Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny

The writing in this book is beautiful, and it seems that Zelazny has considered every sentence. It deserves the praise it received, though I'm not sure I agree with George R R Martin's comment, claiming that it's one of the 5 best sf books ever written.

I picked it up one evening, months after buying it, and by the next evening I had finished all 300 pages. The pace is fast, and there is never a dull moment. Some parts can be a little confusing, but then many people through the years have read it again and again, claiming each time to grasp new parts. It is without a doubt one of Zelazny's finest tales, and the depth of philisophy included is outstanding, he obviously did his research! Buddhism is also a major theme.

Again I stress the story's richness, the world he has created is far from possible, yet incredibly believable. The blurb on the back sums it up better than I could, and so if you have no idea of the story, stop by a bookstore and have a quick read. It may quickly grow to be one of your all-time favourites, with so many plot twists, and the way it all threads together at the end.

I think this book's style is best compared to his acclaimed Amber series. Perhaps that will help you decide. Either way, enjoy!

One of the all time classics of SciFi / Fantasy, a Hugo Award winner, and a great read; Lord of Light is arguably Zelazny's masterpiece. Set in a future far beyond the death of Earth (Urath). The crew of the "Star of India" and its passengers reach a new and strange world full of hostile inhabitants. The crew sets out to claim this new world and fight the many native energy beings who claim it. The passengers are left to fend for themselves and ultimately revert to a simple civilization based on "the ways of thier ancestors". Some of the crew, after subduing the planet, set themselves up as the Gods of a Hindu Pantheon. Thus, setting the stage for an extraordinary conflict between Heaven (those who would be Gods above men) and the Accelerationists (those who would see all men restored to their technological birthright).
Sam is an original crew member, a scoundrel, a warrior, and even though he never claims to be a God, he never denies it. He is also the last Accelerationist, as Heaven has almost wiped out all others opposed to its Divine Rule.
The chapters are laced with Hindu mythology, Buddist philosophy, Superhero action, love, pathos, jealosy, and gambling addiction. They unfold to tell a tale that is both intimate and cosmic in its scale.
Great battles, fantastic heros, astonishing monsters, and technology so far advanced it could be magic.
What more could a reader want?