book data
1,175 ratings,
4.10
average rating, 23 reviews
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published
August 1984
by Heyne Verlag
(first published 1978)
details
Paperback
characters
setting
isbn
3453307437
(isbn13: 9783453307438)
description
Amber, the one real world of which all othersincluding our own Earthare but Shadows... For untold millennia, the cosmic Pattern sustained order in…more
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Roger Zelazny's B...: Feb 2010 Group Read | 8 | 17 | Feb 07, 2010 09:54AM | |
| Roger Zelazny's B...: 5 - The Courts of Chaos - No Spoilers! | 10 | 20 | Jan 04, 2010 02:29PM |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,379)
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avg 4.10
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Here is where I'll put my opinion on the first five books. As a series, the worldbuilding is amazing, the characters intriguing, and the format is fast-paced. It's interesting to see a book where there are few characters that can claim clean hands, and it makes for a complex storyline.
That said, I sometimes feel like there's a bit too much explaining going on (though the first book does a good job of making the explaining organic). I can't remember how many times the reader hears ...more
That said, I sometimes feel like there's a bit too much explaining going on (though the first book does a good job of making the explaining organic). I can't remember how many times the reader hears ...more
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Read in September, 2009
German edition - German review:
Im fünften Band kommen die Ereignisse zu einem Höhepunkt, als Oberon sich anschickt, das Muster zu reparieren und die Schlacht um Amber an den Höfen des Chaos beginnt. Entweder Oberon gelingt es, das Muster zu löschen und anschließend neu zu erschaffen, oder das Chaos gewinnt und Amber und die Schattenwelten vergehen. Man merkt, dass Zelazny mehr und mehr Übung bekommt; er wird immer stilsicherer und es gelingt ihm immer besser, Spannung auf...more
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Read in February, 2010
The magical system and principles this world is based on are interesting and imaginative. The difficulty and exhaustion of our hero’s quest was well described, as was his discouragement. The ever-changing loyalties of the brothers and sisters solidified and clarified. The ending was satisfactory if a bit abrupt. The main character Corwin learned some things about himself and his family. I’m glad I read this series, because of the unique ideas presented. I just wish I would have felt more con...more
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Read in December, 2007
The fifth entry in the Amber Chronicles, this is the best so far. Zelazny wraps up loose ends and brings the first Amber series to a close. But unlike the final entries in some other series, this doesn't suffer from anticlimactic unraveling. Instead, the action reaches a climactic point -- no more of the overlong exposition here -- and we're truly in suspense awaiting the fate of Corwin, and Amber. Zelazny's psychedelic renderings as Corwin passes through alternate realities have improved since ...more
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Read in October, 2007
The first cycle comes to a close with this fifth book and opens doors to the next cycle (which I may or may not read eventually). Corwin has notified his father of his true intentions (or lack thereof), the Pattern needs to be fixed and new beasts are introduced sort of frivolously - unless there is a grand master plan for the party of dwarves that Corwin discovers at one point, though I really would love to see how that comes back into play.
Again, not quite as interesting to me as ...more
Again, not quite as interesting to me as ...more
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Read in December, 2008
While one might expect a huge heroic ending to Corwin's tale, that's not necessarily what we get here. This book is much more philosophical than the rest and large parts deal with ideas only suggested in previous books. Don't get me wrong, I loved the ending, but it's very different and much like some of Zelazny's other books which deal with gods and existence and their philosophies.
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Read in December, 2009
Very Norse this time. Familiar yet original. Love the way the layers all fit from the opening of book 1 until the very end. A very distinct style, you either like it or you don't. Lots of philosophy this time. In the end it always comes down to choice.
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I stopped reading the series after this one. I think that might have been before other volumes were published. But then they appeared I didn't feel a huge urge to pick them up. Good work but not, for me, strongly compelling.
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Read in February, 2008
My expectations were very high for the last book in the series, since I had heard it was one of the best. I was, however, slightly disappointed. The introduction of the courts of chaos in the previous book wasn't really fully developed here, so it felt more like the introduction of a new world, rather than the resolution, or clarification of the world that we had inhabited throughout the series. I felt like a lot of the creatures and characters introduced to us in the book, also, were aftert...more
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Read in October, 2009
In some ways, I enjoyed this one, the fifth in the Amber series, the most. The momentum built, the suspense, the twists and turns, the revealing of character traits, truth from lies.
The way Zelazny tells this story is incredibly unique in the manner in which you learn the story, piece by piece, one more part of the puzzle. He kept me interested the whole time, and wanting more. He knows just when to give me more to keep me from getting frustrated and holding back just enough to kee...more
The way Zelazny tells this story is incredibly unique in the manner in which you learn the story, piece by piece, one more part of the puzzle. He kept me interested the whole time, and wanting more. He knows just when to give me more to keep me from getting frustrated and holding back just enough to kee...more
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Read in December, 2009
A fantastic end to a the Corwin Cycle of the Amber books. The characters have deepened amazingly & so much is tied up, yet there is plenty of room for expansion. What a wonderful world. I'm so sorry he never got to fill it in better.
The first 5 books AKA The Corwin Cycle are followed by 5 books in the Merlin Cycle & then Betancourt wrote a prelude; a trilogy & the first book of a duology. IOW, it was supposed to be another 5 books. Unfortunately, the publisher folded after t...more
The first 5 books AKA The Corwin Cycle are followed by 5 books in the Merlin Cycle & then Betancourt wrote a prelude; a trilogy & the first book of a duology. IOW, it was supposed to be another 5 books. Unfortunately, the publisher folded after t...more
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Read in May, 2009
I felt like the 3rd and 4th books were the best in the series.
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
fantasy fans.
The fifth book in the Chronicles of Amber, THE COURTS OF CHAOS spends much of its time on the travels of Corwin towards the aforementioned Courts.
In this book, the final decision is made, between thirteen sons and daughters, as to who succeeds Corwin’s father as the ruler of Amber.
I truly love Zelazny’s expertise in describing the hallucinogenic scenery that Corwin journeys through.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
~Stephanie
In this book, the final decision is made, between thirteen sons and daughters, as to who succeeds Corwin’s father as the ruler of Amber.
I truly love Zelazny’s expertise in describing the hallucinogenic scenery that Corwin journeys through.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
~Stephanie
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Read in January, 1987
This is the only book of the Chronicles of Amber I've ever read. I picked it up because I loved the title and loved the cover. I was, of course, incredibly lost. I kept meaning to go back and read the series from the beginning, but I was never successful in finding the first book. I can now, of course, so perhaps I'll start the series soon.
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Read in January, 1987
To be honest, I read all of the first Amber Series novels in rapid succession so to me it's all one continuous story. I rate them all pretty-much the same, with the exception of the first one, which got the series off to an awesome start so I gave it 5 stars. I loved all the books and couldn't put any of them down.
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Read in December, 2007
Although it's been a while since I read the Chronicles of Amber, I enjoyed Corwin's adventure as he discovered courage within himself to create a new pattern and to help his family fend off the forces of Chaos.
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Read in February, 2009
This was an exciting finish to a very enjoyable series. It leaves me looking forward to Zelazny's next series about the son.
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The final battle, journey through chaos.
P.S. This series of 5 books is well worth reading, the next should not be touched
P.S. This series of 5 books is well worth reading, the next should not be touched
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Read in January, 2007
i really liked the idea of traveling between shadows.
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