Roger Zelazny: VERY IMPORTANT FOR FANS!

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Ernst Dabel

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Hi my friends, how are you all doing? It's been a while since I've had a chance to post here. Well, I'm looking for the fans of Amber who's read the book and know the characters very well to post detailed character descriptions and page numbers from the book. When my brothers and I bring the adaptation of Amber to you for your enjoyment, we want to be sure it's done right and that the fans have a chance to be a part of this :)The character descriptions that I'm currently looking for:BenedictBleysBrandCaineCoralCorwinDaraDeirdreDworkinEricFinndoFionaFloraJasraJulianJurtLlewellaLukeMandorMartinMerlinOberonOsricRandomSuhuySwayvillVialle
 
Hi, the Khan.

I'll start with Benedict.


The oldest living son of King Oberon, and a perfect swordsman.
Straightforward, righteous and reliable. The most ethical of Corwin’s siblings, excepting Gérard.

Corwin describes him in Nine Princes in Amber as: "tall and dour, thin; thin of body, thin of face, wide of mind. He wore orange and yellow and brown and reminded me of haystacks and pumpkins and scarecrows and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He had a long, strong jaw and hazel eyes and brown hair that never curled."

His symbol is a sunflower.

His two older full brothers, Finndo and Osric, created a conflict when their father dissolved his marriage to their mother (Cymnea, probably Oberon's first wife). Both later died in a battle ordered by Oberon.
Most of Amber's genealogists regard Benedict as illegitimate because of the marriage dissolution.

Corwin is afraid of Benedict.
In The Guns of Avalon, Corwin explainsg that Benedict is Amber's Master of Arms, a man that has spent almost every day of several millennia dwelling with weapons, tactics and strategies. "All that there is of military science thunders in his head," Corwin tells his companion, adding, "It is fortunate that he has no designs upon the throne, or he would be occupying it now. If he were, I believe that I would give up at this moment and pay him homage. I fear Benedict."

He has a Japanese garden. (Sign of Chaos, chapter 1)

From Sign of Chaos, Conversation between Merlin (Corwin’s son) and Bill Roth(Corwin’s attorney and friend from the shadow Earth).
"When I talked about defending Amber, and Benedict said, `It won't come to that,' I got the impression he was talking about something close at hand. Something he feels he can control."
"I see what you mean," he agreed. "But then he told you not to bother fortifying."
"If Benedict feels we don’t need to fortify, then we don't need to fortify."
"Waltz and drink champagne while the cannons boom?"
"If Benedict says it's okay."
"You really trust that guy. What would you do without him?"
"Be more nervous," I said.
He shook his head. "Excuse me," he said. "I'm not used to being acquainted with legends."

Well, it's enough for an antipasto.
 
Hi Giovanna Clairval my friend, how are you? Thank you for taking the time to post information for me on Benedict, I really appreciate it. Just wanted to let you know that the adaptation for Nine Princes books are in very good hands, and my brothers and I mean to entertain ;)
 
Hi The Khan,

Can I ask what sort of adaption you are planning regarding the Chronicles of Amber? I know nothing about it.
 
The Khan adapts novels to graphic novels for Dabel Brothers.

Speaking of which, Khan, what on earth has happened to your site? Didn't you used to have a bigger forum??
 
Hi, Khan

I'm well, thank you, albeit very busy at the moment, working with a real professional editor to fix my novel.

Posting Bleys's description in a few minutes.

And Brian, I did post a pic in my Introduction thread, as kindly requested by Zeus, but... we fans are crying out for a Zelazny's subforum. We have 8 threads now, if I'm not mistaken.

And what is Zeus doing about it? :rolleyes:

(we know, we know, the not-so-Behemot server...)
 
Hi Fried Egg my friend, it's going to be a major adaptation. The artist we chose for the project is going to do some amazing things in breathing the world of Amber to life!Thanks I,Brian my friend for taking the time to answer Fried Egg's question, I really appreciate that. For the website, we're doing some major changes. You know my brothers and I are always up to something. I hope you check out the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son adaptation as well as Jim Butcher's Dresden Files adaptation. We've got major news on the way, but I'll be sure to keep you informed. Giovanna Clairval my friend, I know how busy life can get sometimes, but hang in there work hard and little by little your dreams will always come true. Don't forget to send me a signed copy when you're done. Looking forward to Bleys's physical description. Thanks :)
 
Just wanted to let you know that the artist will be working up the sketch of Benedict very soon ;)
 
Well, it took me more than a few minutes...

Bleys

Son of Oberon and Clarissa, younger brother of Fiona, older brother of Brand.

He is the charming, outgoing, flamboyant one. A tactician also, and one who possesses magical powers, albeit lesser than Brand's and Fiona's.

He is one of the redheads.

In Nine Princes in Amber, Corwin describes Bleys as: "a fiery bearded, flame-crowned man, dressed all in red and orange, mainly of silk, and he held a sword in his right hand and a glass of wine in his left, and the devil himself danced in his eyes, as blue as Flora's or Eric's. His chin was slight, but the beard covered it."
This description in one of the first chapters of Nine Princes, when Corwin finds a deck on Trumps in Flora’s house. Sorry, my books are still unpacked, I can’t tell you the exact page.

His beard is very short. I would call it a goatee.

Symbol: an open book

His quarters in Castle Amber are in a long, low building near to Fiona's.
The are sealed after being thoroughly searched following his attempt to take the throne (with Corwin, book 1).

He is being missing since he fell from Mt Kolvir while trying to conquer Amber. We know that he is not dead. But no trace of him was found in his former shadow of Avernus.
 
Thank you, Giovanna Clairval my friend for Bleys, I really appreciate your help :)Quick question for you, does Benedict carry a staff?
 
Benedict has been (but not always) depicted with a staff since Roger Zelazny and Neil Randall published A Visual Guide to Amber, which was mostly written by Randall (cf. the Introduction below). The content refers to the first 8 novels of the Amber cycle.

The book consist of black and white drawings by Todd Cameron Hamilton.
There is a section of trumps and character descriptions, plus maps and details of rooms by James Clouse.
Flora, one of the Amber elders [the original Amberites of the first 5 (Corwin's) novels] tours the castle for us.

The Guide has been out of print for a while.

Here is the Introduction

Introduction​
We invaded his house. It's a [sic] simple as that.
For four days we occupied the peak hours of Roger Zelazny's day. Days when he should have been writing the ninth Amber novel. Or something about unicorns. Or cats. Or maybe even lords and light.
But he put up with us, all four of us. Todd Hamilton and Jim Clouse peppered him with question after interminable question about Castle Amber itself, and later about the art of the Trumps. Bill Fawcett, who organized it all, extracted even more information. I sat in the corner, reading the as-yet-unreleased Sign of Chaos. It was an honor, and I won't easily forget it.
And with each new question Roger Zelazny would stop, and raise his hands, and then put them back down and let the words pour forth. Often he would close his eyes as he talked, recalling every last detail about the world he created — or perhaps discovered — over the course of eight extremely popular novels. Sometimes he would hesitate, as if unwilling to tell us some Amberian secret, but in the end he would relent, and let us know what he was thinking about. Those thoughts — always — confirmed his belief in his world. Then we all began writing and drawing...
To read the artist's words is an unqualified privilege. But to watch an artist's mind at work — now there's something worth being alive to see.
To Roger Zelazny, our greatest thanks. For his help, for his hospitality, and for letting us watch him uncover the world he loves.
— Neil Randall March 10th, 1988
Click to expand...
And, finally, Cameron Hamilton's rendering of Benedict's trump. A garland of flowers spirals up the staff so as to indicate moderation and peace. Notice the katana, though.
Other trumps, painted by fans, feature a horse, which Benedict leads by the reins without mounting it, and no staff. But of course, Zelazny saw T.C. Hamilton's trumps and gave his imprimatur before co-authoring the Guide...
 
According to NPiA, p33, Benedict is leaning on a lance, not a staff. "Then there was Benedict, tall and dour, thin; thin of body, thin of face, wide of mind. He wore orange and yellow and brown... He had a long strong jaw and hazel eyes and brown hair that never curled. He stood beside a tan horse and leaned upon a lance about which was twined a rope of flowers." This maybe is nit-picking but makes more sense than a staff which a lot of people will associate with being a wizard. Benedict was the master of all weapons. The trump drawings in The Illustrated Roger Zelazny might be useful.

I hope you get his red and black striped horse in from TGoA.

Also I believe Benedict was older than Osric and Finndo, not younger.

Corwin describes Benedict as the greatest swordsman there has ever been.
 
Thank you, and yes, Snowdog, I was thinking along the same lines (how strange it was that Ben would carry a staff). The problem came from the fact that the trump doesn't show the point of the lance.
But it makes perfect sense that it is not a staff.

About Benedict being older, sorry, I had forgotten (most of this is off da top of meh 'ead). Still, are you sure?

When I get my books back, we'll joust in curteous tournaments, if you like, Dogwhite Knight.:)

Will you please describe one of the other characters, Snowdog?
 
Giovanna Clairval said:
Thank you, and yes, Snowdog, I was thinking along the same lines (how strange it was that Ben would carry a staff). The problem came from the fact that the trump doesn't show the point of the lance.
But it makes perfect sense that it is not a staff.

About Benedict being older, sorry, I had forgotten (most of this is off da top of meh 'ead). Still, are you sure?

When I get my books back, we'll joust in curteous tournaments, if you like, Dogwhite Knight.:)

Will you please describe one of the other characters, Snowdog?
Click to expand...

In the Visual Guide To Castle Amber, the family tree for Benedict, Osric and Finndo has Benedict first. Also in SofU, p170, Corwin explains to Ganelon the succession as he sees it - "Benedict is the eldest. His mother was Cymnea. She bore Dad two other sons, also-Osric and Finndo..." There is an early reference in NPiA, if memory serves, that there were originally 15 sons, 6 of whom were dead. Assuming Corwin knew about Osric, Finndo and Delwyn (but not Dalt), there may have been three other sons who may have been older than Benedict, but who are dead and are never named. I can't find the reference right now though.

I'll try and do another character over the next few days.
 
Hi Snowdog my friend, how are you? LOL, I thought it was a staff, but Trent Zelazny caught the mistake so the artist drew the sketch with Benedict holding the lance :) I drooled over the sketch for a few hours and when I ran out of saliva, I finally went to get a drink of water to replenish my supply, lol :) Thanks for working with Giovanna, she's really cool! Hopefully soon more other knowledgeable fans will join in and work with you both. Thanks again you two. Once the artwork is open to the public, I will be sure to post them here :)
 
CAINE

His colours are black and green. His symbol (as shown in the Visual Guide) apears to be an albatross, can anyone confirm that?

In NPiA, p32, while looking at his trump, Corwin describes him thus:

"Then came the swarthy, dark-eyed countenance of Caine, dressed all in satin that was black and green, wearing a dark three-cornered hat set at a rakish angle, a green plume of feathers trailing down the back. He was standing in profile, one arm akimbo, and the toes of his boots curled upwards, and he wore an emerald-studded dagger at his belt. There was ambivalence in my heart." The trump drawing in the Visual Guide is one of the better ones.

Below are spoilers...don't read if you haven't already read the books...

Who Caine's mother was isn't clear. In SotU, p171, Corwin says that Caine was next in line after him, but he also says it gets complicated at the point. If Faiella was Caine's mother and Caine was born in wedlock, that wouldn't be complicated. Corwin also says that after Faiella's death, Oberon didn't marry for a long time and then it was to Clarissa (Fiona, Bleys, Brand). The Visual Guide gives Caine's mother as Rilga, and Merlin states at one point that Caine, Julian and Gerard are full brothers. Various theories to resolve this inconsistency have been put forward, none completely satisfactory. The best (to my mind) is that Caine is indeed Rilga's son but was born before Oberon and Rilga were married and before Oberon married Clarissa. That would have made him illegitimate though and his place in the succession would have been in dispute. Maybe there was an explanation but Corwin didn't feel the need to go into it because Caine was dead by then (or so he thought). The Complete Amber Sourcebook gives Faiella as Caine's mother but this doesn't fit most of what we know.

At the time of NPiA, Caine was in charge of one of the great naval and merchant fleets of Amber, that sailed the Shadow seas of hundreds of worlds. He had command of the Northern waters and was guarding any approach to Amber from that quarter in anticipation of an attack from Bleys. Unbeknownst to Corwin, he had formed a triumvirate with Eric and Julian to oppose that of Bleys, Brand and Fiona. Caine won the great sea battle that formed part of the assault on Amber. He gave his word to Corwin to treat his prisoners well after the latter trumped out, and kept it. Though it was clear that it was his word to Corwin that mattered, not the fate of these shadow-men.

Caine appears to have a great love of the sea, but this is mostly derived from the Visual Guide.

He is described as a great knife-fighter but I can't for the life of me remember where I read that.

There is no doubt that Caine is ruthless. In order to fake his own death he lures one of his own shadows to Amber, then muders him so the body can be found. Later, believing Corwin to be in league with Brand, he attempts to murder Corwin. He it is who eventually kills Brand with a silver-tipped arrow.

Despite Corwins's feelings toward him, it becomes apparent as the books progress that whatever Caine (and the others) were like hundreds of years ago when Corwin was exiled, by the time of NPiA, Caine's actions, however ruthless, are motivated by a sense of duty towards Amber. His friendship with Julian, which so surprises Corwin, appears to be entirely genuine.

Caine is eventually murdered during the Merlin cycle by Brand's son Rinaldo, in revenge for his father's death.
 
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