Quote from: daniel_ream;927458His Changeling duology can be read as two Shadow sorcerors learning the rules of magic in different Shadows.  But then Zelazny did tend to revisit the same themes in his works.

"Manna From Heaven" feels very much like the proto-Merlin story.

Quote from: Runaway;925710Yes, I heard about Betancourt prequel-novels.There are three of them.Some people like it, and some people hate to death.Going to check it out later, now I'm reading Zelazny's "Lord of Light".

Great book, was about to recommend it.

Nothing to do with Amber but if you're on a Zelazny kick then A Night in the Lonesome October is absolutely fantastic.

My favourite Zelazny novel is the fantasy JACK OF SHADOWS. His novella 'For a Breath I Tarry' is my favourite of his shorter work (where I think he did his best work usually) even with its slightly cliche ending.

Quote from: Daztur;941889Great book, was about to recommend it.

Nothing to do with Amber but if you're on a Zelazny kick then A Night in the Lonesome October is absolutely fantastic.

I re-read it each October! Such a fun read!

You have to remeber as well that between Corwin and Merlin sagas Zelazny wasn't quite as reticent at allowing other authors to write about Amber. So you get the two 'Choose your own Adventure' style books. Seven No Trump - in which Random tries to solve an interesting little plot and The Black Road War written from the perspective of Derek a son of Eric.
They are both written by Neil Randall who wrote the Visual guide to Castle Amber. They are better than than and better than the Benecourt novels in as much as they are trying to tell their own tales in the setting as opposed to just retreading the first set of books in the past. However Seven No Trump is much better. I don't think Randall is great with his own characters, like Derek, although as we know from the Visual Guide he can also fuck up existing characters quite well too
If you are a fan (and why else would you even be here) they are worth getting hold of.
 
I am still upset that Zelazny didn't free Amber before he died as his actions meant his estate got a hack like Benecourt to write a follow up as opposed to letting Zelazny's friends including Martin and Gaiman to have a go both of whom would have done an outstanding job. A book like the Martin edited Rogues or Warriors with a plethora of modern authors having a stab would have been glorious.

I need to give the Amber novels another try, kinda lost interest after the first two books. But I tend to prefer self contained novels to series: The Dream Master, Lord of Light, the short stories.

Any of the later fantasy novels as good as Jack of Shadows?

Quote from: Voros;945896I need to give thr Amber novels another try, kinda lost interest after the first two books. But I tend to prefer self contained novels to series: The Dream Master, Lord of Light, the short stories.

Any of the later fantasy novels as good as Jack of Shadows?

I really didn't care for Jack of shadows.  In fact I thought it was a steaming pile of shit.

Thanks for the helpful reply.

Now if someone with something constructive to add to the conversation could reply please do so.

Sorry didn't mean to imply there was anything wrong with you for liking it.  Its just odd.  He's my favorite author.  Its a book other fans like.  Its got cool stuff in it, the Morning/evening star.  Was completely bored and disapointed by the book.  I guess it was more cold shit for me.  Nothing about it steamed and that was the problem for me.  
Again this is ment as literary critisim not personal criticism.  I would like to like it.

Okay I thought you were just trolling. I haven't read any of the novels after the first Amber trilogy as I heard their quality is uneven. Damnation Alley looks like it could be fun in a goofy way.

If thats the one about driving accross s post apooclptic america it is fun.

If you didn't like nine princes I don't know what to tell you.

I don't think Zelany gets any better than that.  I don't think books get any better than that.

I think you misunderstood, I didn't dislike Nince Princes I just didn't continue reading as I'm not into series. I intend to return and finish it. I would say though that I like them but do prefer his other stories and books by a hair.

Quote from: Voros;946384I think you misunderstood, I didn't dislike Nince Princes I just didn't continue reading as I'm not into series. I intend to return and finish it. I would say though that I like them but do prefer his other stories and books by a hair.

People have different tastes on Zelazny. I liked Creatures of Light and Darkness a bit better than Amber in some ways. I couldn't stand Changeling. And there's a reason Lord of Light won the Hugo and nothing else he wrote did.

Personally, I never liked the idea of introducing gunpowder to Amber.
I don't know why that didn't spark an arms race.

//Panjumanju

Have you read Dream Master or his early short stories? I think they're remarkable. Lord of Light is good but I don't think it is his best, many great books won Hugos back them but many other equally good books didn't. I'll probably start a new thread to discuss his other books and see if anyone has recommendations for the later stuff.

Personally I liked Creatures of Light and Darkness. Mostly an Amber fan, especially the first five books honestly. Some of his short stories are pretty good.