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Summary: Embarking once again.............
Review: I first read the Amber series in 1974-75 and it has stayed with me ever since....it is a sheer masterpiece. I have started the series again although it has never left me.
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Summary: After a decade, an old dog can be taught new tricks ...
Review: I originally purchased the "Chronicles of Amber" at a used book store in Santa Barbara during my University years. Consequently, I fell deeply into the pages soon after I arrived home with my new books. Magical was just about all I could think of when I put it down several days later.A decade has passed and I had the chance to do a bit of literary re-visiting. Lo and behold, what should my eyes see after I finished with Corwin's story ... Merlin of Chaos! I was just as enthralled with the tales of Merlin as I was with Corwins adventures through shadow. I read it with gusto, hardly putting it down when I had any spare time at home. Zelazny manged to touch my soul again with the continued books of Amber. I am keeping this one placed in a secured area awaiting my childrens interest in well written science fiction.
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Summary: Unique but lackluster in delivery and form.
Review: True to form, the Hugo and Nebula awards have again gone to an author whose work is very unique and enticing in its world construction and characters, but is somewhat lacking in literary form and character development. With his style reminiscent of the beatnick writings which inspired his generation, Zelazney builds many versions of the same irreverant character facing the same bewildering challenges which seem to be presented solutions from nothingness at the proper convenient moment. Lovers of such works as Ender's Game, Sword of Truth(s), and such like novels will thoroughly enjoy this work, while those who prefer more sophisticated character development and less contrived solutions to the protagonist's problems will find this work very plodding and well... annoying.
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Summary: A book worth reading
Review: This book is so great that I have to read once a month,every month.
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Summary: Oustanding
Review: I haven't read all the fantasy there is to read, but this series (more precisely, the first five books) ranks with the Tolkien trilogy and Donaldson's first Thomas Covenant trilogy as THE quintessential fantasy series, to this point. The original Chronicles of Amber (the first five books - all of Corwin's adventures) is immense fun; it combines a likeable and imperfect hero, humor, intrigue, superb battles, plot twists, exceptional writing, and a great cast of characters. This is a must read for anyone interested in the fantasy genre. As has been affirmed by many reviewers, the second set of five books doesn't measure up to the first, but it's still enjoyable enough.
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Summary: One of two books that got me started
Review: This and a RH Heinlein book called Have Spacesuit Will Travel introduced me into the shadowy world between adult science fiction books and childrens fantasy. I've read thousands of books since then and these still hold a very special place in my heart and head. To me, this one holds up better, mayber just because Zelazny never got so hung up on himself later on and doesn't carry all the Heinlein bagage. I read each of the individual books in order, and then a few times again and then in this complete collection. I love it.
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Summary: a long book
Review: it was a good book. very long and entertaining. this book is the kind of book i am into
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Summary: The Amber Novels, So Good I've read them 3 Times!!!
Review: These novels are perhaps the single most interesting series in Fantasy. Based on the stories of Corwin and Merlin, Father and son, the first five focus on Corwin, and The latter 5 on Merlin. They belong to a family who can walk literally to any world, by means of the pattern of amber, and the logrus of chaos. Full of Magic, Politics, and sex, these books are a recomendation for absolutely anyone
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Summary: Corwin rules, Merlin drools
Review: The first 5 books are all Corwin, who is a hardboiled film noir-ish rugged individualist thru and thru, with a glib remark for any situation and a ready sword (or fist) as counterpoint. The styling of the Corwin stories is excellent, with an abstracted view of setting and pacing which fits the 'Shadows of Amber' idea of the cosmology. Further, Zelazny doesnt make the common mistake of less confident writers of trying to justify and scientifically explain his setting; its fantasy and if you dont like it you dont have to read it. He tells the story immersively and leaves suspension of disbelief up to the reader; in many ways Corwin becomes a cypher for the reader. The Corwin books are definitive and memorable, but the Merlin books, while still better than most writers efforts, are so bland by comparison as to almost ruin the greatness of the original 5 books, particularly the last book which is so obviously rushed to a very jarring conclusion. Long running plot threads which were tying together into a finale in a few hundred more pages are suddenly wrenched and contrived in a few dozen. Worse, the book just ends and leaves the reader hanging. Parts of the Merlin books are engaging, and as Merlin is far more cerebral than the rough-knuckled Corwin his view of reality is far more perceptive than his father's so the actual setting is far more developed in the Merlin series. However, I dont think that this is a good thing as it introduces several logical inconsistencies and causes a reader to engage their left brains much more than the subjective and reactive view of Corwin ever did, which degrades from the immersive 'what-if' fantastic qualities of the Amber cosmology. Nevertheless buy this, read this, share this. Its a classic and you are depriving yourself of a treat if you dont.
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Summary: One of the all-time greats
Review: The Amber books by Roger Zelazny are classic. This book actually contains both series. The first 5 books, Nine Princes in Amber, the Guns of Avalon, The Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon and The Courts of Chaos, start with Corwin's premature recovery in a hospital on Earth, and chronicle his battle to regain his memory and his fight for the throne of Amber. Intrigue abounds as Corwin's father, Oberon king of Amber is missing, and his children form competing alliances to take the throne of Amber, the one true world whose reality is based upon the immutable Pattern. Walking the Pattern gives the children of Oberon the power to walk through the shadows to alternate worlds of which Earth is only one of many. This is just an over powering story, one which I've enjoyed many times. The second series, which was written some years later and is not quite as good, consists of The Trumps of Doom, Blood of Amber, Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows and Prince of Chaos. This series deals with Corwin's son Merlin and his battles in the balance between the Courts of Chaos and the Pattern of Amber. As with most of Zelazny's books there is a mythic feel to the tales of Amber, which I find very appealing, and at over 1200 pages the Great Book of Amber is a great read.
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