(preorder—copies en route to us shortly)

Dust jacket illustration by Pascal Blanché.

Introduction by Christopher S. Kovacs.

Published by Centipede Press.

Note: There is a limit of one copy per person/household.

About the Book:

As far as he can remember, Red Dorakeen’s been driving down the road. And not just any road, but the road: the one connecting here to there, now to then, and what actually happened in history to what never did. Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks is a mind-bending tribute to the glories of the road and the dizzying possibilities freedom presents us—as well as the threats.

Dorakeen has his hands full: there’s his son, Randy; Leila, a female companion; and a number of people who want Dorakeen dead. Assassins pursuing him include a cyborg whose record of service in World War III is unparalleled and Max, a brain encased in an armored vehicle.

Chapters alternate between “Two” (Dorakeen’s perspective on the road) and “One” (those focusing on other characters in other times). It’s like you’re constantly slipping from one dream into another. When connections start to be made—when the separate dreams begin to resolve into one—it’s thrilling.

Zelazny takes full advantage of his premise, pulling in characters from all across history, including the Marquis de Sade, Jack the Ripper, and Hitler. And not only that, he pulls in characters from the future, too, including two AI companions, one appearing as a copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, the other as Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal. When they argue, as they do, they quote from their source material. He throws in allusions and humor with the élan of a mad chef, one confident that the surprising mix of spices and herbs will lead to an unforgettable meal.

Zelazny once said he tended to read eight books at a time: a classic, a work of nonfiction, a science fiction novel, etc. No wonder Roadmarks reads the way it does. It moves from thrilling to funny to quietly melancholic and back again. Just when you think you have a handle on the book, it changes. But isn’t that why we take road trips in the first place? Because we’re tired of seeing what we’ve already seen? That’s never a danger with Roadmarks. Be assured: it’ll take you somewhere new.

Over the course of his career, Zelazny received six Hugo awards and three Nebulas, among other honors. So loved and acclaimed were his novels that he sometimes competed with himself for awards: quite a tribute. And Roadmarks is one of his very best.

This is the ultimate version of this book. Pascal Blanché’s cover art is fantastic. Christopher S. Kovacs contributes an elegant and insightful introduction and, with Denys Dömin, a glossary explaining the book’s many allusions. And an interview with the author by Bill Eads and Michael Vance rounds out the volume. With enough gas in the tank, you can get anywhere. Come on. There’s plenty of daylight left, and when it runs out, well, that’s what the headlights are for. Strap yourself in for the ride of your life.

Edition Information: