| Dust-jacket illustration from the first edition. | |
| Author | Roger Zelazny |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Chronicles of Amber |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Publication date | May 1985 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 183 |
| Award | Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1986) |
| ISBN | 0-87795-718-5 |
| OCLC | 11621840 |
| Dewey Decimal | 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. 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.
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 his 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. He meets with his friend Lucas Reynard (Luke), a salesman, who tries to convince him to stay, and who 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 is given orders by king Random to shut down Ghostwheel. However, Ghostwheel has become sentient and capable of defending itself. Eventually, Luke - who, it turns out, is Brand's son - imprisons Merlin in a blue crystal cave so 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." 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." 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".
References
- "1986 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- "TRUMPS OF DOOM". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- Catalano, Frank (1 February 1987). "SCI-FI -- COMPLICATED FUTURES; STRANGE NEW SEQUELS". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- Preso, Tim (28 August 1985). "Zelazny repeats good thing". The Oregonian. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
External links
- Trumps of Doom at Worlds Without End
| Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber | |
|---|---|
| The Corwin Cycle | |
| The Merlin Cycle | |
| Amber short stories | |
| Characters | |
| Other | |