History Literature / TheChroniclesOfAmber

* BadassBoast: Corwin, being a poetic sort and a certified {{Badass}} and having no shortage of self-regard, gets several of these. In his own series, Merlin is far more humble and conflict-shy but even he manages a few.

In 1991, the TabletopGame ''Amber Diceless Role Playing'' was released, followed by ''Shadow Knight'' in 1993; the expansion ''Rebma'' was announced but never released. There was supposedly a prequel series in 2002-2006 by another author... but they [[CanonDiscontinuity never happened]], as confirmed by GeorgeRRMartin and Creator/NeilGaiman, two friends and colleagues of the late Roger Zelazny. During his life, Zelazny had repeatedly and firmly turned down the possibility of an anthology of Amber stories by other authors.

* UnreliableNarrator: Arguably Corwin, especially when his viewpoint on a few characters is contrasted with Merlin's -- his sisters in particular. Almost the entire first Chronicle is told by Corwin to Merlin, giving Corwin reason to not be entirely truthful. (Corwin does mention, several times, that Amberites can never trust their relatives, [[FromACertainPointOfView thus implying...]]) Additionally, at the beginning of the story, Corwin is amnesiac and has imperfect recollections (e.g. thinking Random is his full-brother) until his memory is restored.

* [[spoiler: UnexpectedSuccessor]]: [[spoiler: Random]] in the first series after [[spoiler: being appointed by the Unicorn]]. [[spoiler: Merlin's]] ascension to [[spoiler:the throne of Chaos]] in the second series.

* ExpansionPackWorld: the Merlin chronicles.

* AGodAmI: The first thing that any of Oberon's children do upon gaining the ability to wander through alternate dimensions is usually to find a dimension which they consider to be a paradise, complete with an entire society of worshipers. Considering that even the Amberites do not know whether they just find worlds or actually ''create'' them through their imagination, they might be ''right''.
** The second theory is particularly appalling for ''our'' InsignificantLittleBluePlanet, because it would mean Eric created the Earth simply as a place to hold the Black Death so he could ditch a wounded and unconscious Corwin in some random, disease-infested CrapsackWorld.

** It's still such a logistical nightmare that it sees limited use. The powder is produced in Avalon shadows, in small quantities, as a jewel polish. The bullets then have to be produced on Earth shadows where the purchaser has to find somebody willing to make custom ammo with completely inert powder as a propellant, again in limited quantities to avoid attracting the attentions of governments.

--> ''"Never trust a relative. It is far worse than trusting strangers. With a stranger there is a possibility that you might be safe." ''

* HuntingAccident: Mentioned in the backstory:''

Not to be confused with ''[[Literature/TheBooksOfEmber The City Of Ember]]''.

** And don't even start on John Gregory Betancourt's "Dawn of Amber" prequel series. [[spoiler:Seriously. If you're holding a copy of it in your hands right now, ''don't even start''.]]

** And don't even start on John Gregory Betancourt's "Dawn of Amber" prequel series.

In 1991, the TabletopGame ''Amber Diceless Role Playing'' was released, followed by ''Shadow Knight'' in 1993; the expansion ''Rebma'' was announced but never released. There was supposedly a prequel series in 2002-2006 by another author... but they [[CanonDiscontinuity never happened]], as confirmed by GeorgeRRMartin and NeilGaiman, two friends and colleagues of the late Roger Zelazny. During his life, Zelazny had repeatedly and firmly turned down the possibility of an anthology of Amber stories by other authors.

* UnderwaterCity: Rebma is an underwater reflection of Amber, where everything in the city is duplicated in mirror image. The city's magic enables people to live and breathe underwater. Anything that happens in Amber is reflected in Rebma, which is why Rebmans are dubious about the machinations of the Amberites.

* EyeScream: There are several such incidents in the series: [[spoiler: Corwin in the first book, Brand in the fifth, Jurt in the seventh, and Coral in the ninth.]]

* {{Squick}}: [[Invoked]] In-Universe, Corwin mentions that he really doesn't want to think about the implication [[spoiler:that he and his family are literally descended from a unicorn]].

** Flora's hair color, and whether Random or Eric is Corwin's full brother all change after the first book. Some of this can be waived away by Corwin's amnesia at the time, though.

** Corwin is a noted softy jut for feeling bad about getting his duped soldiers killed; when he tries to surrender an obviously over-matched fleet Eric has them wiped out just to screw with him.

*** No, seriously. Even if you're holding a copy of one in your hand, ''don't start'' reading.