The Guns of Avalon, chapter 1

Good morning! After a two-week hiatus, we return today to our readthrough of Roger Zelazny's fantasy series The Chronicles of Amber, the first five books of which were published from 1970–78. This is a reread, but it has been over 30 years since I last read them, and I remember next to nothing. So what you are reading is basically my first impression.

I paused at the end of the first book, Nine Princes in Amber, and we pick up the story again today with the second, The Guns of Avalon.

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. Unless you're the sort of person who likes skipping to the last page, go read the book first.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 10

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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After being blinded and imprisoned by his brother Eric in the dungeons of the castle of Amber, Corwin regains his sight, thanks to his quick healing power. His opportunity to escape comes from a chance meeting with Dworkin, creator of the Trumps that allow the Royal family of Amber to communicate with, and teleport to, each other. Dworkin draws a Trump of the Lighthouse of Cabra on Corwin's cell wall, and Corwin uses it to escape.

At the lighthouse, Corwin poses as a castaway named Corey and gets aid from Jopin the lighthouse keeper. He stays with Jopin for several months. When he announces his intention to leave, Jopin reveals that he had recognized Corwin and tells him, before he goes, to look at the Vale of Garnath through the spyglass. Doing so, he realizes that the valley has turned into a new opening into Amber that evil things are using, and it is a result of a curse he had placed on Eric while imprisoned. Sailing away from the lighthouse, he sends a message to Eric via a black bird that he is coming for him.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 9

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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Corwin, Prince of Amber, has failed in his attempt to take the throne of Amber from his evil brother, Eric. He was captured, forced to offer Eric the crown at his coronation, then blinded and imprisoned.

Three years later, Corwin is still in his cell in the dungeon. But he realizes that thanks to his unusual ability to recover quickly from injury, his eyes are growing back. The next time Eric trots him out for a celebratory banquet, his recovered sight will be discovered. So Corwin starts planning his escape.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 8

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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Corwin's and Bleys's assault on Amber to retake the throne from their brother Eric has failed. Their entire army was obliterated, Bleys fell almost at the gate to Amber, and Corwin was captured.

Imprisoned in the castle dungeon, Corwin is brought in chains to a banquet at which Eric is crowned king of Amber, in spite of many insults from Corwin. Eric has Corwin blinded and thrown back in his cell. He is left alone for over four months, until a knight named Rein, whom Corwin had befriended centuries ago, secretly brings him a gift of good food, wine, and cigarettes. On the anniversary of his coronation, Eric again drags Corwin out to a banquet. "Thus ended the first year of darkness."

Friday in the Wild: February 9, 2024

It's Friday, and that means it's time for the weekly roundup of good stuff from around the blogosphere. I've got three articles this week.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 7

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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In their attempt to take the city of Amber and overthrow their brother Eric before he can be crowned king, Corwin and Bleys have reunited on land after Corwin lost his naval fleet to brother Caine. They march over land toward Amber, but when they reach the forest of Arden, Eric burns it down while Julian deploys archers against them. Eric escapes the fire and arrows by swimming down the river alongside the forest.

Corwin returns to Bleys's camp, where only 5,000 troops remain, and they march on Kolvir, the mountain on which Amber sits. They ascend the mountain and then the long staircase to Amber, with Eric's men eliminating theirs all the way. Bleys is struck near the top and falls, but Corwin throws his Trumps after him in a desperate attempt at a rescue. Corwin himself makes it into Amber, but he is captured and imprisoned—the last one alive.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 6

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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Corwin, prince of Amber, has recovered his memories and his ability to magically travel to and from Amber. He faced his brother Eric and declared his intent to take the throne of Amber from him.

Corwin is now with his brother Bleys, who has allied with him to March on Amber and take the throne. They travel throughout Shadow, raising a military force large enough to defeat Eric before his coronation, which is to take place in three months.

Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 5

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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In the previous chapter of Nine Princes in Amber, brothers Corwin and Random have made their way from Earth, in the Shadows, to the real world of Amber. They found and rescued their sister Deirdre, who had been captured by their brother Eric's men. They decide to go to Rebma, an underwater city that is the reflection of Amber.

As they descend the undersea stairway to Rebma, Corwin discovers he can breathe, nonetheless. They are pursued by horsemen, whom they fight and defeat on the stairs just before they arrive in Rebma.