Completion Date: May 2007Publication Year: Originally 1974, this version 1999
Received in 2007 during Buy a Friend a Book MonthBook Two in The Chronicles of Amber series
Reason for Reading: I think this series looks really good, and I had already read book 1 in it. I have to say again how happy I am that I received it back during Buy a Friend a Book Month.
Across the worlds of Shadow, Corwin, Prince of blood royal, heir to the throne of Amber, gathers his forces for an assault that will yeild up to him the crown that is rightfully his. But, a growing darkness of his own doing threatens Corwin's plans, an evil that stretches to the heart of the perfect kingdom itself where the demonic forces of Chaos mass to annihilate Amber and all whowould rule there.For years I have seen this series at the bookstore, but never picked it up. I am glad that I am finally reading it now. It reads like one giant novel, with what happens in this book continuing on from what happened in the last.
This book seems to play around with time and space. Sometimes it seems to take place during the past with sword-fighting and valiant knights, and then other times it seems to take place during the present (well, Zelazny's present) with guns and leather jackets. For such a short book, a lot happens in it. Zelazny really plays around with shadows and what is real and not real. Characters reach the forefront, characters die, and a new foe becomes a threat.
Parting Thoughts: My one beef with this series is the editing. For a book that was released so long ago, they had plenty of time spending some time copy editing before coming out with the collected works, and it does not look like they did at all. I was aware of this when I bought it, though, people mention it in Amazon reviews. I really enjoy the series, and it is much easier to read it this way than to track down the older books, so I will put up with the bad editing to find out what happens to Corwin next. I am looking forward to book three!
2 comments:
The Amber Chronicles is one of the great works of fantasy fiction, in my estimation. A very wild thrill ride.
It's so good to see a new generation of readers discovering it.
Another book of his I can recommend without reservation is Lord of Light, a very interesting riff on the Buddha legend.
I will be sure and keep my eyes out for it. It likely is easy to get at the second hand store.
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