Roger Zelazny‘s classic Chronicles of Amber fantasy series is now available in Slovakia! Published in two volumes by Vydavateľstvo Tatran, here’s the synopsis for the Kroniky Amberu…
Roger Zelazny patrí k zakladateľom fantastiky, no svojimi mýtmi a mágiou vtlačil tomuto žánru svojský nenapodobiteľný štýl. Napísal viac ako 50 románov a 150 poviedok, vrcholom jeho tvorby je však desať kníh, ktoré tvoria Kroniky Amberu. Podľa slov Georga R. R. Martina, autora Hier o Tróny, sú Kroniky Amberu najfarebnejšou, najexotickejšou a najnezabudnuteľnejšou ságou, aká sa vo fantasy objavila. Amber je jediný skutočný svet, všetky ostatné vrátane Zeme sú len Tiene. No schyľuje sa tam k bratovražednému boju o moc a vplyv. Amberský princ Corwin sa pre zradu svojich súrodencov ocitne na Zemi a tu pri autonehode utrpí stratu pamäti. Len čo nadobudne vedomie, zapojí sa do obrany Amberu proti netvorom z Čiernej cesty. Žezlo po ňom preberie jeho syn Merlin, v ktorého žilách koluje aj matkina krv z Dvorov Chaosu. Celá sága prekvapuje nezvyčajnými nápadmi. Autor v nich spojil prvky sci-fi a fantasy. Kroniky Amberu predstavujú urban fantasy v drsnom štýle a ostrom tóne, mnohé zápletky pripomínajú detektívny príbeh. Kritici právom označili Zelaznyho dielo za „fantasy najvyššieho kalibru.“
Originally published between 1970-91, the series includes the following novels: NINE PRINCES IN AMBER, THE GUNS OF AVALON, SIGN OF THE UNICORN, THE HAND OF OBERON, THE COURTS OF CHAOS, TRUMPS OF DOOM, BLOOD OF AMBER, SIGN OF CHAOS, KNIGHT OF SHADOWS and PRINCE OF CHAOS. The series has been published widely in translation, with more editions on the way! If you’d like to know more, be sure to check out the author’s page.
Here’s the English-language synopsis for the first novel in the series…
Awakening in an Earth hospital unable to remember who he is or where he came from, Corwin is amazed to learn that he is one of the sons of Oberon, King of Amber, and is the rightful successor to the crown in a parallel world.
Amber, the one real world, wherein all others, including our own Earth, are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin’s blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne.
From Arden to the blood-slippery Stairway into the Sea, the air is electrified with the powers of Eric, Random, Bleys, Caine, and all the princes of Amber whom Corwin must overcome. Yet, his savage path is blocked and guarded by eerie structures beyond imagining; impossible realities forged by demonic assassins and staggering horrors to challenge the might of Corwin’s superhuman fury.
Zeno represents Roger Zelazny in Translation, on behalf of the Zelazny Estate.