The Chronicles
Ten Amber novels were written by Roger Zelazny. The series of books was published over the years from 1970 to 1991. Portions of the first novel, Nine Princes in Amber, had previously been published in Kallikanzaros (No. 1, June 1967, and No. 3, December 1967). The novels Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, and The Courts of Chaos first appeared in abridged, serialized versions in Galaxy Science Fiction. The Guns of Avalon and five later "Merlin Cycle" Amber novels were not serialized or excerpted.
Several Chronicles of Amber omnibus volumes have also been published, collecting the five novels of the original "Corwin Cycle" in one volume, the five novels of the "Merlin Cycle" in another volume, and later (in The Great Book of Amber) all ten novels in a single volume.
The Corwin cycle
The first five novels are narrated in the first person by Corwin, a prince of Amber, as he describes his adventures and life upon re-encountering his family after a loss of memory and an absence of centuries
- First edition thus (not stated). The "Nelson Doubleday" imprint indicates an original publication of the Doubleday books clubs.
- "Book Club Edition" printed at the bottom of the front flap of the dust jacket indicates a printing by Doubleday for its various book clubs.
- Selection of the Science Fiction Book Club for January 1979.
- No printed price or stated date of publication. Both given here are taken from the SFBC announcement flyer.
- "2233" printed at the bottom on the back flap of the dust jacket.
- First printing has gutter code "I51" [verified] on page 337, indicates a printing in December 1978.
- Known reprint codes: "I52" (December 1978) [verified PV6]; "M13" (March 1982); "M20" (May 1982); "M47" (November 1982); "Q32" (August 1986).
- "Jacket Painting by BORIS VALLEJO" printed on the back flap of the dust jacket, cover is also signed
- Priced as a two-volume set with Volume II and share the same catalog number (2233).
- According to many dealers on Abebooks.com, this was reprinted with the SFBC-assigned ISBN 1-56865-001-9. The earliest use of SFBC ISBNs would make this reprinting in 1989. There is also a record on Amazon.com for this ISBN matching this title.
- First printing has gold boards with dark blue lettering
M13 reprint has variant binding of quarter dark green textured cloth and olive paper boards lettered in black on the spine.
