though. 3.5 out of 5 Along with sorcerer, sorceress, and even a stray, fading god or two. 4 out of 5 An altar, and sorcery turns Black into humanoid form, wherein he shows he is quite handy with weaponry as well as hooves. 4 out of 5 Dilvish shook his head. "I believe you require additional instruction in the principles of armed robbery," he said. "The idea is to enrich yourself at the other's expense without suffering personal injury. If injury is to be incurred, it should be to the other party." "Up yours," the man said, a crafty gleam coming into his eye. He stooped quickly then and snatched up his blade. He rushed toward Dilvish, waving it on high. Upon finding the gentleman's problems, with a minor god's shadow belt : "Not a bad final speech," Black observed. "It had all of the classical elementsthe threat, the curse, the proper bravado, the invocation of the deity" "Great," Dilvish acknowledged. "But if you'll save the literary criticism for later, I

This is one of my all-time favorite works of fiction!The story concerns Dilvish the Damned's quest for revenge. The backdrop to the story is this: Jhelerak, formerly a white magician who challenged Hohorga the Maleficient and was defeated, has lapsed back into evil after Dilvish's ancestor, Selar, killed the Maleficient One.Much later Dilvish prevents Jhelerak from sacrificing a young woman and Jhelerak turns Dilvish's body to stone, sending his soul to the deepest Hell the dark mage can manage. Centuries later, Dilvish sells his soul to the supernatural creature Black in return for escape and getting vengence on Jhelerak - an aim which has become Dilvish's obsession. Just as Jhelerak was completely changed by the actions of the Maleficient, Dilvish riding a black mount "from hell" and equipped with the blackest of magics, the Awful Sayings and the eyes of a demon, returns for vengence. Although a work of "high adventure" the book is filled with philosophical considerations combined with bits of humor ["The Devil with them all, Dilvish the Damned" says one anti-Hero referring to the possibility that gods and devils might simply be alter-egos of one another! And "'Damned if you do and damned if you don't,' said Dilvish the Damned, dismounting" referring to Dilvish's tendency to risk his life for damsels in distress].Somewhat similar to (but better than) Jirel of Joiry or Elric of Melnibone, this is well worth the read.

Zelazny is best known for his AMBER series, as well as LORD OF LIGHT. DILVISH is a compilation of several short stories that Zelazny wrote so each section is broken into different chapters. The pace moves well enough but not as is expected today in the typical 1000 page fantasy epic.That said there are several fantastic elements in these stories which I rarely find in later fantasy novels so, for that alone, the reading is worth it.Remember, his best tale would be the first five books of AMBER and DILVISH, THE DAMNED is somewhere between pretty good and good, but not great, like Amber.Moorcock's pulp stories, which were later put into slim novels, is similar in pacing to that of DILVISH, THE DAMNED.

This is one of my favorite books by Zelazney. Purely in the fantasy realm, of course. I was somewhat intrigued, yet simultaneously taken aback by the title. But you soon find out why this green-clad dude is referred to as "damned". Dilvish is one of my favorite non-human protagonists. And if you liked more recent books like "Bring me the Head of Prince Charming", you will like this book. I have reread "Dilvish the Damned" several times already and will probably read it again and again in the coming years. A fun and memorable book.