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Roger Zelazny honoured with Infinity Award
The news that the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) is honouring the writer Roger Zelazny with an Infinity Award has me feeling all sorts of emotions.
Zelazny was the first writer to really make an impact on me as a writer, way back when I was still in elementary school. I still remember reading Nine Princes in Amber for the first time and being completely blown away — and completely changed by the experience. For the first time I saw how poetic and lyrical writing could be, how different genres could be mixed together to make something completely new, and just how creative and fun a story could be. Zelazny was one of the first writers to make me want to become a writer, and you can see his influence in almost everything I’ve written. I’ll forever be grateful for encountering his works at such a young age.
Here’s what SFWA has to say about the award:
The SFWA Infinity Award was created to highlight the life and work of creators who achieved a distinct and tremendous legacy in science fiction and fantasy. Although they are no longer with us to celebrate this honor, these writers helped to lay the foundation for today’s science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Their memory abides not only in the works they published, but also in the worlds they inspired fellow and future writers to dream up in their wake.
SFWA President Kate Ristau reflects fondly on the power of Zelazny’s worlds:
“One of my first deep dives into science fiction was the Chronicles of Amber. Zelazny drew me right into the story with his world-building and world-breaking. Characters could manipulate their reality, walking between worlds, and they didn’t always make the decisions you wanted. There were heartbreaking moments and series-wide challenges that were epic and unforgettable; they lingered with you. Zelazny’s impact lingers on with us, shaping how we think about multiverses and how we create characters that are complicated, nuanced, and sometimes deeply flawed. I am honored to present him with this year’s Infinity Award.”
I talked to the Re-Creative podcast about my love of Zelazny a while back, so check it out if you haven’t heard it already.
“Roger Zelazny is one of the reasons I wanted to become a writer”
I feel incredibly honoured to have been invited to the Re-Creative podcast to discuss Roger Zelazny’s The Chronicles of Amber series, which is probably more responsible than anything else for me becoming a writer. It’s a great conversation between Joe Mahoney, Mark Rayner and myself about the Amber books, my Cross series (The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, The Dead Hamlets, The Apocalypse Ark), spirituality, medical crises, the writing life and more.
Doorways to awesomeness
I think I’ve talked a few times on this blog about how much Roger Zelazny‘s writing has meant to me. I don’t know how many times I’ve reread the Chronicles of Amber in my life — the only other books that come close are Steven Brust‘s Jhereg series, which have a similar feel. And maybe Lord of the Rings, which I read dozens of times in my early school years, although LOTR mostly has nostalgia value for me now. When I first started writing, I wanted to create unique, visionary worlds like Zelazny had, and I really wanted to blend genre fiction with literary style in the same manner. Not easy feats at all, as it turns out. But you do what you can.
I never expected to be compared to Zelazny, any more than I ever expected to be compared to Neil Gaiman. So it’s been a complete surprise and honour when that’s happened in reviews and such. And it was also a complete surprise and honour when a reader sent me a pic of two books she’d recently ordered — The Warhol Gang, which I wrote a few years back, and Doorways in the Sand, by Roger Zelazny. Thanks, Shara!
If my childhood self could see this pic, I think I know what he would say.
Cool!
peter darbyshire 