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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
In a world where no one feels guilt or compassion, there lives one man that is different from the rest. Melniboneans are known for doing only what pleases them, with no regard for the feelings of others. They have their rules and customs, but basic human emotions are foreign to them. The one man that stands apart just so happens to be the emperor, Elric. Elric must choose between his budding feelings and ruling the way the people demand. His throne will be challenged, but the questions remains, does he really want to be emperor if he can't rule his way?
Elric of Melnibone is short, sweet, and to the point. It is plot driven, but there is plenty of character development. Don't make the mistake of thinking the book is simple, however. It made me stop and think of what it would be like to be in Elric's situation various times. The plot, characters, action, and sorcery are much deeper than this book's 170 pages. Elric is well worth your time, if you haven't read it I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Elric of Melnibone is short, sweet, and to the point. It is plot driven, but there is plenty of character development. Don't make the mistake of thinking the book is simple, however. It made me stop and think of what it would be like to be in Elric's situation various times. The plot, characters, action, and sorcery are much deeper than this book's 170 pages. Elric is well worth your time, if you haven't read it I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Ahh, Elric. One of the classics of 70′s pre-epic fantasy. It was pretty much what I expected. Filled some folks would probably call “cardboard” characters – although interesting ones, I think – it is quite obviously a product of its times. And I like that.
Things basically just flew by – I mean, it was only ~150 pages! Yet the MC survives an assassination, befriends a few ancient elementals, retakes his throne, submits himself into the service of an ancient chaos god, loses his love, finds his love, chases the enemy into another realm, makes an ally, recovers an ancient and awesomely powerful sword, survives possession by said sword, realizes he and his enemy are, and some other junk…all at breakneck speed.
If you want to read a book, probably in one sitting, where shit just plain happens, 70′s fantasy is the place to go. I think you have to have the right kind of tastes to enjoy this stuff – but I have that kind of taste. In fact…one of my long term goals, if I ever make it to being a career author, is bringing back this type of fantasy & sci-fi. I mean, new paperback are $8 now! EIGHT freakin dollars son. Of course, for that $8 you can get the new Neal Stephenson, also on my reading pile, which clocks in over 900 pages, or a Dresden book at 1/3 the length…so there are still page count bargains out there.
What was my point? Oh yeah, someday I’d like to bring back $4 books – maybe in a format kind of like this. Or, a split book (remember those?) for $4-6 which would have 2 150 page books by two different authors… maybe crosspollinate some readership or some junk. Annnnnnyway….
So yeah, I’ll continue reading the Elric books as I can find them. I prefer original 70′s paperbacks, with those yellow pages and the old bookstore smell….ahh old bookstore smell. I pretty much won’t buy reprints of stuff like this, defeats the whole purpose – plus, the modern formatting can also make them read kind of strange. It’s like a mind game…the cover/page layout/size/paper type/lack of old bookstore smell all trick you into thinking you’re reading a modern book, then the story itself becomes a little jarring. Or maybe it’s just me….
OH. Right.
TWO AND A HALF STARS – it is what it is.
Things basically just flew by – I mean, it was only ~150 pages! Yet the MC survives an assassination, befriends a few ancient elementals, retakes his throne, submits himself into the service of an ancient chaos god, loses his love, finds his love, chases the enemy into another realm, makes an ally, recovers an ancient and awesomely powerful sword, survives possession by said sword, realizes he and his enemy are
If you want to read a book, probably in one sitting, where shit just plain happens, 70′s fantasy is the place to go. I think you have to have the right kind of tastes to enjoy this stuff – but I have that kind of taste. In fact…one of my long term goals, if I ever make it to being a career author, is bringing back this type of fantasy & sci-fi. I mean, new paperback are $8 now! EIGHT freakin dollars son. Of course, for that $8 you can get the new Neal Stephenson, also on my reading pile, which clocks in over 900 pages, or a Dresden book at 1/3 the length…so there are still page count bargains out there.
What was my point? Oh yeah, someday I’d like to bring back $4 books – maybe in a format kind of like this. Or, a split book (remember those?) for $4-6 which would have 2 150 page books by two different authors… maybe crosspollinate some readership or some junk. Annnnnnyway….
So yeah, I’ll continue reading the Elric books as I can find them. I prefer original 70′s paperbacks, with those yellow pages and the old bookstore smell….ahh old bookstore smell. I pretty much won’t buy reprints of stuff like this, defeats the whole purpose – plus, the modern formatting can also make them read kind of strange. It’s like a mind game…the cover/page layout/size/paper type/lack of old bookstore smell all trick you into thinking you’re reading a modern book, then the story itself becomes a little jarring. Or maybe it’s just me….
OH. Right.
TWO AND A HALF STARS – it is what it is.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Torture
Minor: Rape, Cannibalism
The foreword, written by Neil Gaiman in my copy, was significantly better than the actual book. It was just boring.
Picked this up after reading a recent New Yorker piece about Moorcock. Anyone who is more Peake than Tolkien is all right by me.
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/anti-tolkien
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/anti-tolkien
I've read this book about 3 times and I've enjoyed it each time. If this is pulp, it's the epitome of the art form.
Moorcock brings a darkness to his fantasy that we don't really see as much anymore. It's scary, it's heroic, it's tragic and it's good.
Note: This is the first of the original Elric Saga and it's a complete novel. I say that because subsequent books are more akin to collections of short stories and novellas. The notable exception being Stormbringer, the final novel in the original series.
Moorcock brings a darkness to his fantasy that we don't really see as much anymore. It's scary, it's heroic, it's tragic and it's good.
Note: This is the first of the original Elric Saga and it's a complete novel. I say that because subsequent books are more akin to collections of short stories and novellas. The notable exception being Stormbringer, the final novel in the original series.
This was a collection that contains: The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf.
An 800-page collection of stories and novellas that proceed the first novel. I found the quality to grow with each story. The first was good but a little boring, but then it gradually got darker and more literary. These stories are from the '60s and '70s and the style seems very influential to the gritter, more realistic side of dark fantasy. I was a big fan of the Witcher series, and now I see that this must have been an influence. Reminds me of Robert E. Howard meets Brian Lumley, maybe a little bit of Dune.
This is a fantasy collection about the existential terror of power. There are wizards, monsters, beautiful maidens, moral quandaries, and swordfights with minor gods. Each of these stories has traditional but imaginative threats. There's adventure and boat rides and he goes to different lands. If it were simpler, it could be a light fantasy. But at the center of all this is a barbarian hero with whom something is wrong. Elric is an heir to a kingdom known for their brutality, he is a learned man and soldier fit to be a king but rebels. Like Conan, he is a powerful warrior who seeks to understand and enforce moral rights in a morally ambiguous world. But he is too powerful. He finds a sword early on that radiates magic, which cuts any man down like nothing and eats a man's soul. At first, he is proud to be formidable but the sword starts to eat him too. He becomes monstrous. He's the hero and the villain, striking down dozens, eating their souls, and trying to be the good guy. But something isn't working. He is like a hero as a cancer. Elric cannot escape power's effect on a person and though there is combat and the saving of kingdoms, the real struggle is to preserve one's own humanity.
An 800-page collection of stories and novellas that proceed the first novel. I found the quality to grow with each story. The first was good but a little boring, but then it gradually got darker and more literary. These stories are from the '60s and '70s and the style seems very influential to the gritter, more realistic side of dark fantasy. I was a big fan of the Witcher series, and now I see that this must have been an influence. Reminds me of Robert E. Howard meets Brian Lumley, maybe a little bit of Dune.
This is a fantasy collection about the existential terror of power. There are wizards, monsters, beautiful maidens, moral quandaries, and swordfights with minor gods. Each of these stories has traditional but imaginative threats. There's adventure and boat rides and he goes to different lands. If it were simpler, it could be a light fantasy. But at the center of all this is a barbarian hero with whom something is wrong. Elric is an heir to a kingdom known for their brutality, he is a learned man and soldier fit to be a king but rebels. Like Conan, he is a powerful warrior who seeks to understand and enforce moral rights in a morally ambiguous world. But he is too powerful. He finds a sword early on that radiates magic, which cuts any man down like nothing and eats a man's soul. At first, he is proud to be formidable but the sword starts to eat him too. He becomes monstrous. He's the hero and the villain, striking down dozens, eating their souls, and trying to be the good guy. But something isn't working. He is like a hero as a cancer. Elric cannot escape power's effect on a person and though there is combat and the saving of kingdoms, the real struggle is to preserve one's own humanity.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes