The Last Defender of Camelot

"The Last Defender" is an excellent collection of some of the master's best stories, including "24 Views of Mount Fuji," and one previously uncollected story. Zelazny did more than just write science fiction; he captured the essence of human emotion, even when writiing about computerized intelligences in the distant future (see, for example, "For A Breath I Tarry." )

I discovered Roger Zelazny's writings long ago when I was young and impressionable, for which I am eternally grateful. This collection of his short stories is my personal favorite because the stories contained within are each unique and distinct, no two alike. Think of a banquet with many courses, each one delicious and completely different and you will know what I mean.From "Passion Play" to the "Stainless Steel Leech", through "Comes Now the Power" and "Damnation Alley", Zelazny demonstrates his uncanny insight into the soul of man, machine, and beast. And in the title piece, "Last Defender of Camelot", he takes the over-told Arthurian legend and twists it into something fresh and original. Yum!But my favorite story is "For a Breath I Tarry", a post-apocalyptic vision of hope and humanity springing from a most unlikely and accidental hero.If science fiction, GOOD science fiction, is something you value, this book will please you for many years because just when you think you know everything these stories have to offer, some other facet or nuance will creep up behind you and remind you how strange and wonderful the universe really is.BKA

....this collection of some of Z's short stories include the title story, in which Lancelot and Merlin meet up for a bit of unfinished business, the short story version of "Damnation Alley," and the moving "Comes Now The Power."

This is a great book of short stories that covers a whole range of subjects in fantasy and science fiction. The title story gives a hopeful continuation of the Arthur legend. The novelette, "And Now, for a Breath, I Tarry," is sheer poetry as it tells a Faustian tale using robots and computers instead of humans. It's definitely worth the time to find it.

Ihave owned several copys of this book , and given them as gifts, a practice that will stop now that this book is becoming hard to find. Filled with short stories, this book is wonderful to read. The only regret i have is that the story The last defender of camelot was not made into a full size novel. It really was a great book i highly recomend it.