Kalifriki
collection · First published 2022
Author guide
Roger Zelazny Books in Order
Roger Joseph Zelazny (1937–1995) was an American novelist, short-story writer, poet, and editor whose work combined science fiction, fantasy, mythology, theology, and literary experimentation. His major works include the ten-volume Chronicles of Amber, Lord of Light, Creatures of Light and Darkness, This Immortal, and A Night in the Lonesome October. He also collaborated with Philip K. Dick, Fred Saberhagen, Thomas T. Thomas, Robert Sheckley, Jane Lindskold, and others. Zelazny won six Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.
science fictionfantasyscience fantasypoetry
Catalog record updated .
Roger Zelazny's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Nine Princes in Amber
The clearest entry point to Zelazny's largest and most sustained series.
Lord of Light
A standalone novel that showcases his mythic science fiction at full scale.
This Immortal
A concise early standalone novel and a representative introduction to his voice.
Read in order
Books by series
novel-series · complete
Chronicles of Amber
Ten novels divided into the Corwin and Merlin cycles, chronicling the royal family of Amber and its infinite shadows.
- 1 Nine Princes in Amber
Book 1 · novel · 1970
Exiled to the Shadows for centuries, a man more than mortal awakens in an Earth hospital with no memory of his past—and is surrounded by enemies who hunger for his destruction. For Corwin is of the blood—the rightful successor to the…
- 2 The Guns of Avalon
Book 2 · novel · 1972
Synopsis - Amber back towards his magic realm strides Corwin, Prince of Amber, as the dark powers of the shadow worlds rise against him... Recently escaped from the dungeon where he was imprisoned after his brother, Eric, usurped the…
- 3 Sign of the Unicorn
Book 3 · novel · 1975
Internecine warfare over succession to the throne and the evil forces of Shadow threaten to destroy the royal family of the imaginary state of Amber
- 4 The Hand of Oberon
Book 4 · novel · 1976
**Book 4 of the Chronicles of Amber.** One of the princes of Amber desires her destruction... and re-creation of his own design. Corwin and his siblings must discover the plot and mount a defense against the traitor... before it is too…
- 5 The Courts of Chaos
Book 5 · novel · 1978
**Book 5 of the Chronicles of Amber.** The fate of Oberon, the identity of the traitor-prince, and the plot to destroy Amber have been discovered. Now, can Corwin and his siblings divert the storm of Chaos descending upon Amber and all…
- 6 Trumps of Doom
Book 6 · novel · 1985
A complex plot has been set in motion and the mysterious royal family of Amber is once again in contention, subtle and bloody.
- 7 Blood of Amber
Book 7 · novel · 1986
Pursued by a fiendish enemy, Merle must battle through an intricate web of vengeance and murder that threatens more than the San Francisco Bay area. For Merle Corey of California is also Merlin, son of Corwin, vanished Prince of Amber;…
- 8 Sign of Chaos
Book 8 · novel · 1987
**Book 8 of the Chronicles of Amber.** Merlin, son of Prince Corwin, continues his adventures to solve the mysteries of the attempts on his life, the murder of his ex-girlfriend, and the question of how he ended up in a a bar drinking…
- 9 Knight of Shadows
Book 9 · novel · 1989
Merlin doggedly pursues the mysterious disappearances of the two people dearest to him: Julia, once murdered and now reincarnated as his enemy; and his father, Corwin, never visible, who nevertheless leaves behind tantalizing signs of…
- 10 Prince of Chaos
Book 10 · novel · 1991
**Book 10 of the Chronicles of Amber.** Merlin is called home to the Courts of Chaos for a funeral, only to discover his life and free will may be forfeit to the forces of the universe. It will take more than one child of Amber to stand…
subseries · complete
The Corwin Cycle
The first five Chronicles of Amber novels, narrated primarily by Corwin.
- 1 Nine Princes in Amber
Book 1 · novel · 1970
Exiled to the Shadows for centuries, a man more than mortal awakens in an Earth hospital with no memory of his past—and is surrounded by enemies who hunger for his destruction. For Corwin is of the blood—the rightful successor to the…
- 2 The Guns of Avalon
Book 2 · novel · 1972
Synopsis - Amber back towards his magic realm strides Corwin, Prince of Amber, as the dark powers of the shadow worlds rise against him... Recently escaped from the dungeon where he was imprisoned after his brother, Eric, usurped the…
- 3 Sign of the Unicorn
Book 3 · novel · 1975
Internecine warfare over succession to the throne and the evil forces of Shadow threaten to destroy the royal family of the imaginary state of Amber
- 4 The Hand of Oberon
Book 4 · novel · 1976
**Book 4 of the Chronicles of Amber.** One of the princes of Amber desires her destruction... and re-creation of his own design. Corwin and his siblings must discover the plot and mount a defense against the traitor... before it is too…
- 5 The Courts of Chaos
Book 5 · novel · 1978
**Book 5 of the Chronicles of Amber.** The fate of Oberon, the identity of the traitor-prince, and the plot to destroy Amber have been discovered. Now, can Corwin and his siblings divert the storm of Chaos descending upon Amber and all…
subseries · complete
The Merlin Cycle
The second five Chronicles of Amber novels, centered on Corwin's son Merlin.
- 1 Trumps of Doom
Book 1 · novel · 1985
A complex plot has been set in motion and the mysterious royal family of Amber is once again in contention, subtle and bloody.
- 2 Blood of Amber
Book 2 · novel · 1986
Pursued by a fiendish enemy, Merle must battle through an intricate web of vengeance and murder that threatens more than the San Francisco Bay area. For Merle Corey of California is also Merlin, son of Corwin, vanished Prince of Amber;…
- 3 Sign of Chaos
Book 3 · novel · 1987
**Book 8 of the Chronicles of Amber.** Merlin, son of Prince Corwin, continues his adventures to solve the mysteries of the attempts on his life, the murder of his ex-girlfriend, and the question of how he ended up in a a bar drinking…
- 4 Knight of Shadows
Book 4 · novel · 1989
Merlin doggedly pursues the mysterious disappearances of the two people dearest to him: Julia, once murdered and now reincarnated as his enemy; and his father, Corwin, never visible, who nevertheless leaves behind tantalizing signs of…
- 5 Prince of Chaos
Book 5 · novel · 1991
**Book 10 of the Chronicles of Amber.** Merlin is called home to the Courts of Chaos for a funeral, only to discover his life and free will may be forfeit to the forces of the universe. It will take more than one child of Amber to stand…
novel-series · complete
Francis Sandow
Science-fiction novels featuring Francis Sandow, an extraordinarily long-lived planetary artist and adventurer.
- 1 Isle of the Dead
Book 1 · novel · 1969
As with his classic Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny's new book explores the consequences of a human becoming a god. Francis Sandow, known as Shimbo of Darktree, God of Thunder, to the Pei'ans, doesn't quite believe his personality really has…
- 2 To Die in Italbar
Book 2 · novel · 1973
novel-series · complete
Wizard World
A fantasy series about parallel worlds shaped by the conflict between technology and magic.
- 1 Changeling
Book 1 · novel · 1980
A walker between worlds exchanges a son of a master magician for one that is from no magic, but the magic of machines. Each grow in their new homes with their abilities intact and soon the draw of the magical world calls back it's own for…
- 2 Madwand
Book 2 · novel · 1981
Pol Detson, son of Lord Det of Rondoval, has come home. He is now a powerful sorceror of unsurpassed natural ability—in a world where the power of magic is the only kind that matters. But Pol is still an untrained talent, a “madwand.” To…
series · complete
Dilvish
Fantasy works featuring the immortal swordsman Dilvish and his long struggle against demonic powers.
- 1 The Changing Land
Book 1 · novel · 1981
- 2 Dilvish, the Damned
Book 2 · fix-up-collection · 1982
novel-series · complete
The Millennial Contest Trilogy
A comic fantasy trilogy co-written with Robert Sheckley about a contest between Heaven and Hell.
- 1 Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming
Book 1 · collaborative-novel · 1991
Azzie Elbub, demon, attempts to ensure that the Powers of Dark will win the grand prize given at the turn of each millennium to the being who does the most to reshape the world.
- 2 If at Faust You Don't Succeed
Book 2 · collaborative-novel · 1993
When the harried Mephistopheles signs up a medieval cutpurse named Mack the Club for the latest battle between the forces of Good and Evil-- mistakenly thinking him the learned Dr. Faust--all hell breaks loose. Reprint.
- 3 A Farce to Be Reckoned With
Book 3 · collaborative-novel · 1995
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (16)
- This Immortal
novel · 1966
Après une explosion atomique, la plupart des terriens survivants sont partis s'installer sur les planètes de la Confédération de Véga. L'espérance de vie de certains hommes a augmenté. Ainsi, personne ne connaît l'âge de Conrad Nomikos,…
- The Dream Master
novel · 1966
His name is Charles Render, and he is a psychoanalyst, and a mechanic of dreams. A Shaper. In a warm womb of metal, his patients dream their neuroses, while Render, intricately connected to their brains, dreams with them, makes delicate…
- Lord of Light
novel · 1967
A colony of humankind is subjugated by the First Colonists, the crew of the starship that brought them to their new home 1000 years before. They have taken control of ancient technologies and enhanced themselves with godlike psychic…
- Creatures of Light and Darkness
novel · 1969
The description at [this Wikipedia entry][1] is pretty close. Better to link than to copy-paste. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatures_of_Light_and_Darkness/ "Creatures of Light And Darkness"
- Damnation Alley
novel · 1969
Hell Tanner isn't the sort of guy you'd mistake for a hero: he's a fast-driving car thief, a smuggler, and a stone-cold killer. Facing life in prison for his various crimes, he's given a choice: Rot away his remaining years in a tiny jail…
- Jack of Shadows
novel · 1971
- Today We Choose Faces
novel · 1973
- Doorways in the Sand
novel · 1976
Can You Hear Me Fred? Fred Cassidy leads an idyllic life. As long as he remains a full time college student without a degree, he is provided a very generous stipend from his uncle's estate. But after thirteen years of happy undergrad…
- Bridge of Ashes
novella · 1976
In a future world where telepathy is a rare but known phenomenon, Dennis Guise is a young boy whose unprecedented mental power is not a blessing, but a curse. Unable to control the myriad external thoughts and personalities that flow into…
- My Name Is Legion
fix-up-novel · 1976
- Roadmarks
novel · 1979
The Road runs from the unimaginable past to the far future, and those who travel it have access to the turnoffs leading to all times and places--even to the alternate time-streams of histories that never happened. Why the Dragons of…
- Eye of Cat
novel · 1982
William Singer, a retired alien hunter, asks his former enemy to help him protect an alien diplomat, but first, William must agree to a deal that makes him the hunted instead of the hunter.
- A Dark Traveling
novel · 1987
When a scientist learns that aliens in a parallel world are waging a secret war against the Earth, he disappears into that world and his children set out to find him.
- Roger Zelazny's Visual Guide to Castle Amber
nonfiction · 1988
- A Night in the Lonesome October
novel · 1993
Think you know the good guys from the bad? Think you understand the strange energy that grows in the autumn nights, culminating when the full moon rises on All Hallows' Eve? Think again. Let Roger Zelazny color your imagination with…
- The Dead Man's Brother
novel · 2009
Poetry (5)
- When Pussywillows Last in the Catyard Bloomed
poetry-collection · 1980
- Poems
poetry-collection · 1974
- To Spin Is Miracle Cat
poetry-collection · 1981
- Hymn to the Sun: An Imitation
poetry-collection · 1996
- And the Darkness Is Harsh
poetry-collection · 1994
Collaborations (9)
- Deus Irae
collaborative-novel · 1976
Deus Irae is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by American authors Philip K. Dick and Roger Zelazny. It was published in 1976. Deus irae, meaning God of Wrath in Latin, is a play on Dies Irae, meaning Day of Wrath or Judgment Day.…
- Coils
collaborative-novel · 1982
- The Black Throne
collaborative-novel · 1990
- The Mask of Loki
collaborative-novel · 1990
- Flare
collaborative-novel · 1992
- Psychoshop
collaborative-novel · 1998
- Donnerjack
collaborative-novel · 1997
- Lord Demon
collaborative-novel · 1999
The great wars between gods and demons began five millennia ago, and ended with the demons' crushing defeat and banishment from their homeland. The demon race would have surely perished in the empty dimension of their exile had they not…
- The Night Kings and Night Heirs
collaborative-collection · 2022
Other (22)
- Frost & Fire
collection · 1989
- Here There Be Dragons
graphic-work · 1992
Mister Gibberling picked up his quill, and with a great flourish of the feather wrote (in fancy letters): Here There Be Dragons. Then he would smile, because he had explained a new territory. Thus, in a tiny, isolated kingdom long ago and…
- Way Up High
graphic-work · 1992
- Wilderness
graphic-work · 1994
- Four for Tomorrow
collection · 1967
- The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth and Other Stories
collection · 1971
Collection of 15 short stories.
- The Illustrated Roger Zelazny
graphic-work · 1978
- The Last Defender of Camelot
collection · 1980
THE LAST DEFENDER OF CAMELOT is a collection of breathtaking stories that showcase the incredible abilities of several authors. Edited and with an introduction by award-winning author Robert Silverberg, it includes such tales as “For a…
- A Rhapsody in Amber
chapbook · 1981
- Unicorn Variations
collection · 1983
- Gone to Earth
collection · 1992
- Manna from Heaven
collection · 2003
The first new collection of Roger Zelazny's work in many years collects all of the "Amber" short stories, plus a great selection of other rarities! Includes an introduction by Steven Brust. Edited by Scott Zrubeck.
- The Bells of Shoredan
chapbook · 1979
- For a Breath I Tarry
chapbook · 1980
- Home Is the Hangman
chapbook · 1996
- Threshold: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 1
collection · 2009
- Power & Light: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 2
collection · 2009
- This Mortal Mountain: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 3
collection · 2009
- Last Exit to Babylon: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 4
collection · 2009
Last Exit to Babylon contains Zelazny's short works from the late 1970s and early 1980s when Zelazny's popularity opened new markets for his work. He continued to produce highly-crafted stories, such as the popular "The Last Defender of…
- Nine Black Doves: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 5
collection · 2009
Nine Black Doves contains Zelazny's short works from the 1980s, when Zelazny's mature craft produced the Hugo-winning and Nebula-nominated stories, "24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai" and "Permafrost," and other entertaining stories such…
- The Road to Amber: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 6
collection · 2009
The Road To Amber, the last in the series, covers the final five years of Zelazny's career in the early 1990s, when he reached for new ideas and continued familiar themes with stories such as "Godson" and "Godson: A Play in Three Acts,"…
- Kalifriki
collection · 2022
Frequently asked questions about Roger Zelazny
Who was Roger Zelazny?
Roger Zelazny was an American science-fiction and fantasy writer and poet whose career spanned the 1960s through the 1990s.
Sources: mopop.org (opens in a new tab)penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)
What was Roger Zelazny known for?
He was known for blending science fiction and fantasy with mythology, religion, and highly experimental prose.
Sources: academic.oup.com (opens in a new tab)mopop.org (opens in a new tab)
What influenced Roger Zelazny’s writing?
His fiction drew heavily on Western mythology and Eastern religion, which he reworked through science-fiction ideas about exploration, immortality, and transformation.
What awards did Roger Zelazny win?
Zelazny won six Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. In 2026, SFWA recognized his lasting contribution with its posthumous Infinity Award.
Sources: nebulas.sfwa.org (opens in a new tab)nebulas.sfwa.org (opens in a new tab)
What is Roger Zelazny’s legacy?
Zelazny helped broaden science fiction’s literary range through mythic, psychologically driven, and stylistically innovative storytelling. He was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2010 and is credited with influencing later writers.
Sources: mopop.org (opens in a new tab)sf-encyclopedia.com (opens in a new tab)