Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Ace (1987), 160 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. HTML: ... and leaving his cousin Yyrkoon sitting as regent upon the Ruby Throne of Melnibone, leaving his cousin Cymoril weeping for him and despairing of his ever returning, Elric sailed from Imrryr, the Dreaming City, and went to seek an unknown goal in the world of the Young Kingdoms where Melniboneans were at best, disliked. Included is a dramatic introduction read by Michael Moorcock over 11 mins in length..
User reviews
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
I haven't been able to settle on a book recently. While I usually have two or three on the go at any one time, I've been at six or seven the last few weeks. So, in exasperation, I decided to try "one from the vaults", and landed on Elric!
It's been thirty-odd years since I last read this one, and
A collection of three episodic adventures for the self-exiled Melnibonéan emperor, linked to each other by the whale's road. A fanboy-pleasing Eternal Champion crossover to start off with; to follow, an untypical "damsel in distress" tale, mixed with a multiversal romp with twin extra-dimensional sorcerers; rounded off with an Indiana Jonesesque trek through hostile jungles to (ostensibly) find the treasure of a long-lost city out of Melnibonéan legend. In which we find out just why Arioch, Duke of Hell, is so pissed off with his favourite son. Oh, and a good deal of Stormbringer soul-stealing, too!
After which, I'm still rather unsettled, so I think I'll try another Elric before applying myself elsewhere.
It's been thirty-odd years since I last read this one, and
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I'm pleased to say that it didn't disappoint. I'd initially given it a provisional three-star rating, which I've happily upped to four stars. So...A collection of three episodic adventures for the self-exiled Melnibonéan emperor, linked to each other by the whale's road. A fanboy-pleasing Eternal Champion crossover to start off with; to follow, an untypical "damsel in distress" tale, mixed with a multiversal romp with twin extra-dimensional sorcerers; rounded off with an Indiana Jonesesque trek through hostile jungles to (ostensibly) find the treasure of a long-lost city out of Melnibonéan legend. In which we find out just why Arioch, Duke of Hell, is so pissed off with his favourite son. Oh, and a good deal of Stormbringer soul-stealing, too!
After which, I'm still rather unsettled, so I think I'll try another Elric before applying myself elsewhere.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
The second in the Elric saga, this book is inventive and dark, perhaps the prototype for dark, anti-hero fantasy. A short book and a fast read, well worth the time if you are into brooding heroes.
LibraryThing member stpnwlf
Second book in Elric saga - world's most amazing anti-hero.
LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
In the past I've found much of the Elric canon underwhelming. It turns out I was somewhat unlucky about the order I read the Elric books, discovering Moorcock through some of his weaker books (Elric at the End of Time & Fortress of the Pearl). As a result my interest in Moorcock in general, and in
The book is divided into 3 parts, each on better than the last, and with the last story culminating in a real sense of pathos and melancholy - the tragedy of Elric comes across powerfully. At heart the tales are ones of adventure, with swashbuckling pirates and the search for lost cities in distant continents, but when Moorcock is on song, these pyrotechnics are the window-dressing for themes of greater depth. In that sense, the first story is weakest because it concerns a 'team-up' of several of Moorcock's heroes - Erkrose, Hawkmoon, Corum and Elric. This failed to be as interesting as it might otherwise be since I've yet to read any of Moorcock's Erkrose, Hawkmoon or Corum books. Thankfully the other stories stand much better on their own.
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Elric in particular cooled, which is a pity because its only now, several years later, that I'm discovering the better Elric stories - The Sailor on the Seas of Fate is definitely one of these.The book is divided into 3 parts, each on better than the last, and with the last story culminating in a real sense of pathos and melancholy - the tragedy of Elric comes across powerfully. At heart the tales are ones of adventure, with swashbuckling pirates and the search for lost cities in distant continents, but when Moorcock is on song, these pyrotechnics are the window-dressing for themes of greater depth. In that sense, the first story is weakest because it concerns a 'team-up' of several of Moorcock's heroes - Erkrose, Hawkmoon, Corum and Elric. This failed to be as interesting as it might otherwise be since I've yet to read any of Moorcock's Erkrose, Hawkmoon or Corum books. Thankfully the other stories stand much better on their own.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This is the second book in the "Elric Saga" and to date I'm underwhelmed. These are supposed to be among the greatest works of fantasy ever published. I can't say I think this matches Lord of the Ring or Game of Thrones or Once and Future King or The Gormenghast Trilogy in terms of prose,
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characters or imagination. This installment in the series split into three parts that are really three tenuously connected novellas--and at least the stories do get stronger as you go along. "Sailing to the Future" deals with Moorcock's idea of the "Eternal Champion" and supposedly brings together characters from his other stories--this wasn't a strong introduction to them. The second "book" entitled "Sailing to the Present" was more engaging as Elric deals with a cursed ancestor who believes he's found his reincarnated love. The final part, "Sailing to the Past" deals with Elric finding the city of his ancestors. Like the first book, this was a short quick read, has some striking imagery and swashbuckling daring do. Show Less
LibraryThing member helver
Sailor on the Seas of Fate is the second book in the Elric Chronicles and is comprised of three books: Sailing to the Future, Sailing to the Present and Sailing to the Past.
Sailing to the Future introduces us to the mystical ship of fate and the blind Captain of the ship. On this voyage, Elric
Sailing to the Present pits Elric and his friend Count Smiorgan against Earl Saxif D'aan of Melnibone. In this one, we apparently have the past come to life as Saxif D'aan is smitten by the human woman Vassliss of Jharkor who is, in fact, a reincarnation of Gratyesha, Princes of Fwem-Omeyo. It hardly matters that several thousand years ago, Saxif D'aan killed Gratyesha, thinking she had betrayed him for another, Carolak. And, wherever two parts of a love triangle are reincarnated, the third is bound to be close by...
In Sailing to the Past, Elric and Smiorgan are rescued by a rather adventurous Duke Avan Astran who wants Elric's help to go explore the ancestral homelands of the Melnibonean people. Elric, thinking he might find some additional information to help him with his personal struggles agrees. While there, Elric pisses off Arioch, and kills both Duke Aran Astran and The Creature Doomed to Live - who was more than happy to die with Stormbringer's help.
Sailing to the Future introduces us to the mystical ship of fate and the blind Captain of the ship. On this voyage, Elric
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meets up with Hawkmoon, Erekose and Corum as they battle the aliens Agak and Gagak and become "The Four Who Are One".Sailing to the Present pits Elric and his friend Count Smiorgan against Earl Saxif D'aan of Melnibone. In this one, we apparently have the past come to life as Saxif D'aan is smitten by the human woman Vassliss of Jharkor who is, in fact, a reincarnation of Gratyesha, Princes of Fwem-Omeyo. It hardly matters that several thousand years ago, Saxif D'aan killed Gratyesha, thinking she had betrayed him for another, Carolak. And, wherever two parts of a love triangle are reincarnated, the third is bound to be close by...
In Sailing to the Past, Elric and Smiorgan are rescued by a rather adventurous Duke Avan Astran who wants Elric's help to go explore the ancestral homelands of the Melnibonean people. Elric, thinking he might find some additional information to help him with his personal struggles agrees. While there, Elric pisses off Arioch, and kills both Duke Aran Astran and The Creature Doomed to Live - who was more than happy to die with Stormbringer's help.
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LibraryThing member ftmckinstry
Elric finally found some buddies in this one. Well, shady companions, but certainly no shadier than he is. And his sadness deepens. I love these books, they are under my skin in a weird little way.
LibraryThing member bibleblaster
Book 2 in the Elric saga, this did not disappoint. I am a sucker for the way Moorcock weaves adventure with existentialist musings (never heavy-handed). Guess I prefer melancholic fantasy to the triumphant "good against evil" type that seems to be such the rage. I missed these when they came out
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(when I was a teen sf enthusiast who thought fantasy was somehow "lesser than" the "speculative fiction" I was reading.) Glad to be reading these now...glad there are many more left in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member KateSherrod
Also still holds up, even though I'm no longer a bitter, newly disillusioned teenager obsessed with The Creature Doomed to Live 8)
LibraryThing member aeceyton
A collection of two stories, the first an exercise in the Eternal Champion mythos, the second a Meliboneon origin quest. The latter is one of my favorite Elric stories.
LibraryThing member TobinElliott
The second in the Elric chronicles, this one is essentially three novella-length adventures, all linked to each other.
While some of the tropes continue (women in need of saving, etc.), the writing seems to have matured a touch. It's still very much the trippy Michael Moorcock you've come to know
Good times.
While some of the tropes continue (women in need of saving, etc.), the writing seems to have matured a touch. It's still very much the trippy Michael Moorcock you've come to know
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and love, though.Good times.
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LibraryThing member kevn57
Of the three books that make up volume two of the Elric saga my favorite's were book one and three, two has a good a story but book one ties ties together protagonists of Moorcock's multiverse. While book three sets up the doom that Elric has inadvertently called up his plane of existence as he
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strives to help another has he doomed his whole world. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kavinay
Oh Elric, you're such a passive knob. I actually like Moorcock's style, I just find the albino such bore compared to nearly every other character in the story. Honestly, Yrkoon seems so much more engaging in comparison. :)
LibraryThing member wvlibrarydude
Better than the first book. This audio version was excellent with the moody background music and proper pacing by the reader.
Subjects
Awards
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 1977)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1976-03
Physical description
160 p.; 4.25 inches
ISBN
0441748635 / 9780441748631