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A review by bigenk
Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
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
3.0
This is the opening novel of Zelazny's lengthy Chronicles in Amber series, detailing the lives and exploits of the princes of a magical realm adjacent but removed from our own, who are locked in a power vacuum struggle for the throne and title to the greatest city that ever was or ever shall be. There's also this neat idea of infinite worlds with unlimited possibilities, that only the princes have the power to jump between. It opens with a tired but effective literary trick, where the main protagonist, Corwin, is suffering from amnesia, and slowly uncovers his history and powers along with the reader.
Nine Princes in Amber is a romp, a tight tale told compellingly, that despite some sagging in the middle has excellent pacing. This is the type of story that you can read cover to cover in a day, and not just because of its pages length. It's an entertainment forward read that has a good balance between vivid action sequences and glimpses into the mystical vale that Amber inhabits. Unfortunately, it's also essentially just a prequel to a much larger story, which most of the time feels like a scam to me, but here at least Zelazny leaves you with a conclusion that could theoretically be satisfying on its own.
Something that held Nine Princes in Amber back from a higher rating is Zelazny's insistence on using 70's slang and fourth wall breaking quips towards the reader that clashed with the rest of his high fantasy ideas. Why did Zelazny choose to do this? Who's to say other than him, but it's hard to see the value in the main character, who is infinite powerful and part of a royal bloodline, sarcastically saying things like "Ya dig?". Perhaps Zelazny was trying to hedge his bets, uncomfortable with how the novel would sell, and tried to make it more relatable to the reader of the time, but it just serves to degrade the authority of the work and will forever date it as a work of its time.
Is Nine Princes in Amber fun? Yes. I had an enjoyable time with my glimpse into this world, and am tempted to continue that peak with at least one of the many sequels. Ultimately though, at its heart Nine Princes in Amber is a boy's power fantasy that does little to become something greater. There is little room for anyone other than the arrogant male characters, while the prince's many sisters are summarily dismissed as unimportant and/or stupid. There are lengthy portions of description dedicated to the power, strength, and ingenuity of the princes, without nuanced exploration of their internal lives, emotions, or the political drama that rules the land. Perhaps the sequels are more complete works, but this one is mostly a work of escapism in a vivid, dream-like land.
Nine Princes in Amber is a romp, a tight tale told compellingly, that despite some sagging in the middle has excellent pacing. This is the type of story that you can read cover to cover in a day, and not just because of its pages length. It's an entertainment forward read that has a good balance between vivid action sequences and glimpses into the mystical vale that Amber inhabits. Unfortunately, it's also essentially just a prequel to a much larger story, which most of the time feels like a scam to me, but here at least Zelazny leaves you with a conclusion that could theoretically be satisfying on its own.
Something that held Nine Princes in Amber back from a higher rating is Zelazny's insistence on using 70's slang and fourth wall breaking quips towards the reader that clashed with the rest of his high fantasy ideas. Why did Zelazny choose to do this? Who's to say other than him, but it's hard to see the value in the main character, who is infinite powerful and part of a royal bloodline, sarcastically saying things like "Ya dig?". Perhaps Zelazny was trying to hedge his bets, uncomfortable with how the novel would sell, and tried to make it more relatable to the reader of the time, but it just serves to degrade the authority of the work and will forever date it as a work of its time.
Is Nine Princes in Amber fun? Yes. I had an enjoyable time with my glimpse into this world, and am tempted to continue that peak with at least one of the many sequels. Ultimately though, at its heart Nine Princes in Amber is a boy's power fantasy that does little to become something greater. There is little room for anyone other than the arrogant male characters, while the prince's many sisters are summarily dismissed as unimportant and/or stupid. There are lengthy portions of description dedicated to the power, strength, and ingenuity of the princes, without nuanced exploration of their internal lives, emotions, or the political drama that rules the land. Perhaps the sequels are more complete works, but this one is mostly a work of escapism in a vivid, dream-like land.