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The Dawn of Amber #1
Roger Zelazny's The Dawn of Amber
In Roger Zelazny's Amber universe, there is only one true world, of which all others are but Shadows. In the ten-book saga that he created, it is learned that Amber was not the first true world; rather, it was The Courts of Chaos. The saga chronicled the adventures of the royal family of Amber, culminating with a worlds-shaking battle between champions from Amber and from Chaos. Zelazny did not have the chance to create the origin of Amber and its royal family, or reveal other key information that is only alluded to, before he died. The Dawn of Amber trilogy will expand the "Amber" universe and answer the important questions left open, including how Amber was created, by whom, and why. The events in the trilogy will precede those in the existing novels, but follow some of the same, immortal characters. Finally, fans of the series will discover why it was necessary to create Amber, how Chaos and Amber came to be at war, and the true nature of the universal, sentient forces that Amber and Chaos represent.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2002
73 people are currently reading
2999 people want to read
About the author
John Gregory Betancourt
397 books68 followersJohn Gregory Betancourt is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and mystery novels as well as short stories. He has worked as an assistant editor at Amazing Stories and editor of Horror: The Newsmagazine of the Horror Field, the revived Weird Tales magazine, the first issue of H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror (which he subsequently hired Marvin Kaye to edit), Cat Tales magazine (which he subsequently hired George H. Scithers to edit), and Adventure Tales magazine. He worked as a Senior Editor for Byron Preiss Visual Publications (1989-1996) and iBooks. He is the writer of four Star Trek novels and the new Chronicles of Amber prequel series, as well as a dozen original novels. His essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in such diverse publications as Writer's Digest and The Washington Post.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 21, 2013
Roger Zelazny said to both George Martin and Robert Silverberg, contemporaries of his, that he did not want anyone but himself doing stories about Amber. Period. Unfortunately, Zelazny had left control of his estate to a family member to whom he had grown estranged to. To make a long story short, these novels should not exist, and should be treated as unauthorized fan fiction. They do not have the superior writing and imagination that marked Zelazny as a terrific writer. Read his short stories if you need more, or any works by Silverberg.
April 22, 2010
First off, I think that if you enjoy Betancourt's Amber novels then more power to you. We all like what we like and matters of taste are by definition subjective. So I perfectly respect your right to like these books and think nothing less of anyone for doing so, even though I may vehemently disagree. So please take no offense at what follows (unless you happen to be John Betancourt, in which case you can go right ahead).
Secondly, and in the interest of full disclosure, I generally find the practice of someone stepping in and writing another authors works after they have passed away to be despicable, money grubbing and dessicating. My view is also undoubtedly colored by the fact that I know that Zelazny had no desire to see anyone besides himself write Amber novels. He was quite adamant about it and under such circumstances I find the practice doubly disgusting.
Thirdly, Zelazny is one of my favorite authors of all time. There are perhaps a handful of authors whom I rank as highly as he so it is unlikely they could have gotten anybody to write these that I would have felt measured up (although apparently both Gaiman and Brust, both authors I like quite a bit, have said they would have been interested but wouldn't out of respect for Roger's wishes). So perhaps I am too biased to offer any valid critique.
With those things in mind, I did take a look at the first book in Betancourt's series, mainly out of morbid curiosity. I had read one of Betancourt's earlier novels and was thoroughly unimpressed so I wasn't expecting much. What I found, however, left me feeling that they could have probably gotten someone more qualified to pick up writing Zelazny's Amber Chronicles using nothing more than a phone book and a blindfold. I can only assume that Betancourt submitted the lowest bid. My problem isn't so much the ideas/themes he wanted to explore or even that he got it as "wrong" as many others seem to think he did. I do have problems with those issues but my main problem was simply that the guy doesn't appear to be able to write with any degree of artfulness. I think that Zelazny could probably sketch out a more interesting character on the back of a cocktail napkin than Betancourt could flesh out over the course of an entire series and his prose dances circles around this plodding utilitarian.
As to the ideas and themes, I will only say that I thought it was bad enough what Zelazny did to his own Amber universe in the Merlin Chronicles that no one needed to leave the door open for someone like Betancourt to come in and further desecrate the corpse.
Secondly, and in the interest of full disclosure, I generally find the practice of someone stepping in and writing another authors works after they have passed away to be despicable, money grubbing and dessicating. My view is also undoubtedly colored by the fact that I know that Zelazny had no desire to see anyone besides himself write Amber novels. He was quite adamant about it and under such circumstances I find the practice doubly disgusting.
Thirdly, Zelazny is one of my favorite authors of all time. There are perhaps a handful of authors whom I rank as highly as he so it is unlikely they could have gotten anybody to write these that I would have felt measured up (although apparently both Gaiman and Brust, both authors I like quite a bit, have said they would have been interested but wouldn't out of respect for Roger's wishes). So perhaps I am too biased to offer any valid critique.
With those things in mind, I did take a look at the first book in Betancourt's series, mainly out of morbid curiosity. I had read one of Betancourt's earlier novels and was thoroughly unimpressed so I wasn't expecting much. What I found, however, left me feeling that they could have probably gotten someone more qualified to pick up writing Zelazny's Amber Chronicles using nothing more than a phone book and a blindfold. I can only assume that Betancourt submitted the lowest bid. My problem isn't so much the ideas/themes he wanted to explore or even that he got it as "wrong" as many others seem to think he did. I do have problems with those issues but my main problem was simply that the guy doesn't appear to be able to write with any degree of artfulness. I think that Zelazny could probably sketch out a more interesting character on the back of a cocktail napkin than Betancourt could flesh out over the course of an entire series and his prose dances circles around this plodding utilitarian.
As to the ideas and themes, I will only say that I thought it was bad enough what Zelazny did to his own Amber universe in the Merlin Chronicles that no one needed to leave the door open for someone like Betancourt to come in and further desecrate the corpse.
September 16, 2009
I discovered Zelazny's Amber series in my teens and devoured it. The cosmology was interesting, the characters were well-drawn (although sometimes a little lacking in depth), and the plot was engaging. I enjoyed the later Merlin novels, although perhaps not quite as much as the original Corwin series.
I was interested in seeing what Betancourt had done with the franchise after Zelazny's death. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. The characters don't have much depth; where Zelazny may have done that with the supporting cast Betancourt does it with the main characters. I found the prose repetitive, particularly in its descriptions of the Courts of Chaos. The first three books sped along, carried on a reasonable but unremarkable plot that draws to a close in the third novel. The fact they're such quick reads and a sense of nostalgia are the main reasons why I finished the first three novel.
I picked up the fourth book hoping it would improve, that Betancourt would find some balance between nostalgia and orginal work and perhaps find his own voice in the series. To my great disappointment, it got much, much worse. The same characters are even more two-dimensional. One wonders how the main character actually manages to survive to the Corwin series based on his apparent lack of forethought in anything he does. But fear not, for every time a problem arises an unlikely solution surfaces no more than a few pages later to resolve the issue. We get carried through a few locations from the original series that Betancourt hadn't yet visited, and the result is totally unsatisfying. The whisper-thin characters and lack of plot (compelling or otherwise) reduce it to nothing more than window-dressing on earlier The Visual Guide to Castle Amber.
Fans of the original series may enjoy the first three novels for nostalgia. If that's the case feel free to indulge, but I recommend stopping there.
I was interested in seeing what Betancourt had done with the franchise after Zelazny's death. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. The characters don't have much depth; where Zelazny may have done that with the supporting cast Betancourt does it with the main characters. I found the prose repetitive, particularly in its descriptions of the Courts of Chaos. The first three books sped along, carried on a reasonable but unremarkable plot that draws to a close in the third novel. The fact they're such quick reads and a sense of nostalgia are the main reasons why I finished the first three novel.
I picked up the fourth book hoping it would improve, that Betancourt would find some balance between nostalgia and orginal work and perhaps find his own voice in the series. To my great disappointment, it got much, much worse. The same characters are even more two-dimensional. One wonders how the main character actually manages to survive to the Corwin series based on his apparent lack of forethought in anything he does. But fear not, for every time a problem arises an unlikely solution surfaces no more than a few pages later to resolve the issue. We get carried through a few locations from the original series that Betancourt hadn't yet visited, and the result is totally unsatisfying. The whisper-thin characters and lack of plot (compelling or otherwise) reduce it to nothing more than window-dressing on earlier The Visual Guide to Castle Amber.
Fans of the original series may enjoy the first three novels for nostalgia. If that's the case feel free to indulge, but I recommend stopping there.
December 28, 2008
Authorized prequel to Roger Zelazny's Amber double-quintet. Like a mediocre fanfiction writer, Betancourt opts for regurgitation and repetition rather than innovation, with painful results. I got through a fourth of this, found its plot precisely matches the trajectory of Zelazny's first Amber
book only with different names, and dropped it in disgust. Note for future reference: imitation is cheap, and good derivative fiction requires some actual derivation.
book only with different names, and dropped it in disgust. Note for future reference: imitation is cheap, and good derivative fiction requires some actual derivation.
September 20, 2012
Roger Zelazny's Amber series (all ten books) are some of my favorite books of all time. When Roger died in 1995, I was saddened, but didn't fret that there would be no more Amber novels, as I wasn't expecting any. Zelazny stated that he didn't want anyone else continuing the series, and some of his closer writer friends who would've done an excellent job of continuing the series (I'm thinking of Steve Brust and Neil Gaiman) publicly acknowledged and complied with that. I was pretty annoyed when I saw that Betancourt -- whom I'd heard of but never read anything by -- was producing a new Amber book and series. I vowed not to support it by purchasing a copy. I bring all this up in preface to explaining my reading of the book. Earlier this year, I came upon a hardcover copy for a dollar at a library sale, so picked it up.
Given all that, I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Betancourt's style mimics Zelazny's very closely. I think choosing to make the novel a prequel, dealing with the father of the original five books' protagonist (the second five deal with his son), was a good move. Coming into the book, we know a lot more than Oberon, and it's kind of fun to see him discover things like the Trumps, Shadow, and a large, previously unknown family engaged in both war and some intrafamilial squabbling. I was a bit skeptical of how quickly Oberon seemed to accept everything about his new life, after having lived his entire existence up to this point, thinking the world was one way, only to have that completely ripped out from under him. The book introduces an entirely new family of Amberites (although by the end of this novel, Amber doesn't yet exist, questioning the whole "dawn" premise) to engage in in-fighting. I certainly don't remember any of Oberon's siblings being mentioned in Zelazny's novels. In fact, much of Oberon's journey in this novel reminds one of Corwin's coming to terms with himself and his past in Nine Princes in Amber, obviously a stylistic choice on Betancourt's part, although Corwin suffers merely from amnesia, not from being kept in the dark his whole life. The novel ends with a cliffhanger, and I know some readers (Hi, Stix!) hate that, but it made me, for one, anxious to read the next installment in the series.
So, overall, four stars. A really enjoyable, pleasant read, which brought me back to the world of Amber. I've re-read Zelazny's series several times, and probably will again, but I found Betancourt's book a worthy addition to the canon. I will try to find a (cheap, used) copy of the next book.
Given all that, I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Betancourt's style mimics Zelazny's very closely. I think choosing to make the novel a prequel, dealing with the father of the original five books' protagonist (the second five deal with his son), was a good move. Coming into the book, we know a lot more than Oberon, and it's kind of fun to see him discover things like the Trumps, Shadow, and a large, previously unknown family engaged in both war and some intrafamilial squabbling. I was a bit skeptical of how quickly Oberon seemed to accept everything about his new life, after having lived his entire existence up to this point, thinking the world was one way, only to have that completely ripped out from under him. The book introduces an entirely new family of Amberites (although by the end of this novel, Amber doesn't yet exist, questioning the whole "dawn" premise) to engage in in-fighting. I certainly don't remember any of Oberon's siblings being mentioned in Zelazny's novels. In fact, much of Oberon's journey in this novel reminds one of Corwin's coming to terms with himself and his past in Nine Princes in Amber, obviously a stylistic choice on Betancourt's part, although Corwin suffers merely from amnesia, not from being kept in the dark his whole life. The novel ends with a cliffhanger, and I know some readers (Hi, Stix!) hate that, but it made me, for one, anxious to read the next installment in the series.
So, overall, four stars. A really enjoyable, pleasant read, which brought me back to the world of Amber. I've re-read Zelazny's series several times, and probably will again, but I found Betancourt's book a worthy addition to the canon. I will try to find a (cheap, used) copy of the next book.
May 27, 2009
Didn't make it.
The books aren't really bad per se, but they don't capture the fire of the originals. If they weren't trying to be Amber they'd merely be a bit bland; as it is they're a bit of a disappointment. And yes, I am a mad fan of Roger Zelazny, and his Amber books were some of my favorite books ever growing up, but I am not just a starry-eyed zealot with blurry teenaged memories of a greatness that never was. I re-read Zelazny's Amber just before reading these, and the originals are not quite the paragons of fantasy that I remember, but they still have a grandeur and epic scale that Betancourt fails to capture in these sequels. Zelazny lets us share the view of a bewildered outsider as he comes to term with memories he never knew he had; Betancourt gives us an almost identical hero in almost identical straights - having no memory of his true heritage - but Betancourts Ober simply takes it all in casual stride despite no flood of repressed memories coming back to him to explain it all. Zelazny takes us to fantastic new worlds; Betancourt leaves us stranded in an obscure house - which is never even particularly described - for most of the middle book. Zelazny returns to Amber to play "what if" games with the edges of the rules of magic he rather cavalierly scatters about in the first series; Betancourt seems content to fall back to Zelazny's earlier style of flash without much thought or explanation.
The books aren't really bad per se, but they don't capture the fire of the originals. If they weren't trying to be Amber they'd merely be a bit bland; as it is they're a bit of a disappointment. And yes, I am a mad fan of Roger Zelazny, and his Amber books were some of my favorite books ever growing up, but I am not just a starry-eyed zealot with blurry teenaged memories of a greatness that never was. I re-read Zelazny's Amber just before reading these, and the originals are not quite the paragons of fantasy that I remember, but they still have a grandeur and epic scale that Betancourt fails to capture in these sequels. Zelazny lets us share the view of a bewildered outsider as he comes to term with memories he never knew he had; Betancourt gives us an almost identical hero in almost identical straights - having no memory of his true heritage - but Betancourts Ober simply takes it all in casual stride despite no flood of repressed memories coming back to him to explain it all. Zelazny takes us to fantastic new worlds; Betancourt leaves us stranded in an obscure house - which is never even particularly described - for most of the middle book. Zelazny returns to Amber to play "what if" games with the edges of the rules of magic he rather cavalierly scatters about in the first series; Betancourt seems content to fall back to Zelazny's earlier style of flash without much thought or explanation.
December 8, 2010
Look, this isn't the worst thing I have ever read, but it's not good. Rather like reading a very earnest fanfiction. Earnest, but oddly tepid. I really don't know why this was allowed to be published and regret the time spent giving it a chance.
June 9, 2014
I've read Zelazny. This guy's no Zelazny. It has all the elements of classic Amber, but they are just not gripping (though I did want to see what he did with the Logres), and the characters don't draw you in.
April 4, 2019
This wasn’t bad. The book rushes a bit at first, a little clumsy if you ask me but then the plot settles in and you find yourself happily reading along. I cannot say it was a definitive page turner, a bit more serious than a summer beach read but not an engrossing can’t out it down epic either. Things are a little too convenient and the story rushes on a little too fast for what I prefer in my fantasy novels to give five stars.
I liked that the “magic” is a little off script from normal. The characters aren’t as just tropes fulfilling their stereotypical destiny but it comes close a few times. I would read more, I am curious what happens next.
I liked that the “magic” is a little off script from normal. The characters aren’t as just tropes fulfilling their stereotypical destiny but it comes close a few times. I would read more, I am curious what happens next.
January 10, 2008
My thoughts, such as they were:
http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/bo...
http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/bo...
May 19, 2012
As I read the first pages of this book, I was struck by how much of a copy it was of Zelazny's own work. Yes, that is the point of having another author write "extensions" to a an existing series (or even a single stellar book - see my review of "Spade and Archer"). But in this case it was not a warm feeling about how well the author had immersed themselves into the world of the creator. Instead, I was thinking that is was a poor echo of one of the originals. Specifically where Corwin is an amnesiac and only slowly learns about his true nature and his lovely family.
I'm not saying that this is a horrible book (not the triple star rating), but after a long absence and extremely fond memories of the original five novels, I was just not enraptured by this book. To be fair, the constraints of creating a pre-history that doesn't immediately make readers sit up and howl cannot have been an easy task. And, as far as the ideas and family lineage of this book go, they are pretty ok. Enough so that I'll have to hunt around for the other volumes in this first "pretrilogy".
Among my dislikes are the length (the specific volume needed to be longer so that it could be more detailed) and the fact that it was planned to be the first in a trilogy, so be sure to keep things very loose so that the reader will get that next book. Neither of these can be listed as a crime against humanity, but I think they do not serve the series nor RZ very well. For all I know, Mr. Betancourt might be an excellent writer and under other circumstances might have created a truly impressive addition to the Amber canon.
If you have read all of Zelazny's novels and hunger for more, then this is the only game in town. It will get you more of the Amber universe and Dworkin's family and perhaps that is all we can ever expect. Read it and judge for yourself. Despite the flaws it is a definite "3".
I'm not saying that this is a horrible book (not the triple star rating), but after a long absence and extremely fond memories of the original five novels, I was just not enraptured by this book. To be fair, the constraints of creating a pre-history that doesn't immediately make readers sit up and howl cannot have been an easy task. And, as far as the ideas and family lineage of this book go, they are pretty ok. Enough so that I'll have to hunt around for the other volumes in this first "pretrilogy".
Among my dislikes are the length (the specific volume needed to be longer so that it could be more detailed) and the fact that it was planned to be the first in a trilogy, so be sure to keep things very loose so that the reader will get that next book. Neither of these can be listed as a crime against humanity, but I think they do not serve the series nor RZ very well. For all I know, Mr. Betancourt might be an excellent writer and under other circumstances might have created a truly impressive addition to the Amber canon.
If you have read all of Zelazny's novels and hunger for more, then this is the only game in town. It will get you more of the Amber universe and Dworkin's family and perhaps that is all we can ever expect. Read it and judge for yourself. Despite the flaws it is a definite "3".
October 26, 2016
Книгата ми хареса, въпреки целият негативен багаж, който носи написването ѝ, ако я разглеждах като фенфик даже щях да и дам още една звезда, но не е фенфик. При положение, че Зелазни е поискал никой да не пише във вселената на Амбър и талантливи негови приятели и гениални автори като Геймън и Бруст са отказали от уважение към него, Бетънкорт не е подходил достатъчно професионално към задачата. Самият факт, че не е успял да завърши петте планирани книги е красноречив за мнението на феновете.
Романът разказва за ранните години на Оберон - израснал на една сянка, без знание за благородния си произход от двора на Хаос. Сянката е нападната от излезли от ада същества. Един ден се появява Дуоркин и го измъква из под носа на противника. Озовават се в Джунипър - сянка в която се е установил Дуоркин с децата си, - където също са заплашени от унищожение от конкурентна фамилия благородници.
Не е Зелазни и не можах да се спра да ги сравнявам през цялото време, най-вече защото сценария на книгата постоянно звучи като преразказ на живота на Коруин. Незнаещ произхода си войник, въвлечен в конфликт с изглеждащи като излезнали от ада същества. Роднините му му показват, че могат да пътуват през световете, той се опитва да ги заблуди относно незнанието си. Има интриги, съревнование и предателство между децата на Дуоркин... Схващате идеята.
Липсва красивата абстрактна поетичност на Зелазни, както и чудесните му описания на индивидуалните битки. Има доста повече мрачни, почти кошмарни сцени. Има няколко непростими разминаваня с вселената на Амбър, както и една-две логически грешки, чисто във времевата линия на този роман.
Все пак ми хареса и я прочетох бързо и с удоволствие, но само можем да съжаляваме, че точно тази ябълка се е паднала на прасе, което не е могло да я преглътне и я е засрало.
Ще прочета и следващите две.
Романът разказва за ранните години на Оберон - израснал на една сянка, без знание за благородния си произход от двора на Хаос. Сянката е нападната от излезли от ада същества. Един ден се появява Дуоркин и го измъква из под носа на противника. Озовават се в Джунипър - сянка в която се е установил Дуоркин с децата си, - където също са заплашени от унищожение от конкурентна фамилия благородници.
Не е Зелазни и не можах да се спра да ги сравнявам през цялото време, най-вече защото сценария на книгата постоянно звучи като преразказ на живота на Коруин. Незнаещ произхода си войник, въвлечен в конфликт с изглеждащи като излезнали от ада същества. Роднините му му показват, че могат да пътуват през световете, той се опитва да ги заблуди относно незнанието си. Има интриги, съревнование и предателство между децата на Дуоркин... Схващате идеята.
Липсва красивата абстрактна поетичност на Зелазни, както и чудесните му описания на индивидуалните битки. Има доста повече мрачни, почти кошмарни сцени. Има няколко непростими разминаваня с вселената на Амбър, както и една-две логически грешки, чисто във времевата линия на този роман.
Все пак ми хареса и я прочетох бързо и с удоволствие, но само можем да съжаляваме, че точно тази ябълка се е паднала на прасе, което не е могло да я преглътне и я е засрало.
Ще прочета и следващите две.
April 1, 2017
One of the worst books I have read in quite some time. Not only is the editing miserable and wildly unprofessional with misplaced commas, repeated words, and << periodically put in place of quotations around dialogue (no, it's not a translation from a European language), the writing is awful. It's lazy, sloppy, and amateurish.
––– SPOILERS AHEAD –––
Here are some examples:
"What news?" he croaked.
"We won," I said. "At least for today."
He smiled a bit, and then died.
"He smiled a bit, and then died." Are you freaking KIDDING ME? That's how you kill off a character? "He smiled a bit, and then died."? Ignoring the fact that this is the epitome of telling instead of showing, what that the hell is with that entirely useless comma?
And this–
"Talking to her had given me an idea…an idea so crazy, I just thought it just might work."
And lastly, this absolute gem, which is at the end of the book when a main character is explaining the book's system of magic. –
"I don't understand."
"You do not need to. That is my point!"
THIS IS THE EXPLANATION THE AUTHOR PROVIDES FOR AN ENTIRE SYSTEM OF MAGIC. AN ENTIRE SYSTEM OF MAGIC IN A FANTASY NOVEL THAT, LIKE MOST FANTASY NOVELS, DEPENDS ON A SYSTEM OF MAGIC TO BUILD AN ENTIRE WORLD.
––– SPOILERS AHEAD –––
Here are some examples:
"What news?" he croaked.
"We won," I said. "At least for today."
He smiled a bit, and then died.
"He smiled a bit, and then died." Are you freaking KIDDING ME? That's how you kill off a character? "He smiled a bit, and then died."? Ignoring the fact that this is the epitome of telling instead of showing, what that the hell is with that entirely useless comma?
And this–
"Talking to her had given me an idea…an idea so crazy, I just thought it just might work."
And lastly, this absolute gem, which is at the end of the book when a main character is explaining the book's system of magic. –
"I don't understand."
"You do not need to. That is my point!"
THIS IS THE EXPLANATION THE AUTHOR PROVIDES FOR AN ENTIRE SYSTEM OF MAGIC. AN ENTIRE SYSTEM OF MAGIC IN A FANTASY NOVEL THAT, LIKE MOST FANTASY NOVELS, DEPENDS ON A SYSTEM OF MAGIC TO BUILD AN ENTIRE WORLD.
November 29, 2007
The very first thing that strikes me as I read this is that this is NOT Roger Zelazny writing. In fact, if it were not for the fact that I recognize Betancourt's name, I would wonder if this was even a professional writer -- the opening chapter came across as very amateurish. Lot's of telling, and no "showing" -- no making us feel a part of the action.
While that sense of "low" writing never entirely vanished, I did become more engrossed in the story itself. Even there, however, I knew that I wasn't reading Zelazny. Zelazny could weave a story with intricate threads of characters and sub-plots and story lines. And if Zelazny was a master weaver, producing a solitary fine work of excellent quality, Betancourt is a machine producing a cheap replica that might satisfy those who can't tell the difference.
In general, I also dislike any series which requires one to purchase multiple books to get a sense of the story. Each book should be able to stand on it's own as a book. I don't believe this one accomplishes that.
I may read the others in the trilogy, but only because I'm curious about the story. I will most certainly seek out library books or used copies.
While that sense of "low" writing never entirely vanished, I did become more engrossed in the story itself. Even there, however, I knew that I wasn't reading Zelazny. Zelazny could weave a story with intricate threads of characters and sub-plots and story lines. And if Zelazny was a master weaver, producing a solitary fine work of excellent quality, Betancourt is a machine producing a cheap replica that might satisfy those who can't tell the difference.
In general, I also dislike any series which requires one to purchase multiple books to get a sense of the story. Each book should be able to stand on it's own as a book. I don't believe this one accomplishes that.
I may read the others in the trilogy, but only because I'm curious about the story. I will most certainly seek out library books or used copies.
October 23, 2014
I've read that a lot of people don't like this addition to Zelazny's Amber series by Betancourt. I do. I've read just about all of Zelany's stuff & the Amber series a dozen times or more. I think he's done a great job of adding on & I hope he can get the 5th book published to complete the series - I read that the publisher went out of business after book 4, which really, really sucks. Oberon was left in a tight spot!
This series is a prelude to the Amber series, about Oberon & the founding of Amber. I don't care for most books written by other people based on Zelazny's work, but find I like this.
This series is a prelude to the Amber series, about Oberon & the founding of Amber. I don't care for most books written by other people based on Zelazny's work, but find I like this.
November 30, 2019
Roger did not give his permission for this. Never should have happened.
January 3, 2024
I will be the first to admit I am not sure about this book - the reason is I guess like so many other series that have been "re-started" by new authors. Now do not get me wrong I am all for collaborations and continuations but the original Amber series is seen as pretty much complete - why they go back and start it anew.
Yes there are stories that need to be told that the author unfortunately died before telling - I guess that could be said of things like the Dune continuation - but I am not so sure of this one
Okay the fantasy story was good fun and quite clearly just the pre-cursor to a new series and yes it was pretty fast paced and action packed but was it Roger Zelazny - that I am not so sure (although I am far from being an expert)
So as a fantasy story I did enjoy it - is it Amber I am not so sure - unfortunately I stumbled across this book some years ago -and looking for the next in the series is turning out to be an expensive and challenging situation but I will prevail - eventually.
Yes there are stories that need to be told that the author unfortunately died before telling - I guess that could be said of things like the Dune continuation - but I am not so sure of this one
Okay the fantasy story was good fun and quite clearly just the pre-cursor to a new series and yes it was pretty fast paced and action packed but was it Roger Zelazny - that I am not so sure (although I am far from being an expert)
So as a fantasy story I did enjoy it - is it Amber I am not so sure - unfortunately I stumbled across this book some years ago -and looking for the next in the series is turning out to be an expensive and challenging situation but I will prevail - eventually.
August 27, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3724115.html
The first of the prequels to the late great Roger Zelazny's Amber series, published in 2002 but I only got around to it as part of a Humble Bundle a few years back. I had been warned that the prequels were terrible; actually while the first book is not superb, it's not awful either. Our viewpoint character is Oberon, future father of the Nine Princes of Amber, who is pulled from a career as mercenary (his girlfriend killed off before we even meet her properly) by his mysterious father Dworkin, for magical dynastic plotting with his brothers and sisters. It's a bit flat, compared with the heights of the original, but I'll persevere with the series.
The first of the prequels to the late great Roger Zelazny's Amber series, published in 2002 but I only got around to it as part of a Humble Bundle a few years back. I had been warned that the prequels were terrible; actually while the first book is not superb, it's not awful either. Our viewpoint character is Oberon, future father of the Nine Princes of Amber, who is pulled from a career as mercenary (his girlfriend killed off before we even meet her properly) by his mysterious father Dworkin, for magical dynastic plotting with his brothers and sisters. It's a bit flat, compared with the heights of the original, but I'll persevere with the series.
April 8, 2015
It saddens me to have to write this review. Zelazney's Amber is one of the series' that truly cemented my love of the genre. With that said, I have two points to make about this book.
1. The editing. There does not appear to have been any. I cannot speak for the print edition, but the ebook is so filled with typographical errors as to be almost laughable. It is not just misspelled words or improper punctuation. There are places where the author clearly changed words without altering the sentence they appear in to fit the change. The whole manuscript looks like a first-pass revision.
2. More important are the issues I have with plot and characterization. Very little happens in this book. what does happen seems to have been lifted from the first Amber novel with only the names changed to protect the innocent. As for characterization, again, there is none. The author seems to base each of his characters on one of those from Zelazney's work. The reader is expected to use their knowledge of those previous characters to provide the substance that is lacking in the characters from this story. We don't know them. We don't care about them. Neither do the other characters.
All in all, the book is shallow and lacks any substance. A disappointment where I was hoping to find a gem. As much as I love Amber, I will not be reading the next in this series.
1. The editing. There does not appear to have been any. I cannot speak for the print edition, but the ebook is so filled with typographical errors as to be almost laughable. It is not just misspelled words or improper punctuation. There are places where the author clearly changed words without altering the sentence they appear in to fit the change. The whole manuscript looks like a first-pass revision.
2. More important are the issues I have with plot and characterization. Very little happens in this book. what does happen seems to have been lifted from the first Amber novel with only the names changed to protect the innocent. As for characterization, again, there is none. The author seems to base each of his characters on one of those from Zelazney's work. The reader is expected to use their knowledge of those previous characters to provide the substance that is lacking in the characters from this story. We don't know them. We don't care about them. Neither do the other characters.
All in all, the book is shallow and lacks any substance. A disappointment where I was hoping to find a gem. As much as I love Amber, I will not be reading the next in this series.
November 24, 2013
This 2002 1-of-3 is competent, and perhaps almost good. But it left me the strong impression of a book that was supposed to be one volume until the publisher insisted on making it three. It feels stretched, padded, thin.
The author captures Zelazny's clear, fast-teasing style quite decently.
Obere is delightfully dim for a chap who is clearly competent in things military. And when he is able to focus occasionally, he does show some intelligence. We can believe he could become what he did in the original.
The fairly-uninspired plot does get a few extra points for the handling of Locke and Blaise. Minus one for Freda's story arc being a bit predictable. Plus one for a few "if he didn't do it who did???"
This is one to get from the library, and read quickly. As such, it's fine.
The author captures Zelazny's clear, fast-teasing style quite decently.
Obere is delightfully dim for a chap who is clearly competent in things military. And when he is able to focus occasionally, he does show some intelligence. We can believe he could become what he did in the original.
The fairly-uninspired plot does get a few extra points for the handling of Locke and Blaise. Minus one for Freda's story arc being a bit predictable. Plus one for a few "if he didn't do it who did???"
This is one to get from the library, and read quickly. As such, it's fine.
April 13, 2016
A little disappointing. The plot is far too identical to that in Nine Princes in Amber. It starts off with the protagonist being ignorant of his heritage, finding himself caught up in weird situations that are clearly part of some larger unknown conflict, getting taken through the shadows, being introduced to his extended family and getting an infodump on the ongoing intrigue and machinations amongst them, etc, etc,.. Horribly predictable, right down to the clumsy attempts at misdirect the reader as to who the secret traitor might be. Of course, the possibility exists that this was actually a brilliant sleight of hand and that the real villain is someone else but the book reads like a rush job so this is unlikely.
Easy read and would be mildly entertaining if you had not read the original Amber series first.
Easy read and would be mildly entertaining if you had not read the original Amber series first.
June 29, 2009
Betancourt is pretty good. But he's no Zelazney. I'm sure he's not pretending to be, either. But I found that some of the characters seemed too much like the characters I grew to love in the original series. And the storyline was just a bit too close to the first Zelazney novel - 9 Princes in Amber.
All that aside, the book was entertaining. Never boring. But I didn't quite get on board with it. I'm currently reading book two, which is a bit better so far. I'm hoping he'll get more comfortable with his series as things progress.
All that aside, the book was entertaining. Never boring. But I didn't quite get on board with it. I'm currently reading book two, which is a bit better so far. I'm hoping he'll get more comfortable with his series as things progress.
August 25, 2014
Поняття не маю, чому, але ця книженція щось мені сподобалась більше, ніж попередні. Не скажу, що якось різниться манера написання. Не скажу, що сюжет цікавіший абощо. (Навіть навпаки, є моменти, коли я собі думала: "ахаха, щось це мені нагадує!"). Може, далася взнаки перерва на Гаррісона. А може, це через те, що раз за разом вигукувала подумки: "так он воно як було!", що викликало думку: "а ну-но, ну-но, що ж там далі?" :)
Класно, загалом. Ковтнула і ще хочеться.
Класно, загалом. Ковтнула і ще хочеться.
August 16, 2013
In retrospect, I guess it's almost impossible that I'd be impressed with this book. How could it live up to the originals? I will read at least the second book in the trilogy, and not only because I bought it first by accident, but because this book as bland as it is, I the best we have of how Amber came to be.
October 8, 2016
A prequel to one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. Betancourt is good, but the bar is set impossibly high, here. His style mimics Zelazny in many ways, and it's not that this is a bad novel. It just doesn't have that grab-you-by-the-throat feel that the rest of the Amber series has. I don't know what I was expecting here, but this wasn't it.
February 19, 2013
It's in the Amber style, and the characters are done well, but if you really really loved Roger Zelzany's Amber series, it's just not the same without him. The characters of Oberon and Dworkin just don't feel the same.
September 22, 2013
No. Just no. Zelazny's storyline without the wit or originality. Even the cover art on the hardback is schlock.
October 23, 2021
Trite, cliched, poorly written, bad pacing. Not even interested in pursuing what is obviously designed to be a series.
December 22, 2017
I very much enjoyed the book. The Chronicles of Amber was my favourite fantasy series. When I saw this book, I had to read it. Unlike some people who write derisive reviews when others pickup the mantle and try to carry on a series when the original author no longer can continue it. I applaud the effort. This book wasn't written by Roger Zelazney, so I don't expect it to read as a Roger Zelazney book would read. What I read was a John Gregory Betancourt novel that took me back into the world of Shadow walking. I enjoyed this book and have already purchased the second book in the series. I know others will enjoy it too.
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