Order Magic

Lore & Background

The Pattern is central to Amber and that members of the royal family, after walking in a Pattern, can travel freely through the Shadows. While traveling (shifting) between Shadows, they can alter reality or create a new reality by choosing which elements of which Shadows to keep or add, and which to subtract, eventually arriving at their chosen destination. The Courts of Chaos as situated at the very edge of an abyss, and that nobles of the Courts of Chaos who have traversed the Logrus are similarly able to travel through Shadows. The conflict between Amber and Chaos is described as the tension between opposing magical forces that creates shadow worlds, including Earth. It does not mention summoning objects or altering landscapes with a thought, nor does it describe the Pattern demanding absolute submission or being a tool of creation and destruction reserved for those with the blood of the gods.

Reader's Guide

Members of the royal family of Amber, after walking in a Pattern that is central to Amber, can travel freely through the Shadows. Nobles of the Courts of Chaos who have traversed the Logrus are similarly able to travel through Shadows. An alternate method of travel is via Trumps, which are cards patterned after a Tarot deck depicting the royal family, allowing contact and travel to another family member instantly if the other party is willing.

Did You Know?

• The initial inspiration for the Amber series came from two abstract sources: a surreal experience walking through Baltimore and a longstanding fascination with decks of cards, particularly Tarot.
• Zelazny likened the writing of the first novel to a Shadow walk itself: he discovered the world of Amber bit by bit, not inventing it wholesale but uncovering it as if it already existed.
• Portions of the first novel, Nine Princes in Amber, had previously been published in Kallikanzaros (No. 1, June 1970, and No. 3, December 1970).
• Trumps of Doom was a finalist for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1986; the 1986 winner was The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe.
• Zelazny's will expressly forbade sequels by other authors, yet four posthumous prequels authorized by his family were authored by John Gregory Betancourt.