Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Gallery / Saga Press (2022), 752 pages
Description
"When Michael Moorcock began chronicling the adventures of the albino sorcerer Elric, last king of decadent Melnibon�, and his sentient vampiric sword, Stormbringer, he set out to create a new kind of fantasy adventure, one that broke with tradition and reflected a more up-to-date sophistication of theme and style. The result was a bold and unique hero - weak in body, subtle in mind, dependent on drugs for the vitality to sustain himself - with great crimes behind him and a greater destiny ahead: a rock-and-roll antihero who would channel all the violent excesses of the '60s into one enduring archetype. Now presented in the author's preferred story order, the classic Elric saga.
User reviews
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
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
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
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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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LibraryThing member JHemlock
This volume contains four of Moorcock's Elric stories, in the order which they took place not the order they were written in. Elric of Melnibone, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Sea of Fate and The Weird of the White Wolf. The review will be for the volume as a whole but also directed
It is actually hard to begin because I am such awe of Moorcock's writing style. In regards to fantasy it is hard for me to hold any character in higher esteem than Conan The Cimmerian. But Elric...well Elric is right on par with our Sullen Northerner. These two characters were created by the hands of fate to be a direct contrast to each other. Elric is chaotic, he is evil, but he does have a slight moral compass that REPEATEDLY goes astray and when it does EVERYBODY suffers for his actions and quite honestly his regrets are short, bitter and cast aside in order to keep his momentum going. He forsakes his race, his subjects and anything of any sensibility for his own purpose. call it a more than critical wanderlust if you will.
The first story, Elric of Melnibone introduces the character, compounds his tragedy, both personal and direct. Moorcock's penmanship is like poetic music that climbs on your back and with one arm, covers your eyes and with the other grabs your throat and chokes the reader to the ground. IT IS BRILLIANT. Elric is a fantastic character who over the last 60 years has been copied and bastardized. Hellboy, The Witcher, Game of Thrones and countless other fantasy franchises owe this writer and his creation a debt of gratitude. If you think Elric is tragic after reading this first book. Hold on to your potatoes because it's about to get dark.
Then there is Stormbringer. Elric's moaning, caterwauling and much demanding, soul stealing blade. The first story highlights it's discovery and the twisted bond that develops between the sword and its wielder. The push and pull of the two come together to form a relationship born in fire and chaos. In short...you can smell this book, the fog, fire, the sea, the blood and Elric's beating and sickly heart are in the reader's face with no apologies. The song of Stormbringer echoes and it is loud.
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more for the first book. It is actually hard to begin because I am such awe of Moorcock's writing style. In regards to fantasy it is hard for me to hold any character in higher esteem than Conan The Cimmerian. But Elric...well Elric is right on par with our Sullen Northerner. These two characters were created by the hands of fate to be a direct contrast to each other. Elric is chaotic, he is evil, but he does have a slight moral compass that REPEATEDLY goes astray and when it does EVERYBODY suffers for his actions and quite honestly his regrets are short, bitter and cast aside in order to keep his momentum going. He forsakes his race, his subjects and anything of any sensibility for his own purpose. call it a more than critical wanderlust if you will.
The first story, Elric of Melnibone introduces the character, compounds his tragedy, both personal and direct. Moorcock's penmanship is like poetic music that climbs on your back and with one arm, covers your eyes and with the other grabs your throat and chokes the reader to the ground. IT IS BRILLIANT. Elric is a fantastic character who over the last 60 years has been copied and bastardized. Hellboy, The Witcher, Game of Thrones and countless other fantasy franchises owe this writer and his creation a debt of gratitude. If you think Elric is tragic after reading this first book. Hold on to your potatoes because it's about to get dark.
Then there is Stormbringer. Elric's moaning, caterwauling and much demanding, soul stealing blade. The first story highlights it's discovery and the twisted bond that develops between the sword and its wielder. The push and pull of the two come together to form a relationship born in fire and chaos. In short...you can smell this book, the fog, fire, the sea, the blood and Elric's beating and sickly heart are in the reader's face with no apologies. The song of Stormbringer echoes and it is loud.
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
752 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
1534445684 / 9781534445680