In the 1960s, Roger Zelazny dazzled the SF world with what seemed to be inexhaustible talent and inventiveness. Lord of Light, his third novel and the seventh in Millennium's SF Masterworks series, is his finest book: a science fantasy in which the intricate, colourful mechanisms of Hindu religion, of capricious gods and repeated reincarnations, are wittily underpinned by technology. "For six days he had offered many kilowatts of prayer, but the static kept him from being heard On High." The gods are a starship crew who subdued a colony world, developed godlike--though often machine-enhanced--powers during successive lifetimes of mind transfer to new, cloned bodies and now lord it over descendants of the ship's mere passengers. Their tyranny is opposed by retired god Sam, who mocks the Celestial City, introduces Buddhism to subvert Hindu dogma, allies himself with the planet's native "demons" against Heaven, fights pyrotechnic battles with bizarre troops and weapons, plays dirty with politics and poison and dies horribly but won't stay dead.... It's a huge, lumbering, magical story, told largely in flashback, full of wonderfully ornate language (and one unforgivable pun) that builds up the luminous myth of trickster Sam, Lord of Light. Essential SF reading, despite this edition's tiresome typographic errors. --David Langford

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Mar 2006
A friend lent me this book, and it took me about three days to get through the first five.

That evening in a club, a mutual friend, less into this kind of genre novel, asked me what it was about. A combination of alcohol, high-energy and a desire not to get into a discussion of Fantasy archetypes led me to say:

"It's about how you can do anything you want if you walk through the gaps in other people's perceptions, through the shadows between their mistaken assumptions, in the empty places where they don't even bother to look. The walls in this world are ones we imagine, they exist only because we believe in them; if we believe in ourselves and deny everything and everyone else as less than we are, we can do anything".

Well, its a paraphrase, but it was nearly as fluent as that!

Tbh, the plot is a little prosaic, although the first half of the first book is among the most thrilling section of prose I've ever read. But the meaning and power behind the book is, I must admit, unique. And I say that as someone who has read extensively in the genre and already had a stable of "favourite" authors into which I was reluctant to admit newcomers at the time I read it.

A masterpiece. Recommended., 05 Dec 2005
I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago, however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

You lucky lucky bast..., 07 Feb 2005
I'll admit I came to Amber via a backward road. I'm a roleplayer. And about 11 years ago I played a game called Amber Diceless which was set in Zelazny's Amber. Eager to get more information on the background of this world I looked for the books. They were at that time sadly out of print, I had to hunt round second hand bookshops all over Glasgow to get the first series. The second series at that time didn't appeal to me.

Corwin has become one of my favorite characters in fiction, along with Rogi Remillard of Julian May's Intervention he's one of life's survivors, caught up in events, though he's more an action figure than Rogi they have that similiar roguish mentality. Zelazny's writing, imagination, style and flow are second-to-none, the new amber books don't compare. Amber the archetypal city peopled by archetypes caught up in an archetypal war of Order vs Chaos, the book itself is deeper and richer than any archetype.

Thanks to this book I also read finally the second series, Merlin may not be Corwin but he's a good lead. My only complaint with the second series was hiding Corwin away until the last few pages and even then he doesn't come across so richly as he did in his own books.

For the follow ups do a search on Amber Shorts written by Zelazny prior to his death beginning with A Salesman's Tale.

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Mar 2006
A friend lent me this book, and it took me about three days to get through the first five.

That evening in a club, a mutual friend, less into this kind of genre novel, asked me what it was about. A combination of alcohol, high-energy and a desire not to get into a discussion of Fantasy archetypes led me to say:

"It's about how you can do anything you want if you walk through the gaps in other people's perceptions, through the shadows between their mistaken assumptions, in the empty places where they don't even bother to look. The walls in this world are ones we imagine, they exist only because we believe in them; if we believe in ourselves and deny everything and everyone else as less than we are, we can do anything".

Well, its a paraphrase, but it was nearly as fluent as that!

Tbh, the plot is a little prosaic, although the first half of the first book is among the most thrilling section of prose I've ever read. But the meaning and power behind the book is, I must admit, unique. And I say that as someone who has read extensively in the genre and already had a stable of "favourite" authors into which I was reluctant to admit newcomers at the time I read it.

A masterpiece. Recommended., 05 Dec 2005
I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago, however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

You lucky lucky bast..., 07 Feb 2005
I'll admit I came to Amber via a backward road. I'm a roleplayer. And about 11 years ago I played a game called Amber Diceless which was set in Zelazny's Amber. Eager to get more information on the background of this world I looked for the books. They were at that time sadly out of print, I had to hunt round second hand bookshops all over Glasgow to get the first series. The second series at that time didn't appeal to me.

Corwin has become one of my favorite characters in fiction, along with Rogi Remillard of Julian May's Intervention he's one of life's survivors, caught up in events, though he's more an action figure than Rogi they have that similiar roguish mentality. Zelazny's writing, imagination, style and flow are second-to-none, the new amber books don't compare. Amber the archetypal city peopled by archetypes caught up in an archetypal war of Order vs Chaos, the book itself is deeper and richer than any archetype.

Thanks to this book I also read finally the second series, Merlin may not be Corwin but he's a good lead. My only complaint with the second series was hiding Corwin away until the last few pages and even then he doesn't come across so richly as he did in his own books.

For the follow ups do a search on Amber Shorts written by Zelazny prior to his death beginning with A Salesman's Tale.

A stunning sequel, 05 Jun 2005
In Camelot's Honour, Sarah Zettel recaptures the beautifully evocative world of Arthurian England which she created in Camelot's Shadow. Geraint, the younger brother of Gwain is desperate to prove himself as a knight of the round table by saving Elen, the beautiful daughter of a welsh chieftan who has fallen victim to Morgaine's machinations. Together they face insurmountable odds which they must overcome to find both peace and happiness together. Zettel doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read the last in the series!

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Mar 2006
A friend lent me this book, and it took me about three days to get through the first five.

That evening in a club, a mutual friend, less into this kind of genre novel, asked me what it was about. A combination of alcohol, high-energy and a desire not to get into a discussion of Fantasy archetypes led me to say:

"It's about how you can do anything you want if you walk through the gaps in other people's perceptions, through the shadows between their mistaken assumptions, in the empty places where they don't even bother to look. The walls in this world are ones we imagine, they exist only because we believe in them; if we believe in ourselves and deny everything and everyone else as less than we are, we can do anything".

Well, its a paraphrase, but it was nearly as fluent as that!

Tbh, the plot is a little prosaic, although the first half of the first book is among the most thrilling section of prose I've ever read. But the meaning and power behind the book is, I must admit, unique. And I say that as someone who has read extensively in the genre and already had a stable of "favourite" authors into which I was reluctant to admit newcomers at the time I read it.

A masterpiece. Recommended., 05 Dec 2005
I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago, however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

You lucky lucky bast..., 07 Feb 2005
I'll admit I came to Amber via a backward road. I'm a roleplayer. And about 11 years ago I played a game called Amber Diceless which was set in Zelazny's Amber. Eager to get more information on the background of this world I looked for the books. They were at that time sadly out of print, I had to hunt round second hand bookshops all over Glasgow to get the first series. The second series at that time didn't appeal to me.

Corwin has become one of my favorite characters in fiction, along with Rogi Remillard of Julian May's Intervention he's one of life's survivors, caught up in events, though he's more an action figure than Rogi they have that similiar roguish mentality. Zelazny's writing, imagination, style and flow are second-to-none, the new amber books don't compare. Amber the archetypal city peopled by archetypes caught up in an archetypal war of Order vs Chaos, the book itself is deeper and richer than any archetype.

Thanks to this book I also read finally the second series, Merlin may not be Corwin but he's a good lead. My only complaint with the second series was hiding Corwin away until the last few pages and even then he doesn't come across so richly as he did in his own books.

For the follow ups do a search on Amber Shorts written by Zelazny prior to his death beginning with A Salesman's Tale.

A stunning sequel, 05 Jun 2005
In Camelot's Honour, Sarah Zettel recaptures the beautifully evocative world of Arthurian England which she created in Camelot's Shadow. Geraint, the younger brother of Gwain is desperate to prove himself as a knight of the round table by saving Elen, the beautiful daughter of a welsh chieftan who has fallen victim to Morgaine's machinations. Together they face insurmountable odds which they must overcome to find both peace and happiness together. Zettel doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read the last in the series!

completely worth it!, 03 Jul 2006
I picked up this book with a little trepidition, as an avid medieval film and book fan i thought it would not live up to my expectations, as so many books have in the past. I am amazed to say that I could not put this book down!it was absolutely perfect, blending just the right amount of realistic romance and adventure and having read the following 2 books I cant recommend them enough!

Lady Rhian the Perfect, 29 May 2006
I thought this book would be awesome. It's got all the right ingredients - Camelot, romance, and an evil sorceror. But it came off as cheesy and cliche. Lady Rhian is perfect, and Gawain's love for her seems entirely unfounded. It's a humorous read if you don't take it seriously, but as a book it's not great.

Romantic Arthurian Fantasy Well Worth Reading, 03 Oct 2005
This romantic fantasy recreates Camelot in all its glory and, if Arthurian legends are your thing, then don't miss this.

The Lady Risa escapes from her father after learning of his promise to give her over to an evil sorcerer in exchange for the life of her beloved mother. Enter Sir Gawain, Kings Champion and Knight of the Round Table and, after several (rather lucky) escapes from marauding Saxons seeking their blood, love blossoms.

The old tale of Gawain and the Green Knight has been reworked beautifully; Risa's feelings of despondency at the loss of her home and her father's betrayal, fear of the evil mage capturing her soul and her growing feelings for Gawain wrapped in the knowlegde of his superior station in life.

Interestingly there are no signs of the passionate ill-fated affair between Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot seen through the eyes of Gawain is portrayed as vain and boastful.

Well recommended for all fantasy lovers - a different style from Zettel's 'Isavalta trilogy' but gripping none the less. I'll definitely be buying the sequel 'Camelot's Honour'.....

Camelot's Ladies brought to life, 22 Jun 2004
I bought this book on the recommendation of a shop assistant at a local bookshop. Not expecting too much I began to read, and have been unable to put it down since. The story is based on the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight with a twist. It focuses upon the Lady Rhian known in the legends as Lady Ragnelle and her relationship with Gawain, as well as the other members of Camelot's court. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and await the others with a great deal of anticipation.

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Mar 2006
A friend lent me this book, and it took me about three days to get through the first five.

That evening in a club, a mutual friend, less into this kind of genre novel, asked me what it was about. A combination of alcohol, high-energy and a desire not to get into a discussion of Fantasy archetypes led me to say:

"It's about how you can do anything you want if you walk through the gaps in other people's perceptions, through the shadows between their mistaken assumptions, in the empty places where they don't even bother to look. The walls in this world are ones we imagine, they exist only because we believe in them; if we believe in ourselves and deny everything and everyone else as less than we are, we can do anything".

Well, its a paraphrase, but it was nearly as fluent as that!

Tbh, the plot is a little prosaic, although the first half of the first book is among the most thrilling section of prose I've ever read. But the meaning and power behind the book is, I must admit, unique. And I say that as someone who has read extensively in the genre and already had a stable of "favourite" authors into which I was reluctant to admit newcomers at the time I read it.

A masterpiece. Recommended., 05 Dec 2005
I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago, however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

You lucky lucky bast..., 07 Feb 2005
I'll admit I came to Amber via a backward road. I'm a roleplayer. And about 11 years ago I played a game called Amber Diceless which was set in Zelazny's Amber. Eager to get more information on the background of this world I looked for the books. They were at that time sadly out of print, I had to hunt round second hand bookshops all over Glasgow to get the first series. The second series at that time didn't appeal to me.

Corwin has become one of my favorite characters in fiction, along with Rogi Remillard of Julian May's Intervention he's one of life's survivors, caught up in events, though he's more an action figure than Rogi they have that similiar roguish mentality. Zelazny's writing, imagination, style and flow are second-to-none, the new amber books don't compare. Amber the archetypal city peopled by archetypes caught up in an archetypal war of Order vs Chaos, the book itself is deeper and richer than any archetype.

Thanks to this book I also read finally the second series, Merlin may not be Corwin but he's a good lead. My only complaint with the second series was hiding Corwin away until the last few pages and even then he doesn't come across so richly as he did in his own books.

For the follow ups do a search on Amber Shorts written by Zelazny prior to his death beginning with A Salesman's Tale.

A stunning sequel, 05 Jun 2005
In Camelot's Honour, Sarah Zettel recaptures the beautifully evocative world of Arthurian England which she created in Camelot's Shadow. Geraint, the younger brother of Gwain is desperate to prove himself as a knight of the round table by saving Elen, the beautiful daughter of a welsh chieftan who has fallen victim to Morgaine's machinations. Together they face insurmountable odds which they must overcome to find both peace and happiness together. Zettel doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read the last in the series!

completely worth it!, 03 Jul 2006
I picked up this book with a little trepidition, as an avid medieval film and book fan i thought it would not live up to my expectations, as so many books have in the past. I am amazed to say that I could not put this book down!it was absolutely perfect, blending just the right amount of realistic romance and adventure and having read the following 2 books I cant recommend them enough!

Lady Rhian the Perfect, 29 May 2006
I thought this book would be awesome. It's got all the right ingredients - Camelot, romance, and an evil sorceror. But it came off as cheesy and cliche. Lady Rhian is perfect, and Gawain's love for her seems entirely unfounded. It's a humorous read if you don't take it seriously, but as a book it's not great.

Romantic Arthurian Fantasy Well Worth Reading, 03 Oct 2005
This romantic fantasy recreates Camelot in all its glory and, if Arthurian legends are your thing, then don't miss this.

The Lady Risa escapes from her father after learning of his promise to give her over to an evil sorcerer in exchange for the life of her beloved mother. Enter Sir Gawain, Kings Champion and Knight of the Round Table and, after several (rather lucky) escapes from marauding Saxons seeking their blood, love blossoms.

The old tale of Gawain and the Green Knight has been reworked beautifully; Risa's feelings of despondency at the loss of her home and her father's betrayal, fear of the evil mage capturing her soul and her growing feelings for Gawain wrapped in the knowlegde of his superior station in life.

Interestingly there are no signs of the passionate ill-fated affair between Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot seen through the eyes of Gawain is portrayed as vain and boastful.

Well recommended for all fantasy lovers - a different style from Zettel's 'Isavalta trilogy' but gripping none the less. I'll definitely be buying the sequel 'Camelot's Honour'.....

Camelot's Ladies brought to life, 22 Jun 2004
I bought this book on the recommendation of a shop assistant at a local bookshop. Not expecting too much I began to read, and have been unable to put it down since. The story is based on the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight with a twist. It focuses upon the Lady Rhian known in the legends as Lady Ragnelle and her relationship with Gawain, as well as the other members of Camelot's court. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and await the others with a great deal of anticipation.

Typo horror......, 02 Dec 2008
Whether you like the writing of Zelazny or not... or whether you are new to his writings... I would urge you not to get this particular version. The book is filled with horrendous typographical errors which quickly become more than a nuisance... in places words are simply wrong and it makes reading some sentences impossible.
I am not exaggerating when I say there are at least 2 typos on every single one of the 800 odd pages... if this was a PhD thesis some one would be spending another month doing corrections

Be wary of some of the Masterworks titles, 13 Apr 2008
I really tried to like this book due to it's many good reviews and it's inclusion in the Fantasy Masterworks series, but I found it quite difficult to understand and not very accessible at all. I don't like books where you have to keep re-reading a page until it makes some kind of sense, a good story should be easy to read. My criticism of the Masterworks series is that the selections are very much a 'critics choice', the sort of books that tick all the boxes amongst the intelligentsia, good for writing an A-level project on, but are not necessarily an entertaining read. Be careful with some Masterworks titles, there are some genuine classics there but there's also plenty of 'for critics only' selections, which is a pity.

A Fantasy Series to Savour, 14 Oct 2004
If Roger Zelazny had written nothing but this series and 'Lord of Light' he would still be acknowledged as one of the greatest talents in the field.

Coming back to Amber recently, in this edition, and reading it from cover to cover, I was struck by the brilliance of the prose. Because this book is written in the first person by a character with experience of many worlds it allows Zelazny to use modern slang and poetic language both in dialogue and description without a single jar that I can detect. Often a single, perfectly chosen word or phrase conjours up the required image - and this book is full of rich images and even richer characterisation.

The book - and it is really one book, not a sequence of five - can be read on many levels. When I was first introduced to it, as a teenager, I devoured a wonderful adventure story, and it remains thrill-a-minute stuff, but each time I read it I find more nuances contained in a highly complex plot that never condescends to the reader and never fails to surprise. Even bit-part characters have their own arc, though as they are always seen through Corwin's eyes our understanding of them is limited by his - which also, of course, increases as the book progresses. We are also left to ponder whether, indeed, the conclusion of this story is that, "people change" or whether it is Corwin, or his perceptions, that have changed.

So is the book about perception? About change? About immortality? About growing up?

Yes, and many other things.

There are not many fantasies around so different from Tolkien, so complex, or so well written. Highly recommended, to anyone from 10 to 100.

Work of art!, 26 Aug 2003
The five first stories, written by Zelazny, of Amber are also the five best! It is compelling and rich with detail and action.

The story itself starts simple: a man wakes up and remembers nothing. Then he gets dragged into the world of his past and into his family and into a world of imagination only a few could create!

Despite the fact that the story itself bears similarities to P.J. Farmer's World of Tiers story, it has enough class and depth to ensure hours of reading!

This is a book that all sci-fi or fantasy readers can enjoy!

Dissapointment, 27 Apr 2002
Many people believe that this is great book, but in my opinion it is horrible. It's not even a fantasy, but stupid story in the type of cheap comic-books as "X-Men". The characters are on the level of Tv super-heroes. The plot s an absurd. The style is boring, boring.
Don't waste your money to this book.

Already an accomplished SF novelist, Sarah Zettell's debut fantasy, Sorcerer's Treason, shows her to be equally adept in lands of myth and magic.

Bridget Lederele is Keeper of the Light on Sand Island, shunned by the mainland following the birth and death of her bastard child and rumours of her psychic visions. Now she keeps the lighthouse blazing, warning sailors away from the rocky dangers of the lake. Her life is thrown into turmoil when she rescues the tattooed stranger Kalami from the wreckage of his boat and tells her she is needed in another world to defeat the sorceress step-daughter of the Empress Dowager Medeoan. Seeing the chance for a new start, Bridget accepts Kalami's offer but the world she finds waiting for her is unlike anything she has been promised.

Zettell's first fantasy novel is a triumph of story-telling, taking fairytale and folklore and dressing it in lies, half-truths and dark magic. All the characters are powerfully drawn, especially Bridget, a strong and attractive heroine, willing to face her responsibilities as much as the aged Dowager is willing to run from hers, if only because she thinks it the right thing to do. This is a world populated by characters who are flawed to the extreme, not totally evil, but driven by motivations they know to be wrong. It's a world of grey areas and twisted truths that thanks to Zettell's superb plotting only gradually revels themselves. The magic system is rich and detailed with truth spells woven into warm herb bread and transportation spells cast out nothing but air itself. Sorcerer's Treason is a magnificent fantasy novel, showcasing just how good this genre can be. Rich, compelling and exciting, this could be the best fantasy debut in years and is certainly as good as fantasy gets. --Jonathan Weir

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Mar 2006
A friend lent me this book, and it took me about three days to get through the first five.

That evening in a club, a mutual friend, less into this kind of genre novel, asked me what it was about. A combination of alcohol, high-energy and a desire not to get into a discussion of Fantasy archetypes led me to say:

"It's about how you can do anything you want if you walk through the gaps in other people's perceptions, through the shadows between their mistaken assumptions, in the empty places where they don't even bother to look. The walls in this world are ones we imagine, they exist only because we believe in them; if we believe in ourselves and deny everything and everyone else as less than we are, we can do anything".

Well, its a paraphrase, but it was nearly as fluent as that!

Tbh, the plot is a little prosaic, although the first half of the first book is among the most thrilling section of prose I've ever read. But the meaning and power behind the book is, I must admit, unique. And I say that as someone who has read extensively in the genre and already had a stable of "favourite" authors into which I was reluctant to admit newcomers at the time I read it.

A masterpiece. Recommended., 05 Dec 2005
I read the first 5 books about 10 years ago, however, I didn't like them.
A few month ago, I gave it another try and I just could not put the book down. I guess I was not ready for the The Great Book of Amber 10 years ago. Some of my friends kept on telling me that only the first 5 are interesting and then only the first 2 books, the rest are boring, especially the 5 last books. I must totally disagree with them. I enjoyed equally throughout all 10 books with a slight disappointment in a book 9 (I had a feeling like I am reading a book written after a PC quest game). Otherwise the series are great. I wish Roger Zelazny was still with us and could write a sequence, because even when you are done with 10th book, there is a feeling that there are a lot more to tell us...this is a reason why I would give it 9 of 10 stars and not all 10.
Who knows, maybe one day some genius will accomplish such an feat.

You lucky lucky bast..., 07 Feb 2005
I'll admit I came to Amber via a backward road. I'm a roleplayer. And about 11 years ago I played a game called Amber Diceless which was set in Zelazny's Amber. Eager to get more information on the background of this world I looked for the books. They were at that time sadly out of print, I had to hunt round second hand bookshops all over Glasgow to get the first series. The second series at that time didn't appeal to me.

Corwin has become one of my favorite characters in fiction, along with Rogi Remillard of Julian May's Intervention he's one of life's survivors, caught up in events, though he's more an action figure than Rogi they have that similiar roguish mentality. Zelazny's writing, imagination, style and flow are second-to-none, the new amber books don't compare. Amber the archetypal city peopled by archetypes caught up in an archetypal war of Order vs Chaos, the book itself is deeper and richer than any archetype.

Thanks to this book I also read finally the second series, Merlin may not be Corwin but he's a good lead. My only complaint with the second series was hiding Corwin away until the last few pages and even then he doesn't come across so richly as he did in his own books.

For the follow ups do a search on Amber Shorts written by Zelazny prior to his death beginning with A Salesman's Tale.

A stunning sequel, 05 Jun 2005
In Camelot's Honour, Sarah Zettel recaptures the beautifully evocative world of Arthurian England which she created in Camelot's Shadow. Geraint, the younger brother of Gwain is desperate to prove himself as a knight of the round table by saving Elen, the beautiful daughter of a welsh chieftan who has fallen victim to Morgaine's machinations. Together they face insurmountable odds which they must overcome to find both peace and happiness together. Zettel doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read the last in the series!

completely worth it!, 03 Jul 2006
I picked up this book with a little trepidition, as an avid medieval film and book fan i thought it would not live up to my expectations, as so many books have in the past. I am amazed to say that I could not put this book down!it was absolutely perfect, blending just the right amount of realistic romance and adventure and having read the following 2 books I cant recommend them enough!

Lady Rhian the Perfect, 29 May 2006
I thought this book would be awesome. It's got all the right ingredients - Camelot, romance, and an evil sorceror. But it came off as cheesy and cliche. Lady Rhian is perfect, and Gawain's love for her seems entirely unfounded. It's a humorous read if you don't take it seriously, but as a book it's not great.

Romantic Arthurian Fantasy Well Worth Reading, 03 Oct 2005
This romantic fantasy recreates Camelot in all its glory and, if Arthurian legends are your thing, then don't miss this.

The Lady Risa escapes from her father after learning of his promise to give her over to an evil sorcerer in exchange for the life of her beloved mother. Enter Sir Gawain, Kings Champion and Knight of the Round Table and, after several (rather lucky) escapes from marauding Saxons seeking their blood, love blossoms.

The old tale of Gawain and the Green Knight has been reworked beautifully; Risa's feelings of despondency at the loss of her home and her father's betrayal, fear of the evil mage capturing her soul and her growing feelings for Gawain wrapped in the knowlegde of his superior station in life.

Interestingly there are no signs of the passionate ill-fated affair between Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot seen through the eyes of Gawain is portrayed as vain and boastful.

Well recommended for all fantasy lovers - a different style from Zettel's 'Isavalta trilogy' but gripping none the less. I'll definitely be buying the sequel 'Camelot's Honour'.....

Camelot's Ladies brought to life, 22 Jun 2004
I bought this book on the recommendation of a shop assistant at a local bookshop. Not expecting too much I began to read, and have been unable to put it down since. The story is based on the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight with a twist. It focuses upon the Lady Rhian known in the legends as Lady Ragnelle and her relationship with Gawain, as well as the other members of Camelot's court. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and await the others with a great deal of anticipation.

Typo horror......, 02 Dec 2008
Whether you like the writing of Zelazny or not... or whether you are new to his writings... I would urge you not to get this particular version. The book is filled with horrendous typographical errors which quickly become more than a nuisance... in places words are simply wrong and it makes reading some sentences impossible.
I am not exaggerating when I say there are at least 2 typos on every single one of the 800 odd pages... if this was a PhD thesis some one would be spending another month doing corrections

Be wary of some of the Masterworks titles, 13 Apr 2008
I really tried to like this book due to it's many good reviews and it's inclusion in the Fantasy Masterworks series, but I found it quite difficult to understand and not very accessible at all. I don't like books where you have to keep re-reading a page until it makes some kind of sense, a good story should be easy to read. My criticism of the Masterworks series is that the selections are very much a 'critics choice', the sort of books that tick all the boxes amongst the intelligentsia, good for writing an A-level project on, but are not necessarily an entertaining read. Be careful with some Masterworks titles, there are some genuine classics there but there's also plenty of 'for critics only' selections, which is a pity.

A Fantasy Series to Savour, 14 Oct 2004
If Roger Zelazny had written nothing but this series and 'Lord of Light' he would still be acknowledged as one of the greatest talents in the field.

Coming back to Amber recently, in this edition, and reading it from cover to cover, I was struck by the brilliance of the prose. Because this book is written in the first person by a character with experience of many worlds it allows Zelazny to use modern slang and poetic language both in dialogue and description without a single jar that I can detect. Often a single, perfectly chosen word or phrase conjours up the required image - and this book is full of rich images and even richer characterisation.

The book - and it is really one book, not a sequence of five - can be read on many levels. When I was first introduced to it, as a teenager, I devoured a wonderful adventure story, and it remains thrill-a-minute stuff, but each time I read it I find more nuances contained in a highly complex plot that never condescends to the reader and never fails to surprise. Even bit-part characters have their own arc, though as they are always seen through Corwin's eyes our understanding of them is limited by his - which also, of course, increases as the book progresses. We are also left to ponder whether, indeed, the conclusion of this story is that, "people change" or whether it is Corwin, or his perceptions, that have changed.

So is the book about perception? About change? About immortality? About growing up?

Yes, and many other things.

There are not many fantasies around so different from Tolkien, so complex, or so well written. Highly recommended, to anyone from 10 to 100.

Work of art!, 26 Aug 2003
The five first stories, written by Zelazny, of Amber are also the five best! It is compelling and rich with detail and action.

The story itself starts simple: a man wakes up and remembers nothing. Then he gets dragged into the world of his past and into his family and into a world of imagination only a few could create!

Despite the fact that the story itself bears similarities to P.J. Farmer's World of Tiers story, it has enough class and depth to ensure hours of reading!

This is a book that all sci-fi or fantasy readers can enjoy!

Dissapointment, 27 Apr 2002
Many people believe that this is great book, but in my opinion it is horrible. It's not even a fantasy, but stupid story in the type of cheap comic-books as "X-Men". The characters are on the level of Tv super-heroes. The plot s an absurd. The style is boring, boring.
Don't waste your money to this book.

Fantasy at its best., 02 Mar 2005
Bridget Lederle takes care of the lighthouse on an island in one of the Great Lakes. She leads a lonlely life being an outcast from the local community after having had an illegitimate baby who died soon after birth. One night she saves a mysterious stranger from a storm. The stranger claims he is a sorcerer from a place 'beyond the land of death' and he wants to take Bridget back with him. With nothing to keep her on Sand island and with a compulsion she cannot understand, Bridget follows Kalami back to his home of Isvalta where her the story really begins and she finds out more about her past than she could ever have dreamed of.
Sarah Zettle, known for her science fiction writing, has proved, with this first book in the Isvaltan trilogy, that she is as capable of producing outstanding fantasy as she is sci-fi. This is fantasy at its best and manages to be that rare beast, an original story in a genre where there are so many tales that are just a variation on a theme.

Extremely successful culture-clash fantasy, 06 Apr 2004
I confess I wasn't overly enthused when this book reached the top of my to-read pile; in my experience, fantasy authors promoted as Exciting New Voices all too frequently turn out to be More Of The Same. By _A Sorceror's Treason_, however, I was more than pleasantly surprised - I was completely hooked.

On the surface, the tale is a simple one, in genre terms: a lonely woman meets a mysterious man from another world, who takes her home and enlists her in a battle against his evil political opponents. Yet Zettel's novel - in both its striking plot twists and its overall structure - swiftly distances itself from cliche.

Bridget Lederle is a memorable character in a vividly-drawn world even before she enters Zettel's fantasy realm. While most novels of this type treat the protagonist's home world as little more than a prelude, a painted backdrop to the real story, here Bridget's earlier life is given welcome emphasis. The close-knit nineteenth-century fishing community in which Bridget lives and works as a lighthouse keeper is portrayed with intriguing detail, its supporting characters fully-rounded individuals. Bridget herself is conflicted, complex and intelligent, resilient but worn out with old emotional pain; as much of an outsider in the world where she grew up as she will be in the one she travels to.

Zettel's fantasy world, meanwhile, does not pale beside its historical counterpart. Isavalta is a fine blend of cultural elements that seasoned fantasy readers will find less familiar, incorporating elements of eastern European, Middle Eastern and Asian folktales and history. Most notable are the fabulous fox spirits, and there is a real sense of old powers with unfathomable schemes at work. Bridget functions excellently as our window on this fascinating world, but alongsider her Zettel makes good use of different point-of-view characters for different perspectives, tension-building and plot twists.

The plot moves along at an absorbing pace, the characters provide much of the drama, and the reality of Bridget's situation - as it gradually emerges - is a pleasantly twisty one. If you're tired of genre books where you can spot both good guys and outcome within two pages, you'll enjoy this very much.

A Sorcerer's Treason - The First of a fantastic Trilogy, 28 May 2003
A book that was impossible to put down from start to finish. A mix of magic, sorcery, love and adventure set in numerous worlds. A down to earth heroine who you can not but like. The book leaves you eagerly waiting for the sequal. A fantastic read which i would recomend to anyone who likes a heroine, magic and a gripping storyline.

Brilliant, enchanting and different., 10 May 2003
This book follows the story of Bridget Lederle, lighthouse keeper on Sand island; or is she. Tormented by the crowds, as a murderer, Bridget knows nothing about her past. Until one stormy night she rescues a man from drowning in lake Superiors ice waters - Valin Kalami - he is there to tell her the truth about her past. Or is he? Leading her through the land of death and spirits, Valin takes her to Isvalta to find her truth and many things, possibly not all quite as simple as they first seem.
This is a brilliant book that enraptures and compels you to read onwards, the first in the trilogy I'm sure the others are also brilliant reads.

A rollicking story and a pleasant surprise!, 31 Mar 2003
You know, it just goes to prove that you should NEVER judge a book by its cover. Sadly, I did this at first, yet after starting reading it, I couldn't put it down. It is well written, cleverly thought out and planned, and the way she takes you from character viewpoint to viewpoint makes it seem like a movie is being shown for your pleasure. Her sorcerors are real, the magic they use very plausable and her description of the "powers" a bit worrying as they could easily slip through the mists she had created for them and appear next to you.

All in all, a very good book written intelligently and with great gusto. I look forward to the other two instalments.

In the 1960s, Roger Zelazny dazzled the SF world with what seemed to be inexhaustible talent and inventiveness. Lord of Light, his third novel and the seventh in Millennium's SF Masterworks series, is his finest book: a science fantasy in which the intricate, colourful mechanisms of Hindu religion, of capricious gods and repeated reincarnations, are wittily underpinned by technology. "For six days he had offered many kilowatts of prayer, but the static kept him from being heard On High." The gods are a starship crew who subdued a colony world, developed godlike--though often machine-enhanced--powers during successive lifetimes of mind transfer to new, cloned bodies and now lord it over descendants of the ship's mere passengers. Their tyranny is opposed by retired god Sam, who mocks the Celestial City, introduces Buddhism to subvert Hindu dogma, allies himself with the planet's native "demons" against Heaven, fights pyrotechnic battles with bizarre troops and weapons, plays dirty with politics and poison and dies horribly but won't stay dead.... It's a huge, lumbering, magical story, told largely in flashback, full of wonderfully ornate language (and one unforgivable pun) that builds up the luminous myth of trickster Sam, Lord of Light. Essential SF reading, despite this edition's tiresome typographic errors. --David Langford

Hard work, but worthwhile, 28 Jun 2008
Hard to follow at first, but worth persevering with. The story itself is nothing special, and could do with the confusingly named characters and objects being explained better, but the sheer quality of the writing more than makes up for it. In places, it's more like poetry than anything else.

One of my favourite books., 13 Apr 2008
Great storytelling and wonderful concepts. I can read this book again and again. Highly recommended.

Brilliant, 08 Apr 2008
My all time favourite. I've read many SF and fantasy books but Lord of Light tops them all. It's not merely the inventive and multi layered story or the enigmatic and intriguing characters, but also the author's brilliant style of writing that makes the book almost perfect. Roger Zelazny was (he died in 1995) a man of very few words, so you have to read his books very precisely, absorbing every word, in order not to miss anything.
Lord of Light is basically about Sam, a renegade 'god' and his resistance against the rule of the established gods. These gods are, in fact, former crew members of a star ship, which crashed on a distant planet millenia ago. After a fierce battle, the crew managed to defeat the planet's indigenous inhabitants and confined them to a far-off place called Hellwell. They adopted the identities of Hindu gods and developed a technique to 'reincarnate' in new -artificial- bodies. They conveniently kept all technical know-how involved in the complicated reincarnation process to themselves, as it proved a highly effective means of keeping their offspring under their thumbs.
Lord of Light is not an easy read, particularly because the story is written in a non-chronological order. At first, this may be quite confusing but it will soon become clear that it is the only way to get the essence of the story properly across. The story itself may seem pretty straightforward, but it is certainly not a linear narrative. There are various aspects woven into it; religious, social, and political matters are dealt with in an almost casual, but awe-inspiring manner. The story's protagonist Sam, a man of many names and identities, is an inspiring individual, a leader and a teacher. His initial opponent and later ally is Yama-Dharma God of Death, a cold, cynical and arrogant man, who's character is probably even more important to the story as Sam's. The author himself once put it this way: my first intention was to let Yama die at some point in the book, but then I realised that the strength of Sam's character would be seriously weakened by Yama's death, so I decided to keep him alive.
Zelazny must have made an in-depth study of Hindu culture and religion before he wrote this book. Many of the names, Aspects and Attributes of the self-proclaimed gods, especially those of the most important ones, are actually based on the characteristics of present day Hindu gods and goddesses. As a result, the book allows you a pretty good insight in Hindu religion and culture, and, although it's a bit o.t.t now and again, the story never loses any of its credibility.
Mandatory reading for fantasy and SF fans! A bit of advice: read the book at least twice for a better understanding.


Confusing, vague, but still good, 12 Dec 2006
I'd like to say i loved this book. There were sections/chapters that blew me away, but ultimately the story was beyond my comprehension. On finishing it i looked up an explanation on Wikpedia website, and realised that much of the book had gone completely over my head. I'm by no means thick, but there are so many characters (and they all have at least 3 names each - the main character Sam has about 10!) and Zelany writes at such a pace that i think he forgot that very few of us are experts on Hinduism.
The concept is amazing and this kept me interested, but its poorly explained. The ideas are so huge that the book should have been twice as long - i wanted to know why humans had colonised this distant planet, how the so-called gods developed super-human powers, how old were 'the First'? These things were obviously skirted over intentionally by the author, but i found that his writing, while brilliant, was also very vague. For example, near the end there is referrence to 'the tall man of smoke with a wide hat'. Apparently this is a referrence to a nuclear bomb, and i now acknowledge the geius of this, but it was completely lost on me at the time. I just thought it was another character!
So overall, i feel the book just isn't accessible enough to warrant 5-stars. I doubt anyone, no matter how intelligent could claim that they didn't find this a struugle. I think only the author himself knew the answers to some of the most important questions raised. The reviewer below states that its a fast read, but then goes on to say you can't read it fast, so i think he's completely confused! Maybe true enlightenment can only be reached after a second read. I'll definitely come back to this book one day because its probably the most original and epic book i've ever read, but be warned... Its hard work!!

A book about Gods by a God...., 01 Jun 2006
Zelazny will *always* be my number one author! His writing is so concise, as another reviewer stated, not a word is wasted. Roger can say in one paragraph what it takes another author a chapter to write! Why arent Roger Zelazny's books 750 pages long??, because his novels are not *brain-candy*-- he can get his story said in 230 pages. Very fast read, fast action, super dialogue - his writing is almost poetry. Some readers think the novel jumps without warning to a prevous time, but if that reviewer had only read the last sentence of the preceeding chapter. Not a book to be scanned quickly, savor each and every word as alas, the Shakespear of New Wave Science Fiction/Fantasy is no longer around.

Great read, 30 Dec 2007
I started reading this as a teenager and still go back to it on a regular basis. The imaginative, quirky characters, the story, all are compelling and the volume has never really left my bedside.

I would recommend this anytime

First class fantasy, 16 Aug 2007
This is streets ahead of most fantasy writing. The plot twists and turns at great speed whilst remaining coherent and enthralling. One can tell that the series was started in the 70s with the backdrops and the characters having the feel of a 70s cop show or detective series at some points (smoking, drinking, fighting), but the narrator characters of Corwin and Merlin are sympathetically drawn. The series does flag towards the end with the introduction of many superfluous characters who don't add much to the narrative or plot, but overall it is a classic of its genre and well worth a read.

A powerful metaphor, 20 Ma