F/SF

Jumped straight into this series after finishing the original Amber series.
Trying my best not to compare it too much.....

In Nine Princes of Amber, although Corwin starts off in a "normal" Earth hospital with amnesia and revisits it a few times, Corwin quickly became aware that he was a Prince of Amber and very much acted the part for the remainder of the series, with everything revolving around Amber and his mind definitely centred there.

Merlin almost seems the opposite. It feels like he is based in our world and is just an occasional visitor to Amber and not particularly interested in all the intrigue, except for when he is somehow directly involved in it. This feels more like an Urban Fantasy than a Fantasy World fantasy like the original series.
I'm not complaining, actually prefer it to not be too similar to the original.

What I like about this story is all the questions being raised. Who is trying to kill Merlin? Why? How many different parties are there and how many are directly against Merlin, or indirectly against him or secretly helping him, or will be at least temporarily aligned with him?
One thing I loved about the first series was that all the questions raised were eventually answered. Even if it was 4 books later. I have confidence in Mr Zelazny that the same thing will eventuate here.
Can't wait to continue with the rest of the series. ( )

This is the sixth Amber novel by Zelazny, and the first in a new five-book sequence. Towards the end of the first sequence, we met Merlin, the son of Corwin, the protagonist of the initial story, and as the story closed, Corwin told his story to Merlin, whch explained the cryptic references throughout to him being outside the Courts of Chaos narrating the tale.

As the current book begins, Merlin has lived in our world for several years as a computer engineer and is planning to return to Amber. Oddly, a series of attempts have been made on his life, one per year, on a particular date, but it hasn't really bothered him! The latest attempt, however, finally forces him to realise he has a dangerous enemy, when those nearest to him are fatally targeted. Things become more confusing for Merlin as an old friend, Luke, turns up at one point very conveniently to save him from yet another assassination attempt. Merlin goes home to Amber where he discovers that one of his father's brothers has been killed and another wounded. The attacks on the family continue, and the whereabouts of his father remain unknown. And it eventually becomes evident that something Merlin himself has done as an academic exercise creating a supercomputer in a far-off Shadow may unwittingly be used against his family.

As with the earlier books, there are some interesting sections and others that drag. This includes the sections where Merlin travels between Shadows, as the various alternate worlds are named, although it may not be as 'dry' for someone who is starting the sequence with this volume. The book suffers from what is seen throughout the whole earlier sequence: a lack of real characterisation and an especial lack of any real role for women. A couple of Merlin's aunts have cameo roles but don't really do anything, and his girlfriend comes to a grisly end, which is portrayed as collatoral damage and he isn't really upset.

It remains to be seen how the story pans out following the ending's revelation of the villain's identity and agenda, and I do have the next book, but on the past showing of these, don't intend to buy the final three. ( )

Het begint wel leuk, maar de tweede helft vond ik nogal wazig en chaotisch. Jammer, niet zozeer vanwege de verwarring, maar vooral doordat ik weer opnieuw moeite moet doen om ook maar 1% om de hoofdpersoon te geven. ( )

The story of Amber continues, but now with the second generation. Merle/Merlin Corey, son of Corwin, confronts many of the same problems as his father - who is trying to kill him and other members of his family and who is the mysterious enemy of Amber? The technology is a little updated from the original books, but the plots and themes are largely the same. ( )