Ex Libris Kirkland

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First Written 1970
Genre Scifi
Origin US
Publisher Gregg Press
My Copy library hardback
First Read August 14, 2011

Nine Princes in Amber



I've lost track of whoever recommended this book to me. Whoever you are: you were wrong. It's almost good enough to read, but the dated slang and just general cheesy YA vibe outweigh what could otherwise be a good storyline.

The main construct is that Earth is but one in an infinite series of shadow universes, all of which are mere echoes of Amber, the /real/ world. Our hero is part of a god-like family who had the ability to move between alternate Shadow worlds - but he's lost his memory and has to re-learn (and possibly regain) his rightful place in the universe. The idea is really almost good enough, and I can imagine this being turned into a very popular manga if somebody would update the slang and iron out the colloquial tone.

Noted on August 30, 2011

An example of the disappointing brew of the colloquial and the cliché:

I would never rest until I had vengeance and the throne within my hand, and good night sweet prince to anybody who stood between me and these things.

Quoted on August 30, 2011


Ex Libris Kirkland is a super-self-absorbed reading journal made by Matt Kirkland. Copyright © 2001 - .
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