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The Elric Saga #1
Elric of Melniboné
From World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award–winner Michael Moorcock, comes the first book in his famous Elric of Melniboné series, brought to vivid new life with stunning illustrations.
In one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the 20th century, Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.
Elric of Melnibone is the first in Michael Moorcock’s incredible series, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations. The beautiful, vivid illustrations bring new life to the story and are sure to captivate fans, new and old.
Contents:
'One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock', by Neil Gaiman.
Elric of Melniboné.
The Fortress of the Pearl.
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate.
The Weird of the White Wolf.
In one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the 20th century, Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.
Elric of Melnibone is the first in Michael Moorcock’s incredible series, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations. The beautiful, vivid illustrations bring new life to the story and are sure to captivate fans, new and old.
Contents:
'One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock', by Neil Gaiman.
Elric of Melniboné.
The Fortress of the Pearl.
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate.
The Weird of the White Wolf.
752 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2021
About the author
Michael Moorcock
1,019 books3,381 followersMichael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
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August 15, 2021I must know more about this emperor who doesn't wear pants but does wear knee-high boots and long loin cloths that flow in the wind while posing sexily with his sword.
February 21, 2023
Thus far, through the first four books of the Elric Saga, I find myself constantly reminded of Conan by Robert E. Howard. The main difference being that Elric is far easier to read.
I feel like Elric is the perfect book to hand to a teen that is into Fantasy but wants something with a little bit of an edge. While certainly nothing beyond PG 13, these stories are an evolution of the Conan archetype, while still sharing much of its DNA.
The first two books in this collection were the strongest in my opinion. The first being the introduction to Elric, his rivalry with his cousin, and his high minded ideals that lead to really stupid decisions. But I have to admit, the first book is pretty Metal. There’s a certain kind of rock star swagger to Elric that’s compelling.
Unfortunately that swagger comes and goes. The second story was good just for it’s wildly imaginative setting, but the third and fourth books are fairly forgettable story wise.
However, even when the story and characters are only rising to YA level complexity, the sheer imagination and inventiveness of the world and magic is noteworthy, and still seems fresh to me.
No Tolkien clones going on here.
But like Tolkien, there are long boring stretches of nothing much that spoil the fun.
I’m enjoying these as light and mindless reading, as I’m determined to read the entire series. These are GOATs of the genre and apparently there are many callbacks in other writers works, so I’ll stay the course.
I sure hope they get better though. They’re fun, but they aren’t great.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I feel like Elric is the perfect book to hand to a teen that is into Fantasy but wants something with a little bit of an edge. While certainly nothing beyond PG 13, these stories are an evolution of the Conan archetype, while still sharing much of its DNA.
The first two books in this collection were the strongest in my opinion. The first being the introduction to Elric, his rivalry with his cousin, and his high minded ideals that lead to really stupid decisions. But I have to admit, the first book is pretty Metal. There’s a certain kind of rock star swagger to Elric that’s compelling.
Unfortunately that swagger comes and goes. The second story was good just for it’s wildly imaginative setting, but the third and fourth books are fairly forgettable story wise.
However, even when the story and characters are only rising to YA level complexity, the sheer imagination and inventiveness of the world and magic is noteworthy, and still seems fresh to me.
No Tolkien clones going on here.
But like Tolkien, there are long boring stretches of nothing much that spoil the fun.
I’m enjoying these as light and mindless reading, as I’m determined to read the entire series. These are GOATs of the genre and apparently there are many callbacks in other writers works, so I’ll stay the course.
I sure hope they get better though. They’re fun, but they aren’t great.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
February 23, 2022
I ordered the Kindle edition last August. Needless to say my anticipation was running high and on February 15th was wondering when it would come in. It did and I am very happy! I have only been waiting for 35+ years for the omnibus editions.
The Elric books that are contained within volume 1 are: “Elric of Melniboné, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. There is a short story by Neil Gaiman instead of a traditional forward, and the end of the book covers the various releases of the original material. The only thing that was somewhat disappointing was the lack of artwork described in the hardcover edition. All-in-all packed full of Elric.
The albinos entry into the digital book world is put together flawlessly and was indeed worth the wait. For those of you who don’t know Elric of Melniboné, now is the time to check him and his dark blade Stormbringer out!
The Elric books that are contained within volume 1 are: “Elric of Melniboné, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. There is a short story by Neil Gaiman instead of a traditional forward, and the end of the book covers the various releases of the original material. The only thing that was somewhat disappointing was the lack of artwork described in the hardcover edition. All-in-all packed full of Elric.
The albinos entry into the digital book world is put together flawlessly and was indeed worth the wait. For those of you who don’t know Elric of Melniboné, now is the time to check him and his dark blade Stormbringer out!
August 10, 2023
I hadn't read these since high school over 40 yrs ago. Moorcock's Elric Saga is still a memorable and enjoyable read all these years later. That can't always be said about the books I read when I was a young teen. Such great high fantasy within the pages that take us away to worlds unimagined.
April 21, 2023
Elric of Melniboné - 2/5
The Fortress of the Pearl - 4/5
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - 4/5
The Weird of the White Wolf - 2/5
Two great novels and two week ones. Therefore I don't know what to think about this series. After reading first three I was excited that the quality has stepped up only to finish with the weakest novel of them all...
The Fortress of the Pearl - 4/5
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - 4/5
The Weird of the White Wolf - 2/5
Two great novels and two week ones. Therefore I don't know what to think about this series. After reading first three I was excited that the quality has stepped up only to finish with the weakest novel of them all...
July 30, 2023
Overall: 77/100
Elric of Melnibone - 80/100
The Fortress of the Pearl - 63/100
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - 90/100
The Weird of the White Wolf - 74/100
Elric of Melnibone - 80/100
The Fortress of the Pearl - 63/100
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - 90/100
The Weird of the White Wolf - 74/100
June 5, 2022
I won a copy of Elric of Melnibone through a goodreads giveaway.
I grew up seeing paintings of Elric and hearing of the stories about him but I never got around to reading them for myself, until now. I wish I’d not waited so long. These were fantastic, and of the sort I often crave, that old school fantasy tale that has a similar feel to those told of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and of Geralt of Rivia. I love this style of fiction and I’m glad I’m finally adding Elric to that list.
This volume is a compilation of four books, or novellas: Elric of Melnibone, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. From what I’ve read there have been different versions of these written over the years as Moorcock wrote more in the world and tried to re-craft some stories to better fit the flow of the growing narrative. Over the course of the four we’re introduced to Elric, the ruler of the powerful but fading land of Melnibone, a race of beings capable of great magic though nothing like their ancestors. They can be a very selfish and cruel people and Elric seems to think this is slowly causing their dwindling relevance to the world, so he decides to travel to the Young Kingdoms, leaving his love Cymoril and his people under the charge of his jealous cousin, Yyrkoon. He travels in search of something, some bit of knowledge or wisdom he hopes can help him and his people. We learn how we came to travel with the great runesword, Stormbringer, and the difficulties this creates for him even while saving his life countless times. And each of his travels takes him to a new land so we slowly get to explore most of the locations on the world map.
Elric is a powerful person capable of wielding great magic and calling other beings to assist him, but he is not all-powerful. He has weaknesses that others are sometimes able to exploit, both physical and in character. He makes mistakes that sometimes result in hardship or death for those he cares about. The longer he travels the more weight of loss he carries, and yet he continues on. One of his strengths is finding allies, even amongst a field of enemies, and his allies often become very loyal friends, or at least as close to friends as Elric will allow, sometimes saving his life when he’s at a weak point or helping him accomplish some task he might not have been able to otherwise. I can’t help but think some of what he’s seeking can be found in the characters of all these allies he meets, though he’s not yet realized this.
Not all the stories were as strong as the others, though I enjoyed them all. Some had that classic fantasy feel I enjoy. Some had a more Lovecraftian feel with strange creatures or beings. Others had a more dreamlike quality with shifting and swirling realities blending from scene to scene. The first book, Elric of Melnibone, was likely one of my favorites and was a fantastic introduction to the characters and the world. I will seek out the rest of the volumes in this series and look forward to continuing to learn more of Elric of Melnibone.
I grew up seeing paintings of Elric and hearing of the stories about him but I never got around to reading them for myself, until now. I wish I’d not waited so long. These were fantastic, and of the sort I often crave, that old school fantasy tale that has a similar feel to those told of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and of Geralt of Rivia. I love this style of fiction and I’m glad I’m finally adding Elric to that list.
This volume is a compilation of four books, or novellas: Elric of Melnibone, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. From what I’ve read there have been different versions of these written over the years as Moorcock wrote more in the world and tried to re-craft some stories to better fit the flow of the growing narrative. Over the course of the four we’re introduced to Elric, the ruler of the powerful but fading land of Melnibone, a race of beings capable of great magic though nothing like their ancestors. They can be a very selfish and cruel people and Elric seems to think this is slowly causing their dwindling relevance to the world, so he decides to travel to the Young Kingdoms, leaving his love Cymoril and his people under the charge of his jealous cousin, Yyrkoon. He travels in search of something, some bit of knowledge or wisdom he hopes can help him and his people. We learn how we came to travel with the great runesword, Stormbringer, and the difficulties this creates for him even while saving his life countless times. And each of his travels takes him to a new land so we slowly get to explore most of the locations on the world map.
Elric is a powerful person capable of wielding great magic and calling other beings to assist him, but he is not all-powerful. He has weaknesses that others are sometimes able to exploit, both physical and in character. He makes mistakes that sometimes result in hardship or death for those he cares about. The longer he travels the more weight of loss he carries, and yet he continues on. One of his strengths is finding allies, even amongst a field of enemies, and his allies often become very loyal friends, or at least as close to friends as Elric will allow, sometimes saving his life when he’s at a weak point or helping him accomplish some task he might not have been able to otherwise. I can’t help but think some of what he’s seeking can be found in the characters of all these allies he meets, though he’s not yet realized this.
Not all the stories were as strong as the others, though I enjoyed them all. Some had that classic fantasy feel I enjoy. Some had a more Lovecraftian feel with strange creatures or beings. Others had a more dreamlike quality with shifting and swirling realities blending from scene to scene. The first book, Elric of Melnibone, was likely one of my favorites and was a fantastic introduction to the characters and the world. I will seek out the rest of the volumes in this series and look forward to continuing to learn more of Elric of Melnibone.
December 8, 2022
Wow, it's been 40 years since I first read this classic and even after all those years it's just as good as
I remember it. Usually with most old classics this is not the case and maybe it's because Moorcock was considered one of the leaders of the 'new age' of Science Fiction and ahead of his time. There are obviously the hallmarks of Sword and Sorcery in this book, but there are some deeper overtones that eventually went on to become grimdark. Not necessarily in this book, but things got darker as the series progressed.
A great re-read an I will probably continue on with some of the others in the series. As I have read some 40+ Moorcock's it certainly won't be all of them:)
I remember it. Usually with most old classics this is not the case and maybe it's because Moorcock was considered one of the leaders of the 'new age' of Science Fiction and ahead of his time. There are obviously the hallmarks of Sword and Sorcery in this book, but there are some deeper overtones that eventually went on to become grimdark. Not necessarily in this book, but things got darker as the series progressed.
A great re-read an I will probably continue on with some of the others in the series. As I have read some 40+ Moorcock's it certainly won't be all of them:)
October 2, 2022
I know i should've started the elric saga long ago, but shamefully this is not so easy to find in physical form and what adds to the difficulty is the highly confusing reading order which is not at all the release order.
In my honest opinion it belongs up there with the all time greats in fantasy so the fact that this isn't in print more often is a crime.. so get a hold of it as long as you can, especially the omnibus version of it!
I absolutely love it!
In my honest opinion it belongs up there with the all time greats in fantasy so the fact that this isn't in print more often is a crime.. so get a hold of it as long as you can, especially the omnibus version of it!
I absolutely love it!
March 1, 2022
Re-read (not for the first time). Still stands up well. It's great to have a complete new edition coming out. Looking forward to volume two in a couple of months.
September 2, 2023
Elric of Melniboné is a complex hero, with a complex publication history, and this book matches that complexity. It's actually a collection of 4 volumes - the original novel Elric of Melniboné, written in the middle of Elric's publishing career as a prequel to most of the Elric stories, then The Fortress of the Pearl, another original novel, followed by The Sailor on the Seas of Fate and finally The Weird of the White Wolf, where the last two are stitch-ups of (mostly) previously independently published stories. All but the second of these volumes are subdivided into "books", and the books into chapters. For some reason, The Fortress of the Pearl has "parts", which again are subdivided into chapters. There is a separate "Readers Guide" at the end of the novel, trying to clarify the complex publication history of Elric, but leaving me nearly as confused as I was to begin with.
Anyways, the material presented here seems to have been written between 1961 and 1989, and revised as late as 2013. And it shows - the stories and novels vary quite a bit in style, characterisation, settings, and so on. It's all interesting, and much of it is good. The stories are arranged in order of internal chronology, which helps to give the reader some orientation.
Elric is sometimes compared to Conan. There are some superficial similarities, but there also are very big differences. Conan is vitality impersonated. Elric is the last member of a decadent, dying race, who only maintains his strength with the help of drugs and magic. While Conan laughs at fate, Elric is is a doomed hero and knows it. His fate is largely unavoidable and foreshadowed. And he plays on a much larger canvas than Conan. Howard's Hyborean Age presents one small, if colourful, part of one world. Elric travels to different planes and different Earths in the multiverse. He confronts higher beings and at least sometimes manages to discomfit them. Moorcock uses this wider canvass to present very different settings - from the hyper-refined and decadent city of Imrryr to the fairly conventional fantasy setting of the Young Kingdoms to bleak magical oceans and endless cave systems connecting different worlds.
For me, highlights include "Sailing to the Future" (which introduces us to Moorcocks "Eternal Champion" concept) and "Sailing to the Past" (both from Sailor on the Seas of Fate, probably one of the best book titles ever). I also enjoyed The Singing Citadel, in particular for its brilliant ending. Elric sadly leaves Queen Yishana. And "In Dhakos that morning, other eyes held misery, but not for too long. Yishana was a pragmatic queen."
Anyways, it's a collection well-worth reading - maybe not in one go (the paper edition has 784 pages). And given Moorcocks role in defining the landscape of sword-and-sorcery fantasy, it's probably a must-read for people interested in the development of the genre.
Anyways, the material presented here seems to have been written between 1961 and 1989, and revised as late as 2013. And it shows - the stories and novels vary quite a bit in style, characterisation, settings, and so on. It's all interesting, and much of it is good. The stories are arranged in order of internal chronology, which helps to give the reader some orientation.
Elric is sometimes compared to Conan. There are some superficial similarities, but there also are very big differences. Conan is vitality impersonated. Elric is the last member of a decadent, dying race, who only maintains his strength with the help of drugs and magic. While Conan laughs at fate, Elric is is a doomed hero and knows it. His fate is largely unavoidable and foreshadowed. And he plays on a much larger canvas than Conan. Howard's Hyborean Age presents one small, if colourful, part of one world. Elric travels to different planes and different Earths in the multiverse. He confronts higher beings and at least sometimes manages to discomfit them. Moorcock uses this wider canvass to present very different settings - from the hyper-refined and decadent city of Imrryr to the fairly conventional fantasy setting of the Young Kingdoms to bleak magical oceans and endless cave systems connecting different worlds.
For me, highlights include "Sailing to the Future" (which introduces us to Moorcocks "Eternal Champion" concept) and "Sailing to the Past" (both from Sailor on the Seas of Fate, probably one of the best book titles ever). I also enjoyed The Singing Citadel, in particular for its brilliant ending. Elric sadly leaves Queen Yishana. And "In Dhakos that morning, other eyes held misery, but not for too long. Yishana was a pragmatic queen."
Anyways, it's a collection well-worth reading - maybe not in one go (the paper edition has 784 pages). And given Moorcocks role in defining the landscape of sword-and-sorcery fantasy, it's probably a must-read for people interested in the development of the genre.
November 10, 2021
Great beginning for an adult fantasy!
February 22, 2022
Little disappointed
Kindle finally has this classic tale of the last emperor of Melnibone. So eager I was to read about the great Elric. Well, I've read it and came to this question. Would I read this again? I would not. The writing was flawless, the imagination is very inventive And Elric was a very interesting character to start with. Turns out Eric is a downer who continues to make bad decisions and gives up to death way to much. As for the plot, after the first two adventures, feels like the author just gave up. Glad I can check this off my to read list, but I won't be in a hurry to read the other installments.
Kindle finally has this classic tale of the last emperor of Melnibone. So eager I was to read about the great Elric. Well, I've read it and came to this question. Would I read this again? I would not. The writing was flawless, the imagination is very inventive And Elric was a very interesting character to start with. Turns out Eric is a downer who continues to make bad decisions and gives up to death way to much. As for the plot, after the first two adventures, feels like the author just gave up. Glad I can check this off my to read list, but I won't be in a hurry to read the other installments.
February 16, 2022
Back in print after far too long, Saga Press's new collection of the Elric series delivers the goods.
Starting with a beautiful color rendition of Cawthorn's map of the young kingdon, and embellished with classic illustrations the book covers the the first four books (chronological Eric of Melniboné, Fortress of the Pearl, Sailor on the Seas of Fate and Weird of the White Wolf), with Gaiman's classic short story "One Life Furnished in Early Moorcock" at the front, and finishing with a reader's guide to Elric by John Davey.
An epic tome worthy of the epic material contained within. One of the greatest and most influential fantasy heroes ever written deserves to be required reading for anyone who has an interest in the genre.
Starting with a beautiful color rendition of Cawthorn's map of the young kingdon, and embellished with classic illustrations the book covers the the first four books (chronological Eric of Melniboné, Fortress of the Pearl, Sailor on the Seas of Fate and Weird of the White Wolf), with Gaiman's classic short story "One Life Furnished in Early Moorcock" at the front, and finishing with a reader's guide to Elric by John Davey.
An epic tome worthy of the epic material contained within. One of the greatest and most influential fantasy heroes ever written deserves to be required reading for anyone who has an interest in the genre.
April 8, 2022
I came late in life to Moorcock fandom, having heard of him through my love of D&D and Appendix N, but being unable to locate any of his writings in my youth. Now I have a library of his stuff, mostly in reprints and some Kindle, but this may be the best collection I've seen. This new omnibus puts many of the stories of Elric in the chronological order (as best as can be determined, given his many adventures that make mockery of conventions of space and time), and how excellent and coherent the story is, when actually presented in an order that makes sense! I'm very much looking forward to the next volume, which I have pre-ordered from Amazon and expect to arrive at my door in 5 days, as I write this!
November 21, 2022
Image Friendly Version
Poor Cymoril. A practical noblewoman with the misfortune to fall in love with Eric - a skinny, asthmatic philosophy major addicted to a paranormal blend of meth and dark magic. An albino prince completely unwilling to listen to reason.
The stories are Eric getting into trouble for not listening to Cymoril. Eric running away and proclaiming he misses and loves Cymoril - while impregnating Oone the Dream Thief. Eric accidentally killing Cymoril, like she told him he would. Eric destroying everything in sadness and then sleeping around some more.
Sometimes classics let you down :(
Poor Cymoril. A practical noblewoman with the misfortune to fall in love with Eric - a skinny, asthmatic philosophy major addicted to a paranormal blend of meth and dark magic. An albino prince completely unwilling to listen to reason.
The stories are Eric getting into trouble for not listening to Cymoril. Eric running away and proclaiming he misses and loves Cymoril - while impregnating Oone the Dream Thief. Eric accidentally killing Cymoril, like she told him he would. Eric destroying everything in sadness and then sleeping around some more.
Sometimes classics let you down :(
August 30, 2023
Elric is arguably a cornerstone of medieval fantasy though much less popular than LOTR or Conan it seems.
Somewhat the anti-Conan, white-faced Elric is frail and weak if not sustained by his malevolent sword, the infamous Stormbringer. Descending from a haughty race who pacted with the Lords of Chaos he is the philosopher warrior, doomed at birth but still looking for answers justfying his very existence in the cosmic battle between Law and Chaos.
With this absolute anti-hero Michael Moorcock developed a new type of character and even new concepts such as the multiverse. I wouldn’t know if he invented it but he clearly popularized the idea through his fiction.
Here are regrouped 4 volumes of the series. The overall tone is grim indeed and most of Elric victories have the bitter tang of failure. Dark omens are everywhere and the balance of power is at stake. But the lonely depressed albino is fighting still, riding resolutely toward the fate he desperately wishes to control.
Moorcock’s prose aged quite well. The battle scenes are not his forte and most creatures described have an outdated feel but between the sorcery at play, the multiverse concept and the philosophical ideas debated there is more than enough to satisfy the curious reader avid to discover yet another aspect of the medieval fantasy genre.
Somewhat the anti-Conan, white-faced Elric is frail and weak if not sustained by his malevolent sword, the infamous Stormbringer. Descending from a haughty race who pacted with the Lords of Chaos he is the philosopher warrior, doomed at birth but still looking for answers justfying his very existence in the cosmic battle between Law and Chaos.
With this absolute anti-hero Michael Moorcock developed a new type of character and even new concepts such as the multiverse. I wouldn’t know if he invented it but he clearly popularized the idea through his fiction.
Here are regrouped 4 volumes of the series. The overall tone is grim indeed and most of Elric victories have the bitter tang of failure. Dark omens are everywhere and the balance of power is at stake. But the lonely depressed albino is fighting still, riding resolutely toward the fate he desperately wishes to control.
Moorcock’s prose aged quite well. The battle scenes are not his forte and most creatures described have an outdated feel but between the sorcery at play, the multiverse concept and the philosophical ideas debated there is more than enough to satisfy the curious reader avid to discover yet another aspect of the medieval fantasy genre.
September 12, 2023
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
Probably the third time/ format for this material. I like this particular order for the stories that are included. While the description made much of this being an "illustrated" edition. I didn't notice an increase of illustrations that typically you find with this material.
Update 9/12: I've been listening to this book in the car. I've listened to half (Elric of Melnibone and The Fortress of the Pearl) but I'm putting it to the side because I want to listen to Holly.
Probably the third time/ format for this material. I like this particular order for the stories that are included. While the description made much of this being an "illustrated" edition. I didn't notice an increase of illustrations that typically you find with this material.
Update 9/12: I've been listening to this book in the car. I've listened to half (Elric of Melnibone and The Fortress of the Pearl) but I'm putting it to the side because I want to listen to Holly.
November 24, 2021
This entire series is fascinating. It is an epic tragic tale, full of high fantasy and an anti-hero protagonist.
While I have read this edition, just seeing the cover sweeps me back to various moments in the novels that ring with the sound of battle or the existential brooding of Elric.
While I have read this edition, just seeing the cover sweeps me back to various moments in the novels that ring with the sound of battle or the existential brooding of Elric.
April 20, 2023
Elric is back. I don't remember reading these Elric stories when I was a kid. Michael Moorcock is one of my favorite authors. I read everything I could get my hands on back when I was in my twenties.
April 4, 2023
Collecting four Elric stories: Elric of Melniboné, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf!
I throughly enjoyed this collection, and found each of the stories to be a classic fantasy styled adventure tale. Each of the stories are quite self contained, while also subtly building upon/connecting to each other.
The most noticeable connection is between Elric of Melniboné, and the first short story in The Weird of the White Wolf. Those two directly connect, but one could still enjoy either without having to read both.
In each story Elric is given a task, or seemingly finds himself dropped into a quest. Along his journey he meets companions that aid him in his mission, and they are usually not seen once the next story begins. Most of the companions we meet along the way have little to no characterization and are merely there to move the plot along or guide Elric to where he needs to go. Oone in Fortress of the Pearl is an exception to this, and they were an interesting addition to the Elric saga, and a character I hope to see more of in later books.
When reading through this collection, I could see the influence it has had on modern fantasy. Elric could easily be a prototype for the fantasy anti-heroes we all love today. From his connections to the Lord of Chaos Arioch, and his addiction to the power given to him by Stormbringer, Elric can often be his own worse enemy, and nuisance to his own companions. Stormbringer is the prototype for Sanderson's Nightblood, with it speaking to its wielder, and having a need to kill. Stormbringer also steals the energy/souls from those it kills.
All around a fun collection for those who love a good adventure story, and enjoy a main character who broods, and slaughters his way through all that stands in his path. Not recommended for those who need deep characters and complex plots. These are relatively simple, but fun reads.
I throughly enjoyed this collection, and found each of the stories to be a classic fantasy styled adventure tale. Each of the stories are quite self contained, while also subtly building upon/connecting to each other.
The most noticeable connection is between Elric of Melniboné, and the first short story in The Weird of the White Wolf. Those two directly connect, but one could still enjoy either without having to read both.
In each story Elric is given a task, or seemingly finds himself dropped into a quest. Along his journey he meets companions that aid him in his mission, and they are usually not seen once the next story begins. Most of the companions we meet along the way have little to no characterization and are merely there to move the plot along or guide Elric to where he needs to go. Oone in Fortress of the Pearl is an exception to this, and they were an interesting addition to the Elric saga, and a character I hope to see more of in later books.
When reading through this collection, I could see the influence it has had on modern fantasy. Elric could easily be a prototype for the fantasy anti-heroes we all love today. From his connections to the Lord of Chaos Arioch, and his addiction to the power given to him by Stormbringer, Elric can often be his own worse enemy, and nuisance to his own companions. Stormbringer is the prototype for Sanderson's Nightblood, with it speaking to its wielder, and having a need to kill. Stormbringer also steals the energy/souls from those it kills.
All around a fun collection for those who love a good adventure story, and enjoy a main character who broods, and slaughters his way through all that stands in his path. Not recommended for those who need deep characters and complex plots. These are relatively simple, but fun reads.
March 23, 2024
Elryk z Melniboné Michaela Moorcocka — brytyjskiego pisarza tworzącego zarówno w gatunku science-fiction, jak i fantasy — uchodzi za klasyczną, mroczną powieść fantasy, która miała istotny wpływ na rozwój tego gatunku. Dlatego nie mogłam sobie odmówić przyjemności sprawdzenia jej, zwłaszcza że seria została wznowiona właśnie przez wydawnictwo Zysk i Sk-a.
Białowłosy Elryk.
Oto niezwykłe przygody Elryka, ostatniego cesarza imperium Melniboné, oraz jego rozumnego wampirycznego miecza, Zwiastuna Burz, który potrafi wysysać dusze i siłę pokonanych przeciwników. Potęga Melnibonian, starożytnej rasy władającej światem przez dziesięć tysięcy lat, chyli się ku upadkowi, atakowana przez sąsiadujące ze Smoczą Wyspą ludzkie królestwa.
Zasiadający na Rubinowym Tronie Elryk to wyjątkowy bohater – choć o słabym ciele i uzależniony od narkotyków podtrzymujących jego siły witalne, to jednak dzięki odziedziczonym po przodkach mocom jest potężnym czarnoksiężnikiem potrafiącym przyzywać demony, władającym żywiołami i do tego korzysta z ciągłej pomocy Władców Chaosu.
Białowłosy i szkarłatnoooki Elryk z Melniboné samotnie kroczy wśród światów multiwersum, budząc strach wśród wrogów i przyjaciół, rywalizując ze swym podłym kuzynem Yrkoonem o panowanie nad baśniową krainą.
W tomie:
Elryk z Melniboné
Perłowa forteca
Żeglarz na Morzach Przeznaczenia
Klątwa białego wilka
Prosto i do celu. ;)
Informacja o tym, że Elryk z Melniboné jest mroczną powieścią fantasy — jest odrobinę przesadzona.
Bardziej powiedziałabym, że to taka prosta powieść składająca się z powiązanych osobą głównego bohatera historyjek. Te nie są nadmiernie wymagające, ale mają w sobie takiego klasycznego ducha przygody doprawionego odrobiną baśniowości i heroizmu.
Konstrukcja tych historyjek jest niezwykle prosta, zawiera klasyczne motywy i wiedzie bohatera od punktu A do punktu B, bez podejmowania nadmiernie skomplikowanych decyzji (wręcz powiedziałabym, że wszystko, co jest czarne, pozostaje czarne, a białe jest białe), ale z próbami filozoficznego „liźnięcia” etycznych dylematów.
Sam Elryk, jest w zasadzie jak odciśnięty z szablonu, ale żeby nie było różowo, ma też swoje wady (notabene też dość szablonowe ;)), które oczywiście rozmywają się przy jego rycerskości i chęci niesienia pomocy.
Akcja poszczególnych historii, jest przyzwoita, fabuła nie zaskakuje nagłymi zwrotami akcji, więc czyta się w sumie lekko i przyjemnie.
Wiec jeżeli macie ochotę spędzić miło czas, przy lekkiej, klasycznej powieści fantasy, to Elryk z Melniboné Michaela Moorcocka powinien się Wam spodobać.
https://unserious.pl/2024/03/elryk-z-...
Białowłosy Elryk.
Oto niezwykłe przygody Elryka, ostatniego cesarza imperium Melniboné, oraz jego rozumnego wampirycznego miecza, Zwiastuna Burz, który potrafi wysysać dusze i siłę pokonanych przeciwników. Potęga Melnibonian, starożytnej rasy władającej światem przez dziesięć tysięcy lat, chyli się ku upadkowi, atakowana przez sąsiadujące ze Smoczą Wyspą ludzkie królestwa.
Zasiadający na Rubinowym Tronie Elryk to wyjątkowy bohater – choć o słabym ciele i uzależniony od narkotyków podtrzymujących jego siły witalne, to jednak dzięki odziedziczonym po przodkach mocom jest potężnym czarnoksiężnikiem potrafiącym przyzywać demony, władającym żywiołami i do tego korzysta z ciągłej pomocy Władców Chaosu.
Białowłosy i szkarłatnoooki Elryk z Melniboné samotnie kroczy wśród światów multiwersum, budząc strach wśród wrogów i przyjaciół, rywalizując ze swym podłym kuzynem Yrkoonem o panowanie nad baśniową krainą.
W tomie:
Elryk z Melniboné
Perłowa forteca
Żeglarz na Morzach Przeznaczenia
Klątwa białego wilka
Prosto i do celu. ;)
Informacja o tym, że Elryk z Melniboné jest mroczną powieścią fantasy — jest odrobinę przesadzona.
Bardziej powiedziałabym, że to taka prosta powieść składająca się z powiązanych osobą głównego bohatera historyjek. Te nie są nadmiernie wymagające, ale mają w sobie takiego klasycznego ducha przygody doprawionego odrobiną baśniowości i heroizmu.
Konstrukcja tych historyjek jest niezwykle prosta, zawiera klasyczne motywy i wiedzie bohatera od punktu A do punktu B, bez podejmowania nadmiernie skomplikowanych decyzji (wręcz powiedziałabym, że wszystko, co jest czarne, pozostaje czarne, a białe jest białe), ale z próbami filozoficznego „liźnięcia” etycznych dylematów.
Sam Elryk, jest w zasadzie jak odciśnięty z szablonu, ale żeby nie było różowo, ma też swoje wady (notabene też dość szablonowe ;)), które oczywiście rozmywają się przy jego rycerskości i chęci niesienia pomocy.
Akcja poszczególnych historii, jest przyzwoita, fabuła nie zaskakuje nagłymi zwrotami akcji, więc czyta się w sumie lekko i przyjemnie.
Wiec jeżeli macie ochotę spędzić miło czas, przy lekkiej, klasycznej powieści fantasy, to Elryk z Melniboné Michaela Moorcocka powinien się Wam spodobać.
https://unserious.pl/2024/03/elryk-z-...
April 7, 2022
Elric of Melniboné, one of the most iconic characters in fantasy literature.
If you're a fairly big fantasy fan, chances are you've heard of Elric. The antihero albino Melnibonéan emo with the soul-sucking blade Stormbringer. This character, and the stories surrounding him, have had a rather large impact on how sword and sorcery and fantasy have been shaped throughout the years. Some inspirations in other novel series are obvious, like the Valyrians in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire or Geralt of Rivia from Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher. It seems of little doubt that Elric and his sword probably indirectly inspired the character of Anomander Rake and his sword Dragnipur, even though Steven Erikson has never read Moorcock. Regardless, there's no question that Elric has had a huge impact on the world and these omnibuses are the most accessible and affordable way to get into this series. The second omnibus will be released this month and the third sometime later down the road.
The omnibus is split into four novels and I'll review each one separately with no spoilers.
"Elric of Melnibone" 4/5 Stars
Now I first read the initial novel to this series, titled "Elric of Melniboné," a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I found the themes and progression of the story far too predictable, however, and very cliche. It goes about how you'd imagine any revenge and betrayal story to go. However, I will admit there are a few parts I did find myself surprised at simply because I had the foreknowledge that Elric was an antihero. But it's important to know these beginning novels are the prequels to what Elric becomes known as. Aside from typical archetypes, the story is well written and is fun and fantastical. There is clear Lovecraft influence in the latter half of the story and the Lords of Chaos oft remind me of the Daedric Princes from the Elder Scrolls.
"The Fortress of the Pearl" 3.5/5 Stars
The second novel is largely carried by its beginning and its conclusion. In all honesty, I come close to recommending a reader to even skip this novel. Not that it's necessarily bad (though it is often boring), but because it just doesn't feel like an Elric story. In fact, with it being (assumedly) your second Elric novel, it is a horrible follow-up to the first novel. You'll understand why if you read it. The only reason I may not recommend skipping it is that there is a character (as well as an event) that does seem to be important to the latter part of the series. I don't know how much later, but it may be worth a read if only for this character.
But on the bright side of this being the second novel, it does seem it'll be the worst in the series. So if you do enjoy it, you can take comfort in the fact that it can probably only get better from here.
"The Sailor on the Seas of Fate" 5/5
I enjoyed this novel the most and it seems more of a story arc-based novel rather than one overarching story like the first two novels. It's split into three parts, all of which follow a different sort of story, though they are connected. There is a section in the first part that I found . . . well, just odd. I didn't get the point of it and it was slightly hard to follow and I can only just call it weird. Which, to be fair, is one of the genres of this novel series. So I guess it gets a pass, right? Besides that, this story was told very well. There are some great twists, action, and amazing descriptions. This serves as an excellent world-building book for Elric as well and dives a bit deeper into the Multiverse.
"The Weird of the White Wolf" 4/5
This novel, similarly to the previous one, is also cut into three arcs. It is also the first of the novels to feature a prologue, which was thrilling and suspenseful. I must admit, the first part of this novel is a bit anti-climatic. It is an important event and I feel it is rushed a bit too quickly. In fact, I expected this event to be the entire novel and felt that's what should have been done. Aside from the rush of the first part, I felt the story was well done. There were a few questionable moments here and there on certain characters' motives, but other than that this serves as probably the second-best Elric novel so far.
Overall this omnibus receives about a 9/10 from me. I rounded up to 5/5 since I prefer to go up than down. This is only the beginning and I'm excited for the second omnibus which begins with the first published novel "Stormbringer." I highly recommend this novel series if you are someone who loves dark fantasy. For someone who many desire to get into this genre because of a love for Berserk or Dark Souls, I definitely suggest this as your first dark fantasy series to check out. Black Company and Malazan are also great picks.
If you're a fairly big fantasy fan, chances are you've heard of Elric. The antihero albino Melnibonéan emo with the soul-sucking blade Stormbringer. This character, and the stories surrounding him, have had a rather large impact on how sword and sorcery and fantasy have been shaped throughout the years. Some inspirations in other novel series are obvious, like the Valyrians in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire or Geralt of Rivia from Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher. It seems of little doubt that Elric and his sword probably indirectly inspired the character of Anomander Rake and his sword Dragnipur, even though Steven Erikson has never read Moorcock. Regardless, there's no question that Elric has had a huge impact on the world and these omnibuses are the most accessible and affordable way to get into this series. The second omnibus will be released this month and the third sometime later down the road.
The omnibus is split into four novels and I'll review each one separately with no spoilers.
"Elric of Melnibone" 4/5 Stars
Now I first read the initial novel to this series, titled "Elric of Melniboné," a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I found the themes and progression of the story far too predictable, however, and very cliche. It goes about how you'd imagine any revenge and betrayal story to go. However, I will admit there are a few parts I did find myself surprised at simply because I had the foreknowledge that Elric was an antihero. But it's important to know these beginning novels are the prequels to what Elric becomes known as. Aside from typical archetypes, the story is well written and is fun and fantastical. There is clear Lovecraft influence in the latter half of the story and the Lords of Chaos oft remind me of the Daedric Princes from the Elder Scrolls.
"The Fortress of the Pearl" 3.5/5 Stars
The second novel is largely carried by its beginning and its conclusion. In all honesty, I come close to recommending a reader to even skip this novel. Not that it's necessarily bad (though it is often boring), but because it just doesn't feel like an Elric story. In fact, with it being (assumedly) your second Elric novel, it is a horrible follow-up to the first novel. You'll understand why if you read it. The only reason I may not recommend skipping it is that there is a character (as well as an event) that does seem to be important to the latter part of the series. I don't know how much later, but it may be worth a read if only for this character.
But on the bright side of this being the second novel, it does seem it'll be the worst in the series. So if you do enjoy it, you can take comfort in the fact that it can probably only get better from here.
"The Sailor on the Seas of Fate" 5/5
I enjoyed this novel the most and it seems more of a story arc-based novel rather than one overarching story like the first two novels. It's split into three parts, all of which follow a different sort of story, though they are connected. There is a section in the first part that I found . . . well, just odd. I didn't get the point of it and it was slightly hard to follow and I can only just call it weird. Which, to be fair, is one of the genres of this novel series. So I guess it gets a pass, right? Besides that, this story was told very well. There are some great twists, action, and amazing descriptions. This serves as an excellent world-building book for Elric as well and dives a bit deeper into the Multiverse.
"The Weird of the White Wolf" 4/5
This novel, similarly to the previous one, is also cut into three arcs. It is also the first of the novels to feature a prologue, which was thrilling and suspenseful. I must admit, the first part of this novel is a bit anti-climatic. It is an important event and I feel it is rushed a bit too quickly. In fact, I expected this event to be the entire novel and felt that's what should have been done. Aside from the rush of the first part, I felt the story was well done. There were a few questionable moments here and there on certain characters' motives, but other than that this serves as probably the second-best Elric novel so far.
Overall this omnibus receives about a 9/10 from me. I rounded up to 5/5 since I prefer to go up than down. This is only the beginning and I'm excited for the second omnibus which begins with the first published novel "Stormbringer." I highly recommend this novel series if you are someone who loves dark fantasy. For someone who many desire to get into this genre because of a love for Berserk or Dark Souls, I definitely suggest this as your first dark fantasy series to check out. Black Company and Malazan are also great picks.
January 31, 2023
DNF. 174 pages in, just finished the first book out of four.
I have a hard time reading a book with a main character that seems so irredeemably stupid. Elric’s cousin Yyrkoon is laughably evil, and, with zero subtlety, constantly and publicly undermines Elric. Elric lets this pass, which was painful to observe. However, after Yyrkoon’s attempted murder, it should be obvious to everyone that he should be permanently imprisoned and/or executed (especially given the culture of Melbibone). Instead he is treated too lightly whereby he kidnaps Elric’s love interest, puts her under a permanent sleeping spell, and then attempts to bargain with literal demons to acquire the most powerful weapons in their plane of existence. And after ALL THAT Elric decides to leave Yyrkoon in charge of the kingdom instead of executing him. Unreal. This man is a complete idiot and I would rather spend my time having fun reading something else.
I have a hard time reading a book with a main character that seems so irredeemably stupid. Elric’s cousin Yyrkoon is laughably evil, and, with zero subtlety, constantly and publicly undermines Elric. Elric lets this pass, which was painful to observe. However, after Yyrkoon’s attempted murder, it should be obvious to everyone that he should be permanently imprisoned and/or executed (especially given the culture of Melbibone). Instead he is treated too lightly whereby he kidnaps Elric’s love interest, puts her under a permanent sleeping spell, and then attempts to bargain with literal demons to acquire the most powerful weapons in their plane of existence. And after ALL THAT Elric decides to leave Yyrkoon in charge of the kingdom instead of executing him. Unreal. This man is a complete idiot and I would rather spend my time having fun reading something else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
I’ve read an earlier edition of this book, so I’ve not yet read Neil Gaiman’s introduction and any updated or revised material from the author, but Elric is one of my single most favorite characters from fantasy, be it epic fantasy or sword & sorcery style. The tragic life and adventures of Elric is a masterpiece of fiction. I can’t wait to get my hands on this new edition. I own multiple editions of other favorites works of literature, 3 editions of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 3 editions of The Lord of the Rings, 2 copies of The Stand, 2 versions of The Gunslinger, a pair of copies each of Fahrenheit 451 and Lord of the Flies, 2 editions of Vampire Junction, and 3 copies each of both Frankenstein and Dracula, at least 3 copies of The War of the Worlds, and 2 sets of the first three books in The Earthsea Trilogy series, and 3 (or is it 4?) copies of Dune, so I think it’s long past time I got some new editions of the Elric books and not feel guilty about it.
Update: It turns out I had read Gaiman’s introduction. After being asked to supply an introduction he either could meet the deadline or just decided his story One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock was more than good enough to function as an introduction.
Update: It turns out I had read Gaiman’s introduction. After being asked to supply an introduction he either could meet the deadline or just decided his story One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock was more than good enough to function as an introduction.
December 25, 2022
I only finished the first story, and it was fine. I didn't hate it, but I also don't feel particularly strongly about finishing the series. Maybe one day. It definitely seems like Elric is a Marty Stu
April 30, 2022
I’ve read an earlier edition of this book, so I’ve not yet read Neil Gaiman’s introduction and any updated or revised material from the author, but Elric is one of my single most favorite characters from fantasy, be it epic fantasy or sword & sorcery style. The tragic life and adventures of Elric is a masterpiece of fiction. This omnibus edition includes material first published in Elric of Melniboné, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate and The Weird Of The White Wolf.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this new edition. I own multiple editions of other favorites works of literature, 3 editions of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 3 editions of The Lord of the Rings, 2 copies of The Stand, 2 versions of The Gunslinger, a pair of copies each of Fahrenheit 451 and Lord of the Flies, 2 editions of Vampire Junction, and 3 copies each of both Frankenstein and Dracula, at least 3 copies of The War of the Worlds, and 2 sets of the first three books in The Earthsea Trilogy series, and 3 (or is it 4?) copies of Dune, so I think it’s long past time I got some new editions of the Elric books and not feel guilty about it.
Update: It turns out I had read Gaiman’s introduction. After being asked to supply an introduction he either could not meet the deadline or just decided his story One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock was more than good enough to function as an introduction.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this new edition. I own multiple editions of other favorites works of literature, 3 editions of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 3 editions of The Lord of the Rings, 2 copies of The Stand, 2 versions of The Gunslinger, a pair of copies each of Fahrenheit 451 and Lord of the Flies, 2 editions of Vampire Junction, and 3 copies each of both Frankenstein and Dracula, at least 3 copies of The War of the Worlds, and 2 sets of the first three books in The Earthsea Trilogy series, and 3 (or is it 4?) copies of Dune, so I think it’s long past time I got some new editions of the Elric books and not feel guilty about it.
Update: It turns out I had read Gaiman’s introduction. After being asked to supply an introduction he either could not meet the deadline or just decided his story One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock was more than good enough to function as an introduction.
September 26, 2022
Overall Thoughts:
Now that I've finished the whole collection, I think it'll be more beneficial to put my overall thoughts at the beginning. Look below to see my thoughts on each individual book, reviewed as I read them to keep my thoughts in line, and since I read them over a long period of time, treating them as individuals rather than one long volume.
This was great! There were flaws (a lot of which came down to the natural aging of the writing and the nature of the books being quite short), but I had a really fun time finally getting introduced to Moorcock's world and writing. I was really surprised by some of the elements that made up Elric's character, since I was always under the impression that he was just a moody, evil git. Instead, I found a deep and complex character, constantly at war with himself and his desperate need for hope and peace in a life and world that is constantly surrounded and mired in chaos and nihilism.
I was also surprised at how much of Moorcock's writing that I now see in modern fantasy, the biggest one being how Stormbringer has influenced magic swords (Nightblood from Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson or The Malice from The Vagrant by Peter Newman immediately come to mind, though I know Stormbringer's influence has popped up in many other works as well, such as certain Dungeons and Dragons story lines and various videogames).
Let's also not forget the incredible whimsy and imagery of Elric's world. Moorcock really ran with the fact that this is a fantasy world, and threw endless amounts of creativity into it, something that modern fantasy has kind of lacked in recent years with the rise of more gritty and realistic worlds. As much as I do love a good world that's focused more on being real than fantastical, it's really fun to just dive into something so utterly surreal and bizarre.
Anyway, great read. Looking forward to going further into the saga, and seeing what else Moorcock has to offer.
Individual Reviews:
Elric of Melnibone:
Rating for this one: 3.5/5
This was a really fun book to read, though it does really wear its age in some areas, mostly in the writing style. It was written in the 70s, and you can tell. I don't hold that against the book - it's a natural part of a piece of writing aging, that the style becomes outdated. There are a few funky things with the pacing, and a few parts where I felt a bit disconnected from the story, but this was also the first Elric book, and it felt like it was still trying to figure out its identity and tone. I'm positive these issues will be resolved as the books go on.
Elric, however, is already a fantastic character. I have a thing for brooding male leads, and Elric is the very definition. His character has also already surprised me, mostly because I had been under the impression that he was a raging antihero, kind of along the lines of a Jorg Ancrath type of character. Instead, he's far more...tragic, I suppose. I'm really looking forward to seeing how his character evolves, and I can already see why he is so beloved and such an iconic character in fantasy.
The world is also surprisingly whimsical. Moorcock really takes advantage of this being a fantasy world, and has fun with it.
Overall, I'm impressed and having a great time. Looking forward to the rest!
The Fortress of the Pearl:
Rating: 5/5
Wow. I loved this.
Elric's character is just a delight to read. I love that he's breaking so many of my expectations. I love that he struggles with insecurities, and is a bit naive, and he's having to learn new things and struggle his way through life. I love that he makes so many mistakes, and has managed to get himself into so much trouble (that he now has to get himself out of.)
I LOVE that Michael Moorcock throws so much whimsy into this story. The worlds we travel through in Fortress of the Pearl are so creative and interesting, and filled with so many whimsical ideas. We don't often see that in modern fantasy, so it feels oddly fresh to see an author who is willing to just accept the more wild and creative sides of the fantasy genre.
AND THAT ENDING. Damn. Nice to see some of the dark side come out here. It's easy to forget that this is a dark fantasy among all the bright imagery through this book. Then you remember who Elric is, and what he is capable of...
This book was also oddly hilarious to me. Over and over again, I found myself laughing. There's a surprising amount of humour here, and that's never a bad thing. I had a great time reading it!
I'd also like to point out that there's a magical cat named Whiskers, and he is a good boy.
On to the next one!
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate:
Rating: 4.5/5
I wasn't sure how I'd feel going into this one, since I don't tend to enjoy nautical settings, and with a title that references sailing I wasn't looking forward to it. (Which is one the biggest reasons why it took me several months to get around to reading it.)
I'm glad to say that my misgivings were entirely denied, and I had a great time with this one.
Even though it was written shortly after the first Elric novella, there was a much better sense of pacing and character than in Elric of Melnibone, which I was happy to see, even though it wasn't at the same level as Fortress of the Pearl yet, which makes sense considering the years between the stories being written.
Sailor takes place over three distinct parts: Sailing to the Future, Sailing to the Present, and Sailing to the Past. All three of these have entirely different adventures that make the whole, with distinctive feels and weirdness, from exploring the multiverse and reincarnation, to time-travel, to supernatural jungles and boiling oceans. It's fantastic, and a true showcase of imagination that is seldom shown off in any medium.
One of my favourite parts of the book as a whole was the pure insanity of the plot. Moorcock is excellent at finding the weirdest ideas and just running with them, really embracing the surrealist and bizarre sides of fantasy.
As in, Sailing to the Future literally followed Elric and his companions going to an inter-dimensional island to kill inter-dimensional sorcerers that are trying to devour the universe.
This is not the strangest part of the book. I love it. Few modern authors actually embrace the weirdness of what can be done in a fantasy story, and it makes me so happy to read something that truly embraces the weirdness that can be done.
Elric, once again, was a delightfully tragic character to read, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this part of his character arc ends with the final novella of this collection.
The Weird of the White Wolf:
Rating: 3.5/5
I would have loved to have this collection end on a 5 star, but this one didn't thrill me quite as much as the others did.
Like with Sailor on the Seas of Fate, this one was more like three shorter stories within one, though I found that it felt a bit more disjointed than Sailor did. I still enjoyed it, and it was oddly fun to see Elric finally become the absolute edgelord that I had heard of, but the disjointed nature of the story ultimately hurt it for me.
The biggest issues I found were with the prologue and part one. I really enjoyed the prologue, but it ended up feeling a bit unnecessary, since I just kept waiting to return to the prologue's setting but with Elric as the character, and that never happened, which was kind of disappointing. (Maybe in a future book?) The problem with part one was that it just started VERY abruptly, leaving me wanting a bit more lead up rather than just being slapped with "We're going to war now!" Again, still enjoyed it, but the whole section felt like Moorcock was just trying to get it over with so that he could move Elric into being the moody edgelord that he becomes.
I still enjoyed it, and it really makes me excited to see where Elric's character is going to go from here, just wish it flowed a bit better.
Now that I've finished the whole collection, I think it'll be more beneficial to put my overall thoughts at the beginning. Look below to see my thoughts on each individual book, reviewed as I read them to keep my thoughts in line, and since I read them over a long period of time, treating them as individuals rather than one long volume.
This was great! There were flaws (a lot of which came down to the natural aging of the writing and the nature of the books being quite short), but I had a really fun time finally getting introduced to Moorcock's world and writing. I was really surprised by some of the elements that made up Elric's character, since I was always under the impression that he was just a moody, evil git. Instead, I found a deep and complex character, constantly at war with himself and his desperate need for hope and peace in a life and world that is constantly surrounded and mired in chaos and nihilism.
I was also surprised at how much of Moorcock's writing that I now see in modern fantasy, the biggest one being how Stormbringer has influenced magic swords (Nightblood from Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson or The Malice from The Vagrant by Peter Newman immediately come to mind, though I know Stormbringer's influence has popped up in many other works as well, such as certain Dungeons and Dragons story lines and various videogames).
Let's also not forget the incredible whimsy and imagery of Elric's world. Moorcock really ran with the fact that this is a fantasy world, and threw endless amounts of creativity into it, something that modern fantasy has kind of lacked in recent years with the rise of more gritty and realistic worlds. As much as I do love a good world that's focused more on being real than fantastical, it's really fun to just dive into something so utterly surreal and bizarre.
Anyway, great read. Looking forward to going further into the saga, and seeing what else Moorcock has to offer.
Individual Reviews:
Elric of Melnibone:
Rating for this one: 3.5/5
This was a really fun book to read, though it does really wear its age in some areas, mostly in the writing style. It was written in the 70s, and you can tell. I don't hold that against the book - it's a natural part of a piece of writing aging, that the style becomes outdated. There are a few funky things with the pacing, and a few parts where I felt a bit disconnected from the story, but this was also the first Elric book, and it felt like it was still trying to figure out its identity and tone. I'm positive these issues will be resolved as the books go on.
Elric, however, is already a fantastic character. I have a thing for brooding male leads, and Elric is the very definition. His character has also already surprised me, mostly because I had been under the impression that he was a raging antihero, kind of along the lines of a Jorg Ancrath type of character. Instead, he's far more...tragic, I suppose. I'm really looking forward to seeing how his character evolves, and I can already see why he is so beloved and such an iconic character in fantasy.
The world is also surprisingly whimsical. Moorcock really takes advantage of this being a fantasy world, and has fun with it.
Overall, I'm impressed and having a great time. Looking forward to the rest!
The Fortress of the Pearl:
Rating: 5/5
Wow. I loved this.
Elric's character is just a delight to read. I love that he's breaking so many of my expectations. I love that he struggles with insecurities, and is a bit naive, and he's having to learn new things and struggle his way through life. I love that he makes so many mistakes, and has managed to get himself into so much trouble (that he now has to get himself out of.)
I LOVE that Michael Moorcock throws so much whimsy into this story. The worlds we travel through in Fortress of the Pearl are so creative and interesting, and filled with so many whimsical ideas. We don't often see that in modern fantasy, so it feels oddly fresh to see an author who is willing to just accept the more wild and creative sides of the fantasy genre.
AND THAT ENDING. Damn. Nice to see some of the dark side come out here. It's easy to forget that this is a dark fantasy among all the bright imagery through this book. Then you remember who Elric is, and what he is capable of...
This book was also oddly hilarious to me. Over and over again, I found myself laughing. There's a surprising amount of humour here, and that's never a bad thing. I had a great time reading it!
I'd also like to point out that there's a magical cat named Whiskers, and he is a good boy.
On to the next one!
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate:
Rating: 4.5/5
I wasn't sure how I'd feel going into this one, since I don't tend to enjoy nautical settings, and with a title that references sailing I wasn't looking forward to it. (Which is one the biggest reasons why it took me several months to get around to reading it.)
I'm glad to say that my misgivings were entirely denied, and I had a great time with this one.
Even though it was written shortly after the first Elric novella, there was a much better sense of pacing and character than in Elric of Melnibone, which I was happy to see, even though it wasn't at the same level as Fortress of the Pearl yet, which makes sense considering the years between the stories being written.
Sailor takes place over three distinct parts: Sailing to the Future, Sailing to the Present, and Sailing to the Past. All three of these have entirely different adventures that make the whole, with distinctive feels and weirdness, from exploring the multiverse and reincarnation, to time-travel, to supernatural jungles and boiling oceans. It's fantastic, and a true showcase of imagination that is seldom shown off in any medium.
One of my favourite parts of the book as a whole was the pure insanity of the plot. Moorcock is excellent at finding the weirdest ideas and just running with them, really embracing the surrealist and bizarre sides of fantasy.
As in, Sailing to the Future literally followed Elric and his companions going to an inter-dimensional island to kill inter-dimensional sorcerers that are trying to devour the universe.
This is not the strangest part of the book. I love it. Few modern authors actually embrace the weirdness of what can be done in a fantasy story, and it makes me so happy to read something that truly embraces the weirdness that can be done.
Elric, once again, was a delightfully tragic character to read, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this part of his character arc ends with the final novella of this collection.
The Weird of the White Wolf:
Rating: 3.5/5
I would have loved to have this collection end on a 5 star, but this one didn't thrill me quite as much as the others did.
Like with Sailor on the Seas of Fate, this one was more like three shorter stories within one, though I found that it felt a bit more disjointed than Sailor did. I still enjoyed it, and it was oddly fun to see Elric finally become the absolute edgelord that I had heard of, but the disjointed nature of the story ultimately hurt it for me.
The biggest issues I found were with the prologue and part one. I really enjoyed the prologue, but it ended up feeling a bit unnecessary, since I just kept waiting to return to the prologue's setting but with Elric as the character, and that never happened, which was kind of disappointing. (Maybe in a future book?) The problem with part one was that it just started VERY abruptly, leaving me wanting a bit more lead up rather than just being slapped with "We're going to war now!" Again, still enjoyed it, but the whole section felt like Moorcock was just trying to get it over with so that he could move Elric into being the moody edgelord that he becomes.
I still enjoyed it, and it really makes me excited to see where Elric's character is going to go from here, just wish it flowed a bit better.
June 22, 2023
What can I say about this first volume of The Elric Saga, but that is both great, even beyond excellent, and a mixed bag at the same time. It's composed of four books, Elric of Melniboné, The fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor of the seas of fate, and The weird of the white wolf.
Elric of Melniboné is a great introduction to the world of Elric and his role, and his character being a great piece of fantasy.
The fortress of the Pearl is the strongest and in my opinion the best book inside this volume, its first great fun, incredibly imaginative.
The Sailor of the seas of Fate might be my second favorite book in here, and as The weird of the white wolf, it is composed of three short stories that interconnect with each other. I would have liked that the first one would have longer, it has this cosmic horror in it that would have been great to read more about. But the other two stories are great.
The Weird of the white wolf sadly is the weakest, and its all due to the "First" story (I use quotations because there is a story before this one that is sort of a prologue which is great because we explore a little more of the world and the Young Kingdoms). that I feel it rushes things and brings things that had been built upon since Elric of Melniboné to a quick conclusion. That is something that happens quite often, at least in this first volume Moorcock uses quick conclusions and rapid solutions for the problems and tribulations that happen to Elric. The other two stories are fine but they leave me with a bad taste in my mouth because of the events of the first one and the shortness of it events.
Overall, they all are great books, great stories to introduce ourselves in the world of Elric. I cant wait to read the next volume.
Elric of Melniboné is a great introduction to the world of Elric and his role, and his character being a great piece of fantasy.
The fortress of the Pearl is the strongest and in my opinion the best book inside this volume, its first great fun, incredibly imaginative.
The Sailor of the seas of Fate might be my second favorite book in here, and as The weird of the white wolf, it is composed of three short stories that interconnect with each other. I would have liked that the first one would have longer, it has this cosmic horror in it that would have been great to read more about. But the other two stories are great.
The Weird of the white wolf sadly is the weakest, and its all due to the "First" story (I use quotations because there is a story before this one that is sort of a prologue which is great because we explore a little more of the world and the Young Kingdoms). that I feel it rushes things and brings things that had been built upon since Elric of Melniboné to a quick conclusion. That is something that happens quite often, at least in this first volume Moorcock uses quick conclusions and rapid solutions for the problems and tribulations that happen to Elric. The other two stories are fine but they leave me with a bad taste in my mouth because of the events of the first one and the shortness of it events.
Overall, they all are great books, great stories to introduce ourselves in the world of Elric. I cant wait to read the next volume.
June 6, 2022
In my much younger days, I'd go to the fantasy section of a bookstore and admire the covers of the Elric books. I don't remember why, but I always made other choices for purchase. Now I finally remedied this omission.
This is a DM's playground, ripe with gorgeous settings and interesting characters. It's the epitome of sword and sorcery, so there are a lot of warrior types and a lot of battles. This volume is broken into three separate books; the first interested me the most as it laid out Melnibone and Elric's backstory as Emperor.
Once he decided to travel, I admit I lost some interest. While the settings are layered and interesting, I did get bored with the constant battle scenes. I can't complain because this is what this genre is about, but I think I've satisfied my interest there.
This is a DM's playground, ripe with gorgeous settings and interesting characters. It's the epitome of sword and sorcery, so there are a lot of warrior types and a lot of battles. This volume is broken into three separate books; the first interested me the most as it laid out Melnibone and Elric's backstory as Emperor.
Once he decided to travel, I admit I lost some interest. While the settings are layered and interesting, I did get bored with the constant battle scenes. I can't complain because this is what this genre is about, but I think I've satisfied my interest there.
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