The Guns of Avalon (Chronicles of Amber)

Rating:
Summary: Like the Perfect Kingdomitself ,everything builds from here.
Review: As if it wasn't enough that many of the incidents in this volume set the stage for all the Amber books to follow; as if it wasn't enough that his use of language conjures images of majesty, grandeur and, yes, low animal cunning, I found Zelazny's use of the writerly technique foreshadowing (no pun intended) awe-inspiring. Everything builds from here - Corwin's memories of Moire and his brief affair with Lorraine lead up to his encounter with Dara and suggest the direction that will eventually lead. Corwin's adventures with the Black Circle forge his decisions about duty, kingship, and that which lies beyond the Black Road. While Nine Princes in Amber could be a stand-alone novel, this book is the linchpin which holds together all the Amber books to come.

Rating:
Summary: A phenominal continuation
Review: Book two of Rodger Zelazny's first series of Amber novels follows Corwin, prince of Amber on his path to unseat his usurper brother Eric from the throne of Amber. After having his eyes burnt out with hot irons and five years of imprisonment, Corwin has grown new eyes and escaped.
I found this novel to be one of the more interesting of the original Amber novels. You get more of a feel for Corwin than you did in the first book of the series. The characteristics of a scion of Amber that makes them such interesting characters are all there, the scheming, the majesty, the style, even the pettiness.
Having discovered a compound that will work as gunpowder in the mystical realm of order he sets out to move once more in his quest to take the throne for himself. The characters are interesting and the style is enchanting. The only thing I would have liked to have seen elaborated on was the nature of pattern magic. As it was none of those details were really dealt with at all until the beginning of the second series (With Trumps of Doom).
If you have not read this series before get Nine Princes in Amber and treat yourself to one of the great science fiction/fantasy series of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Worse of this Series but still a good book.
Review: This series is great. This book is not. If you read this book, when compared to the other Amber novels, you will understand why this book is a disappointment.

First, this book has two stories within it. I could be wrong, but it seems like the stories found here were parts of a magazine series put together to form one book. The first story, outside of some of the same characters, has little to do with the second story found here. As such, I will treat each story seperately and judge them accordingly.

If you can, skip the first story. It was horrible. It lacked every good quality which made the first book such a classic. In the first book Corwin, with no memory and recovering from an assassination attempt, still manages to gather forces together which eventually allow him to challenge his brother Eric for the thrown of Amber. When he loses, his eyes are cut out and his is imprisoned for life. While he does suffer, he still dreams of revenge and eventually escapes from prison with the hopes of attacking and beating Eric in the future. In every sense of the word, Corwin is a hero.

In this book, Corwin is a coward. He runs away from Amber to Avalon. While there, he seems to be afraid of one of his old henchmen, Ganelon, who is the leader of a group of men he finds there. Eventually revealing himself to Ganelon, they join force to fight a strange foe found in the forest. This story is a "2" in my eyes. It was predictable. It was boring. It added nothing to this series.

The second story, however, is much better. Corwin, trying to return to Amber, mets one of his brothers. He also plans again for the thrown and mets someone who may be his brother's granddaughter. He fights and runs, but seems to regain some of the character found in the first book.

I have read book 3, and the second part of this book leads nicely into it. It is only for this reason that I would recommend reading this book. Since the whole series, overall, is quite good, I just thought those of you who might get discouraged by the beginning of this book should take note: it does get better. Zelazany is a good writer, he just was a little off beat in the first story.