My Name is Legion

Three short stories turned into a vaguely connected fix-up novel. All three are quite science fiction, but also a bit of secret operative. The idea is that there is a Central Intelligence Databank and our, unnamed, main character has managed to remove himself from and keep his data outside of this all-encompassing government databank. Not a whole lot of employment and functionality can happen once you are off the grid on that level. So, naturally, the main character works in a secret "cleaner/consultant/detective" role.

First story leans more on the detective role, but the plotline is somewhat dull. At the end, the last few pages throw in some moralizing.

Second story was the most interesting to me - except then there is a turn about show more spirituality and dreamweaving dolphins...and... yeah... not my cup of tea.

Third story was the most science fiction of the three, really, and it also contains the most moralizing. Pacing is off, though, since the first half of the story is all conversation and not very interesting. A little foreshadowing/restrospective writing help pull the whole story off and the ending is satisfying and comfortable.

Overall, a good read, but nothing I would wildly praise. Worthwhile, but not permanent collection. show less

What's astonishing is how little these stories have aged, and in fact, they may be more relevant today than when they were written.

Zelazny's central character for all three stories is a man who managed to erase all electronic traces of himself, and in a society where everybody is known (and tracked), he becomes something of a freelance agent.

The stories themselves grapple with man's attempts to control technology that is frankly beyond our means (that relevance thing again), and while the characters are not as deeply drawn as in most Zelazny's work, they tell us enough to keep the stories moving.

Not Zelazny's best, but still worth a read.

A marvelous book. Roger Zelazny's 3 tales written some 20 years apart featuring the same character. All 3 are enjoyable adventure yarns. The first is only that, the second, written years later adds much more interesting speculation and emotional depth, the last, again written years later, is so good that the first page makes you lean back in your chair and exhale mightily and the theme is worthy of the wonderful style--a yarn truly worthy of its Hugo. Rarely does one get the chance to see the growth of a writer demonstrated so clearly.

Its a fairly typical book written in the 70's. We have a large computer system that knows everything about everybody - but doesn't predict the Internet (or Facebook), but still runs on punchcards. There's some weird ESP stuff and dolphins in the middle story, and the last story is one that seems the most plausible. An AI machine designed for exploration of the outer planets goes AWOL, and comes back with revenge on its mind...

The main character is an every man - no set identity, but manages to fit into any role he wants to be in. Not bad for a computer programmer from a former life. On women - there was an attempt at equality (the Security Officer from the first story), but for the most part, they are token characters, mainly designed show more for eye candy for our male hero.

General thoughts - the main character doesn't want to be added to the world wide computer system - so when he gets a chance, he takes it. But- he would still have records. His parents, co-workers, gym membership, would all have been added. Him not existing doesn't make a lot of sense. Also, the world in the book is fairly benign - the computer doesn't take away free will, or takes over the world. Our unnamed hero doesn't make much of a case for not wanting to exist. It actually makes his life a lot more difficult. There are other nitpicky things - but it mostly stems from not being able to predict how computers work in 2018.

Overall, the stories are well written, but did not age well. show less

Excellent book of a future that seems both amusingly out of touch and surprisingly insightful.
Fantastic light read.
Every time I read this it seems to apply more and more to our current society...

I really enjoyed this book. It's three short stories in chronological order rather than one novel, and half detective/thriller, half sci-fi.

The only nit I have to pick is the character morphs a bit after the first story. Likely he had to, or you wouldn't relate to the rest of the book, but it's a bit disappointing, since the next two stories wandered off in a different direction than I expected.

Another solid three and a half.

Almost became the first Zelazny collection I was genuinely disappointed in, but the novella "Home is the Hangman" is, as reported, the keeper. Eccentric and overreaching, but ultimately poignant and worth the trouble. Alas, the first two stories are duds. And, the "man with no name" framing device that ties the stories together is not terribly convincing.
3 stars for Hangman, 2 stars for the other two. You can skip the first 2 and read the novella, and be in good shape.
So 2 1/2 stars.