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The Chronicles of Amber #6-10
The Second Chronicles of Amber
In all the universe, Amber is the only true world. All others are Shadows, playthings for Amber's royal family -- sibling rivals who vault between worlds using tarot-like Trump cards and walk the labyrinthine Pattern, which confers the power to manipulate reality. Far removed from his native land, Merlin, son of Corwin of Amber and Dara of Chaos, has tried to build himself a normal Earthly life -- a life free of the cabals, vendettas and feuds that have torn his family apart. And he's done quite well for himself. . . except when it comes to April 30th. Because on that day, every year for the past eight years, someone -- or something -- has tried to kill him. Gunshots. Fires. Gas leaks. Car accidents. This year's attempt comes in the form of a huge, dog-like beast that tears his former girlfriend to bits -- and tries to do the same to him. Somebody must have it in for him, but who?
900 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
38 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Roger Zelazny
747 books3,888 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 59 reviews
August 13, 2022
The Second Chronicle of Amber follows the exploits of Corwin's son Merlin, whose half-Amber half-Chaos heritage makes him a perfect vessel for Zelazny to explore the duality of his Amberverse. Unfortunately, after the first two books the rest are a bit of a chore. Fans may enjoy but others can safely avoid.
Book One: Trumps of Doom
“It is a pain in the ass waiting around for someone to try to kill you.”
With that memorable opening sentence, so begins the Second Chronicles of Amber, starring Merlin (or "Merle") the son of the First Chronicles' Corwin, who is trying to survive an annual assassination attempt while trying to learn who is behind it and why they want to kill him. Answers are revealed by the end of the book but, as in the First Chronicles, it's merely an opportunity to open a larger story involving the often-deadly politics of the First Family of Amber.
Book Two: Blood of Amber
Book two of the Second Chronicles of Amber expands the family tree and introduces some new settings. The plot continues to revolve around the various intrigues involving the First Family of Amber as well as the duality between Amber and the Courts of Chaos that plays out across infinite shadow worlds. But there is a strong feeling of "been there done that" which pervades the story, a lack of distinction that makes it all feel like just another episode along the way to the eventual conclusion.
Book Three: Sign of Chaos
This middle book in the 5-part Second Chronicles of Amber drags a little with Middle Book Syndrome: no real resolutions, just plot complications, a few new characters and some unexpected reversals of fortune. Fans might neglect the Second Chronicles for not being quite as fresh as the First, and perhaps rightfully so, but there's still a lot of fun here for fantasy fans as Zelazny continues to flesh out and expand his Amberverse.
Book Four: Knight of Shadows
The fourth volume in the Second Chronicles of Amber has the job of setting up the final volume of the series. It therefore suffers from some of the "middle book syndrome" that plagues various fantasy books throughout history, including many of the Amber books. The story attempts to answer some of the questions raised by prior books in the series and takes the story in a new, unexpected direction but unfortunately the pacing is sluggish for most of the first half especially.
Book Five: Prince of Chaos
So ends the almighty Amber series, not with a bang but a whimper. One wonders if Zelazny, while battling the cancer that would ultimately claim his life, rushed the final three books in the second Amber series, which might account for the whiplash-like pacing issues in which some sections drag horribly and others seem to fly by too quickly. As many have previously noted, the first Amber series is a must-read for Fantasy aficionados, while the second series is for fans only.
Book One: Trumps of Doom
“It is a pain in the ass waiting around for someone to try to kill you.”
With that memorable opening sentence, so begins the Second Chronicles of Amber, starring Merlin (or "Merle") the son of the First Chronicles' Corwin, who is trying to survive an annual assassination attempt while trying to learn who is behind it and why they want to kill him. Answers are revealed by the end of the book but, as in the First Chronicles, it's merely an opportunity to open a larger story involving the often-deadly politics of the First Family of Amber.
Book Two: Blood of Amber
Book two of the Second Chronicles of Amber expands the family tree and introduces some new settings. The plot continues to revolve around the various intrigues involving the First Family of Amber as well as the duality between Amber and the Courts of Chaos that plays out across infinite shadow worlds. But there is a strong feeling of "been there done that" which pervades the story, a lack of distinction that makes it all feel like just another episode along the way to the eventual conclusion.
Book Three: Sign of Chaos
This middle book in the 5-part Second Chronicles of Amber drags a little with Middle Book Syndrome: no real resolutions, just plot complications, a few new characters and some unexpected reversals of fortune. Fans might neglect the Second Chronicles for not being quite as fresh as the First, and perhaps rightfully so, but there's still a lot of fun here for fantasy fans as Zelazny continues to flesh out and expand his Amberverse.
Book Four: Knight of Shadows
The fourth volume in the Second Chronicles of Amber has the job of setting up the final volume of the series. It therefore suffers from some of the "middle book syndrome" that plagues various fantasy books throughout history, including many of the Amber books. The story attempts to answer some of the questions raised by prior books in the series and takes the story in a new, unexpected direction but unfortunately the pacing is sluggish for most of the first half especially.
Book Five: Prince of Chaos
So ends the almighty Amber series, not with a bang but a whimper. One wonders if Zelazny, while battling the cancer that would ultimately claim his life, rushed the final three books in the second Amber series, which might account for the whiplash-like pacing issues in which some sections drag horribly and others seem to fly by too quickly. As many have previously noted, the first Amber series is a must-read for Fantasy aficionados, while the second series is for fans only.
April 9, 2014
I thank You Dear Heavenly Father for giving me strength to finish these novels.
August 23, 2014
This would be a 1/5 if not for the fact that its written in a readable manner. The only thing that made me go through it is the fact that the writing style was ok. Unispired, all over the place and boring... but ok.
This book took a lot out of me to finish.
In fact I'm not even sure I've got enough strength to review it.
So I'll just say that you can feel free to skip it entirely, because of the following reasons:
1) its story could've been told in half the amount of pages
2) the other half is one or more of the following depending on the passage: boring / nonsensical / inconsequential / random / painfully expository
3) the entire story doesn't amount to anything at all. It's safe to say that Merlin's storyline has no proper ending.
4) the main character spends his entire time being confused and misinformed, and so are you as the reader. But there's no real deductive work to do here. It's just introducing new concepts and important facts whenever the author finds it suits him.
Skip it. Seriously, just don't. The first Chronicles, about Corwin, had much of the same problems, so in fact I'm going to suggest you skip the entire series completely. This tome isn't much worse than the first one, it's just more of the same, and that stuff just isn't good enough to fill up the 1500+ pages of all 10 books.
So yeah. Don't. Save your time. You'll thank me later.
This book took a lot out of me to finish.
In fact I'm not even sure I've got enough strength to review it.
So I'll just say that you can feel free to skip it entirely, because of the following reasons:
1) its story could've been told in half the amount of pages
2) the other half is one or more of the following depending on the passage: boring / nonsensical / inconsequential / random / painfully expository
3) the entire story doesn't amount to anything at all. It's safe to say that Merlin's storyline has no proper ending.
4) the main character spends his entire time being confused and misinformed, and so are you as the reader. But there's no real deductive work to do here. It's just introducing new concepts and important facts whenever the author finds it suits him.
Skip it. Seriously, just don't. The first Chronicles, about Corwin, had much of the same problems, so in fact I'm going to suggest you skip the entire series completely. This tome isn't much worse than the first one, it's just more of the same, and that stuff just isn't good enough to fill up the 1500+ pages of all 10 books.
So yeah. Don't. Save your time. You'll thank me later.
March 26, 2007
A very disapointing follow up to the first (and fantastic) Amber series. Has the distinct feel of an author trying to mine his previous success, but to no avail. Tired and forced - stick to the first chronicles and leave your memories of Amber untainted.
November 16, 2008
What a disappointment. :-(
December 26, 2024
מרלין, בנו של הנסיך קורווין מהספרים הראשונים של אמבר, חוזר לאמבר (שהיא המקום האמיתי היחיד וכל שאר העולמות הם צללים שלה) בעקבות ניסיונות התנקשות בחייו והופך להיות מעורב במלחמות רבות בין העולמות.
מתחיל נחמד כמו סדרת הספרים הראשונה אבל הופך להיות מורכב מדי ובסוף כבר לא היה לי אכפת.
גם פה התרגום מיושן ולא ברור. היו משפטים שלא הבנתי בכלל.
מתחיל נחמד כמו סדרת הספרים הראשונה אבל הופך להיות מורכב מדי ובסוף כבר לא היה לי אכפת.
גם פה התרגום מיושן ולא ברור. היו משפטים שלא הבנתי בכלל.
July 12, 2025
мені це п'ятикнижжя сподобалось набагато більше, ніж Корвінівське. чи я втягнулась?
але тут і пригод більше, і самозакоханості менше. хоча під кінець якось надто багато магічного "чітерства" з боку Мерля. х
але тут і пригод більше, і самозакоханості менше. хоча під кінець якось надто багато магічного "чітерства" з боку Мерля. х
April 11, 2025
Definitely not as good as the first Chronicles of Amber, but still entertaining.
It expands the Amber universe however while doing so tries to introduce too many new concepts at the same
time (sorcery, sentient AIs, demons, the sphinx, etc) - without ever properly developing any of them.
This is also noticeable in the plot which is all over the place. Certain storylines seem important and then they just fade out. Villains that spend years planning something only to drop it from one moment to the other. And the list goes on.
My other disappointment was the ending. It was very anti-climatic considering all the build up throughout the whole book.
It expands the Amber universe however while doing so tries to introduce too many new concepts at the same
time (sorcery, sentient AIs, demons, the sphinx, etc) - without ever properly developing any of them.
This is also noticeable in the plot which is all over the place. Certain storylines seem important and then they just fade out. Villains that spend years planning something only to drop it from one moment to the other. And the list goes on.
My other disappointment was the ending. It was very anti-climatic considering all the build up throughout the whole book.
October 19, 2017
Захватывающее приключение, заставляющее переворачивать страницы. Повороты истории Мерлина чуть менее остросюжетны, чем его отца Корвина в первом томе. Но написано явно лучше - не понимаю людей, разочаровавшихся в продолжении. Финал только поспешный, Желязны тогда явно устал от этой долгой серии романов.
Интересно было узнать продолжение/завершение истории, начавшейся в "Девяти принцах Амбера", но я бы не назвал "Хроники..." произведением, которое в этом жанре нужно знать обязательно.
Интересно было узнать продолжение/завершение истории, начавшейся в "Девяти принцах Амбера", но я бы не назвал "Хроники..." произведением, которое в этом жанре нужно знать обязательно.
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":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
August 29, 2025
Лише тому, що це класика, ставлю 4/5, а не нижче. Біганина, постійний потік свідомості подій дуже втомлює. Може це залежить від обставин, в яких читається ця друга підбірка книг про Мерліна..
Зрештою, Желязни може бути теж забагато, якщо зробити вовчу помилку і гнатися до повного виснаження за завершенням книг.
Читайте виважено, робіть паузи, спробуйте віднайти зупинки для власного розуму і серця поміж станами свідомості Роджера)
Зрештою, Желязни може бути теж забагато, якщо зробити вовчу помилку і гнатися до повного виснаження за завершенням книг.
Читайте виважено, робіть паузи, спробуйте віднайти зупинки для власного розуму і серця поміж станами свідомості Роджера)
August 1, 2015
Roger Zelazny's First Chronicles of Amber is a truly towering work in the field of science fiction and fantasy; his Second Chronicles of Amber is not.
The First Chronicles follows Corwin as he regains his memory, discovers his role as one of the Princes of Amber - the one true city in all of creation - wrangles his feuding relatives, travels on an epic quest, and fights against the the Courts of Chaos - Amber's polar opposite - in a war that has consequences for the entire universe. It is gripping, witty, and original stuff.
The Second Chronicles is devoted to Corwin's son, Merlin, a half-breed prince of both Amber and Chaos. It begins promisingly, as several attempts are made on his life, with Merlin working to find out just who has it in for him. By about midway through, however, it is increasinlgy clear that there is simply too much going on. By the end, there are far too many instances of deus ex machina used to advance the story, and a number of subplots are never resolved in a way that could be called wholly satisfactory.
This is not to say that The Second Chronicles are bad; they aren't. But where Corwin was a soldier fighting in a magical world, Merlin is a sorceror, and there is a much heavier emphasis on magic than on the cunning and daring that characterizes the story of his father. The First Chronicles is a must-read; the Second is decent enough, but of lesser stature, and a compelling work for Amber completists only.
The First Chronicles follows Corwin as he regains his memory, discovers his role as one of the Princes of Amber - the one true city in all of creation - wrangles his feuding relatives, travels on an epic quest, and fights against the the Courts of Chaos - Amber's polar opposite - in a war that has consequences for the entire universe. It is gripping, witty, and original stuff.
The Second Chronicles is devoted to Corwin's son, Merlin, a half-breed prince of both Amber and Chaos. It begins promisingly, as several attempts are made on his life, with Merlin working to find out just who has it in for him. By about midway through, however, it is increasinlgy clear that there is simply too much going on. By the end, there are far too many instances of deus ex machina used to advance the story, and a number of subplots are never resolved in a way that could be called wholly satisfactory.
This is not to say that The Second Chronicles are bad; they aren't. But where Corwin was a soldier fighting in a magical world, Merlin is a sorceror, and there is a much heavier emphasis on magic than on the cunning and daring that characterizes the story of his father. The First Chronicles is a must-read; the Second is decent enough, but of lesser stature, and a compelling work for Amber completists only.
October 7, 2014
Good, readable but not up to the first five books. I enjoyed it...but couldn't measure up to the first chronicles.
August 8, 2024
Дуже посереднє продовження гарної саги. Цей том можна було не читати.
April 27, 2023
"ХРОНІКИ АМБЕРА" (п'ятикнижжя Корвіна та п'ятикнижжя Мерліна) Роджер Желязни.
10/10⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Жанр: фентезі.
"Таке життя: довіряй – і тебе обдурять, не довіряй – обдуришся сам. Як і більшість парадоксів, він нерозв'язний."
Хроніки Амбера... Ці книги мені порадив один знайомий. І коли я побачила їх, перше що я подумала, Огооо які велетенські, як же довго я буду їх читати. І тут я дуже помилилася. Бо вони мене так захопили, що прочитала я їх так швидко, наскільки це можливо. І вони назавжди залишаться в моєму особистому топ 3.
Це цикл із 10 книг. В першій п'ятірці розповідається про Корвіна, а інша п'ятірка присвячена його сину Мерліну.
І так, уявіть собі, що є безліч світів, точніше тіней. Тисячі, мільйоні... Але головних та справжніх світів тільки два, це Амбер та Хаос. І вони, як дві половинки терезів, на одній чаші Порядок, це Амбер, а на іншій чаші це Хаос, у всій свої подобі. І коли в королівстві Амбер, зникає правлячий король, і трон залишається вільним, тут і починається справжня боротьба за владу. Боротьба, між дев'ятьох принців, де кожен з них, має свій погляд, свої сильні сторони та слабкості. І мають силу, переміщатися між світами. А ще, в них є чарівні сестри, принцеси, які також плетуть інтриги та заговори, які прагнуть отримати свою користь. І принцу Корвіну, доведеться розібратися, кому можна довіряти, а кому ні, в своєму бажанні посісти престол. Бо ж іноді ті, в кому ти ніколи не сумніваєшся, можуть встромити тобі ножа в спину.
Епічні битви, сильні суперники, непрості відносини в королівській родинні, де всі члени сім'ї такі різні і амбітні, але автору, так чудово вдалося описати персонажів, що починаєш розуміти мотиви кожного. І не варто судити людину по одному вчинку. Про це, в цій книзі дуже добре показано. А подорож між світами, це як окремий вид мистецтва. Як тільки неймовірно змінюється природа, краєвиди, і все навкруги. Я просто закривала очі, і уявляла себе однієї з героїнь, яке з легкість може переміститися куди забажає. І які тут тільки сюжетні повороти!!! Ти просто не встигаєш за всіма подіями, так швидко і круто вони змінюються. Тому раджу цю книгу всім фанатам фентезі!
10/10⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Жанр: фентезі.
"Таке життя: довіряй – і тебе обдурять, не довіряй – обдуришся сам. Як і більшість парадоксів, він нерозв'язний."
Хроніки Амбера... Ці книги мені порадив один знайомий. І коли я побачила їх, перше що я подумала, Огооо які велетенські, як же довго я буду їх читати. І тут я дуже помилилася. Бо вони мене так захопили, що прочитала я їх так швидко, наскільки це можливо. І вони назавжди залишаться в моєму особистому топ 3.
Це цикл із 10 книг. В першій п'ятірці розповідається про Корвіна, а інша п'ятірка присвячена його сину Мерліну.
І так, уявіть собі, що є безліч світів, точніше тіней. Тисячі, мільйоні... Але головних та справжніх світів тільки два, це Амбер та Хаос. І вони, як дві половинки терезів, на одній чаші Порядок, це Амбер, а на іншій чаші це Хаос, у всій свої подобі. І коли в королівстві Амбер, зникає правлячий король, і трон залишається вільним, тут і починається справжня боротьба за владу. Боротьба, між дев'ятьох принців, де кожен з них, має свій погляд, свої сильні сторони та слабкості. І мають силу, переміщатися між світами. А ще, в них є чарівні сестри, принцеси, які також плетуть інтриги та заговори, які прагнуть отримати свою користь. І принцу Корвіну, доведеться розібратися, кому можна довіряти, а кому ні, в своєму бажанні посісти престол. Бо ж іноді ті, в кому ти ніколи не сумніваєшся, можуть встромити тобі ножа в спину.
Епічні битви, сильні суперники, непрості відносини в королівській родинні, де всі члени сім'ї такі різні і амбітні, але автору, так чудово вдалося описати персонажів, що починаєш розуміти мотиви кожного. І не варто судити людину по одному вчинку. Про це, в цій книзі дуже добре показано. А подорож між світами, це як окремий вид мистецтва. Як тільки неймовірно змінюється природа, краєвиди, і все навкруги. Я просто закривала очі, і уявляла себе однієї з героїнь, яке з легкість може переміститися куди забажає. І які тут тільки сюжетні повороти!!! Ти просто не встигаєш за всіма подіями, так швидко і круто вони змінюються. Тому раджу цю книгу всім фанатам фентезі!
April 10, 2023
Nope, really not a good reading for me, sadly...
I'm not fond of sci-fi, but that's not why I didn't enjoy reading this book, it's the writing style.
I don't want to count the number of time when the reader could have learned something and Merlin (or the other caracters) answers to a question that the reader also wonder, by a "I can't explain you now, I want to check something before" or "I can't explain you now, I don't have time", or just simply "not yet".
It really really ruined the first omnibus book's reading and it didn't go better with this one, really not !
I also feel that every woman Merlin met was one ready for sex story. Not a single one was really special, or rather, everyone of them was special... actually, I don't really have any idea.
I like following Merlin to see how he wanted to manage all by himself, but....seriously, he's the dalaï lama, he can forgive to everyone having a hard past with him. And for this epilogue, seriously, there was none, after reading so long an omnibus ?
We won't know absolutely nothing about all the caracters that evolve around him. Even his father's disappearance who seemed to bother him... well, not quite often, was smashed in a few sentences throughout the book and that's all. I add the feeling that the author told himself : well, I have to write a few sentence, from time to time, to give the reader the sensation that :
- yes, Merlin is preoccupied by his father
- yes, Merlin has some love to share with a woman (or every woman he meets)
- yes, what's about his doubled legacy of his mother and his father side
... well, that didn't really work for me, NOT AT ALL...
I'm not fond of sci-fi, but that's not why I didn't enjoy reading this book, it's the writing style.
I don't want to count the number of time when the reader could have learned something and Merlin (or the other caracters) answers to a question that the reader also wonder, by a "I can't explain you now, I want to check something before" or "I can't explain you now, I don't have time", or just simply "not yet".
It really really ruined the first omnibus book's reading and it didn't go better with this one, really not !
I also feel that every woman Merlin met was one ready for sex story. Not a single one was really special, or rather, everyone of them was special... actually, I don't really have any idea.
I like following Merlin to see how he wanted to manage all by himself, but....seriously, he's the dalaï lama, he can forgive to everyone having a hard past with him. And for this epilogue, seriously, there was none, after reading so long an omnibus ?
We won't know absolutely nothing about all the caracters that evolve around him. Even his father's disappearance who seemed to bother him... well, not quite often, was smashed in a few sentences throughout the book and that's all. I add the feeling that the author told himself : well, I have to write a few sentence, from time to time, to give the reader the sensation that :
- yes, Merlin is preoccupied by his father
- yes, Merlin has some love to share with a woman (or every woman he meets)
- yes, what's about his doubled legacy of his mother and his father side
... well, that didn't really work for me, NOT AT ALL...
December 19, 2025
O conjunto da obra é meio que uma zona, mas acaba sendo gostoso de ler. Os personagens são bem legais. O ritmo dá umas derrapadas. Dá para ver que o autor teve umas ideias nas últimas partes que suplantaram o que ele estava fazendo antes, alguns personagens são convenientemente tirados de cena porque não se sabe muito bem o que fazer com eles...
Mas o mundinho é evocativo, o protagonista é bacana, as vibes vão fundo. Eu li esse antes do primeiro por Motivos, mas gostei o suficiente do grande elenco para depois voltar e ver como é o ciclo do Corwin.
No geral, longe de perfeito, mas tem o coração no lugar certo. Dava para ver que tinha mais pano pra manga, mas o autor faleceu antes de dar sequência. É a pena.
Mas o mundinho é evocativo, o protagonista é bacana, as vibes vão fundo. Eu li esse antes do primeiro por Motivos, mas gostei o suficiente do grande elenco para depois voltar e ver como é o ciclo do Corwin.
No geral, longe de perfeito, mas tem o coração no lugar certo. Dava para ver que tinha mais pano pra manga, mas o autor faleceu antes de dar sequência. É a pena.
January 20, 2010
German edition – German review:
Die Trümpfe des jüngsten Gerichts:
Der sechste Band des Amber-Zyklus ist dem ersten Band strukturell sehr ähnlich. Wie schon dort, steigt Zelazny hier in medias res ein und erzählt aus der Perspektive eines auf der Erde verweilenden Amberiten, ohne dessen Herkunft und seine damit verbundenen besonderen Fähigkeiten zu erwähnen. In diesem Fall handelt es sich um Merle Corey alias Merlin von Amber, den Sohn von Corwin, dessen Geschichte die ersten fünf Bände umfasste. Merle arbeitet in einer Computerfirma, entwirft nebenher sein Geistrad, eine Art Supercomputer zur Überwachung der Schatten, und muss sich regelmäßig am 30. April wiederkehrender Anschläge auf sein Leben erwehren. Die Suche nach dem Unbekannten beginnt, der es scheinbar nicht nur auf Merles Leben, sondern auch auf das aller anderen überlebenden Familienmitglieder abgesehen hat...
Der Band liest sich flüssig und die Handlungsführung ist nicht mehr so ruckartig und unbeholfen wie in den ersten Bänden. Der Spannungsaufbau ist gekonnt, auch wenn Teile des Plots etwas vorhersehbar wirken, und dass der Band mit einem Cliffhanger endet, sollte inzwischen nicht mehr überraschen. Auch die in den ersten Bänden manchmal etwas lang geratenen Schattenwanderungs-Sequenzen sind auf ein erträgliches Maß reduziert worden und stören den Lesefluss nicht mehr, vielmehr vermögen sie jetzt ihre Wirkung als atmosphärisches Mittel gut zu entfalten.
Das Blut von Amber:
Merlins Abenteuer gehen weiter, die Intrigen verdichten sich und auch dieser Band endet mit einem Cliffhanger (diesmal aus Lewis Carroll). Stilistisch und atmosphärisch geradlinige Fantasy, die ihre Spannung aus der Beschränkung auf Merlins begrenzte Perspektive zieht, die den Leser miträtseln lässt, wer sich denn nun hinter diesem oder jenem Ereignis verbirgt. Der Roman ist gut lesbar, auch wenn sich sonst wenig dazu sagen lässt, da hier noch alle Handlungsstränge offen sind.
Zeichen des Chaos:
Der Roman beginnt mit einer Hommage an Lewis Carroll, in dessen Alice-Romanen Luke und Merlin zunächst gefangen sind, bevor es mit den Konflikten um den Hort der vier Welten, den rätselhaften Zauberer mit der Maske, Geistrad, Amber und die Höfe des Chaos weitergeht. Nach einigen diplomatischen Verwicklungen, in deren Verlauf neue Verwandte ins Spiel kommen, kommt es zum Kampf um den Hort der vier Welten und die Identität von Maske wird überraschend enthüllt...
Ein etwas strafferer Handlungsverlauf hätte dem Roman meines Erachtens nicht geschadet. Nach der zehnten Handlungsverzögerung durch neue Komplikationen wurde ich doch etwas ungeduldig.
Ritter der Schatten:
Nach dem Kampf um den Hort der vier Welten wird Merlin in eine Ebene zwischen den Schatten versetzt. Von diesem surrealen Ort voller Geistererscheinungen gibt es kein Entkommen und die Mächte von Muster und Logrus verlangen eine Entscheidung von Merlin. Wem wird er fortan dienen, der Schlange oder dem Einhorn?
Die Episode in dem Zwischenreich erinnert an die Questen des spätmittelalterlichen höfischen Romans, mit seinen allegorischen âventiuren. Auf Dauer ging mir das jedoch etwas auf die Nerven, ebenso wie die permanente Verunklarung der Handlung. Es ist etwas unerquicklich, wenn über vier Romane hinweg völlig undurchsichtig bleibt, wer was warum macht. Zumal einen das Gefühl beschleicht, es werde nie wirklich geklärt werden, zu sehr verlaufen die Rätsel im Sande. So zum Beispiel die ganze Geschichte um Geistrad, das zunächst ein supermächtiger Akteur war, dessen Motive und Allianzen im Dunklen blieben, das jetzt aber zu einem fügsamen gadget Merlins geworden ist, ohne dass das motiviert worden wäre oder aber seine früheren Handlungen plausibel gemacht wurden.
Prinz des Chaos:
Nach dem Ableben seines Vaters steht Merlin in der Thronfolge nun ziemlich weit oben und der Kampf um die Herrschaftsnachfolge in den Burgen des Chaos ist in vollem Gange. Merlin muss steht dabei nicht nur zwischen den beiden Mächten von Amber-Muster und Chaos-Logrus, sondern muss sich auf der Suche nach seinem Vater Corwin auch noch den Plänen und Intrigen seiner Mutter Dara und seines Bruders Mandor widersetzen. Zur Seite stehen ihm dabei Luke/Rinaldo, Geistrad, das Ty'iga und einige Nebenfiguren wie Söldnerführer Dalt und Coral von Amber.
Die Auflösung der Pentalogie fand ich mehr als enttäuschend. Nach all den Intrigen, Ränkespielen und undurchsichtigen Manövern, löst sich letztendlich alles durch ein kurzes, lapidar erzähltes und auf der reinen magischen Übermacht Merlins beruhendes Duell mit Dara und Mandor auf. Das ist nach all den Verstrickungen doch reichlich einfallslos und geradezu anti-klimaktisch. Merlin ist noch nicht einmal ernsthaft in Gefahr bei diesem Kampf, er gerät höchstens etwas ins Schwitzen, so viel Macht verleihen ihm Speichenring und Geistrad. Apropos Geistrad: ein weiterer extrem schwacher Moment ist hier die plötzliche Allmacht Geistrads, das auf einmal locker dem Logrus selbst auf seinem ureigenen Territorium widerstehen kann, nachdem es nur wenige Momente zuvor von einem niederen Dämon und Spielgefährten Merlins gefangengehalten wurde. Das erscheint reichlich willkürlich und unausgegoren...
Die Ausgabe des Area-Verlages ist sehr erschwinglich und auch wenn die Innengestaltung nichts besonderes ist, macht sich der Band sehr gut im Bücherregal. Umso bedauerlicher, dass die Ausgabe seit der Verlagsauflösung out-of-print ist. Einziges Manko: in die Übersetzung scheinen sich doch ein paar ärgerliche Fehler eingeschlichen zu haben, z.B. dass einmal offenbar "curse" mit "Kurs" übersetzt wurde u.ä.
Die Trümpfe des jüngsten Gerichts:
Der sechste Band des Amber-Zyklus ist dem ersten Band strukturell sehr ähnlich. Wie schon dort, steigt Zelazny hier in medias res ein und erzählt aus der Perspektive eines auf der Erde verweilenden Amberiten, ohne dessen Herkunft und seine damit verbundenen besonderen Fähigkeiten zu erwähnen. In diesem Fall handelt es sich um Merle Corey alias Merlin von Amber, den Sohn von Corwin, dessen Geschichte die ersten fünf Bände umfasste. Merle arbeitet in einer Computerfirma, entwirft nebenher sein Geistrad, eine Art Supercomputer zur Überwachung der Schatten, und muss sich regelmäßig am 30. April wiederkehrender Anschläge auf sein Leben erwehren. Die Suche nach dem Unbekannten beginnt, der es scheinbar nicht nur auf Merles Leben, sondern auch auf das aller anderen überlebenden Familienmitglieder abgesehen hat...
Der Band liest sich flüssig und die Handlungsführung ist nicht mehr so ruckartig und unbeholfen wie in den ersten Bänden. Der Spannungsaufbau ist gekonnt, auch wenn Teile des Plots etwas vorhersehbar wirken, und dass der Band mit einem Cliffhanger endet, sollte inzwischen nicht mehr überraschen. Auch die in den ersten Bänden manchmal etwas lang geratenen Schattenwanderungs-Sequenzen sind auf ein erträgliches Maß reduziert worden und stören den Lesefluss nicht mehr, vielmehr vermögen sie jetzt ihre Wirkung als atmosphärisches Mittel gut zu entfalten.
Das Blut von Amber:
Merlins Abenteuer gehen weiter, die Intrigen verdichten sich und auch dieser Band endet mit einem Cliffhanger (diesmal aus Lewis Carroll). Stilistisch und atmosphärisch geradlinige Fantasy, die ihre Spannung aus der Beschränkung auf Merlins begrenzte Perspektive zieht, die den Leser miträtseln lässt, wer sich denn nun hinter diesem oder jenem Ereignis verbirgt. Der Roman ist gut lesbar, auch wenn sich sonst wenig dazu sagen lässt, da hier noch alle Handlungsstränge offen sind.
Zeichen des Chaos:
Der Roman beginnt mit einer Hommage an Lewis Carroll, in dessen Alice-Romanen Luke und Merlin zunächst gefangen sind, bevor es mit den Konflikten um den Hort der vier Welten, den rätselhaften Zauberer mit der Maske, Geistrad, Amber und die Höfe des Chaos weitergeht. Nach einigen diplomatischen Verwicklungen, in deren Verlauf neue Verwandte ins Spiel kommen, kommt es zum Kampf um den Hort der vier Welten und die Identität von Maske wird überraschend enthüllt...
Ein etwas strafferer Handlungsverlauf hätte dem Roman meines Erachtens nicht geschadet. Nach der zehnten Handlungsverzögerung durch neue Komplikationen wurde ich doch etwas ungeduldig.
Ritter der Schatten:
Nach dem Kampf um den Hort der vier Welten wird Merlin in eine Ebene zwischen den Schatten versetzt. Von diesem surrealen Ort voller Geistererscheinungen gibt es kein Entkommen und die Mächte von Muster und Logrus verlangen eine Entscheidung von Merlin. Wem wird er fortan dienen, der Schlange oder dem Einhorn?
Die Episode in dem Zwischenreich erinnert an die Questen des spätmittelalterlichen höfischen Romans, mit seinen allegorischen âventiuren. Auf Dauer ging mir das jedoch etwas auf die Nerven, ebenso wie die permanente Verunklarung der Handlung. Es ist etwas unerquicklich, wenn über vier Romane hinweg völlig undurchsichtig bleibt, wer was warum macht. Zumal einen das Gefühl beschleicht, es werde nie wirklich geklärt werden, zu sehr verlaufen die Rätsel im Sande. So zum Beispiel die ganze Geschichte um Geistrad, das zunächst ein supermächtiger Akteur war, dessen Motive und Allianzen im Dunklen blieben, das jetzt aber zu einem fügsamen gadget Merlins geworden ist, ohne dass das motiviert worden wäre oder aber seine früheren Handlungen plausibel gemacht wurden.
Prinz des Chaos:
Nach dem Ableben seines Vaters steht Merlin in der Thronfolge nun ziemlich weit oben und der Kampf um die Herrschaftsnachfolge in den Burgen des Chaos ist in vollem Gange. Merlin muss steht dabei nicht nur zwischen den beiden Mächten von Amber-Muster und Chaos-Logrus, sondern muss sich auf der Suche nach seinem Vater Corwin auch noch den Plänen und Intrigen seiner Mutter Dara und seines Bruders Mandor widersetzen. Zur Seite stehen ihm dabei Luke/Rinaldo, Geistrad, das Ty'iga und einige Nebenfiguren wie Söldnerführer Dalt und Coral von Amber.
Die Auflösung der Pentalogie fand ich mehr als enttäuschend. Nach all den Intrigen, Ränkespielen und undurchsichtigen Manövern, löst sich letztendlich alles durch ein kurzes, lapidar erzähltes und auf der reinen magischen Übermacht Merlins beruhendes Duell mit Dara und Mandor auf. Das ist nach all den Verstrickungen doch reichlich einfallslos und geradezu anti-klimaktisch. Merlin ist noch nicht einmal ernsthaft in Gefahr bei diesem Kampf, er gerät höchstens etwas ins Schwitzen, so viel Macht verleihen ihm Speichenring und Geistrad. Apropos Geistrad: ein weiterer extrem schwacher Moment ist hier die plötzliche Allmacht Geistrads, das auf einmal locker dem Logrus selbst auf seinem ureigenen Territorium widerstehen kann, nachdem es nur wenige Momente zuvor von einem niederen Dämon und Spielgefährten Merlins gefangengehalten wurde. Das erscheint reichlich willkürlich und unausgegoren...
Die Ausgabe des Area-Verlages ist sehr erschwinglich und auch wenn die Innengestaltung nichts besonderes ist, macht sich der Band sehr gut im Bücherregal. Umso bedauerlicher, dass die Ausgabe seit der Verlagsauflösung out-of-print ist. Einziges Manko: in die Übersetzung scheinen sich doch ein paar ärgerliche Fehler eingeschlichen zu haben, z.B. dass einmal offenbar "curse" mit "Kurs" übersetzt wurde u.ä.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2017
Great continuation of the saga. I liked it.
Yet closer to the end the plot was badly manipulated. E.g.
- Spikard ring was a nonsense 'deus ex machina' and clearly abused.
- So was the Ghostwheel.
- So were the duplicate ghosts.
- The Julia drama was revived as the Mask and then abruptly cut off.
- Brother Jurt quits vendetta and becomes a close pal. Really?
- And the hastily sketched final chords.
To name a few. It's such a shame.
Has Roger got a writer's block or was he in harry to finish the story?
Nevertheless, sorry to leave the guys and the universe.
Now I see why there are so many fanfic spin-offs. )
Yet closer to the end the plot was badly manipulated. E.g.
- Spikard ring was a nonsense 'deus ex machina' and clearly abused.
- So was the Ghostwheel.
- So were the duplicate ghosts.
- The Julia drama was revived as the Mask and then abruptly cut off.
- Brother Jurt quits vendetta and becomes a close pal. Really?
- And the hastily sketched final chords.
To name a few. It's such a shame.
Has Roger got a writer's block or was he in harry to finish the story?
Nevertheless, sorry to leave the guys and the universe.
Now I see why there are so many fanfic spin-offs. )
July 1, 2023
The continuing story of Amber and Chaos as only Zelazny could have imagined it is nearly as much fun as the earlier Chronicles, if a bit long at 900 pages. This volume covers The Chronicles of Amber #6-10 and mostly concerns Corwin's son, Merlin. Magic, Shadow and political intrigue intertwine in a plot-driven story that barely leaves the reader time to catch a breath. This is great fun for those of us who loved the first Amber books. Zelazny is plowing familiar ground with characters we already know, and that ultimately tired me out as I approached the last pages, but for pure escapism, nothing beats the Amber series.
May 4, 2024
Merlin Sleep Walks to a Conclusion
A more satisfying read than the Corwin cycle. Merlin is somewhat naive about everything but muddles on through as one scale after another falls from his eyes. I liked the tricky demon always lurking in the background somewhere. Not so keen on the long, oft repeated, trips through shadow that go on for several pages as snippets of sentences describing various weird vistas and locations. I understood the process after the first shadow walk. Certainly lots of loose ends that could be developed further. Not quite on a par with Corum or Elric.
A more satisfying read than the Corwin cycle. Merlin is somewhat naive about everything but muddles on through as one scale after another falls from his eyes. I liked the tricky demon always lurking in the background somewhere. Not so keen on the long, oft repeated, trips through shadow that go on for several pages as snippets of sentences describing various weird vistas and locations. I understood the process after the first shadow walk. Certainly lots of loose ends that could be developed further. Not quite on a par with Corum or Elric.
November 20, 2017
I am sad to say the sequel too the firts chronicles was a (great) disappointment. The reason for not giving it just 1 star is thanks to the fact that he didn't entirely break with the previous books.
Maybe my hype for these books brought me to these rating, but I am everything except pleased with the sequel.
If it wasn't for the first books, I probably would not have read the books completely ...
Maybe my hype for these books brought me to these rating, but I am everything except pleased with the sequel.
If it wasn't for the first books, I probably would not have read the books completely ...
December 13, 2018
I read this in college and didn't really understand it. This last re-read, made a lot more sense, but there are huge plot holes. A lot of weird sequences that don't make sense and are forgotten and left unexplained by the author later on. And then, the problem that the main character is kind of a dick. Which, some people are, so. But the world-building is cool enough to bring it up to 4 stars.
July 17, 2024
I must say, finishing this was a chore. In my opinion it lacked some of the clarity and energy of the first volume. I wondered often whether Zelazny was under the influence of drugs while writing. The narrative rambled and at times became tedious. In the end it was worth the reading but I cannot say that it was enjoyable.
July 14, 2025
Jeden z najhorších čitateľských zážitkov, problémy z jednotky sú tak trikrát horšie a zároveň sme našli vrchol úplne náhodného a neuspokojúceho konca. Jediný plus je že hlavná postava nie je až tak jednodimenzionálna ako Corwin. Nedoporučujem pokiaľ nechcete len vidieť ako hlboko môže fantasy klesnúť. 1.5/10
August 21, 2025
Читав серію в юності, був нею дуже вражений, дуже потужна фантазія в автора, правда, оце пізніше почав перечитувати і зрозумів, що деякі шари змісту тікали від мене, треба в дорослому віці читати ще раз. Точно не для шанувальників простенького бойового фентезі, це глибока річ для тих, хто вже подужав Толкіна та не заснув на старій Дюні.
January 22, 2019
While the plot is sound, the characters continue to phase in and out of caricature. This, coupled with the author's styling in the first person perspective, made this read particularly tedious for me.
March 6, 2018
Beautifully written, intriguing plots... Dissatisfying ending.
April 27, 2021
Part two fits on the shelf next to its twin brother
December 17, 2023
Nie warto
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