The Dividual: Morris and MacCab are an example of the Syndividual; they're not identical but they function as a single unit, neither ever being mentioned separately or doing anything without the other. They even die simultaneously. Where all the other teams of Players consist of one human and one familiar animal, theirs is the two of them sharing one familiar, the owl Nightwind. Mistaken for Badass: One of the characters everyone else assumes is a Player turns out to be, if not exactly an innocent bystander, in town on unrelated business and unaware of the Game. Counterpart Artifacts: The wands, of which one can only be used to Open and the other only to Close.

This is a clever book, a fun book, a deceptively intelligent book that shows a writer happy to play with language and deftly deal with characterisation. As an experienced author (this was his last published book), Zelazny is confident enough to take on other writers’ characters and use them to his own end, capturing the essence of their persona and then taking them somewhere new. It is clearly written with love and humour and, above all, that joy in the need to tell an entertaining story. It’s not a creepy book, or really a scary book, but there are dark moments. The comedy’s there, but it is not over-the-top, nor particularly surreal, and most definitely not crude, lewd or in bad taste. It is enjoyably, refreshingly subtle and sophisticated. My first reading of this was a wonderful surprise. I knew of Roger Zelazny, thanks to his classic Fantasy Amber series and his great SF tales ( Home is the Hangman, …. And Call Me Conrad, Lord of Light), but this is one I didn’t know much about until our Oracle of the Occult Randy Money pointed it out a couple of Octobers ago. It has been out of print here in the UK for years but is now available, thanks to Farrago Books, and is worth hunting out and read during the days leading down to 31st of October. He won the Nebula award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo award six times (out of 14 nominations). His papers are housed at the Albin O. Khun Library of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Bad People Abuse Animals: Nearly all the Openers are shown being cruel to animals at some point. One attempts to poison Snuff. Another attempts to drown Greymalk in a well. The main villain hunts Needle with a crossbow and tries to get Snuff done in by vivisectionists.Silver Bullet: For werewolves. Roberts casts some out of the church silverware to prevent Larry Talbot interfering with his human sacrifice. Mundane Utility: As the players build the bonfire that will be the centerpiece of the climactic ritual, Snuff spends a paragraph describing its esoteric significance and the ways it can become involved in the night's magical events. Then he adds that it's also useful for disposing of inconvenient evidence and keeping off the autumn chill.

Speaks Fluent Animal: When shifted into wolf form, Larry the werewolf can communicate with Snuff canine-to-canine. (His voice, or whatever mode of communication it is, is different from his human voice; Snuff doesn't know it's him until he introduces himself.) Snuff subsequently establishes that Larry can also understand him when not in wolf form. The same is true of the Great Detective when he becomes a wolf (including the bit about Snuff not recognising him). The banter is almost as awesome as the structure and simplicity of the storytelling. I think half of the book is quotable, but to truly experience it, I would recommend you to get several friends together and read it, preferably some time in October:):):) You will enjoy the way the characters gather their needed materials, which are supposed to be acquired in some very specific ways and times... Zelazny exhibits a particular talent in knowing when less is more and makes our imaginations work overtime with the hints he gives here and there. I am not sure I can find a weakness in the whole thing at all, and I am not even going to look for it. I just enjoyed it and the way it made me always look for the second meaning of every word and hint, making my brain feel full of champagne bubbles and kept me slightly buzzed throughout! Evgeny, you recruited me into the Legions of RZ's fans! Thank you once again! And how do I write a review for this book that will do it justice? So cleverly written, and readers will delight in figuring out one by one who each of the “players” in the game are — many of which are characters from Victorian literature. Even though this was my fourth or more go-round with these characters, I stayed up late to experience the novel’s unique ending all over again. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read — not just one of the best fantasy or science-fiction books. Want proof? My three children, then teenagers, listened to it twice on car trips, lapping up every word, eager to hear what was to come next. Now that’s magic! Il tutto in trentuno appassionanti capitoli, più un breve prologo, che letti ed assaporati uno a notte, fanno di questo libro la lettura autunnale per eccellenza, un classico alla pari con The Halloween Tree di Ray Bradbury. Ancient Artifact: There are several ancient artifacts in play, including a bowl, a ring, an icon (in the "religious painting" sense), and a pair of wands. Each will add to the power of whichever side possesses them, except the wands; the wands are dedicated one to each side, and can only be used to aid that side's goals.Bad Moon Rising: At one point during the final showdown, the moon turns blood-red and starts dripping. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After all, I am not a horror reading type of a gal. However, I believe Horror is the last thing I would associate A Night in Lonesome October with. The first would be smart and second, funny. It is like a Halloween Scavenger Hunt of Classic Characters, all of them counting the days from the First of October to The Night, the Thirty First.