So, what was the deal with Zelazny's second Amber series sucking so badly?

[BookTenTiger]

You're trying to compare Order to Chaos. They share the same bloodline but have two entirely different upbringings.

Hi Gryll, welcome to the board! Just so you're aware, the post you're replying to is 20 years old, so you might not get a reply.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Hi Gryll, welcome to the board! Just so you're aware, the post you're replying to is 20 years old, so you might not get a reply.

Especially since that individual's last post was in 2014.

 

[Maxperson]

I am tempted to ask what the deal is with your opinion sucking so much, but asking such a question would be rude.

I spoke to Roger a number of times and had several meals with him, and was fortunate enough to have an extended dinner with just he and my girlfriend (who was also a big fan) one time where I got to ask him a lot about his various books and characters.

He liked the second five just as much as the first, but for different reasons. Which happens to be how I felt about them, too. No, he wasn't pressured to write them, a large amount of stuff from the second series was all there while writing the first, but explaining it didn't fit the storyline, he said.

Me, I totally dug Merlin. Great character.

Second series rocked, but in a different way than the first. Loved them both.

Wow. Didn't realize this thread was that old when I replied.

 

[Joshua Randall]

It would be interesting to know if someone who read the Second Chronicles first would end up liking them better than the First. Because I agree with what others have said: you can only have your first mind-blowing experience in Amber once. Then the next time it doesn’t feel as special.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

TIL necromancy was a major theme of the Amber chronicles.

 

[MGibster]

It's been more than thirty years since I've read the Amber series. I don't remember the Merlin stories being bad, but I do remember preferring the Corwin stories much more. Zelazny is an author I just don't hear a whole lot about these days, but he's been dead for about thirty years now, so maybe that's to be expected.

 

[Distracted DM]

Heyyy so what book should I start with? I like older stuff

 

[Joshua Randall]

For this series? Do you want to be the experimental subject I mentioned above @Distracted DM ? Then start with the Second Chronicles of Amber, https://a.co/d/fSDwV9H

Otherwise for this series start with the first series, the first book, Nine Princes in Amber, https://a.co/d/j0uKchl

—

For Zelazny in general I think his best book is Lord of Light (and it’s not close, IMO). Astonishingly imaginative sprawling tale (yet economically told, way before the doorstoppers we have today), and supposedly some of it was all to set up a really bad pun.

 

[TheHand]

I think my biggest disappointment with the second Amber series was that it left me wanting more, and sadly we would not get that.

 

[Mercurius]

I will second Lord of Light. Amber is OK, but I think Zelazny's best work was before that.