We open with Snuff making his rounds.
Made the circuits. The thing in the Circle changed shapes, finally making itself look like a lady dog of attractive person and very friendly disposition. But I was not fooled into breaking the Circle. It didn't have the smell part down yet.
"Nice try," I told it.
"You'll get yours, mutt," it said.
The first chapters are short. October first simply shows Snuff checking on the Things and then retiring.
I
went back downstairs, then passed through the library, smelling its
musty volumes and incense, spices, herbs, and other interesting matters,
on my way to the parlor, whence I stared out the window at the day.
Watching, of course. That is my job.
No special insights about this chapter. I like the slow build of background and atmosphere, introducing the Things long before explaining their meaning. Snuff, as always comes across as a canine intelligence, and not merely a man in a dog suit. Zelazny really spent some effort thinking about how a dog would see the world. Snuff, be he uplifted dog or dogform demon, still has the instincts that come with that shape, and I think it's Snuff's unique perspective that contributes so much to the enduring appeal of the book.
Boy, these first few days are gonna be rough . . . it is NOT easy to read only two pages before putting that book down.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you like Snuff so much when you are ambivalent about dogs in general. I think Snuff is a fantastic character, and I always thought that maybe how much I liked Snuff was influenced by the fact that I love dogs and would love to be able to speak with them.
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