Roger Zelazny?

[Peter]

I'm just powering through the Chronicles of Amber (the first Chronicles) and am enjoying them very much. I was wondering if anyone had other Zelazny suggestions for reading next other than the Lord of Light (which is already on my list of books to read).

[Robert]

They're pretty much all good. Zelazny is one of the greatest all time SF&F writers. I can recall only one book (one of his earliest, IIRC) that dragged a bit, and there are a few, e.g. Roadmarks (?) that are great reads but a bit too "in the middle of a series he never wrote" for my taste.

If you cruise my book list you should find a whole bunch, since I think I've read and own really, really close to "everything" he ever wrote. Creatures of Light and Darkness, Damnation Alley, This Immortal, To Die in Italbar, Jack of Shadows, The Dream Master -- all good, many great.

rgb

[Peter]

Thanks for the suggestions! I have a feeling I may be making my way through most of his stuff.

[Lasairfiona]

Zelazny is my all time favorite author. I have reread the Amber Chronicles more times than I can count. It disappoints me that he died before that series could be completed. Do yourself a favor and never read the few short stories that have been published from what he had planned for the third five book series. It is just torture.

I think Zelazny's true genius came out in his short stories. My favorite collection is The Unicorn Variations. Lots of fun. To echo some of the above, The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth collection is amazing (watch out for those from the Amber world) and A Night in The Lonesome October is a super quick read that is almost for kids but not quite. Loved it for its whimsy. I also really enjoyed Jack of Shadows though I don't think it is his best. The Amber elements are there but it is short and worth reading.

[Peter]

Thanks, Lasairfiona.

I've just finished the first Amber Chronicles, and really enjoyed it. I absolutely plan to read most if not all of his books--and now I have some great ideas of where to start!

[Lori]

Ditto to Lasairfiona - The Amber Chronicles rates in my top 10, maybe even in my top 5 books of all time. I bought it while still in the middle of my library edition just because I knew I'd be rereading it for the rest of my life.

I had no idea that he had planned another series, this makes me want to cry. I haven't read Manna From Heaven yet - are those stories you're talking about in that?

Lord of Light is wonderful. I've been collecting all his books and I think I now have them all, but I'm being slow to pick them up because I want new Zelazny experiences to last.

I've also enjoyed reading Tim Powers, he's not like Zelazny of course but has the same kind of explosive imagination.