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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Catching up on the backlist
Message-ID: <1539@shark.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Sep-85 22:44:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: shark.1539
Posted: Wed Sep 18 22:44:18 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 06:49:59 EDT
References: <3229@nsc.UUCP> <23200003@ICO.UUCP>
Reply-To: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 44
Summary: In defense of "Trumps of Doom"

*** SPOILER WARNING ***


I disagree somewhat with the notion that Merlin "had" to be paranoid
because he "was an Amberite".

This is patently false.  Merlin was raised in the Courts of Chaos.  If
one looks back at "The Courts of Chaos" one discovers that the Princes
of Amber are all extremely chaotic in their personal behaviour, almost
classically so.  They manoeuver for power, they kill one another, they
manipulate, connive, and most things are at the whim of the moment.

The society in the Courts, on the other hand, is the core of Law at the
heart of Chaos.  They are extremely honorable, chivalric, having invented
and holding to incredibly complex codes of honor.  Merlin was raised in
the midst of this.  OF COURSE he is naive.  Even his exposure to Amber
was only enough to make him realize that he might have to worry about his
assailant being one of the family.

It took the Princes of Amber years to learn the paranoia they needed
to recognise plots under every bushel.  Merlin is just a child yet,
by comparison.

Also, Merlin is a Nerd.  He focusses so intensely on the accomplishment of
his interests that he completely fails to consider their consequences.
This is possibly a family trait.  It isn't completely believable that he
is a nerd, but he DOES fit the profile.

I WAS rather bothered by the "cute" way that it took so long to make it
clear that Frakir is a strangling-cord.  That was annoying, and clumsily
handled.

One other thing bothering me.  If Amberite physiology makes one strong enough
to heft and throw around casually, items weighing ~150 lbs, then it would
make one MUCH faster than the "olympic class" athletics which Merlin and
Luke engaged in through school.

Otherwise, not a bad book, but I want to know where the "green crystal cave"
came from.  If it was one of those islands of reality which was swept up
by the Pattern, then I can sort of see it.  If it is in Primal Amber or in
Chaos, then why cannot standard magic work there?  And if it is in Shadow,
then the Logres ought to be able to get around it.

Hutch


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