Reviews for The Guns of Avalon (Sphere Science Fiction)

The average rating for The Guns of Avalon (Sphere Science Fiction) based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-04-23 00:00:00 Natalie Luque The book picks up right where the previous left. Corwin, being pissed off at his brother Eric for cruel treatment as well as thinking the guy occupied the throne which is his - Corwin's - by right looked for means to dispose of his dear loving relative. He thought he knew one, but it required extensive shadow traveling. During these travels he learned that a curse of a person of royal Amber blood really meant something. He also got to meet some of his old acquaintances with only a minor part of them being somewhat friendly - and I am really stretching the definition of the word. To his own surprise Corwin realized he acquired some rudimentary conscience despite being a selfish asshole. He also managed to bring yet another danger to Amber's existence. This is one of my all-time favorite fantasy series, easily among top 5. At the time when everybody and their brother rushed to make yet another copy of The Lord of the Rings Zelazny created something very unique and highly imaginative. I am still fascinated by the concepts of shadow travel and Trumps. I want to be able to do the former and I want to own the latter, dammit! As usual expect a lot of happening in less than 250 pages. This is still unusual at the time when an average fantasy book can easily reach 1000 pages and have less plot (hi, George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Steven Erikson). Unsurprisingly the rating is 5 stars, exactly what it was during my first read. I still remember my friend telling me all fantasy came out of Tolkien's magnum opus. It was highly satisfactory to give her these books and challenge to find anything similar to it. She failed.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-04-23 00:00:00 Angela Choi *** 4.44 *** "...“Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”..." Corwin, the prince of Amber, is free and plotting. Plotting is the past time of the family, but he has a bit of extra incentive, having been imprisoned and blinded for the last 4-5 years and living is squalor while getting better after his escape. Eric, his eldest brother and currently holder of the throne, wants him dead, but at this moment he and the whole royal family are busy defending the realm and some of the Shadow Worlds against the forces of Chaos, who are currently attacking with unprecedented strength and tenacity. It seems, the curse Corwin put on the realm when condemned by Eric, has come to real life with a vengeance and it doesn't seem he can do much about it. The worlds are degenerating and rotting because of it, so Corwin's plan is to first, take over the throne, and only then figure out a way to fight the Chaos creatures. "... "In a fit of passion, compounded of rage, horror, and pain, I had unleashed this thing, and it was reflected in every earth in existence. Such is the blood curse of a Prince of Amber.”..." Corwin picks up an old frenemy on his way and they travel the Shadows together, trying to keep alive, being attracted to anything in skirts, playing folks for fools and being played themselves, hoping that the math would eventually work in his favor. There is plenty of traveling and running, and fighting, but overall, I enjoyed it exactly because of it. I love Corwin's internal monologue and I like that he is not perfect at all, for a creature who is gifted with youthful longevity and superhuman strength. I also prefer him ahead of any of his siblings, because the stay on the Shadow Earth - which is our world, has made him look on things a bit more humanely and the loss of his memory gives him a chance to rediscover and reform himself in a manner different than his family's mold. At least I am hoping for an upgrade like that:):):) "... “We fought.' 'A duel?' 'Nothing that formal. A simultaneous decision to murder one another is more like it.”..." What a wonderful example of a loving family we have in the Royals of Amber!!! I love this series, but I do know it is not for everyone. Roger Zelazny marches by his own drums, so he is an acquired taste, which I am lucky enough to enjoy personally. I would recommend it to all fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy, give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea:) I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!! "... “Tonight I will suck the marrow from your bones!” it said. “I will dry them and work them most cunningly into instruments of music! Whenever I play upon them, your spirit will writhe in bodiless agony!” “You burn prettily,” I said.”..." Now I wish you Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!