This Immortal

In a future Earth scarred by atomic war, humanity clings to survival under the stewardship of alien overlords, the Vegan Empire. Conrad Nomikos, a man of enigmatic past and perhaps a mythic identity—some say Odysseus reincarnated—serves reluctantly as Earth's Arts Commissioner. His latest, unwanted assignment: to escort a high-ranking Vegan grandee, the alien diplomat Mylord Karaghiosis, on a planetary tour. This seemingly mundane task quickly unravels into a complex web of political machinations, espionage, and cultural clashes. As Nomikos guides the alien through the ruins and remnants of human civilization, he becomes entangled in a high-stakes conspiracy that could determine the very fate of Earth. Is Karaghiosis truly just a tourist, or is he an agent with a secret agenda? And what are Nomikos's own true motives and his connection to Earth's troubled history? Zelazny masterfully blends ancient Greek mythology with groundbreaking New Wave science fiction, crafting a tale of identity, survival, and the enduring spirit of a broken world.