Roadmarks

Roadmarks is a novel written by Roger Zelazny during the late 1970s (published 1979).

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It postulates a road that travels through time, with a nexus placed every few years where a handful of specially gifted people are able to get on and off. While there is a plot involving a series of assassination attempts on the protagonist, the novel's main strengths are the unique nature of the setting, character development, and the short vignettes on each of the would-be assassins.

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The book has withstood the test of time reasonably well because there are few references to technology. There are two semi-sentient electric devices that appear, that are implemented as physical books (with printed pages) that may be something of a stretch for a 21st century reader.

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Presumably to emphasize the 'time travel' theme, all the chapters are named either Chapter 1 or Chapter 2. After Chapter 2, it just rolls over to one again, etc.

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There are a number of interesting humorous touches and allusions in the story. These include a dragon who falls in love with a tyrannosaur, an ancient Sumerian who buries artifacts later to be found by himself as archaeologist, and a brief appearance by pulp hero Doc Savage and his enemy John Sunlight.

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Novel: A novel (from French nouvelle, "new") is an extended fictional narrative in prose. Down into the 18th century, the word referred specifically to short fictions of love and intrigue as opposed to romances—epic-length works about love and adventures. Having become one of the major literary genr...

Roger Zelazny: Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 - June 14, 1995) was a United States writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels. He won the Nebula award three times and the Hugo award six times, including twice for novels: Lord of Light (1968) and ...And Call Me Conrad (1966) (which was late...

1970s: This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. For an in-depth article on the cultural and social trends of the decade, please see The Seventies...