Nine Princes of Amber: It was an ok story. Not great, but not bad. I sort of got annoyed with the faux-medieval language towards the end, and I didn't care that much about the characters, but the cliff-hanger ending did leave me curious and wanting to read the next in the series.

I was a bit annoyed that none of the sisters are relevant characters.


The Guns of Avalon: I just finished this yesterday, and had to think a minute to recall what happened. It was anti-climactic in itself, and generally set up for the rest of the story.

Hand of Oberon: Didn't expect that particular twist, though I did think there was something fishy about "him".

1/15/10

The Corwin Arc

So last night I finished book 5, completing the Corwin Arc of the story.

First off let me state that this is one of those series/arcs which is really one story which is split into parts, and not a series where each book is self-contained. I don't mind this in the least, but I think it's good for people to know so they don't think they can just jump in anywhere. Though each book does have a sort of "reminiscence" of past events, it is something you really need to read in order.

I would say that, overall, this is a story whose whole is better than the sum of its parts. The first two books were a bit slow, books 3 and 4 were rather good, and book 5 and its ups and downs - but since it really is one story, it's best, I think, to take it as a total and not as parts, which is why I aborted my above attempt at per book commentaries.

That said, I give it 3 1/2 stars.

There are two major downfalls to the story. 1) Secondary characters aren't really developed, and it's hard to get a real feel for them. Above I'd mentioned this mostly with the sisters, but, really, it's all of them with few exceptions. But, even those exceptions are scatter-shot. 2) The descriptions of the journies through Shadows were rather dull and hard to follow. I sort of started zoning in these places, and would perk up again once we got somewhere and something of interest started happening.

Actually, I'll add a third, which is related to the first, but also simply a by-product of it's first person narration - there's a lot of exposition. There's a lot of stuff that happens off-stage because it doesn't happen to Corwin directly, and so we find out about it in dialogue as it's being related to Corwin. This adds to the mystery and intrigue aspect, but also smacks of telling instead of showing. Of course, conversely, this added greatly to the brevity of the story, because if we 'saw' all of the events, the book would probably be at least twice as long. So that's sort of a pro and a con.

There were parts, such as with Corwin and Random, and Corwin and Hugi, where I truly felt for Corwin - where I felt for his plight, empathized with is pain, or was amused by conversations. There were other parts where I felt distanced from the story, such as when a major character died who he loved, but whom you never really see much of in the story, and so are left able to sympathize, but not empathize. It's hard to care about the fate of a character you hardly see, even if the narrator has some ununderstood affection for them.

The parts that worked, as I said, were mostly the intrigue. I was often as confused as Corwin, and as equally desirous of learning what, exactly, was going on and who, precisely, was betraying whom. Also some of the action sequences were quite good. Some of the best parts, though, were being inside Corwin when we truly felt his pain or pleasure, his triumphs or despair. It didn't always work, but, when it did, it worked well.

3.5 - 4 stars

I am now putting this book aside, and will return to Merlin's arc after I've finished off some other stuff I want to get to.

So, I finished the Merlin arc last night. Overall, I didn't think it was as good as the Corwin arc. I think the biggest drawback, for me, was that there wasn't as much as an empathic connection with Merlin as there was with Corwin.

While we're following Corwin's story, we get a lot of insight into him as a person and how things are affecting him. With Merlin, while there's a little bit of this, it's mostly just one thing after another thing after another. So much happens, with so many different people and things wanting a piece of him, that we don't get a lot of time for real in-depth character stuff.

I mean, I liked Merlin, but I only felt I knew him superficially. And what we do know of him we learn mostly through his actions.

At times I really felt for Corwin. I only remember one time where my heart went out to Merlin.

Going back to so much happening, at times the story was confusing and hard to follow. There was an odd jerkiness to it in places, again, and I would flip back a page to see if I skipped something. It was hard keeping people and motives straight, and some of it didn't really make a lot of sense (like most of the Julia thing.)

Other parts were slogging. I think most of book three and about 1/2 of book 4 were just painfully slow. I had to sort of force my way through.

It picked up a lot at the end, which was good, and things were moving along at a good pace - and then things just ended. It's a very open-ended ending, and there are a lot of loose threads which could be picked up, which could be fine, except this is all there is. (Well, there were sohrt stories written, but I don't think they're collected anywhere, and Zelazny died before it was all completed.)

Overall, I liked the Merlin arc well enough, just not as much as the first cycle.

3 starts

Some books just take you on a journey.
A journey through a world of Magic and Sorcery, a world of Intrigue and Deception, a world of Knights and Monsters, a world of Gods and Demons, a world of Order and Chaos.
This is such a book and so much more. This is a book filled with contrasts and a sense of duality.

There are so many high and low points in the series that it is very difficult to give one review to this epic. As the norm, let's break the story down in the two 'cycles'.
But be warned. I cannot give a review for this epic without SPOILERS. Proceed with caution.

There are but two worlds, two real worlds. Amber and Chaos. But these worlds are antithesis of each other, constantly in a war of sorts. They are such powerful worlds that they casts shadows.These shadows in themselves are entire worlds. The entire spectrum, with Amber and Chaos at each end, is filled with worlds. There are an infinite amount of such worlds.

Book #1-#5 takes us on a roller-coaster ride with Corwin, a prince of Amber. We follow his adventure from craving power, from wanting to be the king, from being selfish, to being selfless, to giving away the throne, to relinquishing power.
Book #6-#10 takes us on another journey. Merlin, Corwin's son is a prince of Chaos as well as a prince of Amber. He has roots in both the worlds but he doesn't belong anywhere. This is his journey from being a loner, not letting anyone near him, and not wanting power to taking control, of accepting that he needs to let people come close, of making friends.

The world is as much about Change and Feelings as it is about Magic and Power.
Zelazny was a real master and he created a really unique world.

Now, let's talk why there is so much backlash towards Merlin. Yes, Corwin cycle, in my opinion, is better than Merlin cycle in more than one ways. But as far as I can see, the only reason anyone wouldn't like Merlin cycle is because there is a profound sense of incompletion. There are so many mysteries that remain unanswered that it is nigh frustrating that there isn't going to be a next book.

Corwin Cycle: 5 stars
Merlin Cycle: 4 stars
I'd recommend you read both and after you finish the last chapter, just let your imagination go wild and try to think what might be the answers to the mysteries.

The Great Book of Amber is a collection of the first ten books of the Chronicles of Amber series. The books are short—the entire omnibus comes in at 1264 pages. Zelazny, when he was on a roll, was quite awesome. He captured magic and fantasy in a high literature, almost lyrical way. It is reflective of the 1970s and its like is not really seen in modern works. When his characters transition between worlds, the description is poetic, almost rhythmic. It is uniquely Zelazney, and one of the reasons this book is well regarded.

I appreciate Zelazney's skill in putting words to fantastical things happening in a character's mind—or unbelievable phenomena of a near indescribable nature. These kinds of passages often challenge me in my series and take extra care. Zelazney throws in a fair amount of conventional action too, and with magic involved, there is often a twist. You will likely enjoy the first five books or so as they are strong and backed by a solid protagonist, Corwin. After that is where many have an issue with this series, and sadly I agree.

Corwin is moved out of the picture and replaced with his son Merlin. As I mentioned in the Seafort Saga book 4 review, getting readers to accept the “next generation” of characters is difficult, and for me Zelazney never succeeded. I missed Corwin the entire time, and Merlin could not carry the narrative in a similar meaningful way. The first half of this omnibus comes in at a 3.5 stars, but the Merlin books that comprise the second half only a 2.5.

I recommend the first half of this omnibus. It has the feel of “high literature,” and is a unique and fun mix of fantasy and reality.

Well written but not my kind of story; casually shitty about women

Wow, the first three books in this series are particularly great. The conclusion of the first five novels is pretty good, a lack of editing maybe weighs down books 4 & 5. The Merlin books 6-10 are surprisingly fun; the novels work quite well together as a complete story. Overall the whole Amber world is exceptionally creative and enjoyable, no small feat.

A masterpiece
Clearly one of the best series I have read.

I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago (1995), however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

A group of us followed these books as teens/young adults and it was absolute torture waiting for some of 'em, whereupon I would reread all the precursors as I awaited my turn in the borrowing chain. A few years ago my sister bought multiple copies of of this 1-10 in one and I was delighted to have them all together. I've been trying to not own so many books over the past 15 years but I'm glad to have this one, the series has really retained its value for me. This edition will fan out to three times its original size as you read through it but it maintains its structural integrity.

Roger Zelazny's "Chronicles of Amber" is a classic work of fantasy that spans ten volumes: "Nine Princes in Amber," "The Guns of Avalon," "Sign of the Unicorn," "The Hand of Oberon," "The Courts of Chaos," "Trumps of Doom," "Blood of Amber," "Sign of Chaos," "Knight of Shadows," and "Prince of Chaos." Originally published between 1970 and 1991, the series has since become a seminal work of the genre, praised for its complex characters, innovative storytelling, and epic scope.

The series is set in a multiverse that consists of infinite parallel worlds, with Amber at the center of all creation. The protagonist, Corwin, is a prince of Amber who has been exiled to Earth and has lost his memories. He embarks on a quest to regain his power, defeat his siblings, and claim the throne of Amber. Along the way, he must navigate a complex web of family rivalries, political intrigue, and supernatural threats.

One of the most impressive aspects of the series is its world-building. Zelazny creates a richly imagined multiverse that is both vast and intricate. Each world has its own distinct flavor and history, and the characters move between them effortlessly. The central concept of Amber as the one true world, from which all others flow, adds a sense of grandeur and epic scale to the story.

The characters in the series are complex and multifaceted, with their own agendas and motivations. Corwin, in particular, is a fascinating protagonist. He is both heroic and flawed, driven by a desire for power and revenge. His journey is a personal one, as he struggles to come to terms with his own identity and reconcile his conflicting loyalties. The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, with each character having their own unique voice and personality.

The storytelling in the series is innovative and engaging. Zelazny uses a variety of techniques, such as nonlinear narrative, unreliable narrators, and dream sequences, to create a sense of mystery and intrigue. The use of the Trumps, magical cards that allow communication and teleportation between worlds, adds a unique and memorable element to the story.

One of the most impressive aspects of the series is its themes. Zelazny explores ideas such as identity, power, family, and destiny. He raises profound questions about the nature of reality and the role of the individual in shaping it. The series is not just a thrilling adventure, but also a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

Overall, "Chronicles of Amber" is a classic work of fantasy that has stood the test of time. Its innovative storytelling, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre, and its influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary writers. For anyone looking for an epic, immersive, and thought-provoking reading experience, "Chronicles of Amber" is a must-read.

This is my favorite series ever. Period. Ever few years I come back to it and I never fail to find something new hidden in its pages. Zelazny creates a surreality that exists in that edge of consciousness, where you think you see something out of the corner of your eye, turn, but nothing is there; in that dreamscape that is neither the oblivion of sleep nor the understanding of waking. Amber is a world of dualities, chaos and order, love and hate, and I love it because as I change and grow older, it speaks another language to me with each reading. Walking the pattern, or reading a book, is never the same, because I am never the same.

These books and universe are super cool and unique. I really hope this gets adapted to a tv show like it’s supposed to. The first half of the series is amazing, every book is an adventure with a wonderful over arching story. The second half feels like he had a really cool direction to take the story but didn’t really plan out what the conclusion would be. The story stays consistently fun but near the end of the series it kind of feels all over the place. That being said, still such an entertaining book series with wonderful writing and characters deserves its recognition.

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Roger Zelazny's Amber series is one of the best sci-fi/fantasy epics ever written. Not only was it highly imaginative and original when it was published (in the 70s and 80s), but it remains so -- there's nothing else like it.

Corwin and his brothers and sisters are clever, sophisticated, sarcastic, and extremely ambitious. They constantly scheme and plot to outmaneuver each other as they vie for political power. If you knew these people in real life, you'd probably hate them, but in Zelazny's hands they're charming (especially Corwin). Zelazny's writing style is solid: fast-paced, exciting, and witty. Plot twists and cliff-hangers make it hard to stop reading.

With all that praise, I must mention two little problems:
1. The Merlin Cycle is not as good as The Corwin Cycle. Corwin is just more interesting than his son.
2. The story never quite wraps up because Zelazny died before finishing it.

Bottom Line: Read The Corwin Cycle (the first half). If you're hooked, keep going.

Read this review in context at n  Fantasy Literature n

As a collected series on the whole, this is a wonderful group of novels; however, several are standouts, including the first three. Remember to try to pace yourself :)