midpoint thoughts (Guns of Avalon)

[silverflight8]

I'm struggling a bit through--wait, I forgot the title of the book--The Guns of Avalon, by Roger Zelazny. I think I'm struggling because a) Corwin, the protagonist, and b) the weird language switching.

Corwin: I'm not getting a bead on him at all. He's very powerful (walks in Shadow, much more powerful than normal humans, regenerates flesh, used to be a powerful leader of some sort, etc) but he just doesn't seem to be very interesting. He's royalty but he's been distanced so long from his extensive family that all the political drama is being narrated to me (or to him, he's catching up) in little dribbles and at great distance. So far the most interesting person I've met is Dara, who I do quite like and understand, at least, even if I have a bad feeling about this seventeen-year-old girl. What happened to Lorraine doesn't reassure me. But Corwin--he's just kinda there.

Language: OK, what's up with the switching between high-fantasy and vernacular? Here's an excerpt with more formal language:

He was young and fair of hair and complexion. Beyond that, it was hard to say at a glance. It is difficult, I discovered, to obtain a clear initial impression as to a man's features and size when he is hanging upside down several feet above the ground.

(Page 70)

Nothing especially archaic, but not entirely modern, right? Especially that first statement. But then there's dialogue like this:

"Don't worry about it. It's not contagious."
"Crap," she said. "You're lying to me."
"I know. But please forget the whole thing."

(Page 44)

It keeps doing this. Corwin refers to his father as "Dad". His sword is "Grayswandir" (very pretty). And the whole thing's set with parallel universes (that's what "walking in the Shadow" means, you can walk between worlds and pick what you land in), and so there exist an Avalon. There's a Lancelot we meet. And Uther is mentioned by name. But we also have Ganelon, who I always associate (apart from the Kushiel's Legacy one) with the Song of Roland, the medieval epic. All these influences keep jerking me around, merging kind of confusingly.

Comments

[silverflight8]

*muffled giggle*

I think or hope tastes have changed. Or maybe he had some masterpiece that was head and shoulders above his other stuff? Oh god Wikipedia tells me he won the Hugo six times. o.O

[spiralsheep]

The Hugo also used to be even more of a con-going fandom popularity contest than it is now.

[silverflight8]

I had no idea, actually. I've always seen it as sort of like the Newbery equivalent (that one's administered by the librarian association). That would explain...some things...

[spiralsheep]

Ah, well you might want to consider who votes for the Nebulas too... and how much fandom politics surrounds the Hugos (e.g. read the first para of this):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_Award

[silverflight8]

AAAARGH, actually?! *beliefs crumbling* Magazine poll?? "To influence Hugos"...well, I guess they're upfront with it at least :o

[spiralsheep]

Con-going fandom and fanzine fandom were much more closely overlapping sets in the 60s+70s so using the pro magazine with a lit-ish reputation to influence voters pre-internet was a top strategy. Also, Locus was supposedly trying to influence fans towards lit quality and away from a popularity contest (although all those defining terms are, of course, extremely arguable, as are the results of Locus' efforts). At least it's better than the multiple BIG MONEY USian sf prizes trying to push extreme right-wing and libertarian political and social agendas into mainstream sf readership/popularity.