Corwin's bookshelf: all en-US Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:16:05 -0700 60 Corwin's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Visual Guide to Castle Amber 62001
Enter: The tour of Castle Amber is about to begin—with vivid illustrations, detailed floor plans, cutaway drawings, and page after page of never-before-revealed information.

Explore: See it all, from the throne room to the treasury, the dungeons to the dining halls, the library, laboratory, private apartments, and secret chambers.

Exult: Learn more about Amber's culture, myths, and military. Discover new facts about the royal family. Travel to the Courts of Chaos. And, at last, see for yourself what the Trump cards actually look like!

It's all here, in the one book every Amber devotee must own.]]> 221 Roger Zelazny 0380755661 Corwin 1 This book is of a genre once known as a gazetteer: a guide to a given locale's places of interest. As such, the primary concern of any modern-day author of such work is accuracy. If one bought a guide to, say, London, the reader would be justifiably upset to find the book full of misinformation, mistakes, and wild fantasies.
Yet such is exactly what a reader finds in this book. It is not understandable: not only did the author have the chance to interview Zelazny, but at the time of this book's writing, there were only a handful of Amber books in print. Surely, the research involved could not have been too taxing? Yet, it obviously was.
Just because the book lists Roger Zelazny as first author, don't be fooled. The text is bland and banal, in addition to the errors. It is obvious Zelazny had little-to-nothing to do with the writing of the book.
The book walks you through the castle, led by one of Roger Zelazny's secondary characters, Flora. The author(s) of this particular book crudely mishandled her persona. The book then provides a discussion of the castle and associated "facts." Some of the facts are grossly misrepresented, such as non-royals going mad if the view the Pattern (an artifact crucial to the tales, and hidden in the bowels of the Castle) Some mistakes are so ludicrous that one is left either a) rolling one's eyes or b) laughing out loud. The degree of care that went into the writing of this book is told by none other than the presumed main author, Neil Randell, himself. According to the book's Introduction, while colleagues were interviewing Zelazny, he was off reading the draft of Roger's next book! Talk about missed opportunities and misplaced priorities!
Another side effect of the book also made it obsolete: Zelazny so disliked being bound by the descriptions in this book that in his next novel, he had a large-but-unspecified section of it destroyed so that it could remodeled any way he wished. So, in the end, the book is doubly useless: not only it is full of misinformation, but it was obsolete as soon as Zelazny could make it so! Don't waste your money! ]]> 3.63 1988 Visual Guide to Castle Amber
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.63
book published: 1988
rating: 1
read at: 1988/01/01
date added: 2015/07/16
shelves:
review:
First of all, this book is written for fans of Roger Zelazny and his "Amber" Universe. It is a guide to the Castle (one of the recurring settings within the tales) and some of the castle's surroundings, inhabitants, etc. If you are NOT familiar with Zelazny's Amber stories, you should avoid this volume, as it would fill you with misunderstandings and the occasional "spoiler" that happens to be accurate. If you ARE a fan of Zelazny's Amber books, you want to avoid this book at ALL COSTS, because it is so full of errors that you'll cringe.
This book is of a genre once known as a gazetteer: a guide to a given locale's places of interest. As such, the primary concern of any modern-day author of such work is accuracy. If one bought a guide to, say, London, the reader would be justifiably upset to find the book full of misinformation, mistakes, and wild fantasies.
Yet such is exactly what a reader finds in this book. It is not understandable: not only did the author have the chance to interview Zelazny, but at the time of this book's writing, there were only a handful of Amber books in print. Surely, the research involved could not have been too taxing? Yet, it obviously was.
Just because the book lists Roger Zelazny as first author, don't be fooled. The text is bland and banal, in addition to the errors. It is obvious Zelazny had little-to-nothing to do with the writing of the book.
The book walks you through the castle, led by one of Roger Zelazny's secondary characters, Flora. The author(s) of this particular book crudely mishandled her persona. The book then provides a discussion of the castle and associated "facts." Some of the facts are grossly misrepresented, such as non-royals going mad if the view the Pattern (an artifact crucial to the tales, and hidden in the bowels of the Castle) Some mistakes are so ludicrous that one is left either a) rolling one's eyes or b) laughing out loud. The degree of care that went into the writing of this book is told by none other than the presumed main author, Neil Randell, himself. According to the book's Introduction, while colleagues were interviewing Zelazny, he was off reading the draft of Roger's next book! Talk about missed opportunities and misplaced priorities!
Another side effect of the book also made it obsolete: Zelazny so disliked being bound by the descriptions in this book that in his next novel, he had a large-but-unspecified section of it destroyed so that it could remodeled any way he wished. So, in the end, the book is doubly useless: not only it is full of misinformation, but it was obsolete as soon as Zelazny could make it so! Don't waste your money!
]]> <![CDATA[Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling]]> 15894358 Story Physics, best-selling author Larry Brooks introduces you to six key literary forces that, when leveraged in just the right way, enable you to craft a story that's primed for success--and publication.

Inside Story Physics, you'll learn how to: Understand and harness the six storytelling forces that are constantly at work in your fiction. Transform your story idea into a dramatically compelling concept. Optimize the choices you make in terms of character, conflict, subplot, subtext, and more to render the best possible outcome. These literary forces will elevate your story above the competition and help you avoid the rejection pile. With Story Physics, you won't just give your story wings--you'll teach it how to fly.

"Larry Brooks speaks my kind of language about story. Any writer, even those trucking in the world of nonfiction, will benefit from going deeper into the physics of storytelling as Brooks explains in these pages." - James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Plot & Structure

"Larry Brooks has done it again! If you liked "Story Engineering," I suspect you're going to love "Story Physics," which dives even deeper into the essence of story. "Story Physics" is an essential addition to every novelist's bookshelf." - Randy Ingermanson, author of Writing Fiction for Dummies]]> 248 Larry Brooks 1599636891 Corwin 1
The complaints (based on a major bookseller's website) were about what most described as his “style.� This included such things as constant repetition (within the book itself, and in terms of content from other books by the author), constant self-promotion, an inability to get the point, the awkward structure of the book, the author’s tone, excessive empty verbiage, and much more.

I am a writer, and am trying to learn the art of crafting novels. I bought this book based on a) the strength of the many rave reviews on the web site I found it on, and b) the fact that the author had written five novels that had apparently done well. I only picked up on the pattern of complaints after I tried to read the book. I got about a quarter of the way through the book before I gave up. For me, the book was unreadable.

Why? For me, the author’s number one problem is what I will also call “style.� And the style he uses is one I found *totally* inappropriate for a book of this nature.

It would seem a safe assumption that a reader reads a book because he has an interest in the topic. When the book is instructional in nature, most want � EXPECT � to learn something. We are not reading for enjoyment: time is valuable, and at least most of us appreciate a teacher who gets to the point, who SHOWS us rather than TELLS us that what he has to offer is of value. The author's refusal to get a point is mind-numbing; he babbles and rambles. We are more than 1/8 of the way through the book before he even starts to define "story physics." Most of us also value a presentation that is well-ordered, that builds on a solid foundation, i.e., one that does not expect you to read something on page 210 before you read something on page 30.

But this author takes a different approach. He is described as attempting to create a “passionate� discussion. I *surmise* what is thought of as “passion� is exactly what his reviewers are complaining about. This is suppose to be an instructional book, in which a little passion would go a long way - and this author goes further yet. If he wanted to write passion, he should try a Harlequin Romance. He also tells us, over and over again, how good this book is. But � we’re already reading the book: we do NOT need (or want) an on-going sales job. What IS needed, and which is not provided in the first 25% of the book, is ANY proof the book has valuable content. Everything I read had been said elsewhere by others, and in a far briefer, more direct, clearer, and stronger manner than this author achieves. If there is four pages' worth of actual information in the 60-odd pages I read, I'd be surprised. And none of that information was "new." Maybe the author managed to say something helpful in the remainder of his book. But if so, his constant empty palaver kept me from ever reading that far. Reading this book yielded such a poor return on my investment (money, time, and energy) that I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't finish it. If an author can not say SOMETHING worthwhile in the first 25% of an instructional book, it strains credulity to think the rest will be different.

If you have little or no experience in writing, you may get more out of this book than I did, but you will have to suffer through what others besides myself have complained about: his writing. BUT even if you have never read a single word on the craft of writing, I urge you to look elsewhere: there are many fine books out there that provide more direct information, are much easier to learn from, and are far less painful to read than this particular book.]]> 3.87 2013 Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling
author: Larry Brooks
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2013
rating: 1
read at: 2013/08/01
date added: 2015/07/07
shelves:
review:
I think you'll find this is a *badly written* book. Even many of the book's admirers complain about the author’s WRITING. Consider the irony: would you buy a book about WRITING, about which the number one complaint was the author’s...WRITING?

The complaints (based on a major bookseller's website) were about what most described as his “style.� This included such things as constant repetition (within the book itself, and in terms of content from other books by the author), constant self-promotion, an inability to get the point, the awkward structure of the book, the author’s tone, excessive empty verbiage, and much more.

I am a writer, and am trying to learn the art of crafting novels. I bought this book based on a) the strength of the many rave reviews on the web site I found it on, and b) the fact that the author had written five novels that had apparently done well. I only picked up on the pattern of complaints after I tried to read the book. I got about a quarter of the way through the book before I gave up. For me, the book was unreadable.

Why? For me, the author’s number one problem is what I will also call “style.� And the style he uses is one I found *totally* inappropriate for a book of this nature.

It would seem a safe assumption that a reader reads a book because he has an interest in the topic. When the book is instructional in nature, most want � EXPECT � to learn something. We are not reading for enjoyment: time is valuable, and at least most of us appreciate a teacher who gets to the point, who SHOWS us rather than TELLS us that what he has to offer is of value. The author's refusal to get a point is mind-numbing; he babbles and rambles. We are more than 1/8 of the way through the book before he even starts to define "story physics." Most of us also value a presentation that is well-ordered, that builds on a solid foundation, i.e., one that does not expect you to read something on page 210 before you read something on page 30.

But this author takes a different approach. He is described as attempting to create a “passionate� discussion. I *surmise* what is thought of as “passion� is exactly what his reviewers are complaining about. This is suppose to be an instructional book, in which a little passion would go a long way - and this author goes further yet. If he wanted to write passion, he should try a Harlequin Romance. He also tells us, over and over again, how good this book is. But � we’re already reading the book: we do NOT need (or want) an on-going sales job. What IS needed, and which is not provided in the first 25% of the book, is ANY proof the book has valuable content. Everything I read had been said elsewhere by others, and in a far briefer, more direct, clearer, and stronger manner than this author achieves. If there is four pages' worth of actual information in the 60-odd pages I read, I'd be surprised. And none of that information was "new." Maybe the author managed to say something helpful in the remainder of his book. But if so, his constant empty palaver kept me from ever reading that far. Reading this book yielded such a poor return on my investment (money, time, and energy) that I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't finish it. If an author can not say SOMETHING worthwhile in the first 25% of an instructional book, it strains credulity to think the rest will be different.

If you have little or no experience in writing, you may get more out of this book than I did, but you will have to suffer through what others besides myself have complained about: his writing. BUT even if you have never read a single word on the craft of writing, I urge you to look elsewhere: there are many fine books out there that provide more direct information, are much easier to learn from, and are far less painful to read than this particular book.
]]> <![CDATA[The Martian Tales Trilogy (Barsoom #1-3)]]> 668851
Combining otherworldly adventures with elements of classical myth, fast-paced plots with cliffhanging tension, and imaginative fantasy with vivid prose, Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Martian Tales Trilogy helped define a new literary genre emerging in the early twentieth century that would become known as science fiction.

Hero John Carter proves himself against deadly foes in The Martian Trilogy. In the first installment, Carter wins the affections of the "princess of Mars" and the respect of the Martian warlords whom he befriends. The excitement continues in The Gods of Mars when Carter engages the Black Pirates in airborne combat above the dead seas of Mars and leads a revolt to free the Martian races from a religion that thrives on living sacrifices. In the third book, Warlord of Mars, Carter overcomes the forces of evil that would destroy the planet. By the end of the trilogy the Martians all clamor for a triumphant John Carter to be their king.

About the Author:
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 1, 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs grew to maturity during the height of the Industrial Revolution and witnessed the emergence of the United States as a twentieth-century world power. Hailing from a well-to-do family, Burroughs was given an aristocratic education steeped in Latin and Greek, but he was drawn more to an itinerant life of adventure than to a life in the boardroom. The author of Tarzan of the Apes (1912), Burroughs did not confine himself to a single genre; he also wrote medieval romances (The Outlaw of Torn, 1914), westerns (The War Chief of the Apaches, 1927), and mainstream novels (The Girl from Hollywood, 1922).

]]> 617 Edgar Rice Burroughs 076075585X Corwin 3 Princess of Mars.

The series is almost non-stop action, set in a richly imagined dying Mars, full of abandoned cities, multiple sentient races/cultures at each other's throats, strange environments, a shortage of water, and a thinning atmosphere. It is a fun story, definitely to be read for the action, not the science. John Carter, a gold-seeking veteran of the American Civil War, finds himself mysteriously transported to the Red Planet, or Barsoom as the natives call it. Carter, accustomed to Earth's higher gravity, is blessed with uncommon strength for his new world, and his war-time experiences and blunt personality set him on a path to hero-dom and (of course) the beautiful girl. Character development was not a priority of the author for these novels, and the plot often bumps along at the comic book level. That's fun individually, but wears thin if you read all three novels one after the other. By the time I reached the third book in this volume, I was often able to predict exactly what was going to happen several pages in advance of the author's actual delivery. I put it down and came back after a month, and enjoyed finishing it up.

Besides the problem I had with predictable plots, I would have given the book a higher rating, were it not for the sloppy work of the publisher. The number of typos is, to my experience, unprecedented, and a couple of times I had to re-read a line a second or third time to figure out what the abused word ought to have been. After suffering through this, I will think twice before I knowing buy another paperback published by B&N. The typos are definitely annoying and distracting from the story.

To sum up: If you like non-stop adventure, this is a good read, but I'd recommend getting a different edition by another publisher, and spacing out reading the different novels over time.]]> 4.07 1991 The Martian Tales Trilogy (Barsoom #1-3)
author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1991
rating: 3
read at: 2014/02/01
date added: 2014/05/21
shelves:
review:
This review is specific to the Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading paperback Edition. The book is a collection of three classic tales of Martian adventures experienced by Earth-born adventurer John Carter. The books were written a century ago, in the very early days of science fiction. However, reading the stories back-to-back is probably not the best way to enjoy them, and this edition is marred by an annoying number of typos. While I've read other works by Burroughs, this was the first time I read any of his books about Mars. My reading choice was influenced by the recent movie version of the trilogy's first book, Princess of Mars.

The series is almost non-stop action, set in a richly imagined dying Mars, full of abandoned cities, multiple sentient races/cultures at each other's throats, strange environments, a shortage of water, and a thinning atmosphere. It is a fun story, definitely to be read for the action, not the science. John Carter, a gold-seeking veteran of the American Civil War, finds himself mysteriously transported to the Red Planet, or Barsoom as the natives call it. Carter, accustomed to Earth's higher gravity, is blessed with uncommon strength for his new world, and his war-time experiences and blunt personality set him on a path to hero-dom and (of course) the beautiful girl. Character development was not a priority of the author for these novels, and the plot often bumps along at the comic book level. That's fun individually, but wears thin if you read all three novels one after the other. By the time I reached the third book in this volume, I was often able to predict exactly what was going to happen several pages in advance of the author's actual delivery. I put it down and came back after a month, and enjoyed finishing it up.

Besides the problem I had with predictable plots, I would have given the book a higher rating, were it not for the sloppy work of the publisher. The number of typos is, to my experience, unprecedented, and a couple of times I had to re-read a line a second or third time to figure out what the abused word ought to have been. After suffering through this, I will think twice before I knowing buy another paperback published by B&N. The typos are definitely annoying and distracting from the story.

To sum up: If you like non-stop adventure, this is a good read, but I'd recommend getting a different edition by another publisher, and spacing out reading the different novels over time.
]]> Earthbound (Marsbound) 15808691
Now Carmen Dula, the first human to encounter Martians and then the mysterious alien Others, and her colleagues struggle to find a way—using nineteenth-century technology—to reclaim the future that has been stolen from them.]]> 258 Joe Haldeman 1937007839 Corwin 2
First, be aware this book is part of a "series" by the author, set in the same general story line. I hadn't noticed the small print telling me that on the book's *front* cover. I don't get the sense he is necessarily done with writing the series, and "middle" books are often weaker than the beginning or ending volumes. Maybe, if Haldeman continues to write the series, that will prove the case here.

That said, there are several problems with this book from my perspective. As a work of science fiction, it asks us to accept an alien species capable of many things, including blowing up Earth's moon and suspending certain natural laws regarding physics and energy production. Okay, I can suspend my disbelief that far. But the author then falls down on the job, failing to use major portions of that suspended disbelief. Blowing up the moon, for instance, is a big deal, even if somehow no appreciable pieces fall on Earth. Tides go away, crucial tidal ecosystems collapse almost instantly, and in many other slower ways, the world goes to hell. The author seems totally oblivious to such "fallout," not even suggesting the aliens had something to do with the marvelous non-change of life on Earth. Well, maybe he explained it in a previous novel, and just forgot to work it into his "synopsis" material here? I don't know, but disbelief can only be suspended so far, so often, so much.

Okay, turn off the brain and just follow the story. The story is, in a bare-bones sense, competently told. But I was never able to care much about the central characters. Maybe the author relied too much on readers being familiar with them from the previous books, unread by me. The plot is lackluster, taking the characters first this way, then that. Events proceed logically, perhaps, but without building much drama or tension. There's nothing especially new or fresh in what happens, either. It's more like a series of loosely-related vignettes were simply strung together. We know why characters do things, but don't know why the author has chosen to tell this particular tale; there's no strong theme or meaning. Finally, toss in a blatant deus ex machina ending.

Before finishing the book, I had been prepared to give it a three-star "okay" rating. But the artificial ending really left me feeling the entire reading experience was pointless. Haldeman has produced some good, even excellent, work. Instead of this book, try Forever War, All My Sins Remembered, or Mindbridge. This book is just a disappointment. ]]> 3.40 2011 Earthbound (Marsbound)
author: Joe Haldeman
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2014/01/03
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:
Joe Haldeman is a name I've trusted, a rare author you can buy almost on the strength of the name alone. When I saw this in a bookstore, I was surprised, because I hadn't seen any of his books for years. When I read the blurb on the book's back cover, however, alarm bells began to go off. Such was my faith in the author that I bought it anyway. That was not one of my better decisions.

First, be aware this book is part of a "series" by the author, set in the same general story line. I hadn't noticed the small print telling me that on the book's *front* cover. I don't get the sense he is necessarily done with writing the series, and "middle" books are often weaker than the beginning or ending volumes. Maybe, if Haldeman continues to write the series, that will prove the case here.

That said, there are several problems with this book from my perspective. As a work of science fiction, it asks us to accept an alien species capable of many things, including blowing up Earth's moon and suspending certain natural laws regarding physics and energy production. Okay, I can suspend my disbelief that far. But the author then falls down on the job, failing to use major portions of that suspended disbelief. Blowing up the moon, for instance, is a big deal, even if somehow no appreciable pieces fall on Earth. Tides go away, crucial tidal ecosystems collapse almost instantly, and in many other slower ways, the world goes to hell. The author seems totally oblivious to such "fallout," not even suggesting the aliens had something to do with the marvelous non-change of life on Earth. Well, maybe he explained it in a previous novel, and just forgot to work it into his "synopsis" material here? I don't know, but disbelief can only be suspended so far, so often, so much.

Okay, turn off the brain and just follow the story. The story is, in a bare-bones sense, competently told. But I was never able to care much about the central characters. Maybe the author relied too much on readers being familiar with them from the previous books, unread by me. The plot is lackluster, taking the characters first this way, then that. Events proceed logically, perhaps, but without building much drama or tension. There's nothing especially new or fresh in what happens, either. It's more like a series of loosely-related vignettes were simply strung together. We know why characters do things, but don't know why the author has chosen to tell this particular tale; there's no strong theme or meaning. Finally, toss in a blatant deus ex machina ending.

Before finishing the book, I had been prepared to give it a three-star "okay" rating. But the artificial ending really left me feeling the entire reading experience was pointless. Haldeman has produced some good, even excellent, work. Instead of this book, try Forever War, All My Sins Remembered, or Mindbridge. This book is just a disappointment.
]]> The Courts of Chaos 826550
Amber, the one real world of which all others � including our own Earth � are but Shadows...

For untold millennia, the cosmic Pattern sustained order in Amber and all the known worlds. But now the forces of Chaos have succeeded in disrupting the Pattern, unleashing destructive forces beyond measure... forces meant to reshape the universe.

To save Amber, Corwin, prince of the blood, champion of the perfect realm, must undertake the most perilous journey of his life. A journey that will take him through all the terrors of Shadows to the enemy's last stonghold. A journey beyond the very edge of existence... to the Courts of Chaos.]]> 142 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 3.92 1978 The Courts of Chaos
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1978
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Changeling (Changeling Saga, #1)]]> 1118544 Young Mark Marakson is obsessed with devices, building water wheels & later, steam engines. He doesn't understand why people rely on magicians rather than using machinery. Young Pol, meanwhile, grows up a poet, musician & singer, marked by a white streak in his dark hair. He's a disappointment to the man he regards as his father, an engineer. Sometimes he sees glowing strands in the air which he touches to make things happen.
Ostracised, Mark wanders the hills & finds a machine graveyard from an ancient war between magic & technology. Restarting them, he returns on a flying machine for his childhood sweetheart, only to be assaulted by the villagers, losing an eye. Returning to the graveyard he creates a machine army for revenge.
Realizing the world's balance is disturbed, Mor goes to retrieve Pol to counter Mark, revealing Pol's heritage & powers to him. Once Pol is back, Mor has to return to the technology world to balance out the transfer. He dies in a park where every tree, bird & insect is artificial.
Pol must find his way around Castle Rondoval. The strands he uses to perform magic are all about. He finds a thief who was in the castle when Mor cast a sleep spell on it. Revived, the thief becomes his helper. He also discovers Det's dragons asleep in the dungeons. Reviving the mightiest one, who recognizes him as his former master's son, he then has to set out on a quest to find the three segments of his father's magical staff, scattered across the world by Mor. He's accompanied by Mark's former sweetheart, creating a romantic triangle.
The quest requires him to defeat several magic guardians & traps. Completing it, he's able to take on & defeat Mark Marakson, restoring the world balance. In doing so, he loses the girl's affections. He's left to seek his future in Rondoval, among old magics left by his father. The tale's next part appears in Madwand.]]> 272 Roger Zelazny 0441102573 Corwin 4 3.41 1980 Changeling (Changeling Saga, #1)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.41
book published: 1980
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> A Dark Traveling 62010 151 Roger Zelazny 0380705672 Corwin 3 3.45 1987 A Dark Traveling
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.45
book published: 1987
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> The Dream Master 61992 252 Roger Zelazny 0743413016 Corwin 2 3.65 1966 The Dream Master
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.65
book published: 1966
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> Today We Choose Faces 1118546 175 Roger Zelazny 0451154886 Corwin 3 3.67 1973 Today We Choose Faces
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1973
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> Roadmarks 939645 185 Roger Zelazny 0345345150 Corwin 3 3.85 1979 Roadmarks
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1979
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> Damnation Alley 239919 240 Roger Zelazny 0743486625 Corwin 3 3.59 1968 Damnation Alley
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1968
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> The Changing Land 239926 192 Roger Zelazny 0934438463 Corwin 4 3.81 1981 The Changing Land
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1981
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> Eye of Cat 1117637
One of Singer’s secrets, and his greatest guilt, is his suspicion that the creature is intelligent. He confronts him and offers his own life for Cat’s cooperation in saving the alien. Cat accepts, and later, their mission fulfilled, demands a refinement on the original bargain. Rather than a simple death he wants a return bout—a chase with Singer as the hunted rather than the hunter.

The gods, powers and monsters of Navajo legend provide the backdrop for the working out of Singer’s fate—for the chase is as much for his soul as for his body. As he uses matter transmitters to flit from Paris to London to the Middle East to the American Southwest, he must search back into his own early life as well as the root beliefs of his vanished people and come to terms with a world that has adopted him, made use of his skills, and left him feeling that he has no place to call his own.]]> 181 Roger Zelazny 0671255193 Corwin 4 3.66 1982 Eye of Cat
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.66
book published: 1982
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> Madwand 61985 288 Roger Zelazny 0743475267 Corwin 4 3.75 1981 Madwand
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.75
book published: 1981
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sign of Chaos (The Chronicles of Amber, #8)]]> 62004
Merlin se cufundă într-o halucinație alături de Luke, fiecare putere folosită ori încercare de a găsi o logică pentru ce se întâmplă în jur dovedindu-se a fi o zbatere în nisipuri mișcătoare. Și ca tabloul să fie complet, o creatură malefică din Haos îi urmărește pe cei doi. Între timp, se bănuiește că unul din frații săi încearcă să îl asasineze. Însă cea mai surprinzătoare veste este legată de Julia, fosta sa iubită.]]> 217 Roger Zelazny 0380896370 Corwin 5 3.99 1987 Sign of Chaos (The Chronicles of Amber, #8)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1987
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> Unicorn Variations 536800
Contents:
Introduction (Unicorn Variations) [essay] (1983)
Unicorn Variation (1981)
The Last of the Wild Ones [Sam Murdock] (1981)
Recital (1981)
The Naked Matador (1981)
The Parts That Are Only Glimpsed: Three Reflexes [essay] (1978)
Dismal Light [Francis Sandow] (1968)
Go Starless in the Night (1979)
But Not the Herald (1965)
A Hand Across the Galaxy (1967)
The Force That Through the Circuit Drives the Current (1976)
Home is the Hangman [Nemo] (1975)
Fire and/or Ice, Exeunt Omnes, A Very Good Year ... [essay] (1983)
Fire and/or Ice (1980)
Exeunt Omnes (1980)
A Very Good Year ... (1979)
My Lady of the Diodes (1970)
And I Only Am Escaped to Tell Thee (1981)
The Horses of Lir (1981)
The Night Has 999 Eyes (1964)
Angel, Dark Angel (1967)
Walpurgisnacht (1981)
The George Business (1980)
Some Science Fiction Parameters: A Biased View [essay] (1975)

]]> 213 Roger Zelazny 067149449X Corwin 5 4.05 1983 Unicorn Variations
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1983
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> Donnerjack 62006 592 Roger Zelazny 0380770229 Corwin 3 3.82 1997 Donnerjack
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1997
rating: 3
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date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
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]]> Lord Démon 61983 382 Roger Zelazny 2207252159 Corwin 4 3.98 1999 Lord Démon
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1999
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
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]]> The Last Defender of Camelot 13822
7 � Introduction (The Last Defender of Camelot) � essay by Robert Siverberg
11 � Comes Now the Power � (1966) � short story by Roger Zelazny
18 � For a Breath I Tarry � (1966) � novelette by Roger Zelazny
65 � The Engine at Heartspring's Center � (1974) � short story by Roger Zelazny
76 � Halfjack � (1979) � short story by Roger Zelazny
83 � Home is the Hangman � [Nemo] � (1975) � novella by Roger Zelazny
165 � Permafrost � (1986) � novelette by Roger Zelazny
195 � LOKI 7281 � (1984) � short story by Roger Zelazny
204 � Mana from Heaven � [Magic Goes Away] � (1983) � novelette by Roger Zelazny
250 � 24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai � [Cthulhu Mythos] � (1985) � novella by Roger Zelazny
329 � Come Back to the Killing Ground, Alice, My Love � [Kalifriki] � (1992) � novella by Roger Zelazny
388 � The Last Defender of Camelot � (1979) � novelette by Roger Zelazny]]> 416 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 4.01 2002 The Last Defender of Camelot
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2002
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> Dilvish, the Damned 62017
The protagonist, Dilvish, was sent to Hell by the dark sorcerer Jelerak when he interrupted one of Jelerak's rituals. The stories recount his adventures after he escapes Hell two hundred years later, with a handful of awesome, but impractical destructive spells and a sapient Steed named Black, and sets out for revenge on Jelerak.]]> 215 Roger Zelazny 0345901754 Corwin 4 3.80 1982 Dilvish, the Damned
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1982
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> Doorways in the Sand 61998 240 Roger Zelazny 006100328X Corwin 5 3.95 1976 Doorways in the Sand
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1976
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> This Immortal 13827 216 Roger Zelazny 0671698486 Corwin 4 3.94 1966 This Immortal
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1966
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> Jack of Shadows 61986 236 Roger Zelazny 0451159764 Corwin 4 4.01 1972 Jack of Shadows
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1972
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> <![CDATA[A Night in the Lonesome October]]> 62005
In the murky London gloom, a knife-wielding gentleman named Jack prowls the midnight streets with his faithful watchdog Snuff � gathering together the grisly ingredients they will need for an upcoming ancient and unearthly rite. For soon after the death of the moon, black magic will summon the Elder Gods back into the world. And all manner of Players, both human and undead, are preparing to participate.

Some have come to open the gates. Some have come to slam them shut.

And now the dread night approaches � so let the Game begin.]]> 280 Roger Zelazny 0380771411 Corwin 4 4.16 1993 A Night in the Lonesome October
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1993
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/01/05
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]]> <![CDATA[Creatures of Light and Darkness]]> 427252
But neither of these superhuman warriors is prepared for the strange & harrowing world of mortal life. The Thing That Cries in the Night may well destroy not only their worlds, but all humankind.

As Zelazny did with the Hindu pantheon in the legendary, groundbreaking classic Lord of Light, the master storyteller here breathes new life into the Egyptian gods with another dazzling tale of mythology and imagination.]]> 192 Roger Zelazny 0380011220 Corwin 5 3.97 1969 Creatures of Light and Darkness
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1969
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/01/05
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Wayfinder's Story (Lost Swords, #7)]]> 92805 251 Fred Saberhagen 0812505751 Corwin 4 3.85 1992 Wayfinder's Story (Lost Swords, #7)
author: Fred Saberhagen
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1992
rating: 4
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> <![CDATA[The First Book of Swords (Books of Swords, #1)]]> 16509
To add to the enjoyment, foolish mortals are invited to join, risking their puny lives. Demons and elementals need no invitation. But something had gone wrong in the forging, and the Game...]]> 309 Fred Saberhagen 0812523563 Corwin 4 3.80 1983 The First Book of Swords (Books of Swords, #1)
author: Fred Saberhagen
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1983
rating: 4
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> Taltos (Vlad Taltos, #4) 915554
Not my idea of an ideal vacation, but this was work. After all, even an assassin has to earn a living.

The trouble is, everyone knows that a living human cannot walk the Paths of the Dead, and return, alive, to the land of men.

But being an Easterner is not exactly like being human, by Dragaeran standards anyway. Thus, the rule doesn't apply to me... I hope.]]> 181 Steven Brust 0441182003 Corwin 4 4.21 1988 Taltos (Vlad Taltos, #4)
author: Steven Brust
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1988
rating: 4
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> <![CDATA[Roger Zelazny's Chaos and Amber (The Dawn of Amber, #2)]]> 239903
But the shadow world called Juniper, the home of Dworkin and his kin, came under deadly attack by unknown and overwhelming forces. After sending the rest of the family to distant shadow worlds for their own safety, Dworkin and Oberon, and Oberon's half-brother Aber, traveled to the center of the known universe and the lair of their enemies, the Courts of Chaos, to put an end to the undeclared blood feud.



In CHAOS AND AMBER, the story picks up with the arrival of the fleeing trio in the shadow world closest to the Courts, known as "the Beyond."

The Courts of Chaos are hostile to Dworkin and his kin, and potentially deadly to Oberon--who barely survives several attempts on his life. Dworkin disappears after leaving for a meeting with King Uthor, ruler of the Courts. This leaves Oberon and Aber to uphold the family's honor on their own. But with the Beyond so close to Chaos, they know that their enemies are nearby and probably spying on their every move.

Rumors are rampant the King Uthor is about to brand Dworkin a traitor, making it open season on him and his family. Oberon seeks allies among those family members who have political ties to the Courts, little realizing that every alliance comes with a price. In this case, it is a betrothal to a distant, monstrous cousin, and a knife fight to the death with one of the Courts most powerful princes.]]> 322 John Gregory Betancourt 0743474945 Corwin 3 3.93 2003 Roger Zelazny's Chaos and Amber (The Dawn of Amber, #2)
author: John Gregory Betancourt
name: Corwin
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2003
rating: 3
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> <![CDATA[The Courts of Chaos (The Chronicles of Amber, #5)]]> 359581
For untold millennia, the cosmic Pattern sustained order in Amber and all the known worlds. But now the forces of Chaos have succeeded in disrupting the Pattern, unleashing destructive forces beyond measure... forces meant to reshape the universe.

To save Amber, Corwin, prince of the blood, champion of the perfect realm, must undertake the most perilous journey of his life. A journey that will take him through all the terrors of Shadows to the enemy's last stonghold. A journey beyond the very edge of existence... to the Courts of Chaos.]]> 189 Roger Zelazny 9993911550 Corwin 5 4.19 1978 The Courts of Chaos (The Chronicles of Amber, #5)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1978
rating: 5
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date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
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]]> Lord of Light 13821 296 Roger Zelazny 0060567236 Corwin 5 4.08 1967 Lord of Light
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1967
rating: 5
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date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood of Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #7)]]> 239924
Pursued by a fiendish enemy, Merle must battle through an intricate web of vengeance and murder that threatens more than the San Francisco Bay area. For Merle Corey of California is also Merlin, son of Corwin, vanished Prince of Amber; and the forces, seeking to destroy the royal house, have unleashed sorceries that can strike anywhere, especially at the very heart of Amber.]]> 215 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 4.05 1986 Blood of Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #7)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1986
rating: 5
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> <![CDATA[Trumps of Doom (The Chronicles of Amber, #6)]]> 536790
Merle Corey is a brilliant young computer designer in San Francisco, but, he is also Merlin, son of Corwin, vanished prince of Amber, and heir to his father's wonderous powers. And, someone is determined to kill him. Now he will begin a desperate race through Shadow, not only to escape the mysterious force that threatens his life, but to protect the deadly secret that could destroy both his worlds.]]> 184 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 4.07 1985 Trumps of Doom (The Chronicles of Amber, #6)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1985
rating: 5
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date added: 2013/09/22
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]]> <![CDATA[Sign of the Unicorn (The Chronicles of Amber, #3)]]> 239917
An unseen enemy of immense strength has seized a Prince of the Blood, and now threatens the perfect kingdom by striking at the very core of its power - the secret knowledge of Shadow.

When Corwin summons forces to defend the throne, he finds himself challenged by royal conspirators, hideous demons, supernatural patterns and the ominous unknown that suddenly transcends all he ever suspected about the true nature of Amber.

One of the most revered names in sf and fantasy, the incomparable Roger Zelazny was honored with numerous prizes—including six Hugo and three Nebula Awards—over the course of his legendary career. Among his more than fifty books, arguably Zelazny’s most popular literary creations were his extraordinary Amber novels.]]> 192 Roger Zelazny 0380008319 Corwin 5 4.14 1975 Sign of the Unicorn (The Chronicles of Amber, #3)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1975
rating: 5
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date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Hand of Oberon (The Chronicles of Amber, #4)]]> 116982 188 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 4.21 1976 The Hand of Oberon (The Chronicles of Amber, #4)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1976
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2)]]> 62012
One of the most revered names in sf and fantasy, the incomparable Roger Zelazny was honored with numerous prizes—including six Hugo and three Nebula Awards—over the course of his legendary career. Among his more than fifty books, arguably Zelazny’s most popular literary creations were his extraordinary Amber novels. The Guns of Avalon is the second book of The Chronicles of Amber.]]> 223 Roger Zelazny Corwin 5 4.15 1972 The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1972
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1)]]> 92121 175 Roger Zelazny 0380014300 Corwin 5 4.07 1970 Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1)
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Corwin
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1970
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/09/22
shelves:
review:

]]>