All Roads Lead to Amber Jonathan Knight

In this final episode covering Trumps of Doom, we'll hear from the author on his process. Then, in the concluding two chapters of the book, Merlin and Luke team up in a somewhat complicated relationship, as Merlin shatters the stereotype of the untrusting Prince of Amber. I'll share some closing thoughts, and quote from a review of this first book in the Merlin series.

In this chapter we'll discuss the funeral of Caine, and the updated geography of Amber. Also, does Amber really have a religion? And we'll dive into Ghostwheel, an early version of GenAI for Shadows.

Let's hear from Zelazny about this first Merlin book, before diving into this chapter in which Merlin trumps to Amber with Bill Roth, and we return to the palace for the first time since the beginning of The Courts of Chaos. I'll discuss my impressions of how the classic Amberites are re-introduced to fans, and discuss ways in which the general vibe of Amber has changed since the Corwin books.

In this episode we cover the re-introduction of Bill Roth, a couple of literary references, and the growing complications of the plot. I will also share my strong views on "palace" versus "castle."

In this love letter to Santa Fe, Merlin, and the writing, both, take a detour, as Zelazny struggles to move the plot forward in a clear way. We learn a little about Ghostwheel, and there is a strange new character Dan Martinez, who knows about Amber.

In this episode, we introduce Jasra and go deep into her storyline. Merlin confronts the Sphinx, and we'll discuss Cuisinarts. By the end of chapter 4, there are multiple sub-plots to track, as Merlin makes his way to Melman's apartment for the 3rd time.