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The Chronicles of Amber #2
ავალონის თოფები
როჯერ ზელაზნი ფენტეზისა და ფანტასტიკის ჟანრში შექმნილი მრავალრიცხოვანი მოთხრობისა და რომანის ავტორია.მის ნაწარმოებებში ხშირად აღწერილია ჩვენთვის თითქოს ცნობილი სამყარო, ოღონდ მაგიის ელემენტებითა და ზებუნებრივი არსებებით. ”ავალონის თოფები” მეორე წიგნია ”ამბერის ქრონიკების” სერიის ათი რომანიდან.
267 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
586 people are currently reading
4562 people want to read
About the author
Roger Zelazny
747 books3,890 followersRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American fantasy and science fiction writer known for his short stories and novels, best known for The Chronicles of Amber. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nominations) and the Hugo Award six times (also out of 14 nominations), including two Hugos for novels: the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad (1965), subsequently published under the title This Immortal (1966), and the novel Lord of Light (1967).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
August 31, 2024
Well, dammit. How in the world do I get to almost the end of this book absolutely ready to abandon this series with no regrets, and then in the last three pages enough of an interesting plot shows up to make me actually consider reading (and possibly suffering through, if two books so far are any indication) the next book? Zelazny, you’re not playing fair.
I hated the first book and went into the second book just because I love buddy reads — and this one was actually better than its predecessor. (Maybe the pattern is an extra star for each new book in this series, in which case by book 5 I’ll be a fan).
I mean, I still do not care in the slightest about who gets to sit on the throne of Amber, or Amber itself since so far it’s been nothing but barely a McGuffin and Zelazny did nothing to make me care about the place or even our protagonist Corwin. For all I care, Corwin can get offed in the middle of the page and the narration can switch to any other character we have or haven’t met yet, and I would not even blink an eye. My emotions fluctuated between bored indifference at all of Corbin’s wanderings to periodic tired dislike. But then — well, Dara showed up and the ending got somewhat interesting and I actually stopped to think - now what? And gave it one extra star just for that. And the fact that Corwin got outmanipulated so easily.
And yet one decent ending does not make up for the boredom for the rest of the story and inability to feel anything for the characters and events. But maybe, just maybe, these two books are just a boring intro to a more interesting story the glimpse of which I saw in the end?
2 stars — a whole star improvement on book 1.
————
My very annoyed review of the first book in the series, Nine Princes in Amber, is here.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
Plus, this quote made me laugh:
“My books were all on their shelves. Nobody steals books but your friends.”
You steal my book though, and I may have to stab you, dear hypothetical book-stealing friend.
I hated the first book and went into the second book just because I love buddy reads — and this one was actually better than its predecessor. (Maybe the pattern is an extra star for each new book in this series, in which case by book 5 I’ll be a fan).
(The plot, in a nutshell).
I mean, I still do not care in the slightest about who gets to sit on the throne of Amber, or Amber itself since so far it’s been nothing but barely a McGuffin and Zelazny did nothing to make me care about the place or even our protagonist Corwin. For all I care, Corwin can get offed in the middle of the page and the narration can switch to any other character we have or haven’t met yet, and I would not even blink an eye. My emotions fluctuated between bored indifference at all of Corbin’s wanderings to periodic tired dislike. But then — well, Dara showed up and the ending got somewhat interesting and I actually stopped to think - now what? And gave it one extra star just for that. And the fact that Corwin got outmanipulated so easily.
And yet one decent ending does not make up for the boredom for the rest of the story and inability to feel anything for the characters and events. But maybe, just maybe, these two books are just a boring intro to a more interesting story the glimpse of which I saw in the end?
2 stars — a whole star improvement on book 1.
————
My very annoyed review of the first book in the series, Nine Princes in Amber, is here.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
April 24, 2018
*** 4.44 ***
"...“Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”..."
Corwin, the prince of Amber, is free and plotting. Plotting is the past time of the family, but he has a bit of extra incentive, having been imprisoned and blinded for the last 4-5 years and living is squalor while getting better after his escape. Eric, his eldest brother and currently holder of the throne, wants him dead, but at this moment he and the whole royal family are busy defending the realm and some of the Shadow Worlds against the forces of Chaos, who are currently attacking with unprecedented strength and tenacity. It seems, the curse Corwin put on the realm when condemned by Eric, has come to real life with a vengeance and it doesn't seem he can do much about it. The worlds are degenerating and rotting because of it, so Corwin's plan is to first, take over the throne, and only then figure out a way to fight the Chaos creatures.
"... "In a fit of passion, compounded of rage, horror, and pain, I had unleashed this thing, and it was reflected in every earth in existence. Such is the blood curse of a Prince of Amber.”..."
Corwin picks up an old frenemy on his way and they travel the Shadows together, trying to keep alive, being attracted to anything in skirts, playing folks for fools and being played themselves, hoping that the math would eventually work in his favor. There is plenty of traveling and running, and fighting, but overall, I enjoyed it exactly because of it. I love Corwin's internal monologue and I like that he is not perfect at all, for a creature who is gifted with youthful longevity and superhuman strength. I also prefer him ahead of any of his siblings, because the stay on the Shadow Earth - which is our world, has made him look on things a bit more humanely and the loss of his memory gives him a chance to rediscover and reform himself in a manner different than his family's mold. At least I am hoping for an upgrade like that:):):)
"... “We fought.'
'A duel?'
'Nothing that formal. A simultaneous decision to murder one another is more like it.”..."
What a wonderful example of a loving family we have in the Royals of Amber!!!
I love this series, but I do know it is not for everyone. Roger Zelazny marches by his own drums, so he is an acquired taste, which I am lucky enough to enjoy personally. I would recommend it to all fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy, give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea:) I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!
"... “Tonight I will suck the marrow from your bones!” it said. “I will dry them and work them most cunningly into instruments of music! Whenever I play upon them, your spirit will writhe in bodiless agony!”
“You burn prettily,” I said.”..."
Now I wish you Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
"...“Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”..."
Corwin, the prince of Amber, is free and plotting. Plotting is the past time of the family, but he has a bit of extra incentive, having been imprisoned and blinded for the last 4-5 years and living is squalor while getting better after his escape. Eric, his eldest brother and currently holder of the throne, wants him dead, but at this moment he and the whole royal family are busy defending the realm and some of the Shadow Worlds against the forces of Chaos, who are currently attacking with unprecedented strength and tenacity. It seems, the curse Corwin put on the realm when condemned by Eric, has come to real life with a vengeance and it doesn't seem he can do much about it. The worlds are degenerating and rotting because of it, so Corwin's plan is to first, take over the throne, and only then figure out a way to fight the Chaos creatures.
"... "In a fit of passion, compounded of rage, horror, and pain, I had unleashed this thing, and it was reflected in every earth in existence. Such is the blood curse of a Prince of Amber.”..."
Corwin picks up an old frenemy on his way and they travel the Shadows together, trying to keep alive, being attracted to anything in skirts, playing folks for fools and being played themselves, hoping that the math would eventually work in his favor. There is plenty of traveling and running, and fighting, but overall, I enjoyed it exactly because of it. I love Corwin's internal monologue and I like that he is not perfect at all, for a creature who is gifted with youthful longevity and superhuman strength. I also prefer him ahead of any of his siblings, because the stay on the Shadow Earth - which is our world, has made him look on things a bit more humanely and the loss of his memory gives him a chance to rediscover and reform himself in a manner different than his family's mold. At least I am hoping for an upgrade like that:):):)
"... “We fought.'
'A duel?'
'Nothing that formal. A simultaneous decision to murder one another is more like it.”..."
What a wonderful example of a loving family we have in the Royals of Amber!!!
I love this series, but I do know it is not for everyone. Roger Zelazny marches by his own drums, so he is an acquired taste, which I am lucky enough to enjoy personally. I would recommend it to all fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy, give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea:) I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!
"... “Tonight I will suck the marrow from your bones!” it said. “I will dry them and work them most cunningly into instruments of music! Whenever I play upon them, your spirit will writhe in bodiless agony!”
“You burn prettily,” I said.”..."
Now I wish you Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
April 26, 2018
⚔ Zelazny Freaks Regulars buddy read with my fellow Freaks Regulars Evgeny, Choko, Eilonwy, Elena and Lee ⚔
Actual rating: 1.5 stars.
Disclaimer: my copy of this book has obviously been tampered with. Look at the average rating for this delightfully entertaining piece (4.15 stars) and look at my rating (1.5 stars, just to rehash a little bit). See what I mean? It seems crystal-clear to me that the Evil Russians™ have most viciously hacked into my bookshelves once again. It's the only possible way to explain this slight difference in assessment. Well it's either that or everyone but me read the book wrong. Which do you think is the most likely explanation? Evil Russian Shenanigans (ERS™), huh? Funny, I thought you'd say that.
I don't intend to write a pit-stop requiring non-review for this one , so let the crap be cut!
① This book is boring as fish.
That straightforward enough for you? No need to expand/analyze/whatever? Good, I'll do it anyway. Let's see, how could I put it nicely? Oops,sorry, don't think I can. So here goes and stuff: this story is naught but the aimless, pointless and slightly futile tale of a guy running around in a moderately haphazard manner. It was all quite fascinating to read about. Especially the part where the guy (Corwin is his name, by the way) who's doing all the inconsequential dashing about starts dashing about inconsequentially. Yeah, that was definitely my favourite chapter in the book. But I did like the parts where Zelazny failed to exploit and completely wasted his Potentially Awesome World's Potential (PAWP™), too. Really cool that was! I mean, this could have easily been one of the most original worlds in Fantasy, and I'm so glad Zelazny didn't lose his precious time telling us more about it. That would have been a real shame indeed. And it was much more interesting to read about a whole lot of nothing instead, if you ask me. That really was brilliantly done, Mr Zelazny.
② Lovely Corwin is lovely:
Okay, I might have exaggerated a little bit (which is very uncharacteristic of me, I know) in the previous paragraph. To be fair, the book wasn't all insignificant and trivial and meaningless stuff. No it wasn't. Because Corwin has a Purpose, you see. He has an Ambition. Yes, he does indeed. He wants to be the king. Isn't that amazing? Why, you ask? Why what? Why is it amazing, or why does Corwin want to be the king? Oh, you're curious about Corwin. You know how it is, some guys want to overthrow the evil dude currently sitting on the throne because they have a calling and stuff. They want to rescue the poor plebe from years of oppression at the hands of the bad, bad, king, and protect the young and the innocent and the widows and the orphans and all that crap. Corwin? Oh, he is way above such petty concerns. The plebe can go fish itself and spontaneously combust for all he cares. Then why does the bloody shrimp does he want to be the king, you ask? Because he does, that's why. Because he can, that's why. And also, I believe, because:
As good a reason as any, if you ask me.
I love it when MCs have such purposeful missions in life. It really adds tons of depth to their characters, don't you think? Talking about depth, Corwin has truckloads of it. I mean, he is deeply unlikable. And deeply selfish. And deeply superficial. Oh, and he is deeply condescending, too. And deeply disrespectful of women. Which is the character trait I admire most in him, obviously. But more on that later. Because I like to keep the best for last and all that crap.
③ The Flat as a Herd of Ironing Boards Virus (FaaHoIBV™) is here to stay.
Flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book one was, flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book two remains. I didn't give a shrimp about anything. I didn't give a shrimp about anyone. Everything and everyone could have just died a horribly excruciating deadly death, for all I cared. Apart maybe from the tiger-sized Siamese cats. Cool kitties those (if a little homicidal). I think they'd make great play mates for my murderous children. They'd compare the efficiency of claws vs pincers in times of slaughter and stuff like that. Pretty sure they'd all have a blast together. But I slightly digress. So, were where we? Oh yes, I didn't give a stinking fish about this book, the plot, or the characters. The end.
④ The Misogynistic Bullshit Festival (MBF™).
Such fond memories of Promise of Blood this book brought. How delightful indeed. I mean, how can you love not a story where women are portrayed so wonderfully? And respected always? ⚠️ Spoiler alert: a woman can be a super hot and yummy and sexy piece of meat, even when she is slightly being burned to death. Yes, she can ⚠️ Beautiful. This is simply beautiful. You know what really sucks, though? There are very few female characters in this book, which means that very few of them stupid bitches and sluts are on display. Sigh. It really is a shame, given what faithful depiction Zelazny gives of them here. Heavenly. It is simply heavenly. Almost nearly as heavenly as Corwin's most deferential attitude towards women, actually. Ah, Lovely Corwin! The guy really is the embodiment of consideration and graciousness. It's not like he is a 300-year-old scumbag in a position of power who bonked his 17-year-old relation! Oh no, absolutely not. Besides, even if he was, I'm pretty sure he would have given into hisscumbag baser instincts only because the chick
"asked for it."
Such an irreproachable conduct on his part would have instantly absolved him of all Slightly Despicable Scumbag Like Behavior-Induced Sins (SDSLBIS™), of course. Also, if events such as the one described above were to hypothetically happen (they wouldn't, because Lovely Corwin is a total gentleman and stuff), how could he be blamed for it? I mean, this would all be quite beyond his control. Because he is such a stud that women just can't help falling at his feet. Yes, he is that hot. And yes, they are that sluttish.
➽ And the moral of this Some Covers are Insults to their Books but Some Books are Insults to their Covers Crappy Non Review (SCaIttBbSBaIttCCNR™) is: Zelazny dear, let's pretend this series never happened, shall we? You just keep feeding me stuff like Doorways in the Sand, and I promise never to unleash the crustaceans on you and stuff. Maybe.
✎ Book 1: Nine Princes of Amber ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
⚠️ Spoiler warning: I slightly didn't like this book. Slightly not at all.
No cunning ruse on my part this time I'm afraid, old shrimp. This was a complete, total, utter debacle indeed. And I decline all responsibility in it, obviously. I mean, is it my fault if the book magically ticked my main allergy boxes? Because, really, absolute dullness + all-powerful flatness + the author's Wonderfully Moderate Misogynistic Ways (WMMW™) =
➽ Full Oh Bloody Stinking Fish, Zelazny, What Have You Bloody Shrimping Done Now I'm On The Zelaznian Hit List And Stuff Crappy Non Review (OBSFZWHYBSDNIOTZHLASCNR™) to come.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars.
Disclaimer: my copy of this book has obviously been tampered with. Look at the average rating for this delightfully entertaining piece (4.15 stars) and look at my rating (1.5 stars, just to rehash a little bit). See what I mean? It seems crystal-clear to me that the Evil Russians™ have most viciously hacked into my bookshelves once again. It's the only possible way to explain this slight difference in assessment. Well it's either that or everyone but me read the book wrong. Which do you think is the most likely explanation? Evil Russian Shenanigans (ERS™), huh? Funny, I thought you'd say that.
I don't intend to write a pit-stop requiring non-review for this one , so let the crap be cut!
① This book is boring as fish.
That straightforward enough for you? No need to expand/analyze/whatever? Good, I'll do it anyway. Let's see, how could I put it nicely? Oops,
② Lovely Corwin is lovely:
Okay, I might have exaggerated a little bit (which is very uncharacteristic of me, I know) in the previous paragraph. To be fair, the book wasn't all insignificant and trivial and meaningless stuff. No it wasn't. Because Corwin has a Purpose, you see. He has an Ambition. Yes, he does indeed. He wants to be the king. Isn't that amazing? Why, you ask? Why what? Why is it amazing, or why does Corwin want to be the king? Oh, you're curious about Corwin. You know how it is, some guys want to overthrow the evil dude currently sitting on the throne because they have a calling and stuff. They want to rescue the poor plebe from years of oppression at the hands of the bad, bad, king, and protect the young and the innocent and the widows and the orphans and all that crap. Corwin? Oh, he is way above such petty concerns. The plebe can go fish itself and spontaneously combust for all he cares. Then why does the bloody shrimp does he want to be the king, you ask? Because he does, that's why. Because he can, that's why. And also, I believe, because:
As good a reason as any, if you ask me.
I love it when MCs have such purposeful missions in life. It really adds tons of depth to their characters, don't you think? Talking about depth, Corwin has truckloads of it. I mean, he is deeply unlikable. And deeply selfish. And deeply superficial. Oh, and he is deeply condescending, too. And deeply disrespectful of women. Which is the character trait I admire most in him, obviously. But more on that later. Because I like to keep the best for last and all that crap.
③ The Flat as a Herd of Ironing Boards Virus (FaaHoIBV™) is here to stay.
Flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book one was, flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book two remains. I didn't give a shrimp about anything. I didn't give a shrimp about anyone. Everything and everyone could have just died a horribly excruciating deadly death, for all I cared. Apart maybe from the tiger-sized Siamese cats. Cool kitties those (if a little homicidal). I think they'd make great play mates for my murderous children. They'd compare the efficiency of claws vs pincers in times of slaughter and stuff like that. Pretty sure they'd all have a blast together. But I slightly digress. So, were where we? Oh yes, I didn't give a stinking fish about this book, the plot, or the characters. The end.
④ The Misogynistic Bullshit Festival (MBF™).
Such fond memories of Promise of Blood this book brought. How delightful indeed. I mean, how can you love not a story where women are portrayed so wonderfully? And respected always? ⚠️ Spoiler alert: a woman can be a super hot and yummy and sexy piece of meat, even when she is slightly being burned to death. Yes, she can ⚠️ Beautiful. This is simply beautiful. You know what really sucks, though? There are very few female characters in this book, which means that very few of them stupid bitches and sluts are on display. Sigh. It really is a shame, given what faithful depiction Zelazny gives of them here. Heavenly. It is simply heavenly. Almost nearly as heavenly as Corwin's most deferential attitude towards women, actually. Ah, Lovely Corwin! The guy really is the embodiment of consideration and graciousness. It's not like he is a 300-year-old scumbag in a position of power who bonked his 17-year-old relation! Oh no, absolutely not. Besides, even if he was, I'm pretty sure he would have given into his
➽ And the moral of this Some Covers are Insults to their Books but Some Books are Insults to their Covers Crappy Non Review (SCaIttBbSBaIttCCNR™) is: Zelazny dear, let's pretend this series never happened, shall we? You just keep feeding me stuff like Doorways in the Sand, and I promise never to unleash the crustaceans on you and stuff. Maybe.
✎ Book 1: Nine Princes of Amber ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
⚠️ Spoiler warning: I slightly didn't like this book. Slightly not at all.
No cunning ruse on my part this time I'm afraid, old shrimp. This was a complete, total, utter debacle indeed. And I decline all responsibility in it, obviously. I mean, is it my fault if the book magically ticked my main allergy boxes? Because, really, absolute dullness + all-powerful flatness + the author's Wonderfully Moderate Misogynistic Ways (WMMW™) =
➽ Full Oh Bloody Stinking Fish, Zelazny, What Have You Bloody Shrimping Done Now I'm On The Zelaznian Hit List And Stuff Crappy Non Review (OBSFZWHYBSDNIOTZHLASCNR™) to come.
May 6, 2024
Watch my video review by clicking here.
I hated literally every single thing about this book. Might have been great when it came out, but it's certainly not in 2024.
I hated literally every single thing about this book. Might have been great when it came out, but it's certainly not in 2024.
May 13, 2016
Corwin escapes after four years of blindness and imprisonment at the hand of his brother Eric who usurped the throne in Amber. His search for vengeance and restoration takes him on a journey through the Shadows that at last brings him to his former homeworld of Avalon, and makes him cross paths with a former servant who hates him with a burning passion and a brother thought long lost.
The Guns of Avalon is in many aspects a massive improvement on Nine Princes in Amber. Zelazny apparently learnt how to write, and while the book retains some of the issues that plagued the first book, that certainly makes it far better.
However, harshly critical as it may be, I'm unable to give it a higher rating, simply because the series is just not on that level. The book as a whole was pretty enjoyable, but still not particularly remarkable or memorable. But there are mysteries enough hidden in Amber and its Shadows that I am determined to keep reading.
The Guns of Avalon is in many aspects a massive improvement on Nine Princes in Amber. Zelazny apparently learnt how to write, and while the book retains some of the issues that plagued the first book, that certainly makes it far better.
However, harshly critical as it may be, I'm unable to give it a higher rating, simply because the series is just not on that level. The book as a whole was pretty enjoyable, but still not particularly remarkable or memorable. But there are mysteries enough hidden in Amber and its Shadows that I am determined to keep reading.
April 15, 2021
This was the first volume of this series I read. The Amber series...one of fantasy's best. I stumbled on this not knowing it was a series. Then It was years before I found the first volume (Nine Princes in Amber. )Also, this book ends in a somewhat "cliffhangerish" way and it was years before I got the next volume...
Happily for you, the entire series is there waiting for you. Enjoy.
They are also available in audio now.
Happily for you, the entire series is there waiting for you. Enjoy.
They are also available in audio now.
November 10, 2023
Corwin of Amber has escaped the dungeon of his brother, Eric, who has usurped the throne. Along his travels, he meets fellow soldiers, one named Ganelon, and another a lost young knight named Lancelot. Corwin travels to the land of Avalon, where he meets his brother Benedict, one of the few siblings he actually likes and isn’t trying to actively kill him.
Thus begins Roger Zelazney’s 1972 novel “The Guns of Avalon”, the second book in his high fantasy series Chronicles of Amber.
Guns and ammo from our world (which is part of the Shadow realm) don’t work in Amber. Corwin, however, discovers an alternative magical resource to replace gunpowder which allows guns to work in Amber. This could change things dramatically for the forces fighting against King Eric.
A strange young woman named Dara comes across Corwin in the woods. She claims to be the great-great-grandchild of Benedict. If true, her very existence could be a threat to Benedict. Corwin and Benedict have brothers who have no scruples and could use that knowledge against Benedict…
More fun Tolkein-esque fantasy adventure abounds within these pages, and fans of the sword-and-sorcery genre will probably love this. I’m enjoying the series so far, but I’m only in the second book. I’ll be honest: I may grow bored with the same old stuff in later books, as there are 10 books in the series.
Thus begins Roger Zelazney’s 1972 novel “The Guns of Avalon”, the second book in his high fantasy series Chronicles of Amber.
Guns and ammo from our world (which is part of the Shadow realm) don’t work in Amber. Corwin, however, discovers an alternative magical resource to replace gunpowder which allows guns to work in Amber. This could change things dramatically for the forces fighting against King Eric.
A strange young woman named Dara comes across Corwin in the woods. She claims to be the great-great-grandchild of Benedict. If true, her very existence could be a threat to Benedict. Corwin and Benedict have brothers who have no scruples and could use that knowledge against Benedict…
More fun Tolkein-esque fantasy adventure abounds within these pages, and fans of the sword-and-sorcery genre will probably love this. I’m enjoying the series so far, but I’m only in the second book. I’ll be honest: I may grow bored with the same old stuff in later books, as there are 10 books in the series.
July 22, 2013
The universe is made of an infinite number of worlds, covering the entire spectrum of probability, but all such worlds are merely shadows of the only true world: Amber.
Princes of Amber are gods in the shadow worlds: they're immortal, strong, fast, clever and capable of creating everything they wish out of sheer will.
Corwin, the protagonist of the chronicles of Amber, is one of those Princes.
What unimaginable intelligence must such a being possess?
What bits of infinite wisdom might he gift to us mere mortals?
What sacred words might he utter to open a grand Epic like "The guns of Avalon"?
"Good-by, butterfly"
.
.
.
Really??????
He's a friggin' god, one who lived countless human lives in more worlds than mortal mind might count and THAT is the kind of stuff he comes up with?
That's atmosphere murder and it should be illegal.
I was SO hoping for this book to be better than Nine Princes in Amber, but right from the start it was made quite clear that I was wrong, Oh so wrong.
If anything it was worse, at least book 1 had a decent start.
The plot (a.k.a. The Random Plot of Random Randomness) involves Corwin running around doing completely pointless quests in the shadow worlds for no real reason... and the amount of totally random plot elements just thrown in for their own sake is simply staggering.
The entire plot develops from a (guess what?) random encounter Corwin makes on the road to nowhere in particular.
Want to know what's EVEN MORE random?
The wounded guy Corwin meets is Lancelot.
An infinite number of worlds, and our protagoninst just stumbles upon the Round Table replica.
MEH.
From then on it only gets worse: goatlike demons sprouting out of nowhere, demonic cats, a 2 pages long relationship with a ""camp follower"" and on and on and on...
The more I read of it, the more Zelazny's prose feels like an army of tiny inky talons raking at my eyes with every word.
He doesn't show, he doesn't tell: he just lists facts.
In a single page I counted a dozen sentences starting with "then".
Then I went there.
Then I did this.
Then I did that.
Then (insert random demonic being) came.
Then we fought.
Then he died.
Then I went away.
Dialogues would be even worse if not for one reason: they're faster to read.
Characters reactions are completely fucked up, and there isn't one that makes sense in the entire book.
To make the whole thing even more unbearable, everyone speaks 70s American slang.
I'm afraid this is the last I'll see of the Chronicles of Amber and I'm seriously regretting buying the omnibus.
Princes of Amber are gods in the shadow worlds: they're immortal, strong, fast, clever and capable of creating everything they wish out of sheer will.
Corwin, the protagonist of the chronicles of Amber, is one of those Princes.
What unimaginable intelligence must such a being possess?
What bits of infinite wisdom might he gift to us mere mortals?
What sacred words might he utter to open a grand Epic like "The guns of Avalon"?
"Good-by, butterfly"
.
.
.
Really??????
He's a friggin' god, one who lived countless human lives in more worlds than mortal mind might count and THAT is the kind of stuff he comes up with?
That's atmosphere murder and it should be illegal.
I was SO hoping for this book to be better than Nine Princes in Amber, but right from the start it was made quite clear that I was wrong, Oh so wrong.
If anything it was worse, at least book 1 had a decent start.
The plot (a.k.a. The Random Plot of Random Randomness) involves Corwin running around doing completely pointless quests in the shadow worlds for no real reason... and the amount of totally random plot elements just thrown in for their own sake is simply staggering.
The entire plot develops from a (guess what?) random encounter Corwin makes on the road to nowhere in particular.
Want to know what's EVEN MORE random?
The wounded guy Corwin meets is Lancelot.
An infinite number of worlds, and our protagoninst just stumbles upon the Round Table replica.
MEH.
From then on it only gets worse: goatlike demons sprouting out of nowhere, demonic cats, a 2 pages long relationship with a ""camp follower"" and on and on and on...
The more I read of it, the more Zelazny's prose feels like an army of tiny inky talons raking at my eyes with every word.
He doesn't show, he doesn't tell: he just lists facts.
In a single page I counted a dozen sentences starting with "then".
Then I went there.
Then I did this.
Then I did that.
Then (insert random demonic being) came.
Then we fought.
Then he died.
Then I went away.
Dialogues would be even worse if not for one reason: they're faster to read.
Characters reactions are completely fucked up, and there isn't one that makes sense in the entire book.
To make the whole thing even more unbearable, everyone speaks 70s American slang.
I'm afraid this is the last I'll see of the Chronicles of Amber and I'm seriously regretting buying the omnibus.
March 9, 2021
I loved the Chronicles of Amber when I was a kid, and the first half of Nine Princes in Amber is still one of my favourite books in the genre. Book 2 is fine, but doesn't hold up as well for me.
December 9, 2018
My rating 4.9
By me, even a better book than the first part. A sequel that just shows how good a series is. Soon I started reading the third book. Just a great book. A book to be read because if you are a fan of science fiction and fantasy genres, this is the very essence of the genre.
By me, even a better book than the first part. A sequel that just shows how good a series is. Soon I started reading the third book. Just a great book. A book to be read because if you are a fan of science fiction and fantasy genres, this is the very essence of the genre.
March 27, 2017
Picks up right where the first novel ended and is just as fast moving. You learn a lot more about Amber, and Corwin's family
April 12, 2019
Sheer Genius
Roger Zelazny simply speaks to every aspect of what I want in a story. He nails it, he just nails it. I'm gobsmacked.
This review is brief, because I do not have the words to honor what I've read.
I had to make a new shelf "sheer genius," just for this book.
Roger Zelazny simply speaks to every aspect of what I want in a story. He nails it, he just nails it. I'm gobsmacked.
This review is brief, because I do not have the words to honor what I've read.
I had to make a new shelf "sheer genius," just for this book.
October 25, 2023
When Corwin was imprisoned, he came up with a plan to wrest Amber from his brother Eric. Now, with old enemies and old friends in the wings, he may have his heart's desire if the forces of chaos don't take Amber first...
15 years later, this book is still pretty good. Corwin has an eye toward getting a load of guns to attack Amber with but first has to contend with an old enemy plus a brother he thought long dead and his great granddaughter. Or is she? This is more of a bridging volume than anything else. Sure, Corwin learns some things and there's bloodshed aplenty but it's mostly there to set the stage for the third book, Sign of the Unicorn.
As always, Zelazny writes like a poet with a chip on his shoulder. I wonder how much Corwin is a stand in for old Roger. Things have progressed quite a bit since the beginning of the first book and there are still three more to go in Corwin's story. I guess I'll keep wolfing them down in rapid succession. Four out of five stars.
15 years later, this book is still pretty good. Corwin has an eye toward getting a load of guns to attack Amber with but first has to contend with an old enemy plus a brother he thought long dead and his great granddaughter. Or is she? This is more of a bridging volume than anything else. Sure, Corwin learns some things and there's bloodshed aplenty but it's mostly there to set the stage for the third book, Sign of the Unicorn.
As always, Zelazny writes like a poet with a chip on his shoulder. I wonder how much Corwin is a stand in for old Roger. Things have progressed quite a bit since the beginning of the first book and there are still three more to go in Corwin's story. I guess I'll keep wolfing them down in rapid succession. Four out of five stars.
November 16, 2020
So I guess it should've been called... Eight Princes in Amber? :))
April 26, 2025
“In the mirrors of the many judgments, my hands are the color of blood. I sometimes fancy myself an evil which exists to oppose other evils; and on that great Day of which the prophets speak but in which they do not truly believe, on the day the world is utterly cleansed of evil, then I too will go down into darkness, swallowing curses. Until then, I will not wash my hands nor let them hang useless.”
Picking up more or less right at the end of the first book, the guns of Avalon follows Corwin prince of Amber. Corwin who was blinded and left to rot in the dungeon by his brother Eric who is now King of Amber.
Corwin, his sight restored, his body and mind gaining strength, has an ambitious plan to overthrow his brother and rule in his place.
Zelazny once again packs an epic fantasy tale that would be a trilogy of 800 page books if written today into just over 200 pages.
The quick pace is great but left me scratching my head a few times, wondering why certain situations came about because they could have been avoided by simply asking a question, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
We get to meet more of Corwin’s siblings and witness their Machiavellian dealings with each other, which was a great aspect of the story.
Even better is the introduction of the dark circle.
A growing army of demons spew from this place, threatening Amber itself.
Is Corwin’s single minded desire to rule Amber so strong that he’ll let it be destroyed if he can’t have it?
May 8, 2017
"Now I had to find a place, a place resembling another place -- one which no longer existed. I located the path. I took it."
- Roger Zelazny, The Guns of Avalon
A missing father, siblings that aren't very filial, a dark road, dark circles, a contested thrown, faceless figures, flying daemons, etc. This book has a lot of action and a pretty clear arc. The protagonist has been cast low and is now fighting to regain what he lost (besides just weight) AND gain what he feels is his right (and not just the crown).
The positives of this book is the ambiguity of the characters. Even the focal point of the book (Prince Corwin) is an ambiguous character. At times, the reader feels he isn't much better than half of his siblings. He has also made situations a lot worse for EVERYBODY because of his own sufferings. Think of it as the inverse of Jesus. Instead of suffering for the sins of the world, Corwin, through his sufferings - subjects the worlds to a multitude of evil and sins. And now, he has to deal with the mess he made.
Again, like the first in this series, this isn't GREAT literature but it is entertaining enough and does have a compelling narrative drive to it. They are little trashy treats. 120 page pulp bites. It is nice to throw a couple of these in-between longer, more dense and serious reads. They are entertaining.
- Roger Zelazny, The Guns of Avalon
A missing father, siblings that aren't very filial, a dark road, dark circles, a contested thrown, faceless figures, flying daemons, etc. This book has a lot of action and a pretty clear arc. The protagonist has been cast low and is now fighting to regain what he lost (besides just weight) AND gain what he feels is his right (and not just the crown).
The positives of this book is the ambiguity of the characters. Even the focal point of the book (Prince Corwin) is an ambiguous character. At times, the reader feels he isn't much better than half of his siblings. He has also made situations a lot worse for EVERYBODY because of his own sufferings. Think of it as the inverse of Jesus. Instead of suffering for the sins of the world, Corwin, through his sufferings - subjects the worlds to a multitude of evil and sins. And now, he has to deal with the mess he made.
Again, like the first in this series, this isn't GREAT literature but it is entertaining enough and does have a compelling narrative drive to it. They are little trashy treats. 120 page pulp bites. It is nice to throw a couple of these in-between longer, more dense and serious reads. They are entertaining.
August 13, 2010
4.0 to 4.5 stars. Another excellent installment in the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny. The world building continues to impress and the magic system and internal workings of Amber continue to be fleshed out and made real. While not quite as good as my two favorite Zelazny works, Lord of Light and This Immortal, these books are well written and a ton of fun. Highly Recommended!!
October 14, 2017
Dropping it halfway through - not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the first book of the series, Nine Princes in Amber, in a lukewarm sort of way, and decided to try this in case the story picked up speed. Around page 100 or So, I decided I couldn't care less.
Still, it's not badly written - hence the two stars.
Still, it's not badly written - hence the two stars.
June 16, 2018
Zelazny was one of my go-to writers back in the day. And with the Amber series you were almost always ensured of an entertaining read, with the right dash of complexity so that along with the amusement and intrigue, it also gave the old noggin just enough to chew on.
In this sequel of world hopping fantasy, Prince Corwin prepares to take his rightful throne. But Chaos is also gathering its dark forces... Any reader of fantasy is in for an escapist treat of the highest magnitude.
I'm biased here, it may have dated, but my love of reading it a few decades ago has stayed with me. It's still a ripper read, at least that's what I think.
In this sequel of world hopping fantasy, Prince Corwin prepares to take his rightful throne. But Chaos is also gathering its dark forces... Any reader of fantasy is in for an escapist treat of the highest magnitude.
I'm biased here, it may have dated, but my love of reading it a few decades ago has stayed with me. It's still a ripper read, at least that's what I think.
February 20, 2019
When push comes to shove all princes put Amber first, and it’s hard not to like them for it!
The pacing of The Guns of Avalon is a bit uneven. Shadows shifting is a neat concept, but I literally fell asleep while Corwin was traveling to the diamond dunes. The beginning and the last few chapters more than made up for the slow spots in the middle though. Corwin is by no means a model of strong moral fiber, and some of his decisions might be questionable, but I can’t believe how he got totally duped here! As if the curse was not enough… It should be interesting to see how and if he manages to undo all the damage.
The pacing of The Guns of Avalon is a bit uneven. Shadows shifting is a neat concept, but I literally fell asleep while Corwin was traveling to the diamond dunes. The beginning and the last few chapters more than made up for the slow spots in the middle though. Corwin is by no means a model of strong moral fiber, and some of his decisions might be questionable, but I can’t believe how he got totally duped here! As if the curse was not enough… It should be interesting to see how and if he manages to undo all the damage.
March 5, 2023
Još jednom sam se upustio u ovu priču i za tu moju ljubav prema Amberu mnogi znaju, ali koju nikad neće razumjeti.
September 19, 2012
Originally posted at FanLit.
Warning, from me: If you haven’t read Nine Princes in Amber yet, don’t read this review.
Another warning, from Corwin: “Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”
Corwin has escaped from his brother’s prison and he’s ready for revenge. He doesn’t have the manpower that Eric has, so he needs a technological advantage. Traditional firearms don’t work in Amber, but Corwin once noticed that a jewelers’ rouge from the shadow world of Avalon, where he used to rule, is combustible in Amber. So here’s his plan: get some money (pretty easy to do when you can create your own worlds), purchase a huge amount of jeweler’s rouge, and commission some custom-made firearms that use the rouge to shoot silver bullets (he’s not sure other metals will work). Oh, and raise an army. No problem!
The problem is that Eric may no longer be the biggest threat in Amber. Because of Corwin’s curse, Amber is being assailed by the forces of Chaos. The evil is also manifest in the shadow worlds that Corwin is trying to exploit and he must frequently stop and deal with the nasty creatures it serves up. Along the way Corwin meets old friends and enemies, makes new friends and enemies, and does at least one more impetuous thing that will come back to bite him later.
In The Guns of Avalon (1972), Corwin, who had gained our sympathies in Nine Princes in Amber because of how he was treated by Eric, becomes something of an anti-hero. Because of his rash actions, beautiful Amber has been invaded by horror. Corwin realizes that he has caused much destruction, he knows he has wrought evil, and he tells himself that he hopes to destroy more evil than he creates. The reader begins to wonder, however, if Corwin is blinded by hate for his brother. Is Corwin’s claim to the throne legitimate enough to justify all the death and terror that he’s caused? We’re certainly not convinced that Corwin would be a better King than Eric is. Corwin is a rather ambiguous hero.
Still, it’s hard not to root for Amber, if not for Corwin himself. Roger Zelazny has created a magical world that we’re eager to explore, preferably in a time of peace. We haven’t had much chance to do so yet since we’ve only seen it from Corwin’s perspective, and that means that for most of the time we’ve been in Amber, we’ve been in the dungeon. At the end The Guns of Avalon Zelazny leaves us with many questions unanswered and two major twists. You’ll want to have the next book, Sign of the Unicorn, ready to go.
I’m listening to Alessandro Juliani narrate Audible Frontiers’ version of The Guns of Avalon. He’s doing a great job, though I did not like the Southern drawl that he chose for two of the major characters (they call it “Ambuh”). It didn’t seem appropriate. With so many characters, I think he feels that he must give each a distinctive voice, so to do that he’s using unlikely accents or vocal properties (e.g., hoarseness or high pitch) to make them unique. I think that’s a mistake, but other than that, his reading is very good.
Warning, from me: If you haven’t read Nine Princes in Amber yet, don’t read this review.
Another warning, from Corwin: “Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”
Corwin has escaped from his brother’s prison and he’s ready for revenge. He doesn’t have the manpower that Eric has, so he needs a technological advantage. Traditional firearms don’t work in Amber, but Corwin once noticed that a jewelers’ rouge from the shadow world of Avalon, where he used to rule, is combustible in Amber. So here’s his plan: get some money (pretty easy to do when you can create your own worlds), purchase a huge amount of jeweler’s rouge, and commission some custom-made firearms that use the rouge to shoot silver bullets (he’s not sure other metals will work). Oh, and raise an army. No problem!
The problem is that Eric may no longer be the biggest threat in Amber. Because of Corwin’s curse, Amber is being assailed by the forces of Chaos. The evil is also manifest in the shadow worlds that Corwin is trying to exploit and he must frequently stop and deal with the nasty creatures it serves up. Along the way Corwin meets old friends and enemies, makes new friends and enemies, and does at least one more impetuous thing that will come back to bite him later.
In The Guns of Avalon (1972), Corwin, who had gained our sympathies in Nine Princes in Amber because of how he was treated by Eric, becomes something of an anti-hero. Because of his rash actions, beautiful Amber has been invaded by horror. Corwin realizes that he has caused much destruction, he knows he has wrought evil, and he tells himself that he hopes to destroy more evil than he creates. The reader begins to wonder, however, if Corwin is blinded by hate for his brother. Is Corwin’s claim to the throne legitimate enough to justify all the death and terror that he’s caused? We’re certainly not convinced that Corwin would be a better King than Eric is. Corwin is a rather ambiguous hero.
Still, it’s hard not to root for Amber, if not for Corwin himself. Roger Zelazny has created a magical world that we’re eager to explore, preferably in a time of peace. We haven’t had much chance to do so yet since we’ve only seen it from Corwin’s perspective, and that means that for most of the time we’ve been in Amber, we’ve been in the dungeon. At the end The Guns of Avalon Zelazny leaves us with many questions unanswered and two major twists. You’ll want to have the next book, Sign of the Unicorn, ready to go.
I’m listening to Alessandro Juliani narrate Audible Frontiers’ version of The Guns of Avalon. He’s doing a great job, though I did not like the Southern drawl that he chose for two of the major characters (they call it “Ambuh”). It didn’t seem appropriate. With so many characters, I think he feels that he must give each a distinctive voice, so to do that he’s using unlikely accents or vocal properties (e.g., hoarseness or high pitch) to make them unique. I think that’s a mistake, but other than that, his reading is very good.
October 9, 2017
Back in the days before Mr. Fogerty inspired Mr. Jordan to expand on his observation that the big wheel keeps on turning, and before Mr. Martin went into the field of meteorology, Roger Zelazny produced this series of five terrific books and thereby offered the fantasy fiction field an alternative to Conan pastiches and Hobbit homages. Amber is the true, real, center of the universe, see, and it's a magical kingdom where the king has gone missing and the nine princes and a handful of princesses are playing the game of thrones, and... well, you should it. His writing is descriptive and detailed throughout, the characters are full-blown people the reader understands and knows instantly, and the plot is immensely detailed and carefully paced and presented for the whole five book run, yet they're short books by modern standards... he packs way more into a hundred pages than most current fantasists do in a thousand. How did he do it? It was magic, obviously.
There was a second series of five books with the same setting and some overlapping characters that didn't have quite the same feel, and after his death someone else produced some books that shouldn't have been permitted that I would recommend avoiding, but those first five Amber books are real classics. Some of the slang expressions haven't aged well, particularly in the earlier volumes, and it's a little jarring to read that the main characters all seem to be chain-smokers, but otherwise I think they've held up better than any of their contemporaries.
There was a second series of five books with the same setting and some overlapping characters that didn't have quite the same feel, and after his death someone else produced some books that shouldn't have been permitted that I would recommend avoiding, but those first five Amber books are real classics. Some of the slang expressions haven't aged well, particularly in the earlier volumes, and it's a little jarring to read that the main characters all seem to be chain-smokers, but otherwise I think they've held up better than any of their contemporaries.
October 16, 2019
Is reality a shadow?
Every time I seriously ponder this, I can feel everything... fade away a little. Vision blurs, voices echo from afar, bodily aches no longer matter so much, and such. All I sense and perceive is but an illusion fed to me by nerves and neurons - themselves illusions, formed by an evolutionary mass of wet bacon in my head.
So what is real? What is me? If I continue thinking this way and manage to shed everything, what awaits me out there? Is it unconsciousness, or death, or total nonexistence? Or would I find from there whatever casts the shadow that is reality - something like Amber?
No way of telling, I suppose. But all this existential stuff aside, the book is quite good. For some reason our own world is the only shadow that has come up with advanced firearms, so now Corwyn gets some of those for his war. Things get pretty heated. It's good.
Every time I seriously ponder this, I can feel everything... fade away a little. Vision blurs, voices echo from afar, bodily aches no longer matter so much, and such. All I sense and perceive is but an illusion fed to me by nerves and neurons - themselves illusions, formed by an evolutionary mass of wet bacon in my head.
So what is real? What is me? If I continue thinking this way and manage to shed everything, what awaits me out there? Is it unconsciousness, or death, or total nonexistence? Or would I find from there whatever casts the shadow that is reality - something like Amber?
No way of telling, I suppose. But all this existential stuff aside, the book is quite good. For some reason our own world is the only shadow that has come up with advanced firearms, so now Corwyn gets some of those for his war. Things get pretty heated. It's good.
September 4, 2022
In this the second book of the Amber chronicles, Corwin prince of Amber (and my unrequited love since I was twelve or so) has escaped the horrific imprisonment inflicted upon him by his brother Eric, usurper of the crown of Amber (you can't say I am not partisan here) and escapes into shadow to recuperate and gather an army with which to relieve Eric of his ill gotten crown.
As a kid, when I first read this book I did not love it as much as the first of the series - I still adored it, mind, just not as much. As an adult, I find a lot more of complexity in it and I enjoyed it more than I remembered. In this book Zelazny continues to bleed together mythic and modern themes in an unforgettable way. The princes of Amber and Amber itself are pure mythology. The yearning Amber induces in it's children is the essence of the core element of the plot; Corwin's quest to rule Amber, the competitiveness of all of Oberon's children for it and so on. I think the story borrows beautifully of elements of literature across many cultures and many lands and while it does not stand unique in this style of writing anymore it was ahead of it's time when it was written.
Another thing that resonated with me from the first time I read it is the way in which the characters blend modern language and a formal English that cements the people you read about as both epic characters and real, relatable ones. I also am entirely on board with the amount of wine they consume, epic indeed.
I also think that in this novel that Zelazny's ongoing theme of traveling through time and space - a notion that occurs in a lot of his stories - is used to incredibly subtle effect when Corwin is searching for a land he used to know. He has several reasons for this journey, most of them aimed at invading Amber, but along the way he meets shadows of people he used to know, and the black road first appears, which Corwin believes is a consequence of his curse upon Eric. All in all, the plot goes from being the sharp, direct, unilateral plot in the first book to a very complex, complicated and nuanced journey.
It is not really a spoiler to say that at the end Corwin is in possession of Amber, but not in the way he thought and by no means is that the end of the story!
As a kid, when I first read this book I did not love it as much as the first of the series - I still adored it, mind, just not as much. As an adult, I find a lot more of complexity in it and I enjoyed it more than I remembered. In this book Zelazny continues to bleed together mythic and modern themes in an unforgettable way. The princes of Amber and Amber itself are pure mythology. The yearning Amber induces in it's children is the essence of the core element of the plot; Corwin's quest to rule Amber, the competitiveness of all of Oberon's children for it and so on. I think the story borrows beautifully of elements of literature across many cultures and many lands and while it does not stand unique in this style of writing anymore it was ahead of it's time when it was written.
Another thing that resonated with me from the first time I read it is the way in which the characters blend modern language and a formal English that cements the people you read about as both epic characters and real, relatable ones. I also am entirely on board with the amount of wine they consume, epic indeed.
I also think that in this novel that Zelazny's ongoing theme of traveling through time and space - a notion that occurs in a lot of his stories - is used to incredibly subtle effect when Corwin is searching for a land he used to know. He has several reasons for this journey, most of them aimed at invading Amber, but along the way he meets shadows of people he used to know, and the black road first appears, which Corwin believes is a consequence of his curse upon Eric. All in all, the plot goes from being the sharp, direct, unilateral plot in the first book to a very complex, complicated and nuanced journey.
It is not really a spoiler to say that at the end Corwin is in possession of Amber, but not in the way he thought and by no means is that the end of the story!
January 15, 2012
Even better and more excitng than "The Nine Princes in Amber." Corwin continues his adventures through time and space and gets involved in a complicated political struggle for Amber. Plus Zelazny details more of the back story involving the Courts of Chaos and make up of various realms of the series. Outstandng science fiction fantasy written in concise and beautiful language. Zelazny is an amazing writer.
May 8, 2021
There aren't many books that can evoke a sense of wonder as much as Zelazny's Amber novels.
December 13, 2017
Secondo volume delle Cronache di Ambra, riprende da dove era terminato il primo libro, mostrandoci Corwin che scende dalla barca usata per fuggire da Ambra.
Alla ricerca delle sue armi per sconfiggere Eric e conquistare il trono...
Questa ricerca lo condurrà attraverso le ombre, alla ricerca di una versione della sua vecchia Avalon (a sua volta un'ombra di Ambra, come tutto del resto), e lungo il tragitto troverà un vecchio amico\nemico (come tutti, del resto, in questo universo), Ganelon.
Con lui combatterà le creature infernali arrivate a causa della sua maledizione, e con lui proseguirà il cammino verso la loro vecchia città, Avalon.
Trovandola in mano a Benedict, il fortissimo maestro d'armi di Ambra, neutrale, l'unico che abbia a cuore veramente la città.
E trovando le sue armi, con le quali armare un nuovo esercito per spodestare il fratello.
Splendida, come già nel primo libro, l'immaginazione dietro a questo libro, la vastità degli orizzonti che si aprono.
Molto bello anche il fatto che, alla fine dei conti, il protagonista Corwin è un personaggio abbastanza negativo, non è l'eroe buono e che ha subito il torto. E' marcio come tutti i suoi fratelli (a eccezione forse di Benedict), ma ha il vantaggio di essere il protagonsita (a differenza di loro) e di rendersene conto, probabilmente a causa del tempo passato nella Terra d'ombra.
Però alcune cose sono francamente noiose (la descrizione del suo lungo viaggio attraverso l'ombra non sembrava avere fine né senso) e a una prima parte tutto sommato abbastanza calma e descrittiva segue un finale troppo accelerato, quasi "tirato via", nel ricongiungimento e nello scontro finale.
Anche le scene di guerra sono praticamente accennate.
Resta comunque una serie molto molto interessante.
Alla ricerca delle sue armi per sconfiggere Eric e conquistare il trono...
Questa ricerca lo condurrà attraverso le ombre, alla ricerca di una versione della sua vecchia Avalon (a sua volta un'ombra di Ambra, come tutto del resto), e lungo il tragitto troverà un vecchio amico\nemico (come tutti, del resto, in questo universo), Ganelon.
Con lui combatterà le creature infernali arrivate a causa della sua maledizione, e con lui proseguirà il cammino verso la loro vecchia città, Avalon.
Trovandola in mano a Benedict, il fortissimo maestro d'armi di Ambra, neutrale, l'unico che abbia a cuore veramente la città.
E trovando le sue armi, con le quali armare un nuovo esercito per spodestare il fratello.
Splendida, come già nel primo libro, l'immaginazione dietro a questo libro, la vastità degli orizzonti che si aprono.
Molto bello anche il fatto che, alla fine dei conti, il protagonista Corwin è un personaggio abbastanza negativo, non è l'eroe buono e che ha subito il torto. E' marcio come tutti i suoi fratelli (a eccezione forse di Benedict), ma ha il vantaggio di essere il protagonsita (a differenza di loro) e di rendersene conto, probabilmente a causa del tempo passato nella Terra d'ombra.
Però alcune cose sono francamente noiose (la descrizione del suo lungo viaggio attraverso l'ombra non sembrava avere fine né senso) e a una prima parte tutto sommato abbastanza calma e descrittiva segue un finale troppo accelerato, quasi "tirato via", nel ricongiungimento e nello scontro finale.
Anche le scene di guerra sono praticamente accennate.
Resta comunque una serie molto molto interessante.
May 1, 2018
The second book in the series is pretty much like turning a page in the first book. It is literally like the next day. I seem to be reading small books at the moment.
The writing continues to show its age, the female characters in this story are pasted in and literally have no impact. I think that Random's wife has huge potential, but she still has not made an appearance. This is all about the princes and their warring, whisky drinking exploits.
But even with its flaws, even with the fact thata few most of my group read buddies have given up on it, I find that I do want to see how the story pans out. So given that I have the omnibus and they are only 150 max pages per book, I will be carrying on with the story.
I know this review doesn't exactly tell you much about the book, but, ah well. Give it a go.
The writing continues to show its age, the female characters in this story are pasted in and literally have no impact. I think that Random's wife has huge potential, but she still has not made an appearance. This is all about the princes and their warring, whisky drinking exploits.
But even with its flaws, even with the fact that
I know this review doesn't exactly tell you much about the book, but, ah well. Give it a go.
January 7, 2009
While still compelling, it is a little bit of a let down from the first book. The noir element is lost entirely, sci-fi is minimal and this become merely a fun fantasy story. That's fine, I guess. The writing is actually still quite good, but I felt some of what made the first book special is now stripped away. That doesn't stop me from wanting to know what happens. This series may feature the most screwed up families in literature. Still good pulpy stuff.
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