C is for Corwin: Zelazny A to Z

I paused when I uncovered the next card, and my heart leaped forward and banged against my sternum and asked to be let out.
    It was me.
    I knew the me I shaved and this was the guy behind the mirror. Green eyes, black hair, dressed in black and silver, yes. I had on a cloak and it was slightly furled as by a wind. I had on b]ack boots, like Eric's, and I too wore a blade, only mine was heavier, though not quite as long as his. I had my gloves on and they were silver and scaled. The clasp at my neck was cast in the form of a silver rose.
    Me. Corwin.

Of all of Zelazny’s characters, Corwin is the Zelazniest!

He checks many of the boxes in the drinking game, probably more than any other character.

• Long lived/immortal: Check
• super strong: Check
• "laid-back..": Check
• "...easy-going...": Check
• "...wise-cracking..."" Check
• "...homicidal": Check
• If the story involves cars or car accidents: Check
• Prose as poetry - Whenever you read a passage so lyrical that you feel compelled to put down the book for a moment to reflect on it: Check
• Free verse poetry: The hellrides
• Use of Real-World Mythology: Not a core component, but Amber is chock full of mythological beasties.
• Use of First person narrative: Check
• If the protagonist is out for revenge of some kind: Check
• Two drinks if the intended revenge is greater than the original offense: Check
• Green Eyes: Check
• If the plot involves a missing father figure: As essential to the story as the car accident.
• Any time a character smokes or talks about smoking: Check
• Any time our character consumes unusual quantities of food: Check
• Description of techniques or use of specialized terms from martial arts or fencing ("I parried in quarte and riposted)
• For use of phrases in foreign languages: Check
• Two drinks if it's in French: Check.
• Use of the word "arroyo": Not sure if it came up until the Merlin books, but it has to be in there.

I deal you out like a hand of cards, my brothers and sisters. It is painful as well as self-indulgent to generalize like this, but you—I—we—seem to have changed, and before I move into the traffic again I require a final look.
    And the man clad in black and silver with a silver rose upon him? He would like to think that he has learned something of trust, that he has washed his eyes in some clear spring, that he has polished an ideal or two. Never mind. He may still be only a smart-mouthed meddler, skilled mainly in the minor art of survival, blind as ever the dungeons knew him to the finer shades of irony. Never mind, let it go, let it be. I may never be pleased with him.
    Carmen, voulez-vous venir avec moi? No? Then goodbye to you too. Princess of Chaos. It might have been fun.