One of the things I enjoy about Roger Zelazny's works is the unique characters he creates, including their voice revealed through dialogue.
The short prayer which is the topic of this post comes from his work Creatures of Light and Darkness, published way back in 1969 (Okay, not way back for everyone--but I was pretty darn young when it first came out). I first picked up a copy of the novel for a dime from a used book cart at BGSU's Jerome Library after long evening working in Government Documents. The paperback's pages were yellow even back then (1986), but I still have the book. And recently it's been re-released!
The prayer is not referred to as "The Agnostic's Prayer" in the novel, but it comprises one of the more famous quotes from one of Zelazny's characters. Creatures of Light and Darkness is a fun and interesting SF novel with a definite Egyptian Mythology twist. It's not as good as Lord of Light, in my opinion, but close and well worth the read.
In any case, here is the prayer a the character named Madrak utters at the request of a bit part character who is about to commit suicide for money--to be given to his family.
An interesting 'prayer' to be sure. Let me know what you think.
The Agnostic's Prayer
"Insofar as I may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what I say, I ask, if it matters, that you be forgiven for anything you may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. Conversely, if not forgiveness but something else may be required to insure any possible benefit for which you may be eligible after the destruction of your body, I ask that this, whatever it may be, be granted or withheld, as the case may be, in such a manner as to insure your receiving said benefit. I ask this in my capacity as your elected intermediary between yourself and that which may not be yourself, but which may have an interest in the matter of your receiving as much as it is possible for you to receive of this thing, and which may in some way be influenced by this ceremony. Amen."
(Roger Zelazny, Creatures of Light and Darkness, © 1969)
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The 'prayer' sounds like something written by a lawyer! I've never read any of Roger Zelazny work before (the covers looked goofy). What is interesting is that how others pick up details like voice from dialogue. Often this happens to me, but soon the story line takes over.
ReplyDeleteThe first cover is way back from the late 1960s. The second is a picture of the Egyptian god Anubus. If you listen to audiobooks, many of Zelazny's books are narrated by him--and he does an excellent job!
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