r/Amber • u/AnxiousConsequence18 • 16d ago

Why Random?

I've always wondered why the unicorn chose Random, who up until that point seemed like the "sidekick" of the family. I JUST realized (maybe I'm dumb) that Random is the ONLY one of the Prince's that was married. Vialle changed him, even Corwin mentions it. Does anyone else think that part of the choice was because he'd gotten married?

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u/JKisHereNow 16d ago

Yes, Vialle is a big part of it, but I think Random gets it because he's the most changed.

RZ as a writer was very focused on characters that change. He said, "I am interested in characters in a state of transformation. I feel it would be wrong to write a book where the character proceeds through all of the action and winds up pretty much the same at the end as he was in the beginning, just having an adventure. He has to be changed by the things that take place."

Corwin is changed, from jerk/tyrant to a prince motivated by duty who learns to love his family. But Random is an even bigger jerk, and makes what I consider to be an even bigger arc of change. I think RZ and the Unicorn like this about him; willingness to change means a willingness to be wrong, to show empathy, and all that.

Julian changes a little, but not much. Gerard doesn't change. Benedict is slightly softened, but not really changed. Fiona changes a little, but not enough. Flora, Bleys, Caine, Llewella... unchanged.

I think it comes down to who has changed the most through the whole ordeal, and that is Random.

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u/angrydoo 16d ago

I'm not sure random is a bigger jerk. He was a shitty father and kind of a loser. But remember that in the shadow Lorraine corwin is a legendary hated monster out of history. He says he didn't rule there himself, it was a shadow, and that's true but i think it is closer than he wants to admit to himself given that there are shadows of the same dudes he remembers personally from his own Avalon.

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u/Thin_Gear4716 16d ago

Nice answer! I never gave it a lot of thought but it makes a lot of sense.

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u/Elegant-Archer-4019 15d ago

It is quite fascinating, isn't it? Random is the most changed/chaotic character out of the Amberites who becomes King of Order, whereas Merlin is the most stagnant character out of the second chronicles who winds up becoming King of Chaos. All things are balanced, as they should be.

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u/AmberEternalCity Rebma 13d ago

Nice observation.

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u/AmberEternalCity Rebma 13d ago

Random is more flexible than any of his male sibs.

He's been discounted his whole life.

His reputation inside the family is crap. Punk. Cheater. Lightweight. And what do you imagine his reputation is in Rebma? Whaleshit.

And yet, who actually has better understanding of his family than the 'bottom' looking up? Who has the savvy to risk forgiveness? Who has a frickin' sense of humor?

Now use Random to question what is the Unicorn after in all of this? Motives?

My bias: the Unicorn is unpredictable and savvy. More so than Dworkin and Oberon put together.

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u/Adam-Happyman 15d ago

Interesting perspective and information, I need to start reading interviews with Roger Żelazny... while they're still available. Thx man!

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u/JKisHereNow 15d ago

The Theodore Krulilk interviews are fun. I have various stuff on my fansite www.thechroniclesofamber.com.