Roger Zelazny - Nine Princes in Amber (1970)

I got hooked on this series as a child- to this day it remains one of my favorites. This is the first book in the original Chronicles of Amber series that spanned 5 books.

Roger Zelazny: The Dead Man's Brother

Another instant classic from Hard Case Crime for 2009. This is a true "lost novel" written in the early 70's by Sci-fi/Fantasy author Roger Zelazny. Needless to say, being on the hard-case label, there is little Sci-Fi or Fantasy to be found within these pages. True there is a little hint that the lead character may be the genetic equivalent of the character Bruce Willis potrayed in the movie Unbreakable, but I think that is about as close to sci-fi as this gets. Other than that, the great characters that keep you guessing, diplomacy, and interaction that is key to all great Zelazny novels is found here as well. I believe this novel succeeds as both a novel that longtime Zelazny fans, as well as a novel that fans that read the hard-boiled fiction of Hard Case will both apreciate. I know I count myself in both cateogories and found plenty to like here. This is also one of my favorite covers amongst the many greats to be found in this line and I will say that if nothing else, it captures the intensity of the books final moments, and like many other aspect of this book, (including the title,) will keep you guessing until the end.

For another opinion, check out this review courtesy of Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine:

The Dead Man's Brother -- Roger Zelazny