1985 science fiction novella by Roger Zelazny. First appearance in the 1989 short story compilation Frost & Fire, also featured in Cthulhu 2000. The title is drawn from an actual book of woodcut reproductions.

The Cthulhu mythos link is weak - the narrator makes passing mention of the sunken city of R'lyeh. No mind-blasting encounters with tentacled alien gods here. Rather, the narrator makes a pilgrimage to Mt. Fuji to confront a former lover turned cybernetic megalomaniac ala Lawnmower Man. Each View is a station in her pilgrimage. En route she practices a bit of non-lethal tantric vampirism, a dry and mechanical wink to the adult audience. Zelazny's primary strength is in characterization and dialogue, and here he succeeds only marginally; secondarily, he's good with imagery and suspense, and 24 Views is more of a success in this respect. Mostly, the story seems like an exercise in free association: Zelazny rambles about Rilke, Chaucer, and Japanese mythology. Zelaznophiles will note cyberpunk resonances between 24 Views, Mask of Loki, and Donnerjack.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.