The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2) by Roger Zelazny


The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2)
Title : The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Mass Market Paperback
Number of Pages : 223
Publication : First published January 1, 1972
Awards : Mythopoeic Fantasy Award (1973)

Across the worlds of Shadow, Corwin, prince of blood royal, heir to the throne of Amber, gathers his forces for an assault that will yield up to him the crown that is rightfully his. But, a growing darkness of his own doing threatens his plans, an evil that stretches to the heart of the perfect kingdom itself where the demonic forces of Chaos mass to annihilate Amber and all who would rule there.

One of the most revered names in sf and fantasy, the incomparable Roger Zelazny was honored with numerous prizes—including six Hugo and three Nebula Awards—over the course of his legendary career. Among his more than fifty books, arguably Zelazny’s most popular literary creations were his extraordinary Amber novels. The Guns of Avalon is the second book of The Chronicles of Amber.


The Guns of Avalon (The Chronicles of Amber, #2) Reviews


  • Choko

    *** 4.44 ***

    "...“Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”..."

    Corwin, the prince of Amber, is free and plotting. Plotting is the past time of the family, but he has a bit of extra incentive, having been imprisoned and blinded for the last 4-5 years and living is squalor while getting better after his escape. Eric, his eldest brother and currently holder of the throne, wants him dead, but at this moment he and the whole royal family are busy defending the realm and some of the Shadow Worlds against the forces of Chaos, who are currently attacking with unprecedented strength and tenacity. It seems, the curse Corwin put on the realm when condemned by Eric, has come to real life with a vengeance and it doesn't seem he can do much about it. The worlds are degenerating and rotting because of it, so Corwin's plan is to first, take over the throne, and only then figure out a way to fight the Chaos creatures.

    "... "In a fit of passion, compounded of rage, horror, and pain, I had unleashed this thing, and it was reflected in every earth in existence. Such is the blood curse of a Prince of Amber.”..."

    Corwin picks up an old frenemy on his way and they travel the Shadows together, trying to keep alive, being attracted to anything in skirts, playing folks for fools and being played themselves, hoping that the math would eventually work in his favor. There is plenty of traveling and running, and fighting, but overall, I enjoyed it exactly because of it. I love Corwin's internal monologue and I like that he is not perfect at all, for a creature who is gifted with youthful longevity and superhuman strength. I also prefer him ahead of any of his siblings, because the stay on the Shadow Earth - which is our world, has made him look on things a bit more humanely and the loss of his memory gives him a chance to rediscover and reform himself in a manner different than his family's mold. At least I am hoping for an upgrade like that:):):)

    "... “We fought.'
    'A duel?'
    'Nothing that formal. A simultaneous decision to murder one another is more like it.”..."


    What a wonderful example of a loving family we have in the Royals of Amber!!!

    I love this series, but I do know it is not for everyone. Roger Zelazny marches by his own drums, so he is an acquired taste, which I am lucky enough to enjoy personally. I would recommend it to all fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy, give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea:) I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!

    "... “Tonight I will suck the marrow from your bones!” it said. “I will dry them and work them most cunningly into instruments of music! Whenever I play upon them, your spirit will writhe in bodiless agony!”
    “You burn prettily,” I said.”..."


    Now I wish you Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!

  • ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)

    Zelazny Freaks Regulars buddy read with my fellow Freaks Regulars
    Evgeny,
    Choko,
    Eilonwy,
    Elena and
    Lee ⚔

    Actual rating: 1.5 stars.

    Disclaimer: my copy of this book has obviously been tampered with. Look at the average rating for this delightfully entertaining piece (4.15 stars) and look at my rating (1.5 stars, just to rehash a little bit). See what I mean? It seems crystal-clear to me that the Evil Russians™ have most viciously hacked into my bookshelves once again. It's the only possible way to explain this slight difference in assessment. Well it's either that or everyone but me read the book wrong. Which do you think is the most likely explanation? Evil Russian Shenanigans (ERS™), huh? Funny, I thought you'd say that.

    I don't intend to write a pit-stop requiring non-review for this one , so let the crap be cut!

    This book is boring as fish.
    That straightforward enough for you? No need to expand/analyze/whatever? Good, I'll do it anyway. Let's see, how could I put it nicely? Oops, sorry, don't think I can. So here goes and stuff: this story is naught but the aimless, pointless and slightly futile tale of a guy running around in a moderately haphazard manner. It was all quite fascinating to read about. Especially the part where the guy (Corwin is his name, by the way) who's doing all the inconsequential dashing about starts dashing about inconsequentially. Yeah, that was definitely my favourite chapter in the book. But I did like the parts where Zelazny failed to exploit and completely wasted his Potentially Awesome World's Potential (PAWP™), too. Really cool that was! I mean, this could have easily been one of the most original worlds in Fantasy, and I'm so glad Zelazny didn't lose his precious time telling us more about it. That would have been a real shame indeed. And it was much more interesting to read about a whole lot of nothing instead, if you ask me. That really was brilliantly done, Mr Zelazny.



    Lovely Corwin is lovely:
    Okay, I might have exaggerated a little bit (which is very uncharacteristic of me, I know) in the previous paragraph. To be fair, the book wasn't all insignificant and trivial and meaningless stuff. No it wasn't. Because Corwin has a Purpose, you see. He has an Ambition. Yes, he does indeed. He wants to be the king. Isn't that amazing? Why, you ask? Why what? Why is it amazing, or why does Corwin want to be the king? Oh, you're curious about Corwin. You know how it is, some guys want to overthrow the evil dude currently sitting on the throne because they have a calling and stuff. They want to rescue the poor plebe from years of oppression at the hands of the bad, bad, king, and protect the young and the innocent and the widows and the orphans and all that crap. Corwin? Oh, he is way above such petty concerns. The plebe can go fish itself and spontaneously combust for all he cares. Then why does the bloody shrimp does he want to be the king, you ask? Because he does, that's why. Because he can, that's why. And also, I believe, because:



    As good a reason as any, if you ask me.
    I love it when MCs have such purposeful missions in life. It really adds tons of depth to their characters, don't you think? Talking about depth, Corwin has truckloads of it. I mean, he is deeply unlikable. And deeply selfish. And deeply superficial. Oh, and he is deeply condescending, too. And deeply disrespectful of women. Which is the character trait I admire most in him, obviously. But more on that later. Because I like to keep the best for last and all that crap.

    The Flat as a Herd of Ironing Boards Virus (FaaHoIBV™) is here to stay.
    Flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book one was, flat flat flat and unemotional as fish book two remains. I didn't give a shrimp about anything. I didn't give a shrimp about anyone. Everything and everyone could have just died a horribly excruciating deadly death, for all I cared. Apart maybe from the tiger-sized Siamese cats. Cool kitties those (if a little homicidal). I think they'd make great play mates for my murderous children. They'd compare the efficiency of claws vs pincers in times of slaughter and stuff like that. Pretty sure they'd all have a blast together. But I slightly digress. So, were where we? Oh yes, I didn't give a stinking fish about this book, the plot, or the characters. The end.

    The Misogynistic Bullshit Festival (MBF™).
    Such fond memories of
    Promise of Blood this book brought. How delightful indeed. I mean, how can you love not a story where women are portrayed so wonderfully? And respected always? ⚠️ Spoiler alert: a woman can be a super hot and yummy and sexy piece of meat, even when she is slightly being burned to death. Yes, she can ⚠️ Beautiful. This is simply beautiful. You know what really sucks, though? There are very few female characters in this book, which means that very few of them stupid bitches and sluts are on display. Sigh. It really is a shame, given what faithful depiction Zelazny gives of them here. Heavenly. It is simply heavenly. Almost nearly as heavenly as Corwin's most deferential attitude towards women, actually. Ah, Lovely Corwin! The guy really is the embodiment of consideration and graciousness. It's not like he is a 300-year-old scumbag in a position of power who bonked his 17-year-old relation! Oh no, absolutely not. Besides, even if he was, I'm pretty sure he would have given into his scumbag baser instincts only because the chick "asked for it." Such an irreproachable conduct on his part would have instantly absolved him of all Slightly Despicable Scumbag Like Behavior-Induced Sins (SDSLBIS™), of course. Also, if events such as the one described above were to hypothetically happen (they wouldn't, because Lovely Corwin is a total gentleman and stuff), how could he be blamed for it? I mean, this would all be quite beyond his control. Because he is such a stud that women just can't help falling at his feet. Yes, he is that hot. And yes, they are that sluttish.



    ➽ And the moral of this Some Covers are Insults to their Books but Some Books are Insults to their Covers Crappy Non Review (SCaIttBbSBaIttCCNR™) is: Zelazny dear, let's pretend this series never happened, shall we? You just keep feeding me stuff like
    Doorways in the Sand, and I promise never to unleash the crustaceans on you and stuff. Maybe.

    Book 1:
    Nine Princes of Amber ★★★



    [Pre-review nonsense]

    ⚠️ Spoiler warning: I slightly didn't like this book. Slightly not at all.



    No cunning ruse on my part this time I'm afraid, old shrimp. This was a complete, total, utter debacle indeed. And I decline all responsibility in it, obviously. I mean, is it my fault if the book magically ticked my main allergy boxes? Because, really, absolute dullness + all-powerful flatness + the author's Wonderfully Moderate Misogynistic Ways (WMMW™) =



    ➽ Full Oh Bloody Stinking Fish, Zelazny, What Have You Bloody Shrimping Done Now I'm On The Zelaznian Hit List And Stuff Crappy Non Review (OBSFZWHYBSDNIOTZHLASCNR™) to come.

  • Markus

    Corwin escapes after four years of blindness and imprisonment at the hand of his brother Eric who usurped the throne in Amber. His search for vengeance and restoration takes him on a journey through the Shadows that at last brings him to his former homeworld of Avalon, and makes him cross paths with a former servant who hates him with a burning passion and a brother thought long lost.

    The Guns of Avalon is in many aspects a massive improvement on Nine Princes in Amber. Zelazny apparently learnt how to write, and while the book retains some of the issues that plagued the first book, that certainly makes it far better.

    However, harshly critical as it may be, I'm unable to give it a higher rating, simply because the series is just not on that level. The book as a whole was pretty enjoyable, but still not particularly remarkable or memorable. But there are mysteries enough hidden in Amber and its Shadows that I am determined to keep reading.

  • Mike (the Paladin)

    This was the first volume of this series I read. The Amber series...one of fantasy's best. I stumbled on this not knowing it was a series. Then It was years before I found the first volume (
    Nine Princes in Amber. )Also, this book ends in a somewhat "cliffhangerish" way and it was years before I got the next volume...

    Happily for you, the entire series is there waiting for you. Enjoy.

    They are also available in audio now.

  • Sebastien Castell

    I loved the Chronicles of Amber when I was a kid, and the first half of Nine Princes in Amber is still one of my favourite books in the genre. Book 2 is fine, but doesn't hold up as well for me.

  • Pietro

    The universe is made of an infinite number of worlds, covering the entire spectrum of probability, but all such worlds are merely shadows of the only true world: Amber.
    Princes of Amber are gods in the shadow worlds: they're immortal, strong, fast, clever and capable of creating everything they wish out of sheer will.
    Corwin, the protagonist of the chronicles of Amber, is one of those Princes.

    What unimaginable intelligence must such a being possess?
    What bits of infinite wisdom might he gift to us mere mortals?
    What sacred words might he utter to open a grand Epic like "The guns of Avalon"?

    "Good-by, butterfly"
    .
    .
    .
    Really??????
    He's a friggin' god, one who lived countless human lives in more worlds than mortal mind might count and THAT is the kind of stuff he comes up with?
    That's atmosphere murder and it should be illegal.

    I was SO hoping for this book to be better than Nine Princes in Amber, but right from the start it was made quite clear that I was wrong, Oh so wrong.
    If anything it was worse, at least book 1 had a decent start.

    The plot (a.k.a. The Random Plot of Random Randomness) involves Corwin running around doing completely pointless quests in the shadow worlds for no real reason... and the amount of totally random plot elements just thrown in for their own sake is simply staggering.
    The entire plot develops from a (guess what?) random encounter Corwin makes on the road to nowhere in particular.
    Want to know what's EVEN MORE random?
    The wounded guy Corwin meets is Lancelot.

    An infinite number of worlds, and our protagoninst just stumbles upon the Round Table replica.

    MEH.

    From then on it only gets worse: goatlike demons sprouting out of nowhere, demonic cats, a 2 pages long relationship with a ""camp follower"" and on and on and on...

    The more I read of it, the more Zelazny's prose feels like an army of tiny inky talons raking at my eyes with every word.
    He doesn't show, he doesn't tell: he just lists facts.
    In a single page I counted a dozen sentences starting with "then".
    Then I went there.
    Then I did this.
    Then I did that.
    Then (insert random demonic being) came.
    Then we fought.
    Then he died.
    Then I went away.

    Dialogues would be even worse if not for one reason: they're faster to read.
    Characters reactions are completely fucked up, and there isn't one that makes sense in the entire book.
    To make the whole thing even more unbearable, everyone speaks 70s American slang.


    I'm afraid this is the last I'll see of the Chronicles of Amber and I'm seriously regretting buying the omnibus.

  • Stjepan Cobets

    My rating 4.9

    By me, even a better book than the first part. A sequel that just shows how good a series is. Soon I started reading the third book. Just a great book. A book to be read because if you are a fan of science fiction and fantasy genres, this is the very essence of the genre.

  • Kevin

    Picks up right where the first novel ended and is just as fast moving. You learn a lot more about Amber, and Corwin's family

  • Graeme Rodaughan

    Sheer Genius

    Roger Zelazny simply speaks to every aspect of what I want in a story. He nails it, he just nails it. I'm gobsmacked.

    This review is brief, because I do not have the words to honor what I've read.

    I had to make a new shelf "sheer genius," just for this book.

  • Caro the Helmet Lady

    So I guess it should've been called... Eight Princes in Amber? :))

  • Darwin8u

    "Now I had to find a place, a place resembling another place -- one which no longer existed. I located the path. I took it."
    - Roger Zelazny, The Guns of Avalon

    description

    A missing father, siblings that aren't very filial, a dark road, dark circles, a contested thrown, faceless figures, flying daemons, etc. This book has a lot of action and a pretty clear arc. The protagonist has been cast low and is now fighting to regain what he lost (besides just weight) AND gain what he feels is his right (and not just the crown).

    The positives of this book is the ambiguity of the characters. Even the focal point of the book (Prince Corwin) is an ambiguous character. At times, the reader feels he isn't much better than half of his siblings. He has also made situations a lot worse for EVERYBODY because of his own sufferings. Think of it as the inverse of Jesus. Instead of suffering for the sins of the world, Corwin, through his sufferings - subjects the worlds to a multitude of evil and sins. And now, he has to deal with the mess he made.

    Again, like the first in this series, this isn't GREAT literature but it is entertaining enough and does have a compelling narrative drive to it. They are little trashy treats. 120 page pulp bites. It is nice to throw a couple of these in-between longer, more dense and serious reads. They are entertaining.

  • Stephen

    4.0 to 4.5 stars. Another excellent installment in the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny. The world building continues to impress and the magic system and internal workings of Amber continue to be fleshed out and made real. While not quite as good as my two favorite Zelazny works,
    Lord of Light and
    This Immortal, these books are well written and a ton of fun. Highly Recommended!!

  • Nandakishore Mridula

    Dropping it halfway through - not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the first book of the series,
    Nine Princes in Amber, in a lukewarm sort of way, and decided to try this in case the story picked up speed. Around page 100 or So, I decided I couldn't care less.

    Still, it's not badly written - hence the two stars.

  • William

    Just as good as the first one! On to Sign of the Unicorn!

  • A. Dawes

    Zelazny was one of my go-to writers back in the day. And with the Amber series you were almost always ensured of an entertaining read, with the right dash of complexity so that along with the amusement and intrigue, it also gave the old noggin just enough to chew on.

    In this sequel of world hopping fantasy, Prince Corwin prepares to take his rightful throne. But Chaos is also gathering its dark forces... Any reader of fantasy is in for an escapist treat of the highest magnitude.

    I'm biased here, it may have dated, but my love of reading it a few decades ago has stayed with me. It's still a ripper read, at least that's what I think.

  • OhWell

    When push comes to shove all princes put Amber first, and it’s hard not to like them for it!

    The pacing of The Guns of Avalon is a bit uneven. Shadows shifting is a neat concept, but I literally fell asleep while Corwin was traveling to the diamond dunes. The beginning and the last few chapters more than made up for the slow spots in the middle though. Corwin is by no means a model of strong moral fiber, and some of his decisions might be questionable, but I can’t believe how he got totally duped here! As if the curse was not enough… It should be interesting to see how and if he manages to undo all the damage.

  • Zdravko

    Još jednom sam se upustio u ovu priču i za tu moju ljubav prema Amberu mnogi znaju, ali koju nikad neće razumjeti.

  • Kat Hooper

    Originally posted at
    FanLit.

    Warning, from me: If you haven’t read Nine Princes in Amber yet, don’t read this review.

    Another warning, from Corwin: “Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers.”

    Corwin has escaped from his brother’s prison and he’s ready for revenge. He doesn’t have the manpower that Eric has, so he needs a technological advantage. Traditional firearms don’t work in Amber, but Corwin once noticed that a jewelers’ rouge from the shadow world of Avalon, where he used to rule, is combustible in Amber. So here’s his plan: get some money (pretty easy to do when you can create your own worlds), purchase a huge amount of jeweler’s rouge, and commission some custom-made firearms that use the rouge to shoot silver bullets (he’s not sure other metals will work). Oh, and raise an army. No problem!

    The problem is that Eric may no longer be the biggest threat in Amber. Because of Corwin’s curse, Amber is being assailed by the forces of Chaos. The evil is also manifest in the shadow worlds that Corwin is trying to exploit and he must frequently stop and deal with the nasty creatures it serves up. Along the way Corwin meets old friends and enemies, makes new friends and enemies, and does at least one more impetuous thing that will come back to bite him later.

    In The Guns of Avalon (1972), Corwin, who had gained our sympathies in Nine Princes in Amber because of how he was treated by Eric, becomes something of an anti-hero. Because of his rash actions, beautiful Amber has been invaded by horror. Corwin realizes that he has caused much destruction, he knows he has wrought evil, and he tells himself that he hopes to destroy more evil than he creates. The reader begins to wonder, however, if Corwin is blinded by hate for his brother. Is Corwin’s claim to the throne legitimate enough to justify all the death and terror that he’s caused? We’re certainly not convinced that Corwin would be a better King than Eric is. Corwin is a rather ambiguous hero.

    Still, it’s hard not to root for Amber, if not for Corwin himself. Roger Zelazny has created a magical world that we’re eager to explore, preferably in a time of peace. We haven’t had much chance to do so yet since we’ve only seen it from Corwin’s perspective, and that means that for most of the time we’ve been in Amber, we’ve been in the dungeon. At the end The Guns of Avalon Zelazny leaves us with many questions unanswered and two major twists. You’ll want to have the next book, Sign of the Unicorn, ready to go.

    I’m listening to Alessandro Juliani narrate Audible Frontiers’ version of The Guns of Avalon. He’s doing a great job, though I did not like the Southern drawl that he chose for two of the major characters (they call it “Ambuh”). It didn’t seem appropriate. With so many characters, I think he feels that he must give each a distinctive voice, so to do that he’s using unlikely accents or vocal properties (e.g., hoarseness or high pitch) to make them unique. I think that’s a mistake, but other than that, his reading is very good.

  • Deborah Ideiosepius

    In this the second book of the Amber chronicles, Corwin prince of Amber (and my unrequited love since I was twelve or so) has escaped the horrific imprisonment inflicted upon him by his brother Eric, usurper of the crown of Amber (you can't say I am not partisan here) and escapes into shadow to recuperate and gather an army with which to relieve Eric of his ill gotten crown.

    As a kid, when I first read this book I did not love it as much as the first of the series - I still adored it, mind, just not as much. As an adult, I find a lot more of complexity in it and I enjoyed it more than I remembered. In this book Zelazny continues to bleed together mythic and modern themes in an unforgettable way. The princes of Amber and Amber itself are pure mythology. The yearning Amber induces in it's children is the essence of the core element of the plot; Corwin's quest to rule Amber, the competitiveness of all of Oberon's children for it and so on. I think the story borrows beautifully of elements of literature across many cultures and many lands and while it does not stand unique in this style of writing anymore it was ahead of it's time when it was written.

    Another thing that resonated with me from the first time I read it is the way in which the characters blend modern language and a formal English that cements the people you read about as both epic characters and real, relatable ones. I also am entirely on board with the amount of wine they consume, epic indeed.

    I also think that in this novel that Zelazny's ongoing theme of traveling through time and space - a notion that occurs in a lot of his stories - is used to incredibly subtle effect when Corwin is searching for a land he used to know. He has several reasons for this journey, most of them aimed at invading Amber, but along the way he meets shadows of people he used to know, and the black road first appears, which Corwin believes is a consequence of his curse upon Eric. All in all, the plot goes from being the sharp, direct, unilateral plot in the first book to a very complex, complicated and nuanced journey.

    It is not really a spoiler to say that at the end Corwin is in possession of Amber, but not in the way he thought and by no means is that the end of the story!

  • Juho Pohjalainen

    Is reality a shadow?

    Every time I seriously ponder this, I can feel everything... fade away a little. Vision blurs, voices echo from afar, bodily aches no longer matter so much, and such. All I sense and perceive is but an illusion fed to me by nerves and neurons - themselves illusions, formed by an evolutionary mass of wet bacon in my head.

    So what is real? What is me? If I continue thinking this way and manage to shed everything, what awaits me out there? Is it unconsciousness, or death, or total nonexistence? Or would I find from there whatever casts the shadow that is reality - something like Amber?

    No way of telling, I suppose. But all this existential stuff aside, the book is quite good. For some reason our own world is the only shadow that has come up with advanced firearms, so now Corwyn gets some of those for his war. Things get pretty heated. It's good.

  • Adam

    Even better and more excitng than "The Nine Princes in Amber." Corwin continues his adventures through time and space and gets involved in a complicated political struggle for Amber. Plus Zelazny details more of the back story involving the Courts of Chaos and make up of various realms of the series. Outstandng science fiction fantasy written in concise and beautiful language. Zelazny is an amazing writer.

  • Malum

    There aren't many books that can evoke a sense of wonder as much as Zelazny's Amber novels.

  • Craig

    Back in the days before Mr. Fogerty inspired Mr. Jordan to expand on his observation that the big wheel keeps on turning, and before Mr. Martin went into the field of meteorology, Roger Zelazny produced this series of five terrific books and thereby offered the fantasy fiction field an alternative to Conan pastiches and Hobbit homages. Amber is the true, real, center of the universe, see, and it's a magical kingdom where the king has gone missing and the nine princes and a handful of princesses are playing the game of thrones, and... well, you should it. His writing is descriptive and detailed throughout, the characters are full-blown people the reader understands and knows instantly, and the plot is immensely detailed and carefully paced and presented for the whole five book run, yet they're short books by modern standards... he packs way more into a hundred pages than most current fantasists do in a thousand. How did he do it? It was magic, obviously.
    There was a second series of five books with the same setting and some overlapping characters that didn't have quite the same feel, and after his death someone else produced some books that shouldn't have been permitted that I would recommend avoiding, but those first five Amber books are real classics. Some of the slang expressions haven't aged well, particularly in the earlier volumes, and it's a little jarring to read that the main characters all seem to be chain-smokers, but otherwise I think they've held up better than any of their contemporaries.

  • Lee

    The second book in the series is pretty much like turning a page in the first book. It is literally like the next day. I seem to be reading small books at the moment.
    The writing continues to show its age, the female characters in this story are pasted in and literally have no impact. I think that Random's wife has huge potential, but she still has not made an appearance. This is all about the princes and their warring, whisky drinking exploits.

    But even with its flaws, even with the fact that a few most of my group read buddies have given up on it, I find that I do want to see how the story pans out. So given that I have the omnibus and they are only 150 max pages per book, I will be carrying on with the story.

    I know this review doesn't exactly tell you much about the book, but, ah well. Give it a go.

  • Morgan

    While still compelling, it is a little bit of a let down from the first book. The noir element is lost entirely, sci-fi is minimal and this become merely a fun fantasy story. That's fine, I guess. The writing is actually still quite good, but I felt some of what made the first book special is now stripped away. That doesn't stop me from wanting to know what happens. This series may feature the most screwed up families in literature. Still good pulpy stuff.

  • Курило Євген

    "Рушниці Авалону" друга частина саги, яка розповідає про пригоди Корвіна та його намагання здобути трон.
    Роджер Желязни знову занурює нас у вихор захоплюючих подій. Подорожей неймовірним світом, зустрічі з новими ворогами (демони Хаосу), війни, інтриги, зради та нові знайомства. І все це написано так легко і невимушено, а динаміка подій така що сторінки летять непомітно. І дочитавши до фіналу, навіть не стає питання, чи читати продовження, звісно що читати!!! 10/10
    Рекомендую всім шанувальникам фентезі.

  • Anita Reads

    [4.5 stars]

    This is the continuations of the Amber Chronicles, where in the first book (Nine Princes in Amber) we met Corwin and has followed him as he struggled to find out who he was after having had some sort of amnesia. There’s a bit of a war going on between him and his other brothers. Eric has chosen himself to rule in Amber, but Corwyn wants to put a stop to it, and take over the power for himself.
    In this book Corwyn finds himself in Avalon, as he’s on a quest for more answers, and I’m not going to say much more than that, as I’m afraid to spoil anything that happens in this book or the previous, to anyone interested in starting this series.
    Roger Zelazny’s writing is something I really enjoy, I find it both fast paced and easy to read. I really enjoy the world building, and how we slowly (along with Corwyn) get to experience and understand Amber more and more as the books/series progresses.
    I’m very interested in the storyline of some of the characters that was introduced in this book, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the future books.
    If you enjoy fast paced and unique fantasies, I think you’ll really find yourself enjoying this series. I also like the fact that all the books are pretty short, and so you don’t have to commit yourself to over 500 pages every time you decide to pick up one of the books, and still even though it’s short a lot of stuff keeps happening, so you’re never bored when reading.

  • Віталій (Книжкаріум)

    Ця зайшла відчутно краще, ніж перша: динамічний й більш закручений сюжет, більше боротьби з почварами, менше родинних інтриг - захоплює чим далі тим сильніше. Все ще трохи бентежили простуваті діалоги і "амеркіан бой" стиль, але тут принаймні йому було більше гідного застосування) В цілому ж потішила і нагадала за що полюбив її, коли читав вперше. Десь згодом візьмусь прочитати і інші три з першого п'ятикнижжя.

  • Ivana Books Are Magic

    ...and this is how you write a sequel. The Guns of Avalon take up from where Nine Princes in Amber ended brilliantly. The story doesn't slow down a bit, but rather it develops purposefully and dives further into the Amber universe. The plot is well written and there is definite character development on side of Corwin. In the first sequel, Corwin was a charming bastard, a more sophisticated and eloquent version of macho heroes, but in The Guns of Avalon we see a more human side to him. Corwin's inner struggle between his newly developed conscience and his strong obsession with winning the Amber throne was interesting to watch to say the least.

    The more I think about it, the more I admire the precision of Zelazny's writing. Every novel in his Amber series is so well constructed and paced. They are neither too long nor too short, just the perfect length. Many fantasy writers could take cue from Zelazny. You don't need to desperately overwrite everything to make a reader so tired he becomes a part of your world out of sheer exhaustion. I mean- leave something to the imagination! Indeed, the novels in the Amber series are really a joy to read. Upon rereading, I particularly enjoy seeing not just how all the pieces of the puzzles match but how timely Zelazny brought them into action.

    Consistent with the other books in the series, The Guns of Avalon is written in first person narration. However, even through Corwin's eye, we get to learn more about other characters. The dialogues play a huge part in this. They are well written and natural sounding, and that is really important because that's the only time we can actually see those characters speaking for themselves. Otherwise we obviously see them through Corwin's eyes. Some new characters are introduced in this one as well, Dara being the most important (and possibly most fascinating) of all. I loved seeing more of Benedict, him being one of my favourite brothers of a highly fascinating and fabulously dysfunctional royal family. Connecting Benedict and Dara was a good move, even if some might find it all a bit incestuous. Well, at least this time Corwin didn't swoon over his sister. Interestingly, there is more than one love interest in this novel. There are two distinct love episodes, and while one ends soon after it started, the other will be elaborated more in other novels.

    What else can I say without spoilers? In the Guns of Avalon, you'll see some interesting plot twists, learn more about Corwin's family members (and himself), see him and others grow up a bit as a new threat befalls Amber. They desperately needed to grown up a little bit so that was satisfactory, seeing they can actually come to their senses when there is a real threat to them all. A threat more serious than a bunch of brothers and sisters trying to kill themselves over their father's throne and not caring whom and what (and by whom/what I mean whole worlds) they bring down with them? Well, yes. You'll also get to read some wonderfully written shadow walking and get a glimpse of what is to follow. What more could you possibly want? Really, The Guns of Avalon are just as good as the first book in the series. You can see that the author actually took the time to plan out things, rather than improvising and overwriting sequels like so many fantasy author do today.

    I read Nine Princes in Amber as an adolescent, but it was a few years before I figured out there were sequels. Imagine my joy at discovering so many sequels. I think I was around twenty when I stumbled onto sequels, and I bought them all, despite the rather pricey price (even for a hard cover). Lately, I've been wanting to reread them, but they are all in another city, so until I go there to pick them up, I'll just reminisce about this series a bit. It really is gold, isn't it? I'm happy that I own hard copies of all novel in a series. I've been wanting to buy the complete edition of this series, but for some reason I prefer reading it in this form. I suppose it makes me appreciate them a bit more, reading them on their own. Does that makes any sense? Instead of a conclusion, I'll leave you with my favourite quote from it, a moment in which Corwin grasps his mortality for the first time:

    ...It was almost a mystical experience. I do not know how else to put it. My mind outran time as he neared, and it was as though I had an eternity to ponder the approach of this man who was my brother. His garments were filthy, his face blackened, the stump of his right arm raised, gesturing anywhere. The great beast that he rode was striped, black and red, with a wild red mane and tail. But it really was a horse, and its eyes rolled and there was foam at its mouth and its breathing was painful to hear. I saw then that he wore his blade slung across his back, for its haft protruded high above his right shoulder. Still slowing, eyes fixed upon me, he departed the road, bearing slightly toward my left, jerked the reins once and released them, keeping control of the horse with his knees. His left hand went up in a salute-like movement that passed above his head and seized the hilt of his weapon. It came free without a sound, describing a beautiful arc above him and coming to rest in a lethal position out from his left shoulder and slanting back, like a single wing of dull steel with a minuscule line of edge that gleamed like a filament of mirror. The picture he presented was burned into my mind with a kind of magnificence, a certain splendor that was strangely moving. The blade was a long, scythe like affair that I had seen him use before. Only then we had stood as allies against a mutual foe I had begun to believe unbeatable. Benedict had proved otherwise that night. Now that I saw it raised against me I was overwhelmed with a sense of my own mortality, which I had never experienced before in this fashion. It was as though a layer had been stripped from the world and I had a sudden, full understanding of death itself.

  • Rhys

    The second novel in the Amber series moves at a fast pace and develops the overall story significantly. It's amazing how much Zelazny crams into such a short space. The author's control is admirable considering that this is a fantasy universe based on a conceit so ingenious and complex that it could easily go wrong. But it never does.

    Corwin isn't the nicest of heroes but he teams up with a sidekick here named Ganelon who seems to act as a moral counterbalance, although in what way this is accomplished I am at a loss to describe because Ganelon himself can be pretty brutal and unpleasant. It must be something to do with the fact that Ganelon isn't a part of the intrigues and deceptions surrounding the Court of Amber. He is a warrior and an ex-outlaw but honest and upfront. He lacks guile.

    In the previous volume we learned a lot about Corwin and something about Random and Bleys, and a little about Julian and Eric. In this book we learn about Benedict and Gerard too. Slowly the main players are being fleshed out. They are wonderful symbols, yes, but they are starting to acquire real depth. Interestingly, the 'bad guys' sometimes turn out to be not quite so bad and the 'good guys' turn out to be extremely malign.

    I first read this series when I was 17 and 18 years old. Thirty-six years later I am re-reading them with great delight. I remembered quite a bit of Nine Princes in Amber but I recalled very little of The Guns of Avalon . One thing that surprised me was that when I first read them the Courts of Chaos (an equal and opposite power to Amber) seemed to come out of nowhere in the fifth book. But I can see now how Zelazny seeded the idea right from the beginning of the series. I just didn't notice the first time round.