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The Chronicles of Amber #3-5
Amberas hronikas. Otrā grāmata
“Amberas hronikas” tiek uzskatītas par mūsdienu fantāzijas literatūras klasiku. Šo sēriju izcilu padarīja Zelaznija prasme apvienot vērienīgu episku vēstījumu un personiskus, cilvēciskus stāstus, kā arī lietpratīgi savīt agrāk nepieredzētas maģijas sistēmas un sarežģītus, morāli neviennozīmīgus personāžus. Viņa darbiem bija liela ietekme uz vēlākajiem fantāzijas žanra autoriem, un tie paplašināja žanra darbības jomu.
Tas, kurš valda pār Amberu, valda pār vienīgo patieso pasauli. Tas, kurš gāž Amberu, izraisa nodotās Amberas dusmas.
Neredzams, neaptverami varens ienaidnieks ir sagrābis karalisko asiņu princi un tagad apdraud ideālo valstību, uzbrūkot tās varas pašai būtībai — slepenajām zināšanām par Ēnu.
Korvins sapulcina spēkus troņa aizstāvībai, un pretī viņam stājas sazvērnieki, kas kāro troni, baismīgi dēmoni, pārdabiskas parādības un draudīgs nezināmais, kas piepeši pārsniedz visu, ko viņš domājies zinām par Amberas patieso iedabu.
Otrajā grāmatā iekļauti trīs romāni - "Vienradža zīme", "Oberona roka" un "Haosa galms".
RODŽERS ZELAZNIJS (Roger Zelazny, 1937–1995) bija amerikāņu rakstnieks, kurš pazīstams ar saviem fantastikas un fantāzijas darbiem. Zelaznijs bija viena no nozīmīgākajām šī žanra personībām 20. gadsimta 60. un 70. gados, viens no “jaunā viļņa” kustības, kas uzsvēra literāros eksperimentus, sarežģītāku pieeju tēmām un atteikšanos no tradicionālajām fantastikas klišejām. Viņa slavenākais darbs ir episkā fantastikas/fantāzijas sērija “Amberas hronikas”.
Savas karjeras laikā Zelaznijs ir saņēmis sešas Hugo un trīs Nebula balvas. Viņa romāni un stāsti bieži tika nominēti šiem augstākajiem fantastikas apbalvojumiem, atspoguļojot gan viņa popularitāti, gan kritikas atzinību. Zelaznija izmantotie mitoloģiskie un literārie motīvi ietekmēja vēlākos autorus, īpaši fantāzijas un fantastikas elementu apvienošanā. Tādi rakstnieki kā Nīls Geimans (Neil Gaiman) un Džordžs R. R. Mārtins (George R. R. Martin) uzsver viņa ietekmi savos darbos. Zelaznija darbi ir tulkoti vairāk nekā divdesmit valodās.
Tas, kurš valda pār Amberu, valda pār vienīgo patieso pasauli. Tas, kurš gāž Amberu, izraisa nodotās Amberas dusmas.
Neredzams, neaptverami varens ienaidnieks ir sagrābis karalisko asiņu princi un tagad apdraud ideālo valstību, uzbrūkot tās varas pašai būtībai — slepenajām zināšanām par Ēnu.
Korvins sapulcina spēkus troņa aizstāvībai, un pretī viņam stājas sazvērnieki, kas kāro troni, baismīgi dēmoni, pārdabiskas parādības un draudīgs nezināmais, kas piepeši pārsniedz visu, ko viņš domājies zinām par Amberas patieso iedabu.
Otrajā grāmatā iekļauti trīs romāni - "Vienradža zīme", "Oberona roka" un "Haosa galms".
RODŽERS ZELAZNIJS (Roger Zelazny, 1937–1995) bija amerikāņu rakstnieks, kurš pazīstams ar saviem fantastikas un fantāzijas darbiem. Zelaznijs bija viena no nozīmīgākajām šī žanra personībām 20. gadsimta 60. un 70. gados, viens no “jaunā viļņa” kustības, kas uzsvēra literāros eksperimentus, sarežģītāku pieeju tēmām un atteikšanos no tradicionālajām fantastikas klišejām. Viņa slavenākais darbs ir episkā fantastikas/fantāzijas sērija “Amberas hronikas”.
Savas karjeras laikā Zelaznijs ir saņēmis sešas Hugo un trīs Nebula balvas. Viņa romāni un stāsti bieži tika nominēti šiem augstākajiem fantastikas apbalvojumiem, atspoguļojot gan viņa popularitāti, gan kritikas atzinību. Zelaznija izmantotie mitoloģiskie un literārie motīvi ietekmēja vēlākos autorus, īpaši fantāzijas un fantastikas elementu apvienošanā. Tādi rakstnieki kā Nīls Geimans (Neil Gaiman) un Džordžs R. R. Mārtins (George R. R. Martin) uzsver viņa ietekmi savos darbos. Zelaznija darbi ir tulkoti vairāk nekā divdesmit valodās.
498 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
10 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Roger Zelazny
745 books3,884 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 40 reviews
December 17, 2025
Viens no labākajiem autora darbiem.
March 26, 2017
Том втори от „Хрониките на Амбър” съдържа поредните четири романа (части от 4 до 7) от многотомната фентъзи сага на доайена Роджър Зелазни. Легендарната поредица е задължителна за феновете на жанра и съвсем с право е включена в колекцията на издателство „Бард” „Велики майстори на фентъзи и фантастика”. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
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July 19, 2021
The First Chronicle of Amber is a groundbreaking series from the early 1970s when Zelazny was at the height of his creativity. We follow the exploits of Corwin, who awakens in a hospital with no memory of who he is. The cliche is forgivable due to the sheer glee with which Zelazny introduces us to his Amberverse.
There are five books in the First Chronicles of Amber - the final three are included in this collection.
Book Three: Sign of the Unicorn
The middle book in the original Amber quintet is mostly info dumps designed to firm up the remaining storyline as Corwin's siblings bring him up to date on what they've been doing while apart from him. New friends, foes and settings are introduced throughout. There are a few noteworthy events though in addition to all the catch-up, especially the murder that opens the book as well as the ending which presumably sets the stage for the final two installments.
Book Four: The Hand of Oberon
Book four of the Amber series, like book three, suffers at times from too much re-explaining what happened in the prior books (somewhat necessary as the latest plot revelations - not to mention family intrigue - create new interpretations of prior events) and most of the plot is oriented towards setting up the sequel. HoO has more surprises than the prior book however, right down to the final paragraph of the last chapter .
Book Five: The Courts of Chaos
The final chapter in the original Amber series ties together all the story threads but leaves plenty of room for sequels. This book is probably the second best in the series (after the first one and perhaps tied with the second one) but won't be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
There are five books in the First Chronicles of Amber - the final three are included in this collection.
Book Three: Sign of the Unicorn
The middle book in the original Amber quintet is mostly info dumps designed to firm up the remaining storyline as Corwin's siblings bring him up to date on what they've been doing while apart from him. New friends, foes and settings are introduced throughout. There are a few noteworthy events though in addition to all the catch-up, especially the murder that opens the book as well as the ending which presumably sets the stage for the final two installments.
Book Four: The Hand of Oberon
Book four of the Amber series, like book three, suffers at times from too much re-explaining what happened in the prior books (somewhat necessary as the latest plot revelations - not to mention family intrigue - create new interpretations of prior events) and most of the plot is oriented towards setting up the sequel. HoO has more surprises than the prior book however, right down to the final paragraph of the last chapter .
Book Five: The Courts of Chaos
The final chapter in the original Amber series ties together all the story threads but leaves plenty of room for sequels. This book is probably the second best in the series (after the first one and perhaps tied with the second one) but won't be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
December 13, 2025
Fantastiskās ainavas un Amberas galma sazvērestības nepievīla. Nevaru vien beigt brīnīties, kā to visu var izdomāt, un ceļojumi caur Ēnām ir mana mīļākā šo grāmatu daļa.
September 4, 2021
Oh, I guess I didn't write a review in 2012 when I initially read this series. Well, here's one for 2021!
I think 3 stars (my original rating), or 2.5, is about where I'd land. I gave the first volume of this collection 4 stars in 2012 and 2.5 stars in 2021, with the reduction being because the material seemed dated. For this reread of volume 2 (which contains books 3, 4, and 5 of the first Amber pentology), I would say the same thing about dated material. We do get some strong female characters, as opposed to the female characters' roles in books 1 and 2. However, they aren't as developed or complex as the male characters. Well, sign of the times.
The books are still enjoyable as sort of fantasy-action that you shouldn't take too seriously. Although, the narrating main character sprinkles in some philosophical pontification here or there, which I could see leading a younger reader to develop a bit of interest in more "literary" fiction.
I do wonder how much of my feeling about these books hinges on nostalgia--both seeing them on my family's musty, mostly untouched bookshelves as a child and young adult and finally reading them in my late 20s. I think that has value, surely, but I don't know that I would recommend many people to read this series. Perhaps if you already know the genre and this era of writing's foibles. What might be the last nail in the coffin for me recommendation-wise is that near the conclusion, things go a bit off the rails, and frankly I feel like the author could have come up with so many better ways to conclude the saga. I won't go into detail because of spoilers.
Ultimately, I'll probably never read this series for a third time, but I'll also probably never have the heart to throw away or donate these two volumes. Maybe someday my child will see these books on the musty, neglected shelves and be curious what her father read at her age.
I think 3 stars (my original rating), or 2.5, is about where I'd land. I gave the first volume of this collection 4 stars in 2012 and 2.5 stars in 2021, with the reduction being because the material seemed dated. For this reread of volume 2 (which contains books 3, 4, and 5 of the first Amber pentology), I would say the same thing about dated material. We do get some strong female characters, as opposed to the female characters' roles in books 1 and 2. However, they aren't as developed or complex as the male characters. Well, sign of the times.
The books are still enjoyable as sort of fantasy-action that you shouldn't take too seriously. Although, the narrating main character sprinkles in some philosophical pontification here or there, which I could see leading a younger reader to develop a bit of interest in more "literary" fiction.
I do wonder how much of my feeling about these books hinges on nostalgia--both seeing them on my family's musty, mostly untouched bookshelves as a child and young adult and finally reading them in my late 20s. I think that has value, surely, but I don't know that I would recommend many people to read this series. Perhaps if you already know the genre and this era of writing's foibles. What might be the last nail in the coffin for me recommendation-wise is that near the conclusion, things go a bit off the rails, and frankly I feel like the author could have come up with so many better ways to conclude the saga. I won't go into detail because of spoilers.
Ultimately, I'll probably never read this series for a third time, but I'll also probably never have the heart to throw away or donate these two volumes. Maybe someday my child will see these books on the musty, neglected shelves and be curious what her father read at her age.
January 19, 2013
An interesting series overall, and a really cattywampus way to look at Platonic thought. Decent story, but I thought sometimes it took a back seat to the philosophizing. Strange and moody, though, evoking the feeling of sitting in a dark cave with a fire behind me, watching the shadows dance on the wall.
September 1, 2013
What did I think?
I have read this series many times and I learn more about it every time.
I know tastes are an individual thing.......so just saying, "I loved it!".......might not be enough.
Roger Zelazny put his heart into this.
I loved it!
I have read this series many times and I learn more about it every time.
I know tastes are an individual thing.......so just saying, "I loved it!".......might not be enough.
Roger Zelazny put his heart into this.
I loved it!
July 9, 2025
Zelazny’s writing seems weird, a bit dated and anachronistic. You’ve got swords, horses, kings, and castles, but also references to Freud, psychology, lawyers, and car crashes. It’s jarring but somehow I didn’t find it off-putting. Besides, it’s fun and often funny. I chuckled more than a few times.
It’s actually logical within the unique world Zelazny builds: a universe of infinite shadow worlds where everything can exist at once, because reality itself bends to will and desire.
Walking the Pattern is like a coming of age and grants you that exact ability to influence reality. The act of walking is written like a literal journey inward, an intense exploration of the self not unlike processing your own thoughts, desires, and emotions. And when characters first walk through the shadow worlds, it quite literally reminds me of gap years: exploring, traveling, even some hedonism, you know, the typical finding yourself journeys.
Throughout the book I couldn’t help but feel that there’s this philosophical layer that deals with questions of self, ego, fate, and free will. Who are we, really? How much of our lives is shaped by choice versus the things we can’t control? And if we are bound by the latter, do we just surrender to it, or do we try to make something anyway, even if we still end up with our ‘destiny’?
Amber, the shadow worlds and even the “real” Amber (the one with the primal Pattern) feel like metaphors for consciousness, awareness and the ways we shape our own realities.
Corwin, our introspective protagonist, can seem emotionally distant, but there’s real depth there if you’re not looking in the wrong places. We get a glimpse of him more through his musings than his actions but it fits both his personality and the culture of the Amberites in general.
There’s a running theme of identity, family, duty, and the slow process of accepting yourself and maybe, eventually, others too, even when they’ve hurt you. The emotional arc feels like it belongs more to contemporary family drama than a fantasy novel. Especially when it comes to Corwin’s relationship with his father. But there you have it.
It’s actually logical within the unique world Zelazny builds: a universe of infinite shadow worlds where everything can exist at once, because reality itself bends to will and desire.
Walking the Pattern is like a coming of age and grants you that exact ability to influence reality. The act of walking is written like a literal journey inward, an intense exploration of the self not unlike processing your own thoughts, desires, and emotions. And when characters first walk through the shadow worlds, it quite literally reminds me of gap years: exploring, traveling, even some hedonism, you know, the typical finding yourself journeys.
Throughout the book I couldn’t help but feel that there’s this philosophical layer that deals with questions of self, ego, fate, and free will. Who are we, really? How much of our lives is shaped by choice versus the things we can’t control? And if we are bound by the latter, do we just surrender to it, or do we try to make something anyway, even if we still end up with our ‘destiny’?
Amber, the shadow worlds and even the “real” Amber (the one with the primal Pattern) feel like metaphors for consciousness, awareness and the ways we shape our own realities.
Corwin, our introspective protagonist, can seem emotionally distant, but there’s real depth there if you’re not looking in the wrong places. We get a glimpse of him more through his musings than his actions but it fits both his personality and the culture of the Amberites in general.
There’s a running theme of identity, family, duty, and the slow process of accepting yourself and maybe, eventually, others too, even when they’ve hurt you. The emotional arc feels like it belongs more to contemporary family drama than a fantasy novel. Especially when it comes to Corwin’s relationship with his father. But there you have it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2024
I finally finished the first Chronicles of Amber series. This was really good. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I should have guessed since my dad held on to this Doubleday Science Fiction Book Club edition, it was probably pretty good.
The ending was really interesting. The Pattern and its importance really had me thinking about Christianity and following the narrow path. I don't know anything about Zelazny and the Amber books are the first I've read by him. But they definitely won't be the last.
The ending was really interesting. The Pattern and its importance really had me thinking about Christianity and following the narrow path. I don't know anything about Zelazny and the Amber books are the first I've read by him. But they definitely won't be the last.
April 29, 2024
I've read & reread this series many times. I find it unique. But I will say this time, by the 4th book, I was tired of the way Zelazny wrote traveling thru Shadows, especially a hellride.
October 10, 2024
A dark and fantastical journey, an adventure through storms and political conflict toward redemption and self-understanding. Volume II was even better than Volume I.
October 23, 2025
Pirmā grāmata bija tikai iesildīšanās, šī ir pašas dzīres.
October 28, 2025
Pirmā grāmata man patika krietni labāk. Te man bija par maz action un par daudz ēnu pasauļu fantazēšanas.
December 13, 2021
The completion of the Corwin cycle of the Chronicles of Amber moves at the same breakneck pace as the first two novels in the series did. The same wit and witticism is prevalent and Zelazny proves himself a stylistic master in his ability to sustain reader interest with his control of rising and falling action. His larger-than-life cast remains just that, and consistently presented through and through.
Where these novels tend to sag a bit is perhaps in a tendency to recycle the same witticisims a tad too often, a neat refrain, but overplayed. Occasionally, Zelazny feels a need to engage in lengthy recaps of the narrative thus far. I suppose at the time it would have been likely for someone to pick up his series midway through, but it is noticeable filler in what is otherwise an examplar of good, minimalist prose. As stated before, hell-rides and walking the pattern are candidates for gloss over.
Mild Spoilers Ahead.
What really sets the novels apart though is the delving into the lore of Amber and the roots of their mystical history in the metaphysical opposite pole of the universe - the Courts of Chaos. Again, Zelazny's prose is killer here and, on my third re-read, I was really impressed by it. Most of the time, Zelazny avoids info dump, though I did notice him getting a bit heavy handed with his explanations of things from the POV of Ganelon, who of course is the shape shifted form of Oberon, the long-missing, erstwhile liege of all creation, later revealed to be a rebel lord of an elder house.
Zelazny makes good on his promise, more or less explicitly laid out in Sign of the Unicorn. What he is writing is not "merely" fantasy, but a philosophical romance, shot through with elements of morbidity. We see that from the beginning, hinted at in Corwin's cat and mouse dodges with his own family as he struggles to regain his memories, but also in his questioning the very nature of shadow. This only grows as the camera pulls back to show us the true nature of Amber proper - once the center of reality, now only the first among shadows and a reflection of the bastard offspring of Chaos. Most explicitly we see this in the literal and metaphysical journey Corwin takes in his headlong flight to the Courts of Chaos ahead of a reality altering storm, most explicitly exemplified in his interactions with the giant, nearly submerged head, and extended dialogues with Hugi, the crow who exhorts him to be consigned to the destruction of the universe.
In fact, a more explicit analysis of these events in the light of modern philosophy would likely be an enlightening exercise. I suspect, though I haven't read enough to know, that Zelazny concerns himself with such "high brow" and "abstract" concepts even as he plays in the sandbox with other "genre fiction," writers.
But in the final analysis, I think I can confidently claim that these works, though firmly rooted in fantasy, are examples of the continuum of, rather than the dividing line between, genre and literary fiction.
Where these novels tend to sag a bit is perhaps in a tendency to recycle the same witticisims a tad too often, a neat refrain, but overplayed. Occasionally, Zelazny feels a need to engage in lengthy recaps of the narrative thus far. I suppose at the time it would have been likely for someone to pick up his series midway through, but it is noticeable filler in what is otherwise an examplar of good, minimalist prose. As stated before, hell-rides and walking the pattern are candidates for gloss over.
Mild Spoilers Ahead.
What really sets the novels apart though is the delving into the lore of Amber and the roots of their mystical history in the metaphysical opposite pole of the universe - the Courts of Chaos. Again, Zelazny's prose is killer here and, on my third re-read, I was really impressed by it. Most of the time, Zelazny avoids info dump, though I did notice him getting a bit heavy handed with his explanations of things from the POV of Ganelon, who of course is the shape shifted form of Oberon, the long-missing, erstwhile liege of all creation, later revealed to be a rebel lord of an elder house.
Zelazny makes good on his promise, more or less explicitly laid out in Sign of the Unicorn. What he is writing is not "merely" fantasy, but a philosophical romance, shot through with elements of morbidity. We see that from the beginning, hinted at in Corwin's cat and mouse dodges with his own family as he struggles to regain his memories, but also in his questioning the very nature of shadow. This only grows as the camera pulls back to show us the true nature of Amber proper - once the center of reality, now only the first among shadows and a reflection of the bastard offspring of Chaos. Most explicitly we see this in the literal and metaphysical journey Corwin takes in his headlong flight to the Courts of Chaos ahead of a reality altering storm, most explicitly exemplified in his interactions with the giant, nearly submerged head, and extended dialogues with Hugi, the crow who exhorts him to be consigned to the destruction of the universe.
In fact, a more explicit analysis of these events in the light of modern philosophy would likely be an enlightening exercise. I suspect, though I haven't read enough to know, that Zelazny concerns himself with such "high brow" and "abstract" concepts even as he plays in the sandbox with other "genre fiction," writers.
But in the final analysis, I think I can confidently claim that these works, though firmly rooted in fantasy, are examples of the continuum of, rather than the dividing line between, genre and literary fiction.
February 22, 2013
This review is for the entire series; Volume 1 got an extra star, the final book of this series wasn't as good as the others, so I knocked this volume down a star. Perhaps not consistent with some of the other reviews across this site, but I don't have time to keep up with that, especially without half stars.
Anyway, the series as a whole is quite good, and you can see the influence of this thing on modern fantasy writers. I can imagine the part in Book 1 where Corwin is taking his army against his brothers and seeing GRRM or Rothfuss playing out the action that happened off page here in their imaginations. The big distinction, of course, is that in their own works these things don't happen off page, which is why the Amber books average about 150 pages each while modern stuff pushes 1500. But I digress.
Overall, the books don't stand apart very well, which is also a good reason to review them together. I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters, the alliances and betrayals and revelation of motive that occurs quite after the fact that make you wonder if a particular character wasn't as big of an ass as they appeared to be at first, but the over-arching plot grew tiresome, especially the final book. I keep these things spoiler free, so I can't expound, but let's just say it took me quite a long time to push through the final 100 pages of the series.
A side note, I know I read these a long time ago, but it is striking how little I remembered. Much like when I was re-reading the Susan Cooper books. Perhaps I never finished these either? Certainly the first book was the most familiar.
Anyway, the series as a whole is quite good, and you can see the influence of this thing on modern fantasy writers. I can imagine the part in Book 1 where Corwin is taking his army against his brothers and seeing GRRM or Rothfuss playing out the action that happened off page here in their imaginations. The big distinction, of course, is that in their own works these things don't happen off page, which is why the Amber books average about 150 pages each while modern stuff pushes 1500. But I digress.
Overall, the books don't stand apart very well, which is also a good reason to review them together. I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters, the alliances and betrayals and revelation of motive that occurs quite after the fact that make you wonder if a particular character wasn't as big of an ass as they appeared to be at first, but the over-arching plot grew tiresome, especially the final book. I keep these things spoiler free, so I can't expound, but let's just say it took me quite a long time to push through the final 100 pages of the series.
A side note, I know I read these a long time ago, but it is striking how little I remembered. Much like when I was re-reading the Susan Cooper books. Perhaps I never finished these either? Certainly the first book was the most familiar.
August 30, 2024
Re-read in 2024: I found that first 2 (of 3) books in this second half of the the 2-book "Chronicles of Amber" was ok, but the third was disappointing in so many ways. First off, it is long-winded. I found myself skimming/skipping entire pages of "Shadow manipulations". Then there is the almost pathological misogyny in the entire series. The princesses are described as little more than useless, mindless, motivationless bimbos who couldn't possible want, or be fit for, the throne. Then, more than anything, is the question of whether or not Oberon actually fixed The Pattern. It seems that he *did*, but the entire book implies (until the final page), that he did *not*. Terrible writing. All-in-all, had to bring it down from 4 stars to 3. And I know for sure, from reading my own reviews, that I will not be going on with this series as it plunges into an even worse hellscape of bad writing.
Re-read August 2015: The series stands up to the test of time. A combination of mystery/thriller/fantasy/occult/western. Not elves and wizards, but brothers and sisters striving for a throne in a world where their "powers" are more "Crowley" than "Gandalf". Absolutely engaging. Time to continue the 10 book series to the end.
Re-read August 2015: The series stands up to the test of time. A combination of mystery/thriller/fantasy/occult/western. Not elves and wizards, but brothers and sisters striving for a throne in a world where their "powers" are more "Crowley" than "Gandalf". Absolutely engaging. Time to continue the 10 book series to the end.
March 23, 2015
I read the three books in this collection, Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, and The Courts of Chaos when they first came out in 1975, 1976, and 1978. At that time I thought that all the books in the series were at least 5-stars and that Roger Zelazny was a god. Now that I am re-reading them I'm not as sure as I was. If I were reading it today for the first time, I would give The Hand of Oberon two stars. There are a lot of inconsistencies, particularly involving the rules that have been established in the earlier books concerning Amber such as how the trumps work and travel between Amber and the Shadows.
As far as this specific edition of the books is concerned, the cover art relates to a book in the first volume, not this volume, and the book is full of typos.
As far as this specific edition of the books is concerned, the cover art relates to a book in the first volume, not this volume, and the book is full of typos.
June 12, 2019
More philosophical than Volume I, the third story opens with a whodunnit and overarching family politics where nearly everyone is vying for the empty throne. I wish the full arc treated women better, and that the female members of the royal family had more agency but this was written in the 1970s so unfortunately my wish will go unanswered.
I love the deceptions, many layers deeps and Corwin puzzling out the clues of what really happened before he lost his memory and who really caused/helped him during that period. I love the traveling between Shadows, the reliance on the Jewel of Judgment and blood. Living or dying by your sword really takes precedence here, and the nods to mythology once again made me smile even though they're not at all subtle.
I appreciate Random far more than Corwin by the last page (as I suspected I might) but the presence of Merlin didn't annoy me like I had feared when I read a summary and learned Corwin had a son. I don't see a need to read of Merlin's adventures at this time, however. I'm happy with the Chronicles of Amber ending here.
I love the deceptions, many layers deeps and Corwin puzzling out the clues of what really happened before he lost his memory and who really caused/helped him during that period. I love the traveling between Shadows, the reliance on the Jewel of Judgment and blood. Living or dying by your sword really takes precedence here, and the nods to mythology once again made me smile even though they're not at all subtle.
I appreciate Random far more than Corwin by the last page (as I suspected I might) but the presence of Merlin didn't annoy me like I had feared when I read a summary and learned Corwin had a son. I don't see a need to read of Merlin's adventures at this time, however. I'm happy with the Chronicles of Amber ending here.
March 19, 2017
The two volumes of this edition of the five-novel series turned out to be divided at a pretty natural break. As the first one left matters, Eric is dead and Corwin is de facto king of Amber. But his conscience is getting stronger than his ambition - quite a new development - and being king isn't all he cares about now. So he's become much more of a conventional hero than he was in the first part of the series. At the same time, the plot becomes much less of a conventional hero quest and more of a murder mystery with cosmic implications. The cosmic implications are to be expected, I guess, considering that the victims and suspects are all from the royal house of Amber, and new outside forces are involved too. That element gradually takes over the series until the finale is not much like anything I've read before - maybe The Lathe of Heaven is comparable, but with quite a different protagonist, and informed by a different philosophy.
September 7, 2012
Roger Zelazny was one of the hardest-working men in fantasy, and this series is one of the most successful explorations of new concepts in a well-worn field. If you've never read any Zelazny, Amber is a great place to start. If you've read it before, you already know why I'm reading it again. If you like swordplay, horses, intrigue, romance, or if you have a family, these stories will resonate for you. Enjoy!
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With reading several books at the same time (well, you know what I mean), this took longer than I would have expected. It was actually nice to drag it out, and go away from it for a few days, and then come back. In finishing it again today, for something like the third or fourth time, I think, I find that I am still impressed with Zalazny's story-telling. I feel that the man was a master of his craft, and I am looking forward to finding more of his stories.
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With reading several books at the same time (well, you know what I mean), this took longer than I would have expected. It was actually nice to drag it out, and go away from it for a few days, and then come back. In finishing it again today, for something like the third or fourth time, I think, I find that I am still impressed with Zalazny's story-telling. I feel that the man was a master of his craft, and I am looking forward to finding more of his stories.
June 22, 2015
The idea of 1 city being the only true city and all others being but shadows of it, is a fascinating one. This second volume sees Corwin fighting not for the throne this time, but to save the city, and therefore existence. It also included a nice twist with Corwin's dad. I saw signs of it coming but it was done in such a way that didn't make me feel like a fool for missing it.
The only trouble I had was the staccato descriptions of Corwin travelling through the Shadowas. It was like a description of a surreal dream. Not something I particularly care for. But the interplay between characters and the thought provoking discussions were great. Written in the 70s, there was a lot of influence from psychoanalytics.
The entire Chronicles of Amber saga was 5 books and each book was only about 150 pages. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it very much.
The only trouble I had was the staccato descriptions of Corwin travelling through the Shadowas. It was like a description of a surreal dream. Not something I particularly care for. But the interplay between characters and the thought provoking discussions were great. Written in the 70s, there was a lot of influence from psychoanalytics.
The entire Chronicles of Amber saga was 5 books and each book was only about 150 pages. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it very much.
January 1, 2016
It was alright, sometimes felt a little overlong. The intrigues among the royal family do flesh out Corwin's character and provide some drama, and the visual descriptions (especially in Courts of Chaos) are imaginative and engaging. I'd love to see a movie or comic book adaptation, since the visual descriptions feature so prominently. At the same time, I didn't feel like a whole lot of emotional engagement with the text -- I felt like there was about a book's worth of character development spread across the four in this collection.
February 8, 2020
For some reason I don't understand, this is tagged as as Chronicles of Amber 6-10. That is incorrect. This is a Science Fiction Book Club compilation of the last three books in the series: Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, and The Courts of Chaos. These are the last three books in the original series of five books. I freaking love this series. He wrote another series featuring the son of this series main character. That is the Second Chronicle of Amber, which comprises books 6-10 of the series.
June 11, 2012
Finished the Amber series, my first book by Roger Zelazny, one of my dad's favorite authors. A good blend of science fiction and fantasy. Although a bit dated, I was sad to see this author died so young. But anyways, it was a great fantasy epic, with twists about the bad guy I didn't see coming. If you like fantasy, and have the wherewithal to read through something a bit dated, you will like this series.
August 5, 2013
Books 3 - 5 in the Amber Chronicles, these books follow the struggle for the throne of Amber between the sons of Oberon. Fun pulp fiction and written as only Roger Zelazny can, these books are well worth reading for lovers of fantasy.
I gave these books only 4 stars as they were slightly less interesting than the first two novels in the series, but nonetheless, they are worthy of being read.
I gave these books only 4 stars as they were slightly less interesting than the first two novels in the series, but nonetheless, they are worthy of being read.
July 4, 2014
The three books in this set are some of the strongest entries in the series. The Sign of the Unicorn was a delightful noir murder mystery with medieval fantasy trappings. The Hand of Oberon continued the noir trend and delivered solid two-fisted action. The Courts of Chaos gave us not the ending we wanted but the ending the story deserved.
March 15, 2018
About halfway through the final book of this cycle (The Courts of Chaos) I finally realised why some readers give this series a bad review. The author seems to tire of his characters at about the same rate as the main character is exhausting himself to complete his quest. Nevertheless, worthwhile reading through to the end.
April 27, 2020
Not so much a review as that I have had these books since sometime in the very early 90s through a mail order book club. I never read them until now. Both books, Vol. I and Vol. II, where great books. I think I could see an evolution in the writing style and content. I would recommend the books and to keep reading. I liked the twists to the plot and direction.
March 16, 2012
The last 3/5s of the series left me a little disappointed. Just doesn't have the same luster as the first two books. Still a very important, even foundational, piece of fantasy lit, but some of the tropes felt a little tired. Probably because they've been used by so many subsequent writers.
January 30, 2021
(Despite what it says on goodreads, this is actually Amber 3-5 and not 6-10)
The layers of misinformation in this book are almost dizzying but the pulpy noir style definitely makes it feel like a mystery that happens to have an epic fantasy happening in the background
The layers of misinformation in this book are almost dizzying but the pulpy noir style definitely makes it feel like a mystery that happens to have an epic fantasy happening in the background
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