tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post368060687049195207..comments2024-03-21T19:03:19.133-04:00Comments on Where there had been darkness...: Roger Zelazny Book Review: Merlin, son of Corwin stars in Blood of Chaos, Trumps of Amber and Prince of Shadows!Jugularjoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03768939120752611597noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-87417268497807543042023-04-06T02:00:03.779-04:002023-04-06T02:00:03.779-04:00merlin is awesome. i've re-read all 10 books m...merlin is awesome. i've re-read all 10 books many times. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-87770767967439876102022-12-23T14:34:57.801-05:002022-12-23T14:34:57.801-05:00I’m reading this series for the first time after b...I’m reading this series for the first time after being an RZ fan for decades. Overall, yes, a shadow (pun intended) of the Corwin books. RZ did seem to be phoning it in.<br /><br /> Merlin’s sexual exploits don’t bother me, though. A lot of what RZ writes is men’s adventure-adjacent. Giving a male reader a vicarious thrill of sexual conquest is part of the genre. Raymund Eichhttps://Raymundeich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-56004789355639773892015-10-15T20:12:50.621-04:002015-10-15T20:12:50.621-04:00I kind of like this interpretation, Merlin is tryi...I kind of like this interpretation, Merlin is trying is trying to tell a story to make himself look good, but he's so astoundingly naive that he has no frame of reference for what a realistic story would be, thus he spins an unbelievable tale of nonstop sex, admiration and accomplishment. <br />Jugularjoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03768939120752611597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-72475654036646163012015-10-14T21:36:37.455-04:002015-10-14T21:36:37.455-04:00I think the Merlin series works much better if you...I think the Merlin series works much better if you also take them in context of how they are being told. IMO considering the first person narrative, and where Prince of Chaos ends, Merlin is most likely narrating his story to Corwin. Taking into consideration the idea of an unreliable narrator, as well as what some of the other specific posts in the individual books reviews have said regarding Merlin's naivete in regards to being used can alleviate some of the mary-sue'isms for me. You can't help but think that Merlin would want to come off as better to his father, so everyone loves him, vies for his attention, et al. Also, I seem to recall a line in Merlin's write up in the visual guide, something akin to Merlin's youth causing him to have a weaker voice in his memoirs. While I am in no way trying to influence your opinion, I do still think that the complete Chronicles of Amber rank as one of the best fantasy/sci-fi series ever written. It's in my top 3. Even with Merlin Chris Theofiloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839188917964550848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-36035618248973032852013-03-09T18:26:43.445-05:002013-03-09T18:26:43.445-05:00DjF: Come on, Corwin had a long stretch of using ...DjF: Come on, Corwin had a long stretch of using anyone and anybody he could to get what he wanted. Maybe his honesty in admitting it makes him more sympathetic?<br /><br />That's pretty much it, at least for me. Corwin calls himself a monster:<br /><br />“In the mirrors of the many judgments, my hands are the color of blood. I sometimes fancy myself an evil which exists to oppose other evils; and on that great Day of which the prophets speak but in which they do not truly believe, on the day the world is utterly cleansed of evil, then I too will go down into darkness, swallowing curses. <br /><br />while Merlin generally attempts to rationalize and justify his actions. It doesn't hurt that Corwin has someone crazy and evil as his ultimate adversary. He certainly looks better for the contrast.<br />Jugularjoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03768939120752611597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-72821533085127983102013-03-09T15:11:08.439-05:002013-03-09T15:11:08.439-05:00I don't disagree that the Merlin novels aren&#...I don't disagree that the Merlin novels aren't as good as the original Corwin series, but I do disagree with Merlin being called a "douche" -- at least, if you're comparing him with Corwin! Come on, Corwin had a long stretch of using anyone and anybody he could to get what he wanted. Maybe his honesty in admitting it makes him more sympathetic?<br />One thing I have noticed, though, is that despite the fact I didn't enjoy the Merlin novels as much as the Corwin series, it's surprising how often I misremember aspects of the Pattern and the Logrus introduced in the later books as having been introduced in the Corwin series. And it's not from lack of re-reading :)David Jón Fullerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214464940911202724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-58807192563418350922012-10-14T17:17:33.797-04:002012-10-14T17:17:33.797-04:00I loved the original 5 novels and after Lord of Li...I loved the original 5 novels and after Lord of Light consider them RZ's best work. The Merlin books 6-10 are just dreadful and I never even finished them. Far too much "He said that she said they said but really they said that she said that he said...." <br /><br />As you say "Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows,Trumps of Doom, Prince of Chaos, and Blood of Amber. Jesus. I defy you to tell me which is which".Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09634189096621722010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-89574085586734794242012-10-14T17:17:08.161-04:002012-10-14T17:17:08.161-04:00I loved the original 5 novels and after Lord of Li...I loved the original 5 novels and after Lord of Light consider them RZ's best work. The Merlin books 6-10 are just dreadful and I never even finished them. Far too much "He said that she said they said but really they said that she said that he said...." <br /><br />As you say "Sign of Chaos, Knight of Shadows,Trumps of Doom, Prince of Chaos, and Blood of Amber. Jesus. I defy you to tell me which is which".Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09634189096621722010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504598332261057441.post-75122818058635210402011-04-16T22:10:27.699-04:002011-04-16T22:10:27.699-04:00I didn't even read these as just a casual skim...I didn't even read these as just a casual skim of one confirmed they didn't have the power or cohesiveness of the original series.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08367178990462341240noreply@blogger.com