Nine Princes In Amber: Book One

In the 70s, this was considered the freshest kind of fantasy, and today's writers often point to it as one of their inspirations.Why it made the listThe world-building concept in The Chronicles of Amber is intriguing: There are multiple worlds, but each one is just a copy of one main world. The magic system, where characters with magic can influence the copied worlds is equally fascinating. That it's easy to understand these ideas is a testament to Zelazny's writing ability. In the hands of a lesser writer, these could be difficult to grasp.There's some great dialogue in this series – witty quips and retorts illustrate the conflict between the characters without detracting from the plot. There isn't an over abundance of wittiness either, which is a good thing considering how irritating snarky characters can be if they don't show some seriousness. (David Eddings, this means you.)If you're looking for good female characters, you'll need to manage your expectations a bit: Like many books written in the 70s, the need to create well-rounded women didn't exist the way it does today. You'd think this would detract from the readability of the series, but it doesn't. This is mostly because the plot moves along at a good pace – with a number of surprising twists that will keep you entertained.

Books in Chronicles Of Amber Series (11)

Booklists having this book

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Best Fantasy Books of the 70's

The 70's saw us Afro hairstyle, the Me generation, the continuation of the Cold War, the end of the Vietnam war, and death of the hippy trail.  It was also... Read more

Other books by Zelazny, Roger

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Chronicles Of Amber

The Amber Chronicles is a complex blend of genres and plot. It starts like a murder mystery, drawing the reader in, then it moves on to a mixture of sci-fi... Read more

The Guns Of Avalon

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Sign Of The Unicorn

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The Hand Of Oberon

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The Courts Of Chaos

Having realized that he no longer wants the throne of Amber for himself, Corwin nevertheless confronts the villainy of his brother, Brand, the treachery of some unusual places and creatures,... Read more

Trumps Of Doom

Like clockwork, California computer hacker Merle Corey is nearly murdered every April 30th by a persistent unknown assailant. For, in reality, Merle is Merlin, son of the missing, possibly mad... Read more

Blood Of Amber

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Sign Of Chaos

Following the cliffhanger ending of Blood of Amber, Merlin is stranded in a surrealistic Alice in Wonderland-esque bar where the Mad Hatter serves cocktails. Managing to escape, Merlin meets new... Read more

Knight Of Shadows

A fantasy adventure relates the tale of a sometimes murderous family of wizards and the alternate worlds they inhabit Read more

Prince Of Chaos

Merlin Corey travels to the Courts of Chaos, where he discovers the reasons behind many of the forces that have shaped his life. Read more

Sign Of The Unicorn

Internecine warfare over succession to the throne and the evil forces of Shadow threaten to destroy the royal family of the imaginary state of Amber Read more

The Courts Of Chaos

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Manna From Heaven

This new collection includes all five previously uncollected "Amber" stories, plus the prologue from the rare limited edition of "The Trumps of Doom," and 16 other fantasy and science fiction... Read more

Roger Zelazny's The Dawn Of Amber

In CHAOS AND AMBER, Dworkin and his son Oberon arrive at the Courts of Chaos to discover, and confront, their hidden enemies. But things don't go as planned. Oberon has... Read more

Roger Zelazny's To Rule In Amber

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Roger Zelazny's Shadows Of Amber

Provides detailed information on Castle Amber. Read more

The Chronicles Of Amber

Not strictly unknown, yet still ignored by the average fantasy reader. The world of Amber is one of the most original and most interesting fantasy worlds out there - something... Read more

The Courts Of Chaos

Amber reveals the mysteries of King Oberon's disappearance, the hellwitch's identity, and the magical pattern that holds the kingdom of Amber together, but his victory over the Dark Lands remains... Read more

Knight Of Shadows

England, 1191. Richard Lionheart has left the realm bankrupt and leaderless in his quest for glory. Only Prince John seems willing to fight back the tide of chaos threatening England... Read more

Lord Of Light

Zelazny may be famous in the fantasy world for his Amber series, but his best work may just be his stand alone novel, Lord of Light. It's a work that's... Read more

Nine Princes In Amber: Book One

In the 70s, this was considered the freshest kind of fantasy, and today's writers often point to it as one of their inspirations.Why it made the listThe world-building concept in... Read more

The Hand Of Oberon

Returning to Shadow Earth to investigate a threat against his life, Corwin discovers that the Jewel of Judgment has been stolen by his traitorous brother, Brand, who plans to use... Read more

The Courts Of Chaos

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Blood Of Amber

Pursued by a fiendish enemy, Merle must battle through an intricate web of vengeane and murder that threatens more than the San Francisco Bay area. For Merle Corey of California... Read more

Sign Of Chaos

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Knight Of Shadows

Following his beloved debut, Traitor's Blade, Sebastien de Castell returns with volume two of his fast-paced fantasy adventure series, inspired by the swashbuckling action and witty banter of The Three... Read more

Prince Of Chaos

Chronicles the life and career of pop star Prince, including his collaborations, albums, movies, tours, and business dealings. Read more

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