Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Arbor House (New York, 1985). 1st edition, 1st printing. 183 pages. $14.95.
Description
Welcome back to Amber, the one true world of which all others are but shadows and reflections. The Chronicles of Amber is a deeply influential fantasy series beloved by millions of readers. Trumps of Doom, book 6 of the series and first narrated by Merlin, son of Corwin, opens with Merlin waiting for someone to try and kill him. He knows that an attempt will be made on his life because it's April 30th and someone tries to kill him every April 30th. Merlin has no idea who wants to kill him, why they want to kill him, or why they only try to kill him once a year. But this year he intends to find out and put a stop to it. Little does he know that he is about to launch himself into an adventure full of danger, intrigue, royal politics, magic, and deceit that will take him across the multiverse and back. There is far more afoot that merlin can imagine ... and thus continues one of the greatest series ever written.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bjanecarp
In The Trumps of Doom, Roger Zelazny's sixth installment in the Chronicles of Amber shifts the focus to a new hero, young Merle Corey, a computer programmer and Prince of both kingdoms Chaos and Amber. He lives on shadow earth where every April 30, somebody tries to kill him. After 7 or 8 years,
I've found Zelazny's Merle Corey a much more appealing character than Corwin, maybe because he comes closer to mensch than übermensch, thus more identifiable to the author's geeky reader core (reviewer included. No clamoring to kill me, folks). You get the feeling that despite his powers, he runs the chance of getting the poop kicked out of him at any moment. Although he possesses some of the requisite "magical" powers of the Merlin of Arthurian Lore, it's only a name borrowed from our Western European historical past. There may be another reason for the attraction to the character, since he's no more fully developed than Corwin of the first five Amber novels. Where Corwin was taciturn, Merlin seems much more a social creature; while Corwin was part of the family, Merlin has to sense his way though the social dysfunction that comprise the Amberite clan.
The writing is solid and well plotted. I have a feeling the five books that comprise the Merlin arc of the Amber stories could hold up as a single book: this novel (Avon mass paperback edition) is a mere 180 pages. Several cliffhangers will either nauseate fans, or cause them to return to the next novel. I noted a few mentions of 80s personal computing subculture: "If Apple takes off," a character said at one point in the book. I must take exception with the title itself. The Trumps of Doom? Aside from its profound lameness, it has no real bearing on the novel itself, at least yet. Still reeling at that one. Trumps of Doom... I guess you can make just about *anything* scary, if you put the words "...of doom" at the end of the sentence. (Checkered thermos of DOOM! Yep. I was right.)
In all, Trumps is a solid start with a promising premise. I believe I will like the second five Amber novels, and also Zelazny's young magician Merle, much more than Corwin. I enjoyed the book. My fingers are crossed in hopes of an excellent Book Seven (Blood of Amber).
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Merlin finally decides this is getting a bit personal, when a former girlfriend is slaughtered in her home. The prince will go after the killer. He soon becomes embroiled in the snarled family politics of Amber, where more of Oberon's children are mysteriously dying, and each sibling is introduced as a suspect with probable cause to murder. Merlin has created an interdimensional computer called the Ghostwheel, that reads a slice of each Shadow world, and processes that data.I've found Zelazny's Merle Corey a much more appealing character than Corwin, maybe because he comes closer to mensch than übermensch, thus more identifiable to the author's geeky reader core (reviewer included. No clamoring to kill me, folks). You get the feeling that despite his powers, he runs the chance of getting the poop kicked out of him at any moment. Although he possesses some of the requisite "magical" powers of the Merlin of Arthurian Lore, it's only a name borrowed from our Western European historical past. There may be another reason for the attraction to the character, since he's no more fully developed than Corwin of the first five Amber novels. Where Corwin was taciturn, Merlin seems much more a social creature; while Corwin was part of the family, Merlin has to sense his way though the social dysfunction that comprise the Amberite clan.
The writing is solid and well plotted. I have a feeling the five books that comprise the Merlin arc of the Amber stories could hold up as a single book: this novel (Avon mass paperback edition) is a mere 180 pages. Several cliffhangers will either nauseate fans, or cause them to return to the next novel. I noted a few mentions of 80s personal computing subculture: "If Apple takes off," a character said at one point in the book. I must take exception with the title itself. The Trumps of Doom? Aside from its profound lameness, it has no real bearing on the novel itself, at least yet. Still reeling at that one. Trumps of Doom... I guess you can make just about *anything* scary, if you put the words "...of doom" at the end of the sentence. (Checkered thermos of DOOM! Yep. I was right.)
In all, Trumps is a solid start with a promising premise. I believe I will like the second five Amber novels, and also Zelazny's young magician Merle, much more than Corwin. I enjoyed the book. My fingers are crossed in hopes of an excellent Book Seven (Blood of Amber).
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LibraryThing member szarka
While it would have been difficult to top the original Amber series, in the sequel series that starts with Trumps of Doom Zelazny does more than repeat himself: he extends his world in new directions.
LibraryThing member baggette
This was the first Zelazny I ever read and I had to read it over and over again. Everytime I do, I find something I missed before or had forgotten. Most of his other books have behaved in the same way for me.
LibraryThing member TadAD
The second quintology is a huge disappointment for me. The story line moves on to Corwin's son, Merlin. The characters are flatter; the plots are much thinner; the motivations murkier. The story line is left hanging at the end—it seems clear Zelazny intended another series to finish (rescue?)
I would strongly recommend reading the first five and then stopping. You miss nothing...there's a clear ending at that point.
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this story, but died before creating it. I would strongly recommend reading the first five and then stopping. You miss nothing...there's a clear ending at that point.
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LibraryThing member iayork
merlin is not corwin.......but he's still interesting: of course merlin isn't corwin, thank god, if he was then what would be the point of a "sequel series"? i found this book to be the most interesting of books 6-10 other than the 9th book in the series. granted the "2nd series of the amber
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chronicles" isn't as inspired or original as books 1-5, but its still way better than most of the other sci-fi/fantasy novels out there! zelazny always seemed to be on top of his form, he never betrayed his style and ceaselessly used "logical" surprises, not contrived surprises, as well as incorporating a sense of humor. the only qualm i have about the book is that its too short!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Interesting. Somewhat confusing at the start, though I kept waiting for him to explicitly mention Amber - it doesn't come out until a good halfway through the book, I think. I like Luke, but I agree with Bill that Merle is way too casual about him. And the late revelations are...very interesting!
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It's most definitely part of a series - you'd be seriously confused if this were your first encounter with Amber, and nothing gets resolved at all. But as part of a series, it's good. And I like Merle a lot better than Corwin - his actions and motives are a lot more comprehensible. Show Less
LibraryThing member NogDog
Not quite up to the level of the superb original Amber series, but still and all-time favorite of mine.
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
This has to stand for all 5 'Merlin' books. The first two I have read long ago and several times and only just discovered there were three more. I really enjoyed two of the three but the last one was lacking in plot so a bit disappointing. It's a seductive world and attractive characters. The best
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part (as with the 5 Amber books) shows the protagonist exploring and learning how to operate. Perhaps too effectively because with both sets, by the end, they are a bit too powerful and the empathy (mine at least) is a bit lost. Show Less
LibraryThing member helver
Merle Corey (aka Merlin of Chaos, son of Corwin of Amber) has a fan. Not a fan like gushing girlie groupies. More of a fan like Robert DeNiro was a Fan of Wesley Snipes. This fan keeps trying to show his appreciation by attempting to kill him every April 30th. The attempts have been clumsy and
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unsuccessful in the past, but Merle has had to admit that they are getting better. This year, though, things have gotten personal - they killed Merle's old girlfriend, Julia, and a hack wizard and a succubus both got pretty close to doing him in. And things just keep getting worse and worse. A friend of his may not be who Merle thinks he is. He may or may not have a guardian angel keeping an eye on him. His mother may or may not have sent someone to help him. Amber itself may or may not be in danger. And his pet programming project, Ghostwheel, may or may not be sentient and out to kill him. And why is everyone interested in Ghostwheel? All questions and no answers. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
This has to stand for all 5 'Merlin' books. The first two I have read long ago and several times and only just discovered there were three more. I really enjoyed two of the three but the last one was lacking in plot so a bit disappointing. It's a seductive world and attractive characters. The best
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part (as with the 5 Amber books) shows the protagonist exploring and learning how to operate. Perhaps too effectively because with both sets, by the end, they are a bit too powerful and the empathy (mine at least) is a bit lost. Show Less
LibraryThing member kevn57
Kinda of a steampunk fantasy, the second arc of Amber series starts off strong with Corwin's son Merlin the main character. The series is getting stronger, and more interesting as it progresses.
LibraryThing member Karlstar
The story of Amber continues, but now with the second generation. Merle/Merlin Corey, son of Corwin, confronts many of the same problems as his father - who is trying to kill him and other members of his family and who is the mysterious enemy of Amber? The technology is a little updated from the
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original books, but the plots and themes are largely the same. Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 1986)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1985
Physical description
183 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0877957185 / 9780877957188
Local notes
Affixed to rear endpaper: "Levinson's / The Book Store / Sacramento"