Trumps of Doom

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Trumps of Doom
Trumps of Doom.jpg
Author Roger Zelazny
Language English
Series The Chronicles of Amber
Genre Fantasy
Publisher Arbor House
Publication date
May 1985
Publication place United States
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages183
Award Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1986)
ISBN 0-87795-718-5
OCLC 11621840
813/.54 19
LC Class PS3576.E43 T7 1985
Preceded by The Courts of Chaos  
Followed by Blood of Amber  

Trumps of Doom is a fantasy novel by the American writer Roger Zelazny, the first book in the second Chronicles of Amber series and the sixth book in the Amber series overall. Whereas the first series was narrated by Corwin, this series is narrated by his son, Merlin. Trumps of Doom won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1986. [1]

Contents

Plot summary

Merlin has spent the last several years on Earth learning computer science while building Ghostwheel, a trump- and Pattern-based computer, elsewhere in Shadow. Having completed this project, he wishes to know who has been trying to kill him every April 30—and why some of the better attempts failed—before he leaves Earth. He meets with his friend Lucas Reynard (Luke), a salesman, who tries to convince him to stay; Luke tells him that Julia Barnes, Merlin's ex-girlfriend, may be in trouble. Merlin investigates and finds Julia slain by creatures from another shadow.

Merlin investigates through Shadow, and he receives orders from King Random to shut down Ghostwheel. By this time, however, Ghostwheel has become sentient and capable of defending itself. Eventually, Luke—who turns out to be Brand's son—imprisons Merlin in a blue crystal cave, so that he can attempt to take control of Ghostwheel for himself.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews wrote: "Inventive, incident-packed, often fascinating stuff, with flashes of wry humor--but there's not even a token resolution here, and it isn't satisfying in itself." [2] Frank Catalano of The Seattle Times wrote that the novel "moves along at such a breakneck pace that its abrupt ending leaves you teetering on the edge of a cliff." [3] Tim Preso of The Oregonian called the novel "exceedingly readable" with "well-developed characters"; however, he also wrote that Zelazny "seems to be treading familiar ground". [4]

References

  1. ↑ "1986 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  2. ↑ "TRUMPS OF DOOM". Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Catalano, Frank (1 February 1987). "SCI-FI -- COMPLICATED FUTURES; STRANGE NEW SEQUELS". The Seattle Times . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Preso, Tim (28 August 1985). "Zelazny repeats good thing". The Oregonian . Retrieved 19 September 2024.


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