As a holy war erupts across the cosmos, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

On a distant planet colonized by the last survivors of Earth, the original settlers have become immortal gods. Using electronic consciousness transfer, these superhuman elites reincarnate again and again in new, genetically engineered bodies, assuming the names and powers of the Hindu pantheon. From their stronghold in Heaven, they rule humanity through religious tyranny, controlling access to reincarnation while ruthlessly suppressing technological advancement and scientific progress. But Sam—rebel, trickster, and former god—intends to overthrow their divine empire.

Known variously as Mahasamatman, Siddhartha, the Buddha, and the Binder of Demons, Sam rejects the oppression imposed by these self-appointed deities. Determined to restore knowledge and freedom to humanity, he transforms Buddhist philosophy into a revolutionary weapon. With an army of unlikely allies, Sam launches a campaign against Heaven that draws gods, demons, assassins, machines, monsters, and mortals into an epic struggle spanning centuries.

A landmark of New Wave science fiction, Lord of Light was only Roger Zelazny’s third novel—yet it earned the 1968 Hugo Award for Best Novel and a Nebula Award nomination, giving him two Hugo-winning novels among his first three books. Philosophically rich yet packed with battles, betrayals, divine rivalries, political revolution, strange machines, satire, and irreverent humor, this groundbreaking science-fantasy classic is driven by lyrical prose, nonlinear storytelling, mythic scope, and wicked wit. 

And the novel’s cultural afterlife is nearly as remarkable as the book itself! An ambitious film adaptation was planned in 1978 and legendary comics artist Jack Kirby was commissioned as the lead concept artist. Although the movie was never produced, its screenplay and designs were later used by the CIA as the cover story for the 1980 operation that rescued six American diplomats from Iran—an extraordinary episode dramatized in 2012 in the Academy Award-winning film Argo.

Perfect for fans of Frank Herbert, Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip K. Dick, Samuel R. Delany, Gene Wolfe, and George R. R. Martin, as well as readers who love mythological science fiction, supernatural miracles, psychic abilities, immortal gods, reincarnation, consciousness transfer, far-future technology, space opera, planetary romance, political intrigue, philosophical fantasy, revolutionary heroes, and epic conflicts between humanity and a flawed Heaven. Ideal for libraries, book clubs, and collectors of vintage science fiction and memorabilia from historic moments.

"A storyteller without peer. He created worlds as colorful and exotic and memorable as any our genre has ever seen."  –George R.R. Martin

". . . his performance was never anything other than dazzling."  –Robert Silverberg

Prefer a physical book? Sadly, no authorized print edition of this title is currently available.* Fortunately, Positronic Publishing holds the exclusive ebook rights granted by the Zelazny estate, so this adventure remains available to our readers in digital format. (Believe us, we'd love to see this one on our bookshelves, too!)

*Used copies may still be available through secondhand sellers.