Product Description
A collection of short tales includes works of alien gambles and fantastic wagers by such authors as Joe Haldeman, Gahan Wilson, and Nina Kirika Hoffman, and highlights such characters as a down-and-out gambler given a final chance by Lady Luck. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Satisfying end to the first Amber series.
The fifth entry in the Amber Chronicles, this is the best so far. Zelazny wraps up loose ends and brings the first Amber series to a close. But unlike the final entries in some other series, this doesn't suffer from anticlimactic unraveling. Instead, the action reaches a climactic point -- no more of the overlong exposition here -- and we're truly in suspense awaiting the fate of Corwin, and Amber. Zelazny's psychedelic renderings as Corwin passes through alternate realities have improved since early on and are, well, a trip!

Satisfying. I'm so glad I stayed with Amber despite not liking the first book. I'm looking forward to finding out where Zelazny takes things in the second series. I'm already awaiting my copy of Trumps of Doom (Chronicles of Amber)!

(Incidentally, the Amber novels are now in print only as a single large anthology: The Great Book of Amber: The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10 (Chronicles of Amber). Since I don't want to lug that around, I'm reading old copies of the paperbacks instead.)

Not Free SF Reader
With Oberon back, war with Chaos appears inevitable, something which does not thrill Corwin.Oberon therefore dispatches him on a mission through Shadow.

More subterfuge is discovered, and in the end, the unicorn with the Jewel of Judgement appears.

Great premise, terrible rambling style
I am very disappointed in this author, though I continue to read the series.I find myself skimming.I don't have the patience to put up with his nonsense, but I do want to know how the story develops.

He makes us wait and wade through garbage before he continues telling us the story.He sends us through unreal and just plain stupid scenes, describing them in detail as if they are real and significant, when in fact they are just vague meanderings of the mind of an author who has gone way off the track.

We never know how a friend or enemy will turn out.Maybe an apparent friend will attack Corwin suddenly.Maybe an apparent lover and soul mate will simply get stubborn and ditch Corwin.Maybe an enemy will suddenly be just peachy keen.It all depends on what side of the bed Roger has woken up on.There is no consistency, only the whim of the writer.

There are no rules to his universe.The only rule is that he will do what he damn pleases at any moment, and will bore and frustrate the hell out of his readers whenever he likes.He will go on and on about some stupid philosophy, and then will make fun of it.

It is a frustrating experience to read this series because the writing is often terrible, but the basic premise of the story is excellent and makes me want to keep skimming, if not actually reading, this garbage.

I wish someone taught the author how to tell a story directly.He needed an editor who would take this epic ten story fantasy and cut it down to a fraction of its size, leaving out all the bull.

At one point he decides to give us a bar full of leprechauns.For God's sake.At one point he decides to give us a friendly jackal who suddenly turns to attack.Oh leave me alone, you frustrating excuse for a writer.You have made your point.You will pull anything you like out of your tush and call it a story.What a waste of a sensational premise.I just wish that a good author wrote this series.

Does anyone really read every word as you describe one more boring unreal scene after another, oh there are flowers falling, oh the sky is zebra colored, oh there is no sense of gravity here, oh there is a stranger standing there staring, oh there is a woman hanged, oh the leaves rustle, blah blah blah.Put your head on straight, stop screwing around, and just tell us a story.

Follow the Solid Black Road
Finally, the end is in sight.With the fifth volume in the Amber series Zelazny brings the first cycle to a close.Oberon has returned to the throne, Brand has been revealed as the real traitor, and the Courts of Chaos await the final battle for Amber's existence.Corwin finds his sudden relegation to second fiddle irksome, especially since Oberon's offhand manner hasn't changed in the least, but he knows his duty and the family pulls together for the final struggle.

The key order of business is to repair the damage to the pattern and close down the threat of the black road.Oberon's final decision, to remake the pattern is one that will likely kill him, whether he succeeds or fails, and Corwin suddenly discovers that his irritation with his father is only skin deep.It is with a heavy heart that Corwin follows his father's command and starts his hell ride for the courts.

And runs straight into Brand, who has no intention of allowing Corwin and Oberon to undo his plotting and return things to normal.Corwin is delayed by one conflict after another.Not only is the final outcome in doubt, but the reader must cope with the possibility of two endings at once.

It was no mean feat in the 1970's to turn out a five volume series that could keep reader interest at a high level.As the volumes progress, the writing develops, and it is interesting to compare this book, which consists of one long and detailed hell ride to other efforts in the series to capture traveling through the shadows.The Courts of Chaos find Zelazny a much stronger writer than he was when the series started out.He not only sets a compelling pace, but Corwin's character blooms as a several thousand year old man suddenly matures before out eyes.

The Courts of Chaos is really the best of the series that had a great start and then wobbled a bit in the middle.It guaranteed that Amber would have a place in the hearts of fantasy lovers for some time to come, and set the scene for the next five Amber volumes.While these aren't my favorite Zelazny works, they are still outstanding writing.

A new pattern?
The battle of Brand and Corwin reaches its climax as everyone tries to create a new pattern in the battle with Chaos itself.

Courts of Chaos has all the usual twists and turns of an Amber novel. It is an absolutely wonderful series and it probably goes without saying that you should begin at the beginning, and not here. ... Read more

Product Description
Acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writer Roger Zelazny has brings together some of today's greatest sci-fi writers to honor Jack Williamson, author of such classic and groundbreaking works as "The Legions of Space" and "The Humanoids", with terrific original stories either about Williamson or inspired by his works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Tribute to THE Grand Master
This collection of shortstories, written by a distinguished group of authors in tribute to the world created by the imagination of Jack Williamson.
I really purchased this book to read some more stories about one of the SciFi characters I love most; Giles Habbibula - from the group of Legion of Space stories. ... Read more

Product Description
Awakening in an Earth hospital unable to remember who he is or where he came from, Corwin is amazed to learn that he is one of the sons of Oberon, King of Amber, and is the rightful successor to the crown in a parallel world. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

Amber...City Eternal...once attained, never forgotten
I first read this first part of Zelazny's Amber quintet in the early 1980s I think, and though I was much more easily impressed by a good conception then and less interested in such things as character and style, it remains a touchstone in the genre for me.One thing to note at the outset: the five books are really very much one longish novel (the individual volumes are fairly short), with each one ending on something of a cliffhanger - or at least, on no more than a pause in the action.

And there is action.At the outset, the narrator wakes up in a hospital, which he quickly finds out is somewhere in upstate New York.He doesn't know who he is, or much else, but he knows he was in an accident and that he's been drugged and held against his will.He quickly figures out that he's strong and heals fast, and finds the doctor in charge and threatens him into giving out who put him there - a woman who he goes to an soon figures out is his sister, Flora.He goes by Carl Corey, but this is apparently not his real name, and after staying at Flora's country mansion for a couple of days, he's picked up more clues - he comes from a large family who each have their likenesses emblazoned on a pack of Tarot cards that Flora keeps, and he's much older and much more powerful than he looks, than the average person.

Soon they are joined by another sibling, brother Random, and set upon by some odd humanoids whom they manage to dispatch.There's another brother, Eric, who seems mixed up in this, and Flora is apparently siding with him.Carl still doesn't have his memory back, but he's cagey and manages to keep Flora and Random in the dark about it.When Random suggests trying to get to "Amber" something in him is energized, and as they set out, he soon learns that this family is even more special than he imagined, as Random magically alters the landscape while they drive, while they get closer to Amber, the one true reality.They come across another sister, Deirdre, who Carl has some strong and perhaps un-brotherly feelings for, and the three flee the troops of Julian, another brother who is siding with Eric.It's clear by now that Eric rules Amber, and many of the other siblings would like to sit on the throne in his place.After escaping into the underwater city of Rebma, Carl - who has confessed his amnesia by now - walks the Pattern, a mystical construct that can only be used by those of the blood of the House of Amber, and with it come back his memories, and his desire to sit on the throne himself.He is Corwin, one of nine (surviving) sons and four daughters of Oberon, Lord of Amber, the eternal city of which all others are merely shadows; they are nearly immortal and ages-old, and they can walk through Shadows from world to world; but most of them lust for the eternal city, and with their father being missing for years, the struggle for the crown is joined.The rest of the book details his attempt, with the help of another brother, Bleys, to raise armies and navies to assault the city and take out Eric.

"Nine Princes in Amber" is more straightforward overall and carries less of a feeling of intrigue than the rest of the books in the series, perhaps because it has to set up the whole story, and can really only focus much on Corwin, the narrator, and to some extent on Random, the "runt" of the family who will prove to be a more important player than others realize.It's kind of slapdash and paced a little too breathlessly at times, but it's still a great read and a good introduction to Zelazny's world (not just the world of Amber) which tends to be populated by cynical, world-weary supermen types and written in a language that varies from hard-boiled noirish patois to a more lyrical and typical high-flown fantasy.There's a light element of parody running throughout - the characters talk like Raymond Chandler characters at the beginning and gradually switch to something out of Elizabethan times (they are all old enough to have lived through them) - while still smoking Camels and reminiscing about playing in hippie rock bands.It's a conceit that many less skillful writers have been unable to carry off, this melding of the modern-day (1972 in this case) and antiquated, the mundane and the lofty, and Zelazny manages it far better than most.

I don't know that the series overall is the greatest thing since sliced bread or anything, and it certainly isn't the deepest or most meaningful work out there, even in the relative shallows of self-conscious genre fiction, but it remains a lot of fun for me after years of re-readings, and Zelazny can put together a fascinatingly convoluted plot like no other fantasy writer that I've read save J.K. Rowling, which for me is always a good thing.

A fun getaway to the land of Amber
Based on the review of N. Trachta (thanks, Nate), I decided to plunge ahead with this one (what made this choice even better was when I found all ten stories in one anthology at a used bookstore!).
A man wakes up in a hospital room, without memory of who he is or exactly how he got there.All he knows is that was badly injured and currently being drugged.After escaping the hospital, he discovers his sister, Flora, who tells him that his name is Corwin.He meets up with his brother, Random, who leads him to Amber, a mystical world, which unlocks his memory and reawakens his desire to rule over Amber.

What I Liked:
The first page really drew me in.We meet a man lying in a bed, realizing groggily that he is being drugged and has no idea who he is.I like how we learn about him at the same time he does (no long boring, unnecessary exposition here; it's all a part of Corwin's learning about himself and his history).
Corwin is resourceful, sneaky, cunning, and rather likeable (even though, at the same time, he is unlikeable, if that makes any sense).He has flaws (lying, scamming, not caring for his siblings), but there is just something about him that makes you want to root for him.
The story is excellent.It breaks the mold of science fiction and crosses boundaries.As I read, I felt that in some ways it was very fantasy; in others (particularly that it takes place in "current" times), it was very sci-fi.There is action, but there is also some character study.Overall, the effect is great and is convincing.And while the pace at the beginning was a little sluggish, it picked up quite a bit and became very engrossing (I didn't want to put it down!).
Lastly, Zelazny does an outstanding job describing.He spends much time detailing the surroundings, what people are wearing, character's looks, etc.He paints a vivid picture of his vision and doesn't leave me confused about where Corwin is at any time.

What I Did Not Like:
Zelazny may have gone a little far in some of the descriptions.The biggest time I felt this was when Corwin first finds the cards of his siblings.A solid three or more pages is spent on what each is wearing, their appearance, etc.By the time I got to the 7th child, I was practically skimming the descriptions (after a while, they all started sounding the same).
This next "problem" may be due to reading the book in snippets, but I felt that it took a long time for Corwin to realize who he was.Before he learns who he is, a good chunk of the book is spent with Corwin and Random traveling to Amber.Again, this could be because I read it spread out in chunks, but I thought I might mention it.
Lastly (this is more of an interesting thing to note than a problem), it seemed like none of the characters could breathe without a cigarette.Of course, this was written in the 60's - 70's so that might explain the perpetual cigarette.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Da**, he**, and other mild profanities appear (nothing worse than a PG movie, I would say).
Moire is described as being topless (although not in a sexual manner, more like a Xena Warrior Princess way).A couple sleep with each other (though "off-screen" and described poetically).
When Corwin escapes the hospital, he uses a bludgeon to knock out his guard.Then he pulls a gun on the director of the facility.When Flora's home is invaded, Random and Corwin get to use swords and guns.Another scene includes a battle between Random, Corwin, and Julian.A storm on Amber leaves all the soldiers dead.A character's eyes are put out.

Overall:
Are you looking for some fun?A way to relax from the stresses of life?Something outside of the box?A little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy?A good place to start could be Zelazny's Amber books, particularly this one.A fun idea coupled with a unique setting gives this book an edge to stand the test of time (I mean, this was written way back in the day, after all).A good book and worthy of a 5 star rating.

Brought to you by
*C.S. Light*

Poorly written book with uninspiring characters
This book came highly recommended, and I read it diligently initially. But after a while, I found Corwin, the main character, cocky andone-dimensional, and the whole description of the landscape simplistic. I felt that the author was copping out by letting them change the landscape simply by "thinking" it. And I also found it annoying that the main character could "grow eyes" after his original had been gouged out. I think good science fiction or fantasy should have some "rules" as well, not just an anything goes kind of mentality.I just could not get drawn into it, or get excited by it at all. All I felt was relief when I got to the end. I also do not see why people like it so much. There are a lot of better written books out there.

A classic with great characters!
I was in a used bookstore the other day and got reminded of this book.I remembered how much I enjoyed reading it long ago and decided that it was time to re-read Nine Princes in Amber.
Nine Princes in Amber is Roger Zelazny's tale of Corwin and his attempt to return to Amber, the one true realm.Without memory of his past, Corwin analysis his situation, takes actions to expand his knowledge of his past and slowly learns that he's that he's a true prince of Amber.As such, Cowin's desires are ingrained in him and drive his actions, to achieve the throne of Amber.
The Good:
The pace of action!There's continual movement and turns.Everything is in first tense.We're riding around with Corwin and Mr. Zelazny describes things as Corwin would see/hear/think them.The interactions with others are sometimes a little abrupt, but I believe this is more a part of Corwin's personality than a writer's flaw.Because the story is being told from Corwin's perspective, there's nothing extra added to a description that a person wouldn't readily notice.
Character descriptions are real time and based on what Corwin would perceive of another.Corwin and relatives are real with real flaws.We learn about them from Corwin and their actions with Corwin.Each character is an individual and unique, making it easy for readers to love or hate the character based on their actions.
The Bad:
The only bad piece I have with this is that this is the first in a series and that the book is semi complete.While a reader could read the book on it's own, you'll be wanting more or dislike the book because the tales not compete.
The Rating:
Five stars!Zelazny opens the door on a world that comes that seems so real.Is our world a Shadow of Amber?At times you wonder as you read this if you let your imagination go.One item that I've wondered for some time is if Mr. Zelazny chose the name of Amber for the real realm because all of the characters are static from how Corwin knew them before he was banished.If you enjoy fantasy and the actions of a hero (or is Corwin an anti-hero, you decide) or enjoy a book with good character interactions, pick this one up!

Good but overhyped
I tend to be relatively easy to please when it comes to books, and I heard a lot of good stuff about this one. But this book has been overhyped, plain and simple. Overall, I enjoyed it and I think it is a fine start for a series (I haven't read any of the other books yet), but it's just not 5-star material.
First of all, the writing is stiff, especially dialogue. At first I thought that maybe they were just being overly formal because they're royalty or something like that. No. And it's not snappy. It's just stiff dialogue.
But worse than stiff dialogue is a boring middle. Not the whole middle, mind you, but a good bit is devoted to describing the progress of an army marching toward Amber. And it's BORING.
Then the hero is saved in the end by something you don't hear about in the rest of the book. That sets it up great for the rest of the series, but it's still kind of cheap.
So if you read a lot and like fantasy, give it a try. It's a short read (and so are the rest of the books in the series). It has a cool premise and the series as a whole must be pretty good since most people really like. But if you're short on time and every page you read is precious, you might want to look elsewhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

The Black Circle grows, the plot thickens, the siblings distrust...
Having failed in his first attempt to capture the crown of Amber from his brother, the usurper Eric, and languished eyeless in a dungeon for four years, Corwin has regained his sight, escaped, and is on the road to recovery - and vengeance.He makes his way to the country of Lorraine - sharp-eyed readers should be cognizant by this point if not well before that Zelazny is an aficionado of medieval and renaissance literature and history - and meets a wounded knight, Lancelot.Lance interestingly enough doesn't go on to figure in the story too much (one of those cute tricks RZ likes to pull), but his lord Ganelon does.Corwin you see had once left Ganelon in what was then a godforsaken place, but Ganelon is nearly as resourceful as an Amberite and has made it his own.

But he's in a spot of trouble.There's a black circle growing and breeding foul things, monsters that nobody before Corwin has been able to stop - and Corwin soon finds that the black patch spreads not just over ground, but through shadow.By the time he reaches his destination, Avalon - now accompanied by Ganelon who once lived there - he knows that it is his own handiwork, the product of a curse he bestowed when blinded.But despite the evil that it spawns, he still dreams only of overthrowing his brother - even if he has to lie to and betray Benedict, one of his few decent siblings, to do it.While staying with this brother and plotting his revenge through the use of a gunpowder that will ignite in Amber (normal firearms and explosives don't work there) he becomes enamored of Dara, who claims to be a distant descendant of his brother - a little incest doesn't stop these godlike men - and another level of intrigue is created, as it soon becomes clear that Dara is...what?Who?

More brothers, more battles, more court intrigue, a growing danger that may actually threaten to unite a notoriously fractious family; this is where the Chronicles of Amber really starts to take shape for what it is, a massive single story of an unhealthy and all-powerful family of immortals, all vying with each other for the power at the head of the family and in fact the whole universe - with some apparently willing to risk complete destruction to lord it over all.Zelazny melds the intrigues of Shakespeare and the powers and aspects of Celtic, Teutonic and occasional Greek mythologies expertly, and lightly.There are depths if you want to find them, but the book works just as well on a shallower, purely entertainment level.Mostly it's action and suspense with a magical backdrop, and for me at least, it's hard to step away from once I've started it again.

As I noted in my comments on Nine Princes in Amber , the Amber quintet is really one large novel, with each part ending on something like a cliffhanger.This one and the next between them finish introducing nearly all the characters and give one a good idea of where the plot is going, but none of them (apart from the first) should be read singly.If you happen on old paperbacks (I love the old Avons from the late 70s with the black covers and the sort of Deco-inspired art) rather than getting one of the compendium volumes, make sure you go through them in order!

Not a Stand-Alone!
I liked this one even more than the first. The ending was certainly a cliffhanger!! As the family ties become more convoluted, I am even more fascinated. The magic of Amber is clearer now, but still absolutely unique. I am quite intrigued as this one did not end at all as I had predicted.

Worthy continuation of a classic fantasy series
Guns of Avalon is a truly worthy sequel to the Nine Princes of Amber. What makes this book so fun is Zelazny tells his tale in a completely different tenor and tone then the first book. In the first book we had no idea what was going on. We were as lost as the main character is through out the book. In this novel the main Character, Corwin, is more aware of events and so we are allowed, as the reader, to be more aware of events.

I think it is a remarkable coincidence that I had just picked up "The Fabric of Reality" by David Deutsch just prior to reading this novel and it is remarkable how well Deutshe's theory of Multiverses fits into the Amber Chronicles. Don't get me wrong. I am not one of those people who wish to make their favorite fantasy into reality, but thinking scientifically while reading a classic fantasy yarn was very enjoyable.

A worthy sequel to Nine Princes of Amber. Please make sure you read Nine Princes of Amber first.It will make this novel much more approachable.This, and most of Zelazny's novels, are usually out of print. It would be worthwhile to attempt to get a copy of this book either through Amazon's out print book search or your local used books store. Good luck.

Worthy continuation of a classic fantasy series
Guns of Avalon is a truly worthy sequel to the Nine Princes of Amber. What makes this book so fun is Zelazny tells his tale in a completely different tenor and tone then the first book. In the first book we had no idea what was going on. We were as lost as the main character is through out the book. In this novel the main Character, Corwin, is more aware of events and so we are allowed, as the reader, to be more aware of events.

I think it is a remarkable coincidence that I had just picked up "The Fabric of Reality" by David Deutsch just prior to reading this novel and it is remarkable how well Deutshe's theory of Multiverses fits into the Amber Chronicles. Don't get me wrong. I am not one of those people who wish to make their favorite fantasy into reality, but thinking scientifically while reading a classic fantasy yarn was very enjoyable.

A worthy sequel to Nine Princes of Amber. Please make sure you read Nine Princes of Amber first.It will make this novel much more approachable.This, and most of Zelazny's novels, are usually out of print. It would be worthwhile to attempt to get a copy of this book either through Amazon's out print book search or your local used books store. Good luck.

Worthy continuation of a classic fantasy series
Guns of Avalon is a truly worthy sequel to the Nine Princes of Amber. What makes this book so fun is Zelazny tells his tale in a completely different tenor and tone then the first book. In the first book we had no idea what was going on. We were as lost as the main character is through out the book. In this novel the main Character, Corwin, is more aware of events and so we are allowed, as the reader, to be more aware of events.

I think it is a remarkable coincidence that I had just picked up "The Fabric of Reality" by David Deutsch just prior to reading this novel and it is remarkable how well Deutshe's theory of Multiverses fits into the Amber Chronicles. Don't get me wrong. I am not one of those people who wish to make their favorite fantasy into reality, but thinking scientifically while reading a classic fantasy yarn was very enjoyable.

A worthy sequel to Nine Princes of Amber. Please make sure you read Nine Princes of Amber first.It will make this novel much more approachable.This, and most of Zelazny's novels, are usually out of print. It would be worthwhile to attempt to get a copy of this book either through Amazon's out print book search or your local used books store. Good luck. ... Read more

Product Description
Half finished upon Bester's death, and completed by Zelazny, "Psychoshop" envisions a commercial establishment that attracts customers ranging from Edgar Allan Poe to a sorcerer intent on fabricating the Beast of Revelations.Amazon.com Review
This is a posthumous collaboration by two of SF's greatest writers, Alfred Bester and Roger Zelazny.Bester had completed half of the manuscriptbefore his death in 1987, and then Zelazny finished it off before his ownpassing in 1995.In his introduction to this strange mix, Greg Bear callsthe work an improvisational duet, and he is, as usual, right on the mark.This isn't so much a coherent novel as a story passed between twoof the genre's more stylish writers.Fans looking for The Demolished Man orNine Princes inAmber will be disappointed. Instead, what they'll find is the taleof Alf Noir, a reporter who travels to Rome where he finds a 3,000-year-oldshop that trades in the strange dealings of the mind. Not only is the shopnot what it seems, but its proprietor, Adam Maser, is not what he seems. And soon Alf will come to realize that there is something unusual about himselfas well. --Craig E. Engler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Pure insanity, but would have been better if finished by A.B
This book is like almost any work of Phillip K. Dick...incredibly insane, but as hard to stop reading as it is to stop smoking... The problem is that I just keep getting this nagging feeling that the book would have been better if Alfred's insanity would've finished it...instead, you can clearly tell Zelazny's parts because they're just too sane--I'd have liked for Alfred's insanity to culminate in the incredible ending that it already has.

There's an explenation...
The book deserves ofcourse 5 stars ,but since each of the giants wrote better on his own - let there be four.

It's almost blesphemy ,but I think the book would have come out better if Bester would be alive to finish it on his own. Not that the late Zelazny ruined it or something ,it's just that opposite to a few other reviewers ,I could tell when Bester stops and Zelazny takes over. It's not a bad change ,bad there's a change. of pace .of style. of plot direction.

As it came out at last ,it's a wonderfully written ,humoristic (not really FUNNY but light-hearted) ,with that Bester quality of PKD chaos ,but not as gloomy ,and zelazny's action ,and a number of sub-plots converging at the last possible point. Overall one of the best half-light reads i've had.(half-light 'cause Bester's style is more heavy ,but not domminant).

Very recommended.

A very nice blend
This book blended the two author's styles nicely.It was a lot of fun onthe second read, trying to pick which part was written by whom.The fightscenes were pure Zelazny.Wonderfully crafted by a skilled fencer &Aikidoist.

Psychoshop
This book is very fast pased and gets interesting from page one. The characters are not what you expect. And eveery time you see them in a newlight

Good, thought provoking book
I picked this book up because I thought the title and the cover seemed pretty interesting.Once I started reading I couldn't stop, which is rare for me because I prefere TV.Yet i sat there for a few long sessions andfinished the book.I think the books views and their meddlings in historyare very well thought out.The plot twists are superb and the fight sceneis fantastic.I really enjoied this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Ground Breaking Fantasy Book
I've heard of The Illustrated Roger Zelazny tome back in the early days of Heavy Metal Magazine. I saw the original advertisement, but never purchase a copy of this book. Years,later I find myself a fan of Gray Morrow and interested in Zelazny's novels. Most people don't seem to understand,that this was an experiment in graphic storytelling.

Just consider this volume, the forerunner of today's graphic
novel or anthology. Gray Morrow shows his skill in a unique
way, that makes his layouts seem like retro or classic
illustrations done for commercial storyboards. All of his
spot illustrations are excellent, and there are plenty of
them. Of course, Mr.Morrow has done work for comics as
well, DC Comics and Marvel Comics, just to name a few.

Shadow Jack is my favorite section of the book, but
A Rose for Ecclesiastes is coming in second, at the moment.

Other tales are great,too... The Doors of his Face, The
Lamps of his mouth,etc. This is stuff for Sword and Sorcery
lovers. If you are open to that idea, then I think you
will enjoy it. I know I did...VERY MUCH!!

Fair Graphic Rendition of a Classic Author
Roger Zelazny was one of the earliest of the so-called new wave science fiction writers.He helped tell science fiction differently from the early masters of science fiction, including bringing aspects of fantasy into his science fiction.Perhaps his most famous books were the ten books dealing with Amber.

In 1978, well before comics became more tuned to an adult audience, Roger Zelazny worked with artist Gray Morrow and editor Byron Preiss to create a graphic collection of short stories.Four short stories are represented in this collection, one of which was written especially for the collection.In addition is a very brief story, "Rock Collector," two groups of art, and commentary by Zelazny.

The new short story is titled "Shadowjack."This story is the best reason for owning this collection as it is the only new story in it.While I enjoyed reading and having the art from "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth," the value of the rest of the collection was just okay.The art quality is fair, but not breakthrough and not of the quality of today's graphic novels.

The two groups of art are titled "The Amber Worlds" and "A Zelazny Tapestry," which has images of "Doorways in the Sand" and "Damnation Alley."I was less than impressed with the quality and style of the art.I felt my mental imagery of Amber and the novels depicted by "A Zelazny Tapestry" was sharper and more mature than the art of Gray Morrow.I'm sure that Gray Morrow is an excellent artist, but he was aiming for a young audience and not the sophisticated audience of 25+ years after he created this collection.

I did enjoy the art and story of the two page graphic story "Rock Collector;" an interesting story with a fun ending that could have done with a bit more development.

Another good aspect of this collection is the introductions provided by Zelazny.Authors rarely take the opportunity to write about their writing, and the few things that we from Zelazny are valuable as Zelazny passed away in 1995.I think he was frank with us, his readers, as he explained that this collection was an experiment to see how well illustration could complement his prose.Apparently the experiment must not have gone well because I believe this was Zelazny's only attempt at a graphic book.I do not count "Roger Zelazny's Visual Guide to Castle Amber" since that book illustrated locations and did not attempt to tell a story.

I am glad I have this book because I am a huge Zelazny fan, and I particularly enjoyed Zelazny's comments, and a couple of the stories I thought were enhanced by the illustrations.However, I can recommend this book only to avid Zelazny fans that are looking to augment their collection.Certainly long-time fans, along with the previously mentioned "The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth", will already know "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" and "The Furies."Thus, only the graphics, the new short story and the Zelazny commentary will be of much interest to long-term fans.If you are new to Zelazny, and enjoy science fiction and fantasy with a bit of a skewed approach, then you should get this collection.Just keep your expectations for the graphics low.

Illustrated RZ
It's a nice book for the Zelazny enthusiast.It contains several short stories and lots of pictures.The best things about this book are (1) the Shadow Jack story which isn't part of the "Jack of Shadows" novel, and (2) the Amber artwork.

Be careful, however, because there are two versions of the book: paperback sized and magazine sized.The magazine sized book is clearly the better of the two because it is pretty much all in color and easier to read.The paperback version isn't as nice because they cut out parts of the stories to make them fit in the smaller format, plus much of the book is black and white.

Only for completists
A mixed bag. There are a few comic book adaptation of his stories (Halfjack) while others are re-printed with color illustrations. These are quite garish and don't hold up that well on the glossy paper.

Maybe forthe completist but offers nothing new to those already familiar withZelazny's work. ... Read more

Product Description
In TO DIE IN ITALBAR, the galaxy is in chaos, with people falling prey to an unidentifiable disease.Only one man has the ability to help - a man who can heal or kill with a touch.Known only as 'Mr. H', he is being sought after by everyone, but for vastly different reasons.Even Francis Sandow is seeking him, and may be the only one with a clue as to who H really is...In the bonus novel 'A Dark Travelling', James Wiley is an 'ordinary' 14-year-old who has lost his scientist father to a parallel world in the darkbands.With the help of Becky, his sister with magical powers, Barry the exchange student and Uncle George, the werewolf, James goes in search of his parent.But he must take care: for if there just happens to be a full moon at the wrong moment, James's itchy palms might lead him into trouble... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Fast-paced, dark, exciting read
This book is the sequel to the excellent Zelazny novel, Isle of the Dead, and I consider it a worthy sequel.This book does not actually feature Francis Sandow until half-way through the book, and the Pei-ans play only a very minor role, but the book does a great job of building to the climactic final battle.The prominent characters, Cmdr. Malacar Miles, the last Man on Earth, Dr. Pels, the walking undead and Shind the psychic alien all fill out a great cast of characters all bent on finding one man, simply called "H".H is the sole survivor of a plague, but is reborn with the ability to cure or kill with any disease.In the novel, he gradually goes mad and goes on a rampage, leading to an exciting finish.

While Isle of the Dead was more psychological and philosophical, this book is decidedly more action-packed, but still retains that dark, brooding mood I enjoyed so much in the first book.

This book is somewhat hard to find, but don't hesitate to pick it up if you enjoyed Isle of the Dead.Enjoy!

Inner Sanctuary
Three decades after reading this novel, it is still one of my favorite of the genre. The inclusion of the blue goddess was disturbingly personal. The hero straddles two worlds, one high tech, the other archetypal inner space. Science fiction has long since morphed into space opera, and Zelazny seemed to be one of the first to breach the bubble of stories based purely on science and technology.

One of Zelazny's early classics
"To Die In Italbar" is the sequel to "Isle of the Dead," but this story stands on its own two feet.While familiarity with "Isle of the Dead" will probably help the reader understand certain events in this second and final book in the series, it is by no means required reading.

"To Die In Italbar" contains just about everything that Zelazny fans have come to appreciate about his writing-- complex characters who are nonetheless easy to get a handle on, crisp and vivid writing, lurid imagination, and a sense of purpose and destiny as the events of the book unfold.It's all here.This may not be Zelazny's best novel, and it isn't my personal favorite, but it really has an endearing quality to it.In fact, "To Die In Italbar" is probably one of Zelazny's most enjoyable reads-- a piece of quality fiction that doesn't read like quality fiction.

Roger Zelazny once said that he thought "To Die In Italbar" was a disappointment-- that he'd been in too much of a hurry when he wrote it, and that it lacked the subtlety and nuance of "Isle of the Dead."Frankly, "To Die In Italbar" is easily the better of the two books for this very reason!While "Isle of the Dead" is a great work because it lets the reader enter the complicated mind of Francis Sandow, experiencing and learning about the complex Pei'an pantheon of dieties from his unique vantage point, at times Sandow's philosophical musings slow the novel's pacing a bit.It's an amazing novel, and Sandow is a fascinating character, but readers should be forewarned that "Isle of the Dead" is anything but a light read!Having thus set the stage, however, Zelazny then rewarded his readers with "To Die In Italbar," a straightforward science fiction romp set which is set against this rich tapestry-- but without being weighted down by it.

The story weaves several pointedly different characters together into a single tale.All of these characters stand out, for one reason or another:Captain Malacar is the last inhabitant of a bombed and pitted earth, waging a one-man guerilla war against the human government that laid it waste; Dr. Pels is a brilliant pathologist who managed to stop all of his personal bodily functions at the exact moment of death, allowing him to continue his research in a sort of medically-induced undead state; Jackara is a prostitute, bitter and angry about being forced into this profession because others viewed her as an outsider; Francis Sandow, avatar of the Pei'an god Shimbo, is a famous builder of worlds and the wealthiest man alive; and last, but certainly not least, Mr. H. is imbued with an odd power over life and death which he doesn't understand and cannot completely control.As the novel progresses, these characters' individual dramas slowly merge and meld, becoming secondary plot elements in a much larger struggle.

Towards the end of the book, Zelazny really plays with the reader's perceptions.The story's climax is basically described from a third-party point of view, as one character describes events to another-- and that character is terribly confused about what he witnessed, making his account of events somewhat suspect.In short, the reader doesn't really know exactly what happened at the end of this novel, and Zelazny only fills in enough very broad details for the reader to make a pretty educated guess.Somehow, though, instead of making the book less fulfilling, the book's open ending only adds the ring of truth to Zelazny's storytelling. Sometimes life doesn't provide us with easy answers!Zelazny gives enough of the story to satisfy, but withholds enough details to preserve a sense of mystery.Brilliance!

I can't say enough good things about "To Die In Italbar."This is truly one of Roger Zelazny's most enjoyable novels.I'd strongly recommend this book to anybody who is looking for lighter, smarter science fiction.

"Yet a part of me, somewhere, seems to be screaming"
I decided to review this slim volume because To Die In Italbar has the distinction of being the second (and last) volume in the series he started with Isle of the Dead.While Francis Sandow only puts in a momentary appearance, it is a significant one, and once again the story turns on the clash between two Peian gods.This time the goddess the Shimbo faces is Arym-o-Myra, goddess of healing and disease.And this time the conflict is over the survival of the human race.

The novel works several threads, the most important is that of Heidel von Hymack, who has accidentally become Arym-o-Myra's avatar.Able to bring the diseases of his body into balance, he can cure any disease.Unfortunately, the side effect is that when Hymack's body isn't in balance, he is a disease carrier.He delays too long on one planet, causes a plague, and is nearly killed by a crowd.Anger replaces his concern, and suddenly he is overcome by Jackara's darker side.Now humanity is the disease to be cured.

Two people see a potential use for Hymack.Malacar Miles is an insurrectionist, bound to oppose the planetary commonwealth and defense the existence of the planets that were one part of earth's influence.Malacar lives in the shattered remains of his planet, living th life of a terrorist.When he discovers the existence of Hymack he sees an opportunity to launch a truly destructive campaign.Also tracking Hymack is the dead Dr. Pels who is seeking a cure for his own condition.

And then there is Francis Sandow, who the Peians have called in to deal with the resurgence of Arym-o-Myra.He has no agenda other than keeping folks alive and putting a god that has legitimate reason to be awake back to sleep.On one last planet all these forces meet - telepath against telepath against god.

Again, Zelazny demonstrates creativity that refuses to fall into a rut.He poses bit questions in human packages without hubris or theatrical deliver of messages.The result is a poignant tale that can set you thinking about what is and isn't important in a universe full of possibility.

Italbar is another great Zelazny story, but...
Roger Zelazny has always been my favorite author, ever since I discovered the original Amber series sometime around 1977. I find most of his work to be consistently incredible, and "Italbar" is no exception. On the other hand, "A Dark Traveling" has always seemed to me to be substandard Zelazny. It's almost like he started to write what could have been a great story, then stopped after he jotted down some ideas and cleaned up a rough draft. The ending is definitely rushed. If you haven't read Roger Zelazny, you should read one of his other novels first. Once you see what the master did on a consistent basis, you'll have a better understanding of how this one story falls short. ... Read more

Product Description

Isle of the Dead
Centuries in the future, Francis Sandow is the only man alive who was born as long ago as the 20th century. His body is kept young and in perfect health by advanced scientific methods; he has amassed such a fortune that he can own entire planets; and he has become a god. No, not a god of Earth, but one of the panetheon of the alien Pei'ans: he is Shimbo of Darktree, Shrugger of Thunders. Yet he doesn't believe that his personality has merged with the ancient consciousness of Shimbo, that he really can call down the skies upon his enemies. The time comes, however, when Francis Sandow must use these powers against the most dangerous antagonist in the universe: another Pei'an god -- Shimbo's own enemy, Belion. And Belion has no doubt whatever of his own powers....

Eye of Cat
A retired hunter of alien zoo specimens, William Blackhorse Singer, the last Najavo on a future Earth, is called upon by the World Government to aid in protecting an alien diplomat from a powerful and hostile member of his own species. Singer, in turn, seeks the aid of a shape-shifting alien known as "Cat" in carrying out the mission. Cat accepts, with one condition: when the mission is over, he wants a return bout with the man who captured him -- a chase with Singer as the hunted instead of the hunter.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

"Forgive me my trespasses, baby . . . "
Francis Sandow is a man -- an unfathomably wealthy 1000 year-old man who channels an alien god called Shimbo of Darktree, and who uses said god's gifts to craft entire worlds.

When Sandow begins receiving letters claiming, and tri-dee photographs seemingly corroborating, that a number of his most dear, dead friends and most dangerous, dead enemies have been resurrected and imprisoned on one of his own worlds, he is both shocked and a bit incredulous.But as evidence piles up and Sandow comes to believe more and more that Nick, Kathy, Shandon and the others really live again, he resolves to set out for Illyria and its sinister Isle of the Dead, face "Green Green," the mysterious letter-writer, rescue old friends and loves, and thwart whatever vengeance may be brewing in the minds of risen foes.

It's an awesome novel written in a brisk but intensely colorful style, punctuated by earthy (and more importantly, highly entertaining) philosophical musings, and blessed with an electrifying climax.This is the good stuff.

Among Zelazny's finest
I purchased a used copy of Isle of the Dead here at Amazon, and received the single copy, not the double-story edition mentioned in other reviews.I got just the Isle of the Dead and only that.In any case, I found this story to be one of my favorite Zelazny novels of all time, if not one of my favorite novels of all time ever.

The book is deceptively dark and deep, and delves into issues of life and death throughout.Francis Sandow is a character who through luck and hard choices has survived the 20th century to become one of the most powerful and richest in the 30th century.Far into the future he is one of the gods of an alien pantheon that reminds one of Hinduism, and possesses the ability to forge planets.

The book is fast paced, and ultimately leads Francis to one of the planets of his own creations, where he has to face the demons of his past, without his money to protect him after all this time.It's a nasty battle, and the book does a great job building up to the exciting ending.

This book is pretty dark by Zelazny standards, and has a lot to stay about life, death, and how lonely power and long-life can be.I really enjoyed this book while reading it over a weekend, and it gave me something to think about it.

As the book is hard to obtain, definitely take the time to pick it up if you can.You won't be disappointed.Enjoy!

Two Mismatched Stories in One Book
I feel sort of bad about rating this book at only 3 stars.But, the two stories in this book are just worlds apart in how good they are.The 2nd story (though listed first on the cover) is "Isle of the Dead," which is a really good story in classic Zelazny fashion.The other story, "Eye of Cat," is not that good at all.Now, if the publisher had put "Isle of the Dead" together with its sequel, "To Die in Italbar," I'd have given the compilation a 5 star rating.But, since the actual two stories have nothing in common, I'm forced to just take an average of my two ratings.For ease of reference, here are my write-ups for theindividual stories:

Isle of the Dead:This is classic Zelazny: the merging of man and mythology. In this case, the mythology is entirely alien (the Pei'an pantheon), and, as seems to be the norm for Zelazny, the man (Francis Sandow) is darn near immortal. Also, as usual for Zelazny, the magic is there. My only complaint with the book is that I wish there were more of it. There's an awful lot of stuff that Zelazny hints at that could form entire books on their own. Unfortunately, the only other book with this main character in it is "To Die in Italbar." It's been a while since I read that book, but I remember it as also being very good. Wishing for more, I rate this book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.

Eye of Cat:Usually, I really like Zelazny's work. Unfortunately, in this case, he's just gone too far with his mythological basis. I'd estimate that more than half of this book consists of nothing but his interpretation of snippets from Navajo mythology stuck smack in the middle of a story. There IS a decent action-packed plot buried in there, but it's just overwhelmed by the mythology. By the end, the whole thing becomes a psychological "experience" as Zelazny basically drops the plot so the protagonist can confront himself. Even worse, the very last pages leave me unsure about whether or not he succeeds. With a tighter linkage between mythology and plot, this could have been an excellent book. But, because the two elements are so disjoint, and because Zelazny emphasizes the mythology over the plot, it just fails. So, unfortunately, I have to rate this book at a Not Very Good 2 stars out of 5.

Very Good, Quintessential Zelazny
This is classic Zelazny:the merging of man and mythology.In this case, the mythology is entirely alien (the Pei'an pantheon), and, as seems to be the norm for Zelazny, the man (Francis Sandow) is darn near immortal.Also, as usual for Zelazny, the magic is there.My only complaint with the book is that I wish there were more of it.There's an awful lot of stuff that Zelazny hints at that could form entire books on their own.Unfortunately, the only other book with this main character in it is "To Die in Italbar."It's been a while since I read that book, but I remember it as also being very good.Wishing for more, I rate this book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.

The Waters of Acheron
Roger Zelazny has a tendency to create main characters who are either eternal or have lived a very long time.This isn't a fault, because he relies on this only to establish the depth of the character, not as a major plot device.In fact, perhaps the biggest lesson his heroes learn is that, if you live forever, you can make a lot of enemies.Some of them aren't even your enemies.

Francis Sandow is on such mein character.After a shaky star in this century, modern science and sheer luck have contrived to make him the worlds oldest rich man.The luck was falling into the hands of the Peians, who taught him how to create worlds and some experience in the fine are of revenge.Worldscaping is the basis for his money, but it didn't save him from offending people.

One such antagonist has taken up stealing the dying personality tapes of some of Sandow's best friends and enemies in an effort to lure him to the Isle of the Dead.His offense was to be a human and qualify for the honor of bonding with a Peian god and becoming a planetscaper.A Peian who didn't pass the grade took offense and has spent several hundred years working on getting even.Now he has reconstructed the people and Sandow bites the lure.

Of course, the revenge you see is not necessarily the revenge you get.Things go awry in spectacular style.Sandow is forced to incarnate Shimbo, the Shrugger of Thunders, and suddenly the scope of the conflict goes out of control.Anotherr truth about Zelazny is that even his villains have redeeming traits, and in this wry but tragic tale, the reader will find it hard to dislike anyone.

For some reason, Isle of the Dead has remained one of my favorite Zelazny stories.I won't claim that it is his best, but it pushes all the right buttons for me and I keep coming back to it.Sandow is my kind of hero - a bit of a rat, but basically a good guy in a tough universe.He has every excuse to be bitter, but he refuses to crumble.In any case, this book has a habit of regularly going out of print.If you are a Zelazny fan than find it how you may, I promise you will find it worth the effort. ... Read more

Product Description
Two acclaimed authors tell the incredible survival stories of trapper John Colter, who climbed 150 miles to escape pursuing Blackfoot warriors in 1808, and hunter Hugh Glass who crawled one hundred miles after a bear attack in 1823. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful saga of two Marathon runners and survivors
The poetic prose is very beautifully written by two experts in American western frontiers. No complicated plots but lonely struggles of two guys' survival experiences ... Read more

Product Description
THE LEGACY OF A MASTER STORYTELLER
From the first appearances of Roger Zelazny's short fiction in the early196Os-- remarkably original stories such as the memorable "A Rose forEcclesiastes," many of which are now recognized as classics--it was clearthat a dazzling new genius had burst into the field of speculativeliterature.

Over the years, that shining talent burned brighter in novels such as Lordof Light, The Dream Master, and Creatures of Light and Darkness...workswhose lyrical prose, masterful plotting and unique blend of timeless mythwith cutting edge science won Zelazny the acclaim of readers and criticsalike--as well as six Hugos and three Nebulas. In the groundbreaking Amberbooks, he turned to fantasy, creating one of the most beloved series of alltime.

Sadly, Roger Zelazny was taken from us too soon. But his genius blazeson--not only in his own enduring fiction, but also in the work of fellowauthors influenced by his example and touched by his friendship. Nowtwenty-five of those writers--including some of the most acclaimed names inSF and fantasy come together to pay tribute to Roger Zelazny with originalstories evoking the magic and wonder of his own best work.Amazon.com Review
Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) was a magnificently inventive fantasy writer. He wrote about time, imagination, morality, philosophy, religion, politics, and storytelling. Many of his best books are out of print at present (though the Amber series is being reissued by Avon), but Lord of the Fantastic is a worthy tribute to his multifaceted genius.

Greenberg, a legendary editor of fantasy anthologies, has collected 22 short stories from some of the best writers working today. Walter Jon Williams writes an achingly sad tale of love, loss, and memory; Robert Silverberg a funny tale of what happens when mythic godslayers outlive their opponents. Gregory Benford mixes space opera with astrophysics in a frenetic chase across the galaxy; Steven Brust's lone gambler goes up against an alien in a very high-stakes card game. And Jack Haldeman tells of a trouble-making fairy who's enjoying exile running a bait and beer shop somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Most authors include a reminiscence of Zelazny in a brief afterword; the introduction and final piece are stories about Roger from two collaborators, Fred Saberhagen and Gerald Hausman. This collection of well-written, thought-provoking tales will inspire old and new fans to read and reread his works. --Nona Vero ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A fine tribute to a fantastic writer
Lord of the Fantastic doesn't contain any of Roger's Zelazny's work.Instead, it's a big wake being held in his honor, where various writers stand up, tell a story they think Roger would have liked, and then share some of their history with him.The stories are good, and the memories add a bittersweet tinge to the collection.

A few stories that stuck in my mind:
"Calling Pittsburgh", by Steven Brust, is an interesting piece about a gambler trying to win back ownership of the earth, piecemeal, from the aliens that now own it.The only problem is, you're not a good gambler unless you can figure out from how your opponent is acting whether he's bluffing or not.
"Southern Discomfort", by Jack C. Haldeman II, is about a fairy kicked out of her homeland for playing mean pranks.All she has to do to come back is to perform one unselfish deed, but she likes it here.
"The Flying Dutchman", by John Varley, is a nasty piece about how sometimes you really can't ever get home again.But maybe you can make a connection in Cleveland?
"Ninekiller and the Neterw", by William Sanders, is an adventure piece set in Egypt, featuring a pilot who is forced down in the middle of the desert with a archaeologist who is more than he seems.Luckily, his dead Grandfather hangs around to warn of trouble.
"Call Me Titan", by Robert Silverberg, is a short piece about one of the original Greek titans escaping his prison to get revenge on Zeus.But where do you find the king of the gods in 1998?
"The Halfway House at the Heart of Darkness", by William Browning Spencer, deals with a new form of addiction in the future - if virtual reality can be anything you want to dream of, why ever leave it?And what if rehabilitating you was illegal?
"Only the End of the World Again", by Neil Gaiman, is another of his short brilliant pieces.This one involves a Mr. Larry Talbot, late of Innsmouth, Mass.

That's only a few of the stories, and not even all of the best.Heck, even the worst stories in this collection are pretty good - Martin Greenberg is a good editor of collections, but in this volume he's really pulled off a fine job.This is undoubtedly helped by the fact that every one of these authors were inspired or helped by Roger Zelazny, and came up with their best to honor him.

My verdict: Well worth the time and trouble to read, both for the marvelous stories and for the peeks at how one man has cast his shadow over so much of the science fiction and fantasy landscape.

Worth it....we miss you Zelazny.
I enjoyed this book, and although not EVERY story was great, they were very good.I think that it makes a fine book by itself, and a great book in memory of the late Roger Zelazny.This is a must have for Zelazny fans.

Friends of Roger
I was one of the contributors to this book, which was originally to be titled FRIENDS OF ROGER.I still wish it had been . . . although a book by all of Roger's friends would be a very thick one; I don't believe there wasanyone who knew him personally who didn't love him - and I think everyonewho knew and loved his writing felt they had lost a friend when hedied.

I won't comment on my own story, but there are plenty of others ofoutstanding quality, well worth the price; John Varley's is my pick forbest of the bunch, with Walter Jon Williams in there pretty close . . . butreally, you could hardly go wrong just opening this book at any one of thestories and beginning there.

The cover is, admittedly, butt-ugly; andthis should have been a hardback - as much money as Roger made for Avon inhis lifetime, you'd think they could do a little better by his memory - butnever mind; the contents more than make up for the exterior.

If you areone of those (us) who cherish Roger's memory, buy this book as yourexpression of appreciation for his memory.Or if you're just looking for alot of damned good reading . . . . ... Read more

Product Description
The third book in the Roger Zelazny trilogy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dull and predictable
I remember first reading Zelazny's Amber series as a teenage. If fact, I I checked out each of the books a few times from the library back then. I loved the originality and the sense of true wonder that they gave me.

I didn't read Betancourt's first three Amber books until after they were all published, if fact I've had all three for a few years before I read them. Earlier in the year, I reread all ten of the original Amber books and now I've finished with all three of Betancourt's books. Frankly, it's night and day. The Betancout books seriously miss the mark for me. I found them uninventive, uninspired, and downright boring!The storylines were bland and predictable and the characters were scripted and stiff.Betancourt's Oberon and Dworkin were very different from how Zelazny described them. There were literally no suprises for me as I read these books and that's a shame.

Now I'm easily entertained, I enjoy a good easy entertaining read such as the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series. However, this trilogy was downright juvenile! I'm certainly no writer myself and not a great storyteller either, but I felt as if I could have easily written this myself and probably even better.

I also have a major gripe with the publisher. My first problem is with the typos; there are quite a few in each book.I rarely see typos in novels but to have at least 3-4 in each book?That's just unacceptable!My second issue is the huge font size and page spacing of all three books. I was literally finished reading each book in less than three hours! I'm not a speed reader but I'm not slow either.This "trilogy" could easily have been combined into one book, two if you want to stretch it out, but three...now you're really milking it. I feel as if I've been ripped off and that's all on the publisher.

So in my opinion, save yourself the money and the frustration and just avoid these books. If you need an Amber fix, go reread the original series again.But if you must read these then at least try to pick them up cheaply second hand or at the library.You'll probably still be disappointed in the content but at least you won't have overpaid for them. ... Read more