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Nine Princes In Amber | 
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Author: Roger Zelazny
Publisher: Avon
Category: Book
List Price: $5.99
Buy Used: $0.01
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Avg. Customer Rating:  84 reviews
Sales Rank: 882612
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 175
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7 x 4.3 x 0.5
ISBN: 0380014300
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780380014309
ASIN: 0380014300
Publication Date: March 1, 1977
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read -> Recycle -> Reuse!
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Book Description
Science FictionLarge Print EditionFantasy of a superior order. Washington Post Exiled to the Shadows for centuries, a man more than mortal awakens in an Earth hospital with no memory of his past and is surrounded by enemies who hunger for his destruction. For Corwin is the rightful successor to the throne of the real world. But to rule, he must conquer impossible realities and demonic assassins . . . and survive the most insidious malevolence imaginable wrought by his own family.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 79 more reviews...
 A fun getaway to the land of Amber June 7, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Based on the review of N. Trachta (thanks, Nate), I decided to plunge ahead with this one (what made this choice even better was when I found all ten stories in one anthology at a used bookstore!).
A man wakes up in a hospital room, without memory of who he is or exactly how he got there. All he knows is that was badly injured and currently being drugged. After escaping the hospital, he discovers his sister, Flora, who tells him that his name is Corwin. He meets up with his brother, Random, who leads him to Amber, a mystical world, which unlocks his memory and reawakens his desire to rule over Amber.
What I Liked:
The first page really drew me in. We meet a man lying in a bed, realizing groggily that he is being drugged and has no idea who he is. I like how we learn about him at the same time he does (no long boring, unnecessary exposition here; it's all a part of Corwin's learning about himself and his history).
Corwin is resourceful, sneaky, cunning, and rather likeable (even though, at the same time, he is unlikeable, if that makes any sense). He has flaws (lying, scamming, not caring for his siblings), but there is just something about him that makes you want to root for him.
The story is excellent. It breaks the mold of science fiction and crosses boundaries. As I read, I felt that in some ways it was very fantasy; in others (particularly that it takes place in "current" times), it was very sci-fi. There is action, but there is also some character study. Overall, the effect is great and is convincing. And while the pace at the beginning was a little sluggish, it picked up quite a bit and became very engrossing (I didn't want to put it down!).
Lastly, Zelazny does an outstanding job describing. He spends much time detailing the surroundings, what people are wearing, character's looks, etc. He paints a vivid picture of his vision and doesn't leave me confused about where Corwin is at any time.
What I Did Not Like:
Zelazny may have gone a little far in some of the descriptions. The biggest time I felt this was when Corwin first finds the cards of his siblings. A solid three or more pages is spent on what each is wearing, their appearance, etc. By the time I got to the 7th child, I was practically skimming the descriptions (after a while, they all started sounding the same).
This next "problem" may be due to reading the book in snippets, but I felt that it took a long time for Corwin to realize who he was. Before he learns who he is, a good chunk of the book is spent with Corwin and Random traveling to Amber. Again, this could be because I read it spread out in chunks, but I thought I might mention it.
Lastly (this is more of an interesting thing to note than a problem), it seemed like none of the characters could breathe without a cigarette. Of course, this was written in the 60's - 70's so that might explain the perpetual cigarette.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Da**, he**, and other mild profanities appear (nothing worse than a PG movie, I would say).
Moire is described as being topless (although not in a sexual manner, more like a Xena Warrior Princess way). A couple sleep with each other (though "off-screen" and described poetically).
When Corwin escapes the hospital, he uses a bludgeon to knock out his guard. Then he pulls a gun on the director of the facility. When Flora's home is invaded, Random and Corwin get to use swords and guns. Another scene includes a battle between Random, Corwin, and Julian. A storm on Amber leaves all the soldiers dead. A character's eyes are put out.
Overall:
Are you looking for some fun? A way to relax from the stresses of life? Something outside of the box? A little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy? A good place to start could be Zelazny's Amber books, particularly this one. A fun idea coupled with a unique setting gives this book an edge to stand the test of time (I mean, this was written way back in the day, after all). A good book and worthy of a 5 star rating.
 Poorly written book with uninspiring characters May 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book came highly recommended, and I read it diligently initially. But after a while, I found Corwin, the main character, cocky and one-dimensional, and the whole description of the landscape simplistic. I felt that the author was copping out by letting them change the landscape simply by "thinking" it. And I also found it annoying that the main character could "grow eyes" after his original had been gouged out. I think good science fiction or fantasy should have some "rules" as well, not just an anything goes kind of mentality. I just could not get drawn into it, or get excited by it at all. All I felt was relief when I got to the end. I also do not see why people like it so much. There are a lot of better written books out there.
A classic with great characters! March 31, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was in a used bookstore the other day and got reminded of this book. I remembered how much I enjoyed reading it long ago and decided that it was time to re-read Nine Princes in Amber.
Nine Princes in Amber is Roger Zelazny's tale of Corwin and his attempt to return to Amber, the one true realm. Without memory of his past, Corwin analysis his situation, takes actions to expand his knowledge of his past and slowly learns that he's that he's a true prince of Amber. As such, Cowin's desires are ingrained in him and drive his actions, to achieve the throne of Amber.
The Good:
The pace of action! There's continual movement and turns. Everything is in first tense. We're riding around with Corwin and Mr. Zelazny describes things as Corwin would see/hear/think them. The interactions with others are sometimes a little abrupt, but I believe this is more a part of Corwin's personality than a writer's flaw. Because the story is being told from Corwin's perspective, there's nothing extra added to a description that a person wouldn't readily notice.
Character descriptions are real time and based on what Corwin would perceive of another. Corwin and relatives are real with real flaws. We learn about them from Corwin and their actions with Corwin. Each character is an individual and unique, making it easy for readers to love or hate the character based on their actions.
The Bad:
The only bad piece I have with this is that this is the first in a series and that the book is semi complete. While a reader could read the book on it's own, you'll be wanting more or dislike the book because the tales not compete.
The Rating:
Five stars! Zelazny opens the door on a world that comes that seems so real. Is our world a Shadow of Amber? At times you wonder as you read this if you let your imagination go. One item that I've wondered for some time is if Mr. Zelazny chose the name of Amber for the real realm because all of the characters are static from how Corwin knew them before he was banished. If you enjoy fantasy and the actions of a hero (or is Corwin an anti-hero, you decide) or enjoy a book with good character interactions, pick this one up!
 Good but overhyped January 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I tend to be relatively easy to please when it comes to books, and I heard a lot of good stuff about this one. But this book has been overhyped, plain and simple. Overall, I enjoyed it and I think it is a fine start for a series (I haven't read any of the other books yet), but it's just not 5-star material.
First of all, the writing is stiff, especially dialogue. At first I thought that maybe they were just being overly formal because they're royalty or something like that. No. And it's not snappy. It's just stiff dialogue.
But worse than stiff dialogue is a boring middle. Not the whole middle, mind you, but a good bit is devoted to describing the progress of an army marching toward Amber. And it's BORING.
Then the hero is saved in the end by something you don't hear about in the rest of the book. That sets it up great for the rest of the series, but it's still kind of cheap.
So if you read a lot and like fantasy, give it a try. It's a short read (and so are the rest of the books in the series). It has a cool premise and the series as a whole must be pretty good since most people really like. But if you're short on time and every page you read is precious, you might want to look elsewhere.
 Mediocre beginning to the Amber novels November 29, 2007
Please note that I wrote the following review after reading this first novel in the Amber series. I grew to appreciate the series more as I went along. Many reviewers on here are writing from the perspective of having read and appreciated the entire series, but I am writing these reviews as I read each of these books for the first time.
I could only muster up two stars for this book. This is the first in Zelazny's Amber series. It's a very quick, easy read, and it kept me engrossed as Corwin, the protagonist, wakes up in the modern-day (OK, 1970s) world, and fights through his amnesia to an understanding of his royal/godly heritage and the power struggle in which he is inextricably entangled.
I am not sure how how to feel about Corwin. This guy is arrogant to the extreme. He does some pretty godawful things to innocent people (beings?) along the way, although he then expresses some hazy, lazy sense of regret. And to what end? His own self-interest. The gods fight on high, screw any collateral damage. Rah?
One funny thing -- the book was first published in 1970, and it's unintentionally hilarious when dated slang pops up, especially in the context of horsemen, swords and kingdoms.
I'm going to read the next book in the series to see if it gets any better. Not much to lose, since it's a fast read.
But thus far, as the main character might say, I just don't dig it.
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