By: Roger Zelazny Publisher: Wilder Publications Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Wilder Publications Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: 2003-11 Release Date: August 23, 2005
Product Description: This new collection includes all five previously uncollected "Amber" stories, plus the prologue from the rare limited edition of Trumps of Doom, and 16 other fantasy and science fiction stories (including a collaboration with Harlan Ellison).
Hard to give a rating In my mind I seperate this book into two sections.
The 6 Amber stories at the end of the book, I rate five stars. Any fan of the the first AND second Amber series will want to know what Zelazny had in mind following the last book of the second series. You can see his plans to possibly write a third series and where it would have headed.
The other stories, I rate two stars. I enjoyed the first two stories "Godson" and "Manna From Heaven", but after that I found the most of remaining stories very weak and unenjoyable. But your milage may vary.
Excellent collection This is an amazing collection. If you're an Amber fan, it's a must-see for the collected short stories, finally in one place. If you've ever enjoyed anything R.Z. wrote, such as Night in the Lonesome October, there's plenty more for you to enjoy here.
Mana from Heaven Rodger Zalazny If you are a fan of Roger Zalazny's Amber series you will appriciate the additional stories in this book that seem to be small chapters that were left out of the original 10 book series. There are a few other stories that are not associated with Amber but are solid zalazny. If you like Zalazny at all you will like this.
Some great short stories, and a fond farewell to Amber This book of short stories is a mixed bag, but well worth reading if you've enjoyed Zelazny's other work. Zelazny is the author of the Amber series, which I've read and reviewed here in the past. The stories in Manna From Heaven are drawn from work he published between 1964 and (posthumously) 1996. It concludes with five short pieces that take place in the Amber universe.
In the introduction, writer Steven Brust glows and gushes about Zelazny's genius, praising his ability to "simultaneously confuse and reassure" the reader. I know just what he means! OK, I don't feel quite like Zelazny was a genius, but I have immense respect for his talent, and I get what Brust is saying. I have to admit that a few of the short pieces (they range from a third of a page to 37 pages in length) left me shaking my head, glancing back at various passages, and generally asking "wha'appen?" But I found most of them enjoyable, anyway. It's the journey, and Zelazny isn't afraid to let his readers lose the path and try to find it again.
"Epithalamium" was a fun piece in which we meet an elderly Alice, sent back through the looking glass; I also liked "The Furies," in which three eccentric but oddly gifted individuals join forces to track a fugitive across the planets and capture him... all from the comfort of home.
The concluding Amber pieces were a brief but melancholy last look into this universe sprung from Zelazny's imagination. Each story was interesting and enjoyable, especially "Coming To A Cord," which is told from the perspective of an intelligent, animate, uh, length of string. The Amber stories left me a bit melancholy, though. It was clear that Zelazny had more to say about Amber and its counterpart world, Chaos, and there are hints here at new intrigues, twists and turns that the author would never have the chance to explore. And that is our loss.
Great book! One of the only places to find many of the short works by this wonderful author. Definitely an enjoyable read!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
