The Hand of Oberon

The Chronicles of Amber, Book 4

By: Roger Zelazny

Narrated by: Alessandro Juliani

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Hand of Oberon is the fourth book of The Chronicles of Amber; an epic fantasy series written by six-time Hugo Award winning and three-time Nebula Award winning author, Roger Zelazny.

The ten books that make up the series are told in two story arcs: The Corwin Cycle and the Merlin Cycle.

The Audible audio rendition of this classic sci-fi/fantasy series is started off by 2012 Audie Award nominee, Alessandro Juliani, who reads the first five books that make up the Corwin Cycle and whose narration vividly brings the world of Amber to life.

Returning to Shadow Earth to investigate a threat against his life, Corwin discovers that the Jewel of Judgment has been stolen by his traitorous brother, Brand, who plans to use the enigmatic gem to reshape the universe.

©1976 Roger Zelazny (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Good story, too expensive

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The Amber Chronicles are fast-moving and much of the character development happens through what characters do and say, not with interior monologs. This makes it fast-paced and engaging.

After this book I switched over to reading a paper 10-book volume of the whole thing because I just couldn't rationalize continuing to spend so much on each individual section. The paper ten-volume tome was the about same price as a single audio book. Too bad, because I liked the narrator. There should be a bundle discount or something.

Death is the only limit to the road you travel

To round out my commitment to a friend, I'll read the first five (The Corwin Cycle). I just can't see myself finishing all 10. I'm just not a fantasy guy I guess. I've been waiting for a book in this series to signal to ME what others get. 'The Hand of Oberon', book four, is NOT that signal. I'm doubting any can be heard by me. The dialogue doesn't work for me, the narrative seems forced. It is like dancing with a woman significantly taller (theoretical) or shorter than me. The timing is off. There is no match. And, if I found one, I might set myself on fire.

The reader makes the book far more immersive.

This guy makes the books completely immersive with solid voice acting. I hope you're paying him well, because he seriously raises the bar on what to expect or desire from a book reading.

3.5 stars

The Hand of Oberon, the fourth book in Roger Zelazny’s CHRONICLES OF AMBER, continues exactly where the previous book, Sign of the Unicorn, left off. The story was originally serialized in Galaxy Science Fiction and later printed in approximately 180-page installments. Each, therefore, is short and ends at some dramatic moment. These days, we’d probably be annoyed with an author who did this (why buy 10 books when you could just buy two?). For those of you who feel this way, there is an omnibus edition of THE CHRONICLES OF AMBER — I read it years ago — but it’s a bit unwieldy. If you want to listen to the excellent audio versions narrated by Alessandro Juliani, as I’m doing, you’ll need to buy them separately. The ten-book series is divided into two five-book arcs, THE CORWIN CYCLE and THE MERLIN CYCLE, so you’re really only committing to five books if you start the series. You can just read THE CORWIN CYCLE (which I think is better) and decide later if you want to move on to the second arc.

In The Hand of Oberon, Corwin has just discovered that the pattern in Amber is not the first pattern. There is a primal pattern, which means that Amber is actually just the first shadow world. The primal pattern has been damaged because someone has spilled royal blood on it. This is allowing the forces of Chaos to enter Amber. Who has done this? Why? And who was the sacrifice? Most importantly, how can the pattern be fixed and is Corwin willing to do what it takes to save Amber from the forces of Chaos? And can he do it before one of his siblings ruins everything?

As with the previous book, there’s a lot of revelation here about Corwin’s family, Dworkin the mage, the Jewel of Judgment, and the metaphysics of Amber, Chaos, and Shadow. Corwin also discovers that he has another disgruntled relative that he didn’t know about before. I’m still disappointed that we’re told how much Corwin loves Amber, but we, as readers, can’t empathize because all we know of Amber is Corwin’s horrible family. I want to love Amber, too, but Zelazny doesn’t really give me a reason to love it.

The Hand of Oberon moves very fast and ends with another big twist. This twist completely astonishes Corwin, but the reader may see it coming. Corwin does seem just a little dense occasionally, but he’s so harried in this installment that I’m willing to cut him some slack and assume he had no time to sit and think. Most readers will want to have the next book, The Courts of Chaos, on hand.

Pay attention to the dungeon scene. Roger Zelazny makes a cameo appearance as a novel-writing guard named Roger.

The plot

The plot thickens at the end. Time for the next one and the next one.

Love it even more in audio

Read these books some 30 years ago, and then again 15 years later. But never enjoyed ad much as now. Alessandro Juliani is the best male narrator I’ve heard so far.

GREAT ENDING!!!

The best thing about this book was how it explained that happened, in detail, in the previous books. The story went slow at times, then raced ahead at breakneck speed. Wonderful, wonderful vivid imagery. I enjoyed it a lot. True Zelazny style. Highly recommend!

Deeper in intrigue and fixing the pattern

The Hand of Oberon is Roger Zelazny's fourth installment in the Chronicles of Amber series. As Corwin delves deeper into the disruption of Amber, he's still facing a group of obstinate siblings. He discovers that there is an active plot to rewrite the pattern which involves Random's son. Along the way he reconnects with Dworkin who mistakes him for Oberon. Corwin learns that the Jewel of Judgment is crucial and needs a side trip to Earth to retrieve it only to find that he's one step behind someone. In the final denouement nothing comes off as intended, but Corwin comes out on top with a final mystery to setup the next installment.

Zelazny has by now introduced much of the elements that form the titles for later installments. Corwin always seems to be one step behind, and his siblings tend to run hot and cold as they debate his innocence or culpability. Not only do others always seem to be more aware of things, but they are generally pulling his chestnuts out of the fire. There's also a recurring pattern of needing to return to Earth for something that always causes more problems.

The narration is first rate with excellent character distinction. All the installments are relatively quick listens.

I love it

After wrapping up some of the mysteries from earlier in the series this book winds up wonderfully for the finale.

An amazing follow-up

This is an amazing follow-up to the somewhat mild 3rd entry in the Amber series. If you’ve made it this far, it rewards you with the knowledge that Corwin has been seeking since the first book in the series.

Best one yet

The story really gets going in this book. Everyone is slightly less selfish, the storyline is still winding and unfolding, looking back to years in the past, but everyone is almost on the same side here, fighting for amber - as they should be!

Machine Gun Fast

This is the 4th I've listened to from this series - I read them when they were first released and I have recently discovered the whole set in one paperback hidden away on a bookshelf.

Adored them when I read them but listening to them much much older I find them very staccato very short sentences fast paced and occasionally odd chapter breaks. I'm not sure if it's the narrator or the books. Maybe I need to read them again myself.

Will of course listen to the next but maybe I need a break

great book great saga

i really don't have 20 words to say i am not a literary critic but a mere book reading geek and ask i can say the Amber saga is brilliant and i can only recommend it

Back to its original Brilliance

Story – 5/5

After a not-quite-as-enjoyable 3rd book, this 4th book is back to the brilliance of the first 2. Lots of complex and intriguing world building and character developments – but told in a simple, concise manner which makes it really easy to follow. It is clever and witty, which had me laughing out loud on a few occasions.

The ending was brilliant as well – and made me want to delve straight into book 5 to find out the rest of the Corwin story of Amber. I cannot recommend this series enough for Sci-fi/fantasy fans. Zelazny has created something original and imaginative, which has no doubt influenced a lot of modern novelists today.


Performance – 5/5

No long stories told by Random this time, therefore no annoying parts. Back to a 5 star performance from Alessandro Juliani. His style enhances the humour and fast paced story very well. I will definitely be looking out for him going forward.


Overall – 5/5

FANTASTIC FANTASY

I can only reiterate my review of Nine Princes in Amber. This is part of a quintology and, I feel, needs to be read or heard as one book as the story arc starts with Book 1 and finishes with Book 5. I read this book and also the subsequent four books years ago and was totally enthralled by them. I've been waiting a long time to get them on audio. The story is still brilliant but feel the performance could be improved upon. Alessandro Juliani does a good job but I feel audio books would really benefit from having a narrator and a different actors for the different characters. There is a limit to what one person can do by way of changing voices and it is sometimes difficult for a male to replicate a female voice and vice versa. However, having said the above, I really enjoyed the experience of Nine Princes in Amber and the subsequent four books of the quintology in audio.