clew's reviews: a book log

Roger Zelazny's The Dawn of Amber, John Gregory Betancourt

Up to p. 118, this is inexplicably dull. At that point I gave up.

It's dull partly because it's remarkably like the opening of Nine Princes in Amber, without elaborating on (much less playing against) the expectations set up by the similarity. Also, the main character is duller; doesn't crack wise like the original, isn't nearly as convincingly sneaky and suspicious.

We know how this part of the story turns out; there ought to be more surprises getting there.

Also, the type is large, the margins generous, the paper average, and the book is still shortish; I fear the whole thing is an attempt to respin a hommage into as many hardbacks as possible.

ISBN: 0743452402