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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
ohhh , sometimes rushed , sometimes confusing , but always great .
in a novella length book , i loved most of the characters and hated who was intended to be hated (really hated).
the first books lay to me everything i need from it the conflicting parties , the world , and some secrets to long in the next books , i was not expecting some dark events but they were good , the writing in the book was nearly perfect , the ending (from chapter 7-10) was great I'm excited for guns of avalon .
in a novella length book , i loved most of the characters and hated who was intended to be hated (really hated).
the first books lay to me everything i need from it the conflicting parties , the world , and some secrets to long in the next books , i was not expecting some dark events but they were good , the writing in the book was nearly perfect , the ending (from chapter 7-10) was great I'm excited for guns of avalon .
Back to the genre I know and love. Loved this one, couldn’t stop picking up the book during Thanksgiving family time 😬 having brothers with different characteristics and goals trying for one throne is a classic, done with lots of expansion here.
I also noticed an extra amount of commas in this one too? I think I remember the Foundation series had a similar punctuation vibe, maybe a characteristic of writing at the time? Random thought.
I also noticed an extra amount of commas in this one too? I think I remember the Foundation series had a similar punctuation vibe, maybe a characteristic of writing at the time? Random thought.
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I read this as part of the Chronicles of Amber vol. 1 but I'm going to space the books out as I read them (I have several). This was one of the first books I ordered as part the old 10 books for a penny deal. I think I read it when I was in Jr. High School. It's a very quick paced, quite enjoyable read with lots of adventure. Sometimes the descriptions aren't great as Zelazny will flip through several scenes on a page and expect you to keep up with him. But, I liked the tone of the book as Corwin keeps you guessing if he's someone you should side with through his many escapades.
Old fashioned fantasy tale with an interesting setting but sadly not much in the way of characters or development of the ones present.
Corwin, the 'protagonist', is one of nine brothers alive and in contention for the throne of Amber, the one true reality of which all other worlds are but shadows of. This in itself is an interesting setting, but we don't get too read enough about any characters to care much about them. It isn't clear why we need to care about Corwin getting the throne. He is just as selfish and cruel as the others.
Also, the author employs too much of exposition to tell us about how a particular character is smart or capable rather than showing us why. This is fine, but this often the only source of information about certain characters (including the lead - Corwin. He talks about how great he is). Then we are treated to obscure system(s) of magic of which we hear random rules about here and there and this spoils the experience a little. The Deus-ex-machina at the end to help is a bit of a let down.
A lot of modern fantasy works (and even some earlier ones) are longer, spend more time on world building and character development, that we actually care what happens in the books. But this is a book from a different world (see pulp/trashy) where entertainment in a small package is what is needed. So I suppose the expectations need to be a little different reading such books. But I prefer long-form fantasy to this.
Corwin, the 'protagonist', is one of nine brothers alive and in contention for the throne of Amber, the one true reality of which all other worlds are but shadows of. This in itself is an interesting setting, but we don't get too read enough about any characters to care much about them. It isn't clear why we need to care about Corwin getting the throne. He is just as selfish and cruel as the others.
Also, the author employs too much of exposition to tell us about how a particular character is smart or capable rather than showing us why. This is fine, but this often the only source of information about certain characters (including the lead - Corwin. He talks about how great he is). Then we are treated to obscure system(s) of magic of which we hear random rules about here and there and this spoils the experience a little. The Deus-ex-machina at the end to help
Spoiler
Corwin escape from prisonA lot of modern fantasy works (and even some earlier ones) are longer, spend more time on world building and character development, that we actually care what happens in the books. But this is a book from a different world (see pulp/trashy) where entertainment in a small package is what is needed. So I suppose the expectations need to be a little different reading such books. But I prefer long-form fantasy to this.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First in the Amber series, this book excels at world building. It perhaps has the best "Introducing a fantasy world to a straight man" sequence I have read.
Full Review at Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2016/10/28/backlist-burndown-review-nine-princes-of-amber-by-robert-zelazny/
I was incredibly impressed by how well this book has aged. It is a portal fantasy, so parts of it are set in the “modern” day we know, but with the exception of the absence of current technology and a few references to hippies, I could not have told you when it was written. It still feels very modern even though its 40+ years old.
The story begins with Corwin, who has woken in a hospital and seems to be suffering from amnesia. Now, I have read a number of books that start with amnesia, that have decidedly not worked well for me. I am happy to say this one actually did.
As Corwin learns and remembers more, we discover alternate worlds and in particular, we learn about Amber, the ultimate world. The world that seems hardest to reach, but also the most critical to return to. In this book, I felt the relaying of information and world building worked extremely well. We got relevant information as Corwin would come across it in one way or another, and it just felt natural.
Following his journey, meeting his companions, and learning about this world, discovering how Corwin came to wake up in that hospital all made this an enjoyable reading experience.
For me, perhaps the most telling aspect of this book that hints at its age is the length (or lack there of). I feel like I have read recent novellas that were longer than this novel. And for this reason, there is still much to know and learn. But since this is the first in a series, I can’t fault the book for that. The fact that I am interested to know more is always a testament to enjoying the book.
I was incredibly impressed by how well this book has aged. It is a portal fantasy, so parts of it are set in the “modern” day we know, but with the exception of the absence of current technology and a few references to hippies, I could not have told you when it was written. It still feels very modern even though its 40+ years old.
The story begins with Corwin, who has woken in a hospital and seems to be suffering from amnesia. Now, I have read a number of books that start with amnesia, that have decidedly not worked well for me. I am happy to say this one actually did.
As Corwin learns and remembers more, we discover alternate worlds and in particular, we learn about Amber, the ultimate world. The world that seems hardest to reach, but also the most critical to return to. In this book, I felt the relaying of information and world building worked extremely well. We got relevant information as Corwin would come across it in one way or another, and it just felt natural.
Following his journey, meeting his companions, and learning about this world, discovering how Corwin came to wake up in that hospital all made this an enjoyable reading experience.
For me, perhaps the most telling aspect of this book that hints at its age is the length (or lack there of). I feel like I have read recent novellas that were longer than this novel. And for this reason, there is still much to know and learn. But since this is the first in a series, I can’t fault the book for that. The fact that I am interested to know more is always a testament to enjoying the book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No