/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.1033746]

Hi /lit/. I'd like to know your opinion on Roger Zelazny's Amber series. Personally I think it's my favorite book series ever.

[None !IsAMEmE6C2 No.1033776]

I love-LOVE-LOVED the first several books, but around book 5 (Courts of Chaos, I think) I got stuck, twice, and have never gotten past that point. I found the writing of the first 100 pages or so to be really captivating, but later it became more uneven.

I generally like Zelazny a lot--Lord of Light is one my favorite SF books. Even Donnerjack, which was completed by another author, worked for me, though it was far from Z's best.

[Anonymous No.1033790]

What's it like?

[None !IsAMEmE6C2 No.1033792]

>>1033790
An original reality-bending fantasy story, with some exceptional writing. I wouldn't want to give too much away about the premise.

I would say any fantasy fan would not regret reading the first book, and probably would be hooked for more.

[Anonymous No.1033795]

Fuck yeah, Zelazny thread!

The first chronicle is fucking amazing. The second is so-so, and it doesn't help that he died before he could really get started on the third he was hinting at, and answer so many of the questions the second left us with.

I was meaning to read Lord of Light, but it ended up getting loaned to a friend because I was already reading Changeling at the time.

Other great books of his: Changeling and Madwand(the wizard world series), Doorways in the Sand, Jack of Shadows, and his short stories are amazing.

And here's a semi-complete ebook collection: http://www.mediafire.com/?iqdd72284etb20b

[Anonymous No.1033806]

>>1033795
It's too bad he didn't continue Madwand, the second book had obvious sequel hook.
There are some short stories that continue Amber in "Hall of Mirrors" story collection. Shame, it looked pretty good..

[Anonymous No.1033828]

>>1033806
Right. After being stuck with Merlin for five books, I was totally ready to pick up with Corwin again.

I must've re-read the first chronicle four or five times.

[Anonymous No.1033836]

So has one of you Zelazny pals bought one of the collected editions? I've been wondering about them but I'm not exactly drowning in money at the moment so I haven't acted on anything yet.

[Anonymous No.1033847]

>>1033836
I own a copy of the Great Book of Amber, and shamelessly I tell you I cut that fucker in half.

It's just too heavy as a whole. I'd recommend getting this: http://www.amazon.com/First-Chronicles-Amber-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0739407007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=bo
oks&qid=1281636228&sr=8-1

Or: http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Amber-II-sold-set/dp/B000V8XUOE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&
qid=1281636228&sr=8-3

[Anonymous No.1033850]

>>1033836
Do it and never look back.
I happen to own the Amber chronicles in a beautiful 20-year old edition bought by my dad. Classy...

[Anonymous No.1033851]

>>1033847
Oh no no, I didn't mean omnibuses! I wasn't very clear on that. (I own the great book myself) I meant the NESFA press Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny volumes. They look very neat but they aren't inexpensive

[ForcedMeme !IsAMEmE6C2 No.1033853]

>>1033836
>>1033847
I have the Great Book of Amber, and it is pretty huge. I don't really try to travel with books a lot, so it doesn't bother me.

[Anonymous No.1033862]

>>1033851
Oooooohhhh

I have no idea, myself. However, as I acquire the proper funds, I fully intend to get them.

It's Roger Zelazny. How can it not be worth it?

[Anonymous No.1033869]

>>1033862
What I find especially neat is: "The books are packaged so the jacket spines form a single image, each spine a subset of a spectacular painting created by Michael Whelan for this project. If the six books are placed on a shelf in order, with the back cover of volume 1 open and the front cover of volume 6 open, the two open covers with the six spines between display Whelan's entire painting."

[Anonymous No.1033870]

>>1033869