This Immortal
Book Description
A world on the brink of collapse teeters in the shadow of an ancient curse. Mortality hangs by a thread as an immortal human navigates the ruins of civilization, haunted by fragmented memories and elusive truths. Amidst political intrigue and the echoes of lost gods, alliances shift and betrayal lurks around every corner. Empathy battles with survival as he confronts love, loss, and the darkest corners of his own existence. Will the path to redemption unveil the secrets of his past, or will the weight of immortality crush his fragile humanity? What price must one pay to truly live?
Quick Book Summary
"This Immortal" by Roger Zelazny is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy featuring Conrad Nomikos, a man with mysterious origins and seemingly eternal youth. As Earth recovers from nuclear devastation, most of the human population has emigrated, leaving behind ruins and legend-haunted landscapes. Earth is now a curiosity for the powerful alien Vegans, and Conrad is coerced into guiding one on a tour, safeguarding him from threats both political and supernatural. Through shifting allegiances, ancient enmities, and enigmatic hints about his past, Conrad grapples with the responsibilities and burdens of immortality. Themes of identity, survival, and redemption are explored against a backdrop where myth and science intertwine, and humanity's fate teeters on Conrad’s choices.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
Immortality and Human Identity
Conrad Nomikos is a figure set apart from the rest of humanity: he is physically marked, long-lived beyond mortal span, and may once have been the legendary Prometheus. In a ravaged world, largely abandoned by emigrating Earthlings, Conrad has grown intimately connected to the planet’s battered landscape, with ties to both history and myth. These connections become central as he is tasked to act as guide and protector for the alien Vegan, Cort Myshtigo, who seeks to document the relics of Earth's faded grandeur. Conrad's immortality is both a gift and a curse, complicating his relationship to human suffering and the planet he can never truly leave behind.
Political Intrigue and Alien Influence
Earth now stands as an exotic curiosity in the galactic community. As Conrad and Myshtigo travel its ruins, layers of political intrigue unfurl. Various factions, both human and alien, vie for dominance. Some scheme to see the last threads of Earth’s culture erased, while others fight for its preservation. Through it all, Conrad must discern true friends from hidden enemies. Zelazny’s narrative infuses the travelogue with suspense, weaving personal betrayal into broader themes of colonization and cultural resilience.
Ruins, Myths, and the Legacy of the Past
Legends, half-truths, and reminiscences blend with the practical realities of survival in this post-nuclear era. Archaeological marvels and mutated beasts are not the only legacies—myth itself stalks the land, and the border between science fiction and fantasy blurs. Ancient curses and new technologies coexist, challenging Conrad as he deciphers threats and potential allies. His fractured memories and elusive identity deepen the enigma, forcing him to confront not only external dangers but internal rifts as well.
Empathy Amidst Survival and Betrayal
Empathy becomes a subtle battleground. Conrad’s actions reveal a man torn between the instinct to protect and the need to survive. His relationships, marked by affection and betrayal, articulate the complexity of loyalty in a world where nothing is certain and everyone hides secrets. The questions of trust—who will betray whom, and why—underscore every encounter, underscoring the emotional core of Conrad’s odyssey.
The Search for Redemption
Ultimately, Conrad’s journey is as much internal as external. His immortality forces him to face old losses and the possibility of redemption. As alliances crystallize and mysteries unravel, Conrad’s final decisions weigh heavily—not just on him, but on Earth’s remnants and the fate of its people. The novel closes on an ambiguous note, contemplating what it means to be human, to endure, and, above all, to hope in the face of relentless change.
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