Science Fiction · ThoughtfulA guide leads an alien official through the ruins of a post-nuclear Earth overrun by mutated lifeforms
This Immortal
A reluctant guide takes an alien official through the ruins of Earth
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction serialized the story in two parts in October and November 1965 under Zelazny's own title, ...And Call Me Conrad, and Ace Books issued the paperback in 1966 as This Immortal. Earth has been devastated by nuclear war and is overrun by mutated lifeforms, with a population of about 4 million. The Vegans, a blue-skinned alien race, own much of the planet and treat it as a tourist destination. The narrator, Conrad Nomikos, reluctantly agrees to guide a Vegan official through Earth's ancient ruins.
More about this book
Who
Conrad Nomikos, Cort Myshtigo, Don dos Santos, Diane and Hasan.
World
A post-nuclear Earth owned in large part by blue-skinned alien Vegans, who treat it as a tourist destination.
What makes it different
The Hugo list names the winner by its magazine title, ...And Call Me Conrad. It tied with Dune. Zelazny said he preferred the original title.
Feel
Wry and wandering.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- This ImmortalWikipedia