“Shadow Earth” is the Amber Family’s name for the world to which Eric exiled Corwin after their major falling out.

As was seen in the first series of the Amber books (assuming you can believe a word of them), many of the Elders are familiar with it, which gives it slightly more “reality” than many other Shadows out there. Because of that, it is the centre of a group of similar worlds, which have certain features in common with it, such as general geography, atmosphere and climate, celestial mechanics, and humanity as the default people.

The centre of “reality” on Shadow Earth is the Old World – The British Isles and Europe – radiating out from the English Channel and the North Sea.

Timeflow

Time on Shadow Earth runs roughly two-and-a-half to one to Amber itself. For reference, the approximate conversion between Shadow Earth time and the events of the first series is as follows.

Shadow Earth Date
(currently:
late-2023 CE)
Amber Date
(currently:
early-4,500 AP)
Events in Amber/Chaos
1999 4,490 Random founds the Crown Casino
1989 4,486 The old c.2.5/1 time differential between Shadow Earth and Amber is restored
1985 4,485 Random formally Crowned King in the Amber Throne Room
1978 4,471 The Final Battle of the Patternfall War, at the gates of Chaos; the body of Oberon Dworkin-Barimen is returned to the Abyss. Random appointed King of Amber by the Unicorn
1977 4,470 Oberon dies redrawing the Pattern
1975 4,463 The Amber Family leaves for the Courts. Gérard appointed Regent by Oberon
1974 4,462 Oberon returns to Amber
1973 4,461 Chaos forces reach Amber, and are only beaten back by the arrival of Corwin’s riflemen. Eric dies at the foot of Kolvir; Corwin made Regent; Caine dies for tax reasons.
1971 4,461 The Black Road reaches Amber
1970 4,457 Corwin escapes from the Amber dungeons
c.1965 4,453 Caine and Julian persuade Eric that Oberon isn’t returning; Eric Crowned King of Amber; Corwin blinded and imprisoned
c.1950 4,443 Caine and Julian persuade Eric to take the position of Lord Protector and Regent of Amber; Benedict gives his tacit approval by not objecting
c.1940 4,440 Eric, Julian and Caine become concerned about Oberon’s whereabouts, especially given the increase of attacks out of Shadow and the appearance of the Black Road, and form a loose cabal to protect Amber
c.1930 4,433 Bleys and Fiona imprison Brand
c.1920 4,430 Brand stabs Martin on the Pattern, opening the way for the Black Road, and starting the instability in relative timeflows. Due to this instability, the longstanding c.2.5/1 time ratio between Shadow Earth and Amber is knocked out of kilter and fluctuates until the Pattern is redrawn
c.1913 4,425 Oberon disappears from Amber
c.1870 4,408 Bleys, Fiona and Brand ally with their Chaos relatives to bring about change in Amber. Flora sent to Shadow Earth to keep an eye on Corwin