Hoi and Jeff discuss Roger Zelazny’s “Nine Princes in Amber” with special guest Marc Bruner.
Episode 34 – Roger Zelazny’s “Nine Princes in Amber” with special guest Marc Bruner
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Jeff, Hoi, and a rotating roster of special guests discuss the adventure, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and weird fiction that inspires our gaming
Appendix N Book Club 
Enjoyed the episode, and while I agree that the women are sidelined (especially in this first book), it’s worth noting that Corwin’s perspective on his sisters is not necessarily Zelazny’s. I think there are even a few examples we can point to of women being more substantial even in this first book: Dierdre breaks the back of werewolf, Moire is imperious (as she should be) and interesting as you pointed out, and Flora threated Corwin with her Irish Wolfhounds and rolls with it when the demon assassins show up. The later books are generally better (though there’s one fairly egregious moment in Guns of Avalon). Also, Zelazny’s characters, including Corwin’s sisters, ALL get more complicated as the series goes on. Fiona, who hasn’t shown up yet, is one of the most formidable characters in the series, and there’s even a later conversation with Flora where it strongly implies that her game is to associate herself with whichever brother is currently on top and that part of that is playing a role for them and maybe appearing weaker than she actually is. The Merlin books, which were written in the 80s, feature an array women who are just as dangerous and interesting as the men.
I’m also a huge fan of the Amber Diceless, and if you’d like to know more, I’m happy to share. I have run many campaigns of it over the years, and it’s one of my favorite rpgs. I’m currently running its gaming descendant: Lords of Gossamer and Shadow.
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