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Purchased: 5 stars/5 stars
I realize I am likely the last person on earth to read (and review) Roger Zelazny¡¦s A Night in the Lonesome October but I am damn glad I finally read it! This book came to me as a recommendation from a well-read friend and I won¡¦t lie, I was a bit afraid I just wouldn¡¦t ¡§get¡¨ this book. Quite to my delight, not only did I get this book but I loved it, devoured it, and am fairly certain I will read it again and again.
Nearly all of Lonesome October is told from the perspective of animals, a device I have been absolutely partial too since first reading Christopher Moore¡¦s The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove. Among the animals are Snuff the dog, Graymalk the cat, Needle the bat, and Nightwing the owl; each of the animals are companions to the Players in the Game. Among the Players are Jack, the Mad Monk, the Count, the Good Doctor, and the Great Detective. One quickly figures out that yes, all of these characters are exactly who you think they are and it makes the read so much more fun.
Each of the animals has his/her own unique voice and personality; the reader is able to connect with these characters just as they would any human character. The interactions between the animals are brilliantly conceived; each animal is, for all intents and purposes, just as much a part of the Game as their human companions. In fact, much of the Game is set up and determined by the animals themselves who barter and bargain with one another for information that will help their companion win the Game. One of the book¡¦s pure highlights is the animal to animal interactions: the animals are strong characters with intelligence, cunning, humor, and loyalty and every characteristic plays out throughout the novel!
While the reader is left mostly in the dark about what the Game actually is, the reader doesn¡¦t care. The book moves swiftly, the dialogue is very well written and witty, and there is so much going on that the particulars of the Game don¡¦t really matter until the end. And the end, dear reader, is when you need to know the particulars of the Game. While the Game, and by extension, the ending could have been long and drawn out, Zelazny doesn¡¦t dawdle. Everyone, including the completely involved reader, comes together in the last chapter to play out the Game. If you¡¦re not rooting for your ¡§team¡¨ at this point, you need to start from the beginning and read the book again!
Bottom line: I adore this book! Zelazny plays to one of my greatest loves in books, giving the animals their own voice. Why shouldn¡¦t the animals talk or tell the story? After all, the animals are always present and paying attention º (Side note: it would probably suck for me if my animals ever grew a ¡§real¡¨ voice and started talking) From a technical perspective everything about this book is excellent as well: the writing style is smooth, the dialogue is top-notch, and the action moves swiftly and smooth straight through from start to finish. As for whom I would recommend this book too: any adult or mature young adult with a love of the paranormal, animals, and a sense of humor! Happy reading :)
EUR 6.82 with 53 percent savings
Print List Price: EUR 14.50 
The Print List Price is the lowest suggested retail price provided by a publisher for a print book format of this title, available on Amazon (e.g. hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback).
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Customers say
Customers find this book delightful and easy to read, particularly enjoying it during the Halloween season. The story ties together classic horror elements, with one customer noting how it reveals its plot piece by piece. Customers appreciate the dry Zelanzy humor and the full of twists and turns plot, while the writing style receives praise for its amazing prose and well-crafted dialogue. They enjoy the interesting characters, with one review highlighting the intelligent animal characters, and find the book thoroughly entertaining.
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106 customers mention content, 102 positive, 4 negative
Great book and story, a must read every October . I am just saddened the 2025 edition does not have the iconic illustrations per chapter.Read more
...It's a great read, though short.Read more
A brilliant book. Funny, suspenseful, macabre, twisted, and brilliant. I take out my copy every October and read a chapter a day....Read more
An enjoyable read, lean and a fast moving narrative, but the real pleasure was in "making friends" with the main character, Snuff the dog, and...Read more
59 customers mention entertaining, 59 positive, 0 negative
37 customers mention story, 36 positive, 1 negative
This is a wonderful story that pays homage to H.P. Lovecraft and the horror stories of my youth. It is a fun read that is actually better on re-reads.Read more
Roger Zelazny, writes an amazing story!Read more
...As usual Zelazny is a master story teller. I couldn't put it down!Read more
...Give yourself a treat this Halloween and listen to this quirky and delightful story all told by Jack the Ripper's dog.Read more
28 customers mention humor, 28 positive, 0 negative
Witty,horror, mystery. Written from the perspective of Jack the Ripper's dog....Read more
...It is funny and charming and witty and stands among the best animal-narrated stories, and it's perfect cozy reading for the Halloween season.Read more
...As always, Zelazny manages to compress dread, darkness, intrigue, humor, and horror into dense prose....Read more
Just as my headline says, this is an outstanding book. Humorous and such a wonderful story. I plan on reading it again next October.Read more
26 customers mention plot, 23 positive, 3 negative
...A great read of a great story that's well told with humor and suspense. It's a perfect Autumn/Halloween read you'll come back to every year.Read more
Witty,horror, mystery. Written from the perspective of Jack the Ripper's dog....Read more
...It doesn't get old. It's a wonderfully told story full of twists and turns that only a true Lovecraftian would appreciate....Read more
...As always, Zelazny manages to compress dread, darkness, intrigue, humor, and horror into dense prose....Read more
25 customers mention writing style, 24 positive, 1 negative
I enjoyed it. Well written and engaging. I recommend it to anyone that likes adventure and the macabre. Good book.Read more
Zelazny is a fantastic writer. One of the best. This deserves to be on your shelf right next to Bradbury's oeuvre....Read more
...the quirky characterizations, Zelazny's stylistic combination of gorgeous prose and quick action, and the insightful narration by Snuff, the dog.....Read more
The story is well written, the imagery is colorful and the plot is twisted. Everything we can expect from a good story. It even makes you like dogs....Read more
23 customers mention character, 23 positive, 0 negative
And it was every bit as good as I remembered! Loved the characters and the premise....Read more
...There are several cliches, delightful characters, a bit of cheese, and a healthy serving of enjoyment....Read more
...Many familiar characters, some from the old Universal monster films of the 1930s, some from Victorian literature , and some from folklore and legend...Read more
...For a "horror" novel, not too horrendous, with some humor and interesting characters and action....Read more
22 customers mention readability, 21 positive, 1 negative
This is quite the read. Absolutely worth your time and money. The illustrations for every chapter are a nice bonus.Read more
Classic Zelazny style. Great fun and a quick read.Read more
...If you're unacquainted with Zelazny this is an easy read and a quick introduction to how the man's mind worked (he was literally a genius)....Read more
...characters and legends in this book and does so in a way that is highly readable and enjoyable....Read more
A True Halloween Classic
After a long rough year slogging through disappointing and mediocre novels I have just completed one of the most satisfying pieces of work I have ever experienced. The whimsical narration and characters of this book slowly peel away as each chapter which is set on a different night in October, reveals increasing shades of darkness. This was my first Zelazny novel and it will definitely not be my last. When I finished the final page I actually cheered with delight. Books have made me cry, angry, bewildered but I don't know if any piece of written fiction has ever made me this jubilant at its end and I absolutely needed it. The only perplexing part of this experience was that I hadn't discovered this book decades earlier. It will be one that I anticipate revisiting every year for as long as I live.
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2012
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Stephanie LammersReviewed in Germany on October 13, 2024
Perfekte Oktober-Lektüre
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- CustomerReviewed in India on December 25, 2020
Keep up the good work
Very secure packaging. I was delighted upon receiving the book in such a good condition. As a regular Amazon customer (of books), I assure you this does not happen often. Good quality print and paper. Got a cute bookmark too 🙂CustomerKeep up the good work
Reviewed in India on December 25, 2020
Appreciate the efforts of the seller, ABC Book Shop. Keep up the good work 👍
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