So there are essentially two series contained in here, and given the limitations of this format for review, I am going to do this in two parts, because the first series is very different from the second series.

The first series, Books 1 - 5 is the better of the two. Now I am not a big fan of the writing style utilized for this type of novel. Its really dialogue heavy with little description apart from the characters or exposition. I prefer the works similar to Tolkien and Rowling instead, because they are much more epic in tone for me. However Zelazny has written books in a similar format before such as Creatures of Light and Darkness, which I really enjoyed. I just don't think its well used for this type of novel. Still, the plot is well done, and the characters are well drawn, and conceived. Corwin is definitely an underrated character in literature, and I think he really makes this story work. There is very little exposition. For instance, some characters disappear only to reappear with no explanation as to where they were. I'm not a big fan of that personally, but I do know many who enjoy using their imagination here and debating where they were, so to each their own. 4 stars.

The second series focuses on the son of Corwin, named Merlin. Much of the same criticism as above applies here so I won't repeat it. However, it is a very weak series, and Merlin just isn't an interesting or rich character, which made it hard for me to enjoy. Still, I did receive enjoyment from it, because the plot was at least interesting enough, however it was a real chore to read for the much of it. 2.5 stars.

Overall I would recommend lovers of fantasy and character novels to read this.

ציון כסדרה 4.5. קצת ארון, וגם עשה לי בלבלה כשפתאום הדמות הראשית משתנתה בערך באמצע הסגה, ומתחילה שוב מאפס, אבל הספרסדרה נורא מעניינת, שכל שנייה יכול לשנות לך כיוון בלי אזהרה, פשוט נהנתי, ועכשיו בא לי לקרוא אותו שוב נטו בגלל שאני נזכר בו

Astounding. Have you ever started a book and wondered why you had never read it before? I felt that way about 10 pages in.

Series rating: 8.5/10

Since his eruption in the field, the Nebula and Hugo Award-winner Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) had been unquestionably an important figure of speculative fiction, managing to inspire with his talents other aspiring writers of his generation, and to leave his own mark through his greatest achievement: The Chronicles of Amber.

And in The Great Book of Amber, this magnificent omnibus volume by Avon Eos, are compiled all ten novels written by Roger Zelazny, taking us in ten incredible tales of magical beings, royal families and alternate worlds; but also of magic and mystery, rivalry and power, and Chaos and Order, in an all-time classic fantasy series.

Corwin’s Cylce

For eons, the sons and daughters of the royal blood of Amber have held dominion over the Shadows, walking between alternate universes where every possibility exists and the real world which contains everything – but Corwin, having been in a car accident, had woken up in a hospital bed without recollection of his past self.

However, when – after he manages to escape from the hospital that held him against his will – he seeks to restore his memory by going to one of his relatives, learning about his family history and of the current state of affairs, he will soon return to a life beyond his wildest dreams, taking him into a multiverse of strange worlds and unbelievable wonders.

Nevertheless, with his return to have put him back to the succession for the throne of Amber, upsetting the status quo and putting him in a rivalry with his family, when he comes into conflict with his siblings, and in his weakest moment utters a powerful curse, Corwin will find himself on a quest for his survival, seeking answers to mysteries, fighting battles against the most unlikely odds, and gambling with the fates...

The first five books consist the first cycle of the Chronicles of Amber and focus on Corwin’s adventures.

Five books in which, inspired by works such as Henry Kuttner’s novel The Dark World and Philip José Farmer’s World Tiers series and borrowing their main concepts as the basis of his imagination, Zelazny builds a fantastic multiverse, taking us to Remba, where the mirror-city within the sea is a reflection of Amber; to Lorraine and Avalon, where their worlds – like the shadow Earth – are just a shadow; to Amber itself, where deep under the palace lies the Pattern from which those of royal blood gain the power to walk among shadows; to Tir-na Nog’th, the ghost-city in the sky, where dreams come true, prophecies are disputed, and unknown truths are revealed; and to the Courts of Chaos, where Chaos is the opposite pole of the Order of Amber.

Five books in which Zelazny, combining our own world with an imaginary one, bringing reality and fantasy together and using them as the basis of the series, creates an extraordinary multiverse of many and different worlds, but also a unique family drama of politics and intrigue full of magic, mystery and mayhem that, through his crisp, minimalist narration, his colourful characters and his fantastic world-building, bring something truly magnificent.

Merlin's Cylce

Some time has passed since the Patternfall War, and now everything has quieted down between Chaos and Amber – but Merlin, having spent the last few years on the shadow Earth – where his father, Corwin, lived for a while – learning computer science, has been waiting for someone to try to kill him.

However, when – after receiving a mysterious message from his old girlfriend, Julia – steps by her place, finding her murdered and leaving him with questions about what’s happened, Merlin will soon begin digging around for information, searching for the perpetrator of her death.

However, with his investigations to have lead him from one clue to the next, digging up answers to mysteries and starting to connect the dots, when he gets in the middle of something he does not understand, and the universe conspires against him, Merlin will find himself in centre of things, pursuing truths, fighting sorcerers, clearing vendettas, and balancing between the cosmic powers…

The last five books consist the second cycle of the Chronicles of Amber and follow Corwin’s son, Merlin.

Five last books in which, returning to the series seven years later, Roger Zelazny expands the world and universe of Amber further, taking us to the town of Amber, where its streets are full of various trades and of people of dubious intent; to the Keep of the Four Worlds, which lies at the crossroads of the worlds of the four elements; to the land between the shadows, a place inaccessible to the Powers of Chaos and Order; and to the Courts of Chaos, where is the domain of the Logrus, opposite number of the Pattern of Amber, and of the noble houses of Chaos.

Five last books in which Zelazny, focusing this time on Merlin’s adventures, developing the story through his eyes and seeing his character growth through his difficulties, delves deep into the poles of existence – of Chaos and Order – of his universe and everything that moves them, crafting an epic of cosmic scale that, despite the differences in writing style, direction and setting, is full of schemes, family intrigues and power struggles, of new and old faces, and of powers greater than us which make this cycle as extraordinary and crazy as the first one.

All in all, The Great Book of Amber is a magnificent omnibus volume, with Roger Zelanzy creating an extraordinary series through his imagination, and ten unparalleled adventures that take us on a crazy ride through the ways of his multiverse.





*Ελληνική κριτική:


Από την έκρηξή του στο χώρο, ο βραβευμένος με Nebula και Hugo Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) έχει υπάρξει αδιαμφισβήτητα μια σημαντική φιγούρα της λογοτεχνίας του φανταστικού, καταφέρνοντας να εμπνεύσει με τα ταλέντα του άλλους φιλόδοξους συγγραφείς της γενιάς του, και να αφήσει το δικό του ορόσημο μέσα από το μεγαλύτερό του επίτευγμα: Τα Χρονικά της Amber.

Και στο The Great Book of Amber, αυτόν τον μεγαλειώδη επίτομο τόμο από την Avon Eos, είναι συγκεντρωμένα και τα δέκα μυθιστορήματα των Χρονικών της Amber γραμμένα από τον Roger Zelazny, πηγαίνοντάς μας σε δέκα εκπληκτικές ιστορίες μαγικών υπάρξεων, βασιλικών οικογενειών και εναλλακτικών κόσμων· αλλά και μαγείας και μυστηρίου, αντιπαλότητας και εξουσίας, και Χάους και Τάξης, σε μια κλασική σειρά φαντασίας όλων των εποχών.

Corwin’s Cylce

Για αιώνες, οι γιοι και οι κόρες του βασιλικού αίματος της Amber έχουν κρατήσει εξουσία επί τις Σκιές, περπατώντας μεταξύ εναλλακτικών συμπάντων όπου κάθε πιθανότητα υπάρχει και του πραγματικού κόσμου ο οποίος περιέχει τα πάντα – αλλά ο Corwin, έχοντας βρεθεί σε ένα αυτοκινητιστικό ατύχημα, είχε ξυπνήσει σε ένα κρεβάτι νοσοκομείου χωρίς ανάμνηση του παλιού του εαυτού.

Ωστόσο, όταν –αφότου καταφέρει να αποδράσει από το νοσοκομείο που τον κρατούσε ενάντια στη θέλησή του– αναζητήσει να επαναφέρει τη μνήμη του πηγαίνοντας σε έναν από τους συγγενείς του, μαθαίνοντας για το οικογενειακό του παρελθόν και την τωρινή κατάσταση, θα επιστρέψει σύντομα σε μια ζωή πέραν των πιο τρελών όνειρών του, παίρνοντάς τον σε ένα πολυσύμπαν παράξενων κόσμων και απίστευτων θαυμάτων.

Παρ’ όλα αυτά, με την επιστροφή του να τον έχει ξαναφέρει στη διαδοχή για το θρόνο της Amber, αναταράσσοντας το καθεστώς με την παρουσία και βάζοντάς τον σε έναν ανταγωνισμό με την οικογένειά του, όταν έρθει σε αντιμαχία με τα αδέρφια του, και στην πιο αδύναμη στιγμή του ξεστομίσει μια πανίσχυρη κατάρα, ο Corwin θα βρεθεί σε μια περιπέτεια για την επιβίωσή του, αναζητώντας απαντήσεις σε μυστήρια, πολεμώντας σε μάχες ενάντια στις πιο απίθανες πιθανότητες, και παίζοντας κορώνα-γράμματα με τις μοίρες...

Τα πρώτα πέντε βιβλία αποτελούν τον πρώτο κύκλο των Χρονικών της Amber και επικεντρώνονται στις περιπέτειες του Corwin.

Πέντε βιβλία στα οποία, παίρνοντας έμπνευση από έργα όπως το μυθιστόρημα The Dark World του Henry Kuttner και τη σειρά World Tiers του Philip José Farmer και δανείζοντας τις κύριες ιδέες τους ως τη βάση της φαντασίας του, ο Zelazny χτίζει ένα φανταστικό πολυσύμπαν, πηγαίνοντάς μας στη Remba, εκεί όπου η πόλη-καθρέπτης εντός της θάλασσας είναι μια αντανάκλαση της Amber· στην Lorraine και στην Avalon, εκεί όπου οι κόσμοι τους –όπως η Γη σκιά– είναι απλώς μια σκιά· στην ίδια την Amber, εκεί όπου βαθιά κάτω από το παλάτι βρίσκεται το Σχέδιο από το οποίο αυτοί του βασιλικού αίματος αποκτούν τη δύναμη για περπατήσουν μεταξύ των σκιών· στην Tir-na Nog’th, την πόλη-φάντασμα στον ουρανό, εκεί όπου τα όνειρα γίνονται πραγματικότητα, προφητείες αμφισβητούνται, και άγνωστες αλήθειες αποκαλύπτονται· και στις Αυλές του Χάους, εκεί όπου το Χάος είναι ο αντίθετος πόλος της Τάξης της Amber.

Πέντε βιβλία στα οποία ο Zelazny, συνδυάζοντας τον δικά μας κόσμο με έναν φανταστικό, φέρνοντας την πραγματικότητα και τη φαντασία μαζί και χρησιμοποιώντας τα ως τη βάση της σειράς, δημιουργεί ένα αξιοσημείωτο πολυσύμπαν πολλών και διαφορετικών κόσμων, αλλά και ένα μοναδικό οικογενειακό δράμα πολιτικής και ίντριγκας γεμάτο από μαγεία, μυστήριο και χάος που, μέσα από τη ζωηρή, μινιμαλιστική αφήγησή του, τους πολύχρωμους χαρακτήρες του και την φανταστική κοσμοπλασία του, φέρνουν κάτι πραγματικά θαυμάσιο.

Merlin’s Cylce

Λίγος καιρός έχει περάσει από τον Πόλεμο της Πτώσης του Σχεδίου, και πλέον όλα έχουν ησυχάσει μεταξύ το Χάος και την Amber – αλλά ο Merlin, έχοντας περάσει τα τελευταία χρόνια στη Γη σκιά –εκεί όπου ο πατέρας του, Corwin, έζησε για ένα διάστημα– μαθαίνοντας επιστήμη υπολογιστών, περίμενε για κάποιον να προσπαθήσει να τον σκοτώσει.

Ωστόσο, όταν –αφότου λάβει ένα μυστηριώδη μήνυμα από την παλιά του κοπέλα, Julia– περάσει από το σπίτι της, βρίσκοντάς την δολοφονημένη και αφήνοντάς τον με ερωτήματα για το τι συναίβει, ο Merlin θα αρχίσει σύντομα να σκαλίζει για πληροφορίες, ψάχνοντας για τον υπεύθυνο για το θάνατό της.

Παρ’ όλα αυτά, με τις ερευνήσεις του να τον έχουν οδηγήσει από το ένα στοιχείο στο επόμενο, αποκαλύπτοντας απαντήσεις στα μυστήρια και αρχίζοντας να βγάζει άκρη, όταν μπλεχτεί σε κάτι που δεν καταλαβαίνει, και το σύμπαν συνωμοτήσει εναντίων του, ο Merlin θα βρεθεί στο επίκεντρο, κυνηγώντας αλήθειες, πολεμώντας με μάγους, ξεκαθαρίζοντας βεντέτες, και ισορροπώντας μεταξύ των κοσμικών δυνάμεων...

Τα τελευταία πέντε βιβλία αποτελούν τον δεύτερο κύκλο των Χρονικών της Amber και ακολουθούν το γιο του Corwin, Merlin.

Πέντε τελευταία βιβλία στα οποία, επιστρέφοντας στη σειρά εφτά χρόνια αργότερα, ο Roger Zelazny επεκτείνει το κόσμο και το σύμπαν της Amber περαιτέρω, πηγαίνοντάς μας στη πόλη της Amber, εκεί όπου οι δρόμοι της είναι γεμάτοι από διάφορα εμπόρια και από ανθρώπους ύποπτων προθέσεων· στο Φρούριο των Τεσσάρων Κόσμων, που βρίσκεται στο σταυροδρόμι των κόσμων των τεσσάρων στοιχείων· στη χώρα που βρίσκεται μεταξύ των σκιών, ένα μέρος απρόσιτο στις Δυνάμεις του Χάους και της Τάξης· και στις Αυλές του Χάους, εκεί όπου είναι η επικράτεια του Logrus, ομόλογο στο Σχεδίου της Amber, και των ευγε��ών οίκων τους Χάους.

Πέντε τελευταία βιβλία στα οποία ο Zelazny, επικεντρώνοντας αυτή τη φορά στις περιπέτειες του Merlin, αναπτύσσοντας την ιστορία μέσα από τα μάτια του και βλέποντας την ανάπτυξη του χαρακτήρα του μέσα από τις δυσκολίες του, εμβαθύνει βαθιά μέσα στους πόλους ύπαρξης –τους Χάους και της Τάξης– του σύμπαντός του και όλα όσα τα κινούν, φτιάχνοντας ένα έπος κοσμικής κλίμακας που, παρά τις διαφορές στο στυλ γραφής, στη κατεύθυνση και το περιβάλλον, είναι γεμάτο από δολοπλοκίες, οικογενειακές ίντριγκες και μάχες για την εξουσία, από νέα και παλιά πρόσωπα, και από δυνάμεις μεγαλύτερες από εμάς που κάνουν αυτόν τον κύκλο τόσο αξιοσημείωτο και τρελό όσο τον πρώτο.

Όλα για όλα, το The Great Book of Amber είναι ένας θαυμάσιος επίτομος τόμος, με τον Roger Zelanzy να δημιουργεί μέσα από την φαντασία του μια αξιοσημείωτη σειρά, και δέκα ανεπανάληπτες περιπέτειες που μας πηγαίνουν σε μια τρελή διαδρομή μέσα από τους δρόμους του πολυσύμπαντός του.

Five stars might be a bit of an exaggeration for The Great Book of Amber, but only just. The fact is, I enjoyed all 1258 pages of this book, which is actually an anthology of ten books that chronicle two story arcs. I had been warned that books 6-10 had been written for beer money (a figure of speech, but you get the point); while this may have been true, I enjoyed the second half of the anthology as much as the first.

This is one of my favorite fantasy series ever, and I'm thinking of rereading it at some point soon.

This has been on my list for a while. It fits squarely in that 80's-90's bucket of tongue-in-cheek, a little meta, a little ironic fantasy series. The Amber books are not a little arch, and they don't take themselves too seriously - they're like the Roger Moore James Bond of fantasy novels. And they zip by, which is a relief when you're reading 10 of them in a row. I don't know that Corwin and Merlin are as charismatic and dynamic as Zelazny thinks they are - I feel like I was shown their appeal through other characters' responses to them, rather than any demonstration of their capability.

But the star here is really the whole setup of multiple universes and the fight between Amber and Chaos, between Logrus and the Pattern. That really shined through, and gave the whole series a really strong spine of plot and movement.

Roger Zalazny foi um autor de fantasia e ficção científica vencedor de três prêmios Hugo e seis Nebula. Sua obra principal, As crônicas de Âmbar conquistou uma legião de fãs, foi adaptada para os quadrinhos e virou um RPG cult. Quando o autor morreu em 1995, George R. R. Martin o descreveu em um memorial como “o último Homem da Renascença, fascinado pelo mundo e tudo que há nele, capaz de conversar sobre Doc Savage e Proust com igual conhecimento e entusiasmo”.
As crônicas de Âmbar, citadas diretamente no Apêndice N, integram uma saga de 10 volumes, sendo que apenas os cinco primeiros foram lançados antes da criação do D&D. Esses livros iniciais compõe o Ciclo de Corwin e contam a jornada do personagem título, desde seu despertar sem memória até atingir todo o seu potencial como príncipe herdeiro do verdadeiro e único reino de Âmbar. É uma história épica de fantasia urbana contemporânea, onde cada livro flerta com um estilo literário diferente.

Nine Princes in Amber (Nove príncipes em Âmbar)
No primeiro livro, Corwin acorda desmemoriado em um hospital e descobre que está sendo mantido sedado. A história é narrada em primeira pessoa e tem um pouco do clima noir, com um narrador espirituoso que conversa com o leitor enquanto tenta juntar pistas para desvendar o mistério de sua origem.
Ele descobre eventualmente que pertence a uma longa família maquiavélica de seres extremamente poderosos do mundo verdadeiro de Âmbar, e que existem infinitas realidades paralelas, todas Sombras deste universo original (incluindo a que abriga a nossa Terra). Como um dos príncipes de Âmbar, ele tem uma posição forte para reclamar o trono, vazio depois do desaparecimento do rei Oberon. O pano de fundo da história é justamente essa disputa pelo trono e os nove príncipes (e quatro princesas) são figuras complexas apresentadas em detalhes aos poucos ao longo dos livros.
É um daqueles livros “Civilization”, quem jogou a criação de Sid Meyer entendeu a referência, sempre que termina um capítulo da vontade de ler “só mais um”. Traições, viagens entre planos, vastos exércitos, cartas de tarot mágicas e diversos outros elementos para prender sua atenção.

The guns of Avalon (As armas de Avalon)
A história continua exatamente de onde parou o Nine princes in Amber, Corwin desembarca na costa com a embarcação Butterfly e reinicia sua busca para derrubar seu irmão Eric. Se o primeiro parecia uma história de detetive noir, aqui temos uma saga arthuriana, com duelos de espada e batalhas grandiosas.
No mundo medieval de Lorraine, Corwin enfrenta demônios felinos, descobre que o regente local é o traidor exilado Ganelon e treina um exército para lutar contra o misterioso círculo sombrio e seu líder com cabeça de bode. Em Avalon, onde acredita que existe um trunfo que pode usar para conquistar Âmbar, ele reencontra seu irmão Benedict, o maior espadachim e líder militar da existência e se envolve com sua bisneta Dara. Seus planos, porém, não contam com a revelação de um novo inimigo: as Cortes do Caos.

The Sign of the Unicorn (O sinal do unicórnio)
A saga passa por vários gêneros literários e este terceiro livro tem muito das histórias de mistério a la Agatha Christe. Um dos príncipes é assassinado e boa parte da trama se passa em uma sala onde acontecimentos são narrados e acusações feitas. Diversas pontas soltas são amarradas, conhecemos por exemplo, mais sobre os seres misteriosos de sombra que assolam desde do primeiro livro. Descobrimos também quem participava da conspiração contra o antigo rei Oberon e mais detalhes sobre as Cortes do Caos.
Apesar do foco maior na investigação, o livro também tem cenas de ação, com resgates audaciosos, duelos mortais, tentativas de assassinato, viagens por paisagens oníricas e encontro com criaturas fantásticas.

The Hand of Oberon (A mão de Oberon)
Se o livro anterior, The Sign of the Unicorn, é uma estória investigativa, aqui temos ação do início ao fim, com os riscos ficando cada vez maiores. Nada menos do que o fim do universo aguarda se eles falharem em sua missão. Além disso, tema de traição e intriga continua presente, com inúmeras reviravoltas, os papéis vão se invertendo, e o aliado de um livro pode virar o inimigo do outro.
Vários locais são revisitados nesse livro, formando um mundo tão complexo quanto seus personagens, existe inclusive uma visita à própria Corte do Caos e finalmente temos respostas verdadeiras para inúmeros mistérios.

The Courts of Chaos (As cortes do caos)
O último livro das Crônicas de âmbar fecha de forma magistral a saga. É impressionante como a história flerta com vários gêneros literários sem se encaixar em nenhum deles. O desfecho é uma grande aventura permeada com várias discussões filosóficas.
As forças do caos se agrupam para o combate final e Corwin precisa levar um item de grande poder, a Jóia do Julgamento, para o campo de batalha. Para isso ele cavalga de um ponto a outro da existência, encontrando desafios em cada etapa da viagem, como anões gananciosos ladrões de cavalo, emboscadas fraticidas, uma mulher sedutora e uma irritante gralha fatalista. Ele não pode parar pois uma tempestade metafísica se aproxima, varrendo a existência por onde passa, tudo recheado com inúmeras referências a seres mitológicos e obras literárias.
Dos cinco livros, As cortes do caos é o que mais se parece com uma aventura de RPG (de exploração), com um encontro diferente a cada parada. Já a saga em si é o que uma aventura de nível épico deveria ser: personagens complexos, reviravoltas, intrigas e apostas cada vez mais altas.
O personagem principal evolui bastante ao longo da saga e finalmente descobrimos para quem ele está narrando sua história. Temos direito a um cortejo com “dragões de tamanho incalculável” e um novo rei, fechando todas as pontas soltas mas ao mesmo tempo deixando ganchos para uma possível continuação. Existe de fato uma segunda série, chamada de “Ciclo de Merlin” com mais cinco livros publicada pós Apêndice N.

Como ler As crônicas de Âmbar
Infelizmente essa obra nunca foi publicadano Brasil. No início dos anos 2000, a série saiu em Portugal, mas os livros são bem difíceis de se encontrar por essas bandas. Em 2017, uma nova edição saiu pela editora portuguesa Saída de Emergência mas só ficou no primeiro volume. Se você consegue ler em inglês, aconselho a edição completa The Great Book of Amber com os 10 volumes da saga, mas você também encontra os volumes individuais em ebook ou audiobook.

Influências no D&D
Depois de devorar a série, ficou claro que o Gygax gostava dos livros mas eles tiveram pouca influência direta na criação do D&D. Um dos elementos mais importantes da obra, o conceito de multiverso e infinitas realidades, pode ter influenciado na criação nos planos de existência, mas o desenvolvimento dessa ideia no jogo é bem diferente da obra, gerando uma cosmologia com planos elementais, sete paraísos, nove infernos, Hades, Asgard, etc.
Algumas vezes se credita a essa série uma influência na criação dos alinhamentos, mas não me parece que foi tirado daqui. Sim, existem as Cortes do Caos mas é difícil imaginar os traiçoeiros amberitas como seu oposto Ordem, e não dá para aplicar de forma clara alinhamentos para qualquer personagem da obra. Quem espera encontrar a origem desse elemento é melhor procurar em Three Hearts and Three Lions de Poul Anderson.
Todo o clima de traições, alianças e interaç��o social aparece pouco nos livros básicos ou módulos de Gygax. Talvez forçando um pouco a barra consigo enxergar alguma influência dessa família amberita maquiavélica nos traiçoeiros drows.
A saga apresenta algumas criaturas fantásticas, como mantícoras e wyverns, sendo que o unicórnio chega a nomear um dos livros. É claro que essas criaturas mais batidas da fantasia iam entrar de qualquer jeito no D&D, mas fico pensando se esse poder de teleporte dos unicórnios não teve alguma inspiração daqui. No livro eles não chegam a se teleportar mas em uma cena um deles guia as personagens para um outro plano de existência.
Outro elemento interessante é que os amberitas como seres de grande poder tem uma facilidade enorme de levantar tropas talvez espelhando os “hirelings” e “henchmen” que acompanham os personagens épicos. Além disso, toda a trama é um bom exemplo de como criar uma aventura para personagens de nível alto.
Por fim, cada amberita carrega consigo um baralho onde as cartas representam os membros da família regente. Através deles, eles conseguem se comunicar e se teleportar para onde estão seus familiares. Eles são objetos de extremo poder e ferramentas importantes para a trama. Apesar de não existir itens mágicos semelhantes no D&D, acho bem provável que possam ter inspirado o Deck of Many Things do livro do mestre.

Nota final
Essa saga gerou o Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game, um RPG cult fortemente voltado para o roleplaying, sendo conhecido como o primeiro a não usar dados ou outros elementos aleatórios. Ele foi escrito quando Zelazny ainda estava vivo e o autor chegou a colaborar com um conto para o Amberzine, a revista oficial do jogo.

The Corwin cycle is brilliant. The Merlin cycle has some very clever ideas but it’s like sweet and sour
chicken, mixed with a charcuterie board, mixed with a root beer float—like they’re all good and work on their own, but together there’s too much gustatory incongruence.

Would have liked to hear more of the backstories behind Amberites and even some of the Chaosites that Merlin knew. The snake that Merlin finds in his father’s church, and the demon who flies him to Chaos—clever characters.

I am impressed that both Corwin and Merlin are intended to be pawns in other people’s games, and they both find their own ways to out. They both also bring a kind of harmony to their families, though through a considerable amount of conflict and shifts in alliances—and often not done deliberately. This is not entirely uncommon amongst protagonists, I’d imagine (thinking of Neo, for example).

This is a bit ruined though as Corwin was apparently easily captured, and what happens to Corwin’s Pattern ghost? What happens to Luke’s Pattern ghost, BTW?

I’m also not clear on what they real difference here is between Order and Chaos. At one point, the Pattern uses the Apollonian and Dionysian distinction. I often think of the Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness Big 5 traits as being relevant here. But the Courts of Chaos function much like Castle Amber, where family connive, scheme, murder (or imprison when murder is impractical). Was it just that Chaos is all weird and different colors and stuff?

In the same way that’s it often a desirable personality suite to have high openness and high conscientiousness (perhaps this is Merlin to a greater extent than his father), maybe more effort should have been made to clarify the thesis, antithesis and synthesis. It feels like it was within reach, but never explored.


Why can the Jewel of Judgment create the foundations or order (Patterns) and also control weather? I can sort of see it, but it’s hazy. Where did it come from?

Where did the Logrus come from? The Snake in Chaos?

Я вже не пам’ятаю скільки раз перечитував Хроніки Амберу, в різних перекладах (часто жахливих), в різних виданнях, а вперше взагалі роздрукованими на матричному принтері. Нарешті прочитав в оригіналі, англійською мовою і полюбив їх ще більше. Велична сага, безліч шарів алюзій та відсилок, захоплюючий сюжет, лсд тріпи, детектив пошуку вбивці в закритій кімнаті, мітологія, Шекспір - та все що завгодно і ще трошки є в ній. Звісно дуже сильно відчувається різниця між Хроніками Корвіна та Хроніками Мерліна. 5 романів про Корвіна ніколи не викликали в мене жодних заперечень, завжди я їх ковтав, і до читавши до останньої фрази - Good-bye and hello, as always, одразу розумів, що це прощання не остаточне і я обов’язково знову перечитаю їх. А от з другим п’ятикнижжям в мене завжди були проблеми, переклади чомусь були набагато гірші (свого часу), та і всю цю тему з його дівчиною, яка стала чародійкою, я ніколи не сприймав. Але оригінал таки поправив моє сприйняття - текст читався в рази легше і краще. Я навіть можу тепер впевнено сказати, що Хроніки Мерліна круті по свому - розширенням ЛОРу, крутими новими концепціями та психоделічними сценами. Але все одно відчувається нерівність тексту, оця дурацька лінія з Юлією так і залишається неправдоподібною. Мало того, таке враження, що потім вона і Роджера задовбала, бо в кінці вона якось тупо злита практично в нікуди, зрештою так само як і лінія Юрта, дуже так умовно в пару слів показують примирення Мерліна з ними, та й по всьому. Відчувається що і самому автору набагато цікавіше стало писати про події космічного порядку, оці всі розбірки поміж Логрусом та Паттерном. Зрештою і мені це читати набагато цікавіше, аніж оту мелодраму з квітами та навозом :)
Коли дочитував, аж шкодував що залишилось пару сторінок, і пофіг що вже прочитав більше ніж 1250 :) Але, все закінчується, так що Good-bye and hello, as always :)

Oh man. This book (books?) is jam-packed with everything. Zelazny does not hold back from one of the best example of epic storytelling. I loved the concept of various dimensions, and the drama of family turmoil (ROYAL family turmoil no less). And it's still for adults. There's gritty stuff in it like sex and other such references. It's not squeaky clean - I respect that. Great collection! Definitely read it if you love, love, love fantasy!

as a whole this series is the most fantastical fantasy world i have as yet come across.
i did like the first five a little better then the last five.
i loved the character of corwin, he was wonderful and unlike most of the rest of his family he seemed to have more good then bad.
his son has much the as history.
i recommend this book to all how have read fantasy before, it is something different from the mainstream of the genre.

Taken all at once, the Chronicles of Amber make up a strange and fascinating fantasy saga. It's all over the map. Some books are full of full-on fantastic battles, others focus on very small skirmishes between two or three people.

I'm not sure that I loved this series. I definitely liked it. It's very unique. There's high fantasy, there's magic, and then there's modern day America (and at one point, early 20th century France). And then out of the blue one of the characters is stuck in Alice in Wonderland. There's no lack of creativity on display here.

Sometimes it felt like Zelazny had no idea where the series was going, but then he managed to tie up all the loose ends very nicely. Having said that, the final book comes to somewhat abrupt ending, and I guess the author had planned another cycle of stories before his untimely death. That's too bad.

Anyway, this is absolutely worth reading if you're in to fantasy or sci-fi. It's not the greatest series I've ever read, but it certainly is one of the more unique ones.