The Road to Amber (72 page)

Had he lived, no doubt Zelazny would have received the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers f North America. In fact, many readers—and even some of his editors—have assumed that he
was
awarded Grand Master. The back cover of
Psychoshop
declared it the first ever collaboration between two SFWA Grand Masters, Bester and Zelazny, which is only half correct. Current rules do not allow for a posthumous award. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame in Seattle, created a few years ago, has yet to honor him.

Zelazny’s popularity endures but shows signs of fading. His 10-novel Amber series was reissued in 1999 in a massive omnibus,
The Great Book of Amber
, somewhere around its thirtieth edition, it remains in print. ibooks started to reissue each of Zelazny’s novels and collections in uniform format trade paperbacks, but it declared bankruptcy before finishing. Today, only
The Great Book of Amber
,
Lord of Light
, and
Deus Irae
are likely to be found in bookstores, if at all. Zelazny’s most popular work (
Nine Princes in Amber
) and his best novel (
Lord of Light
) remain in print—written back to back in 1966/67—but much of Zelazny’s work is out of print.

We hope that this collection of Zelazny’s short fiction and poetry will reaffirm his scope, artistry, and originality as a storyteller. His work merits additional republication for the benefit of current and potential fans. This monograph and the autobiographical notes accompanying many of the shorter works illuminate the process that led this man to create so many fine stories and enduring characters.

1. Murphy, Ian. Roger Zelazny Interview.
   Imagination
   1991; (9 [August/September]): p 4-8.
   
2. Gaiman, Neil. Another FAQ email.
   Neil Gaiman’s Journal
   2001; (December 29, 2001): http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2001/12/andres-accorsi-is-argentinean.asp Accessed: May 1, 2009.
   
3. Martin, George R. R. Thread “New Amber books” in forum alt.books.roger-zelazny, dated December 16,2001.
   
4. Williams, Walter Jon. Thread “New Amber Books” in forum alt.books.roger-zelazny, dated December 18, 2001.
   
5. Gaiman, Neil. On Meetings and Partings. In: Grubbs, David G., Kovacs, Christopher S. , Crimmins, Ann, eds.
   This Mortal Mountain: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 3.
   Boston, MA: NESFA Press, 2009: p 11-14.
   
6. Betancourt, John. Response to “Re: Well, that’s it…” [details on status of fifth Amber prequel and decision to abandon the contract] posted to newsgroup alt.books.roger-zelazny but not archived, March 4, 2008.
   
7. Zelazny, Trent. Email to Dr. Christopher Kovacs dated January 11, 2008.
   
8. Anonymous. Zelazny’s
   Amber
   Headed To Film, 1998. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?1998-10/08121.36.film Accessed: May 21, 2008.
   
9. Carver, Benedict. Goldsman fleshes out Warner deal, 1999. http://www.variery.com/article/VR1117750512.htrnl Accessed: July 30, 2008.
   
10. Anonymous. SCI FI Slate Announced, 2002. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2002-04/03/14.00.sfc Accessed: May 21, 2008.
    
11. Dumond, Lisa. R.C. Matheson’s career has taken him from Marvel’s Hulk to Zelazny’s Amber, 2003. http://www.scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw10061.htmI Accessed: May 21, 2008.
    
12. Zelazny, Trent. Email to Dr. Christopher Kovacs dated February 11, 2008.
    
13. Martin, George R. R. Email to Dr. Christopher Kovacs dated August 29, 2007.