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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I've been in the mood for some classic SF/F lately, and since I've been meaning to re-read the Elric saga this seemed like the perfect, timely choice.
What to Expect
A swords-and-sorcery prequel to one of the most famous heroes of fantasy. Moorcock wrote the original stories in the 1960's, but revisited Elric throughout the coming decades. I set out to read the original tales, but started with this prequel that was written when all the first stories were collected into volumes in the early 70's. Publishing, it seems, has always been a madhouse.
The story tells about how Elric came into possession of Stormbringer, his demonic sword. His character here is not as cynical and self-proclaimed evil as in the previous stories, but that is an artefact of Moorcock painting the picture of how Elric got to be the way he is.
What I liked
There is a certain charm (but see below) in old-style swords-and-sorcery. Not every book that has medieval weapons and mages is S&S, there are certain elements of style that stretch from Conan onwards: the personal rather than grandiose conflicts, the low-magic high-adventure, and often a sense of ennui accompanying the hero.
The writing style was interesting, employing a choice of words and sentence construction that fits well with the vaguely archaic saga-feeling and that one does not often see today. Elric himself is somewhat more relatable in this volume than the original stories, but in true pulp style having a character *interesting* is not the same as *sympathetic* - don't expect the deep attachment common in today's prurient YA styles.
I also enjoyed the cosmology and mythology, done in a style that perfectly fits the blurry border between Sci-Fi and Fantasy, the tone of low-magic Swords & Sorcery and themes common in the era (order vs chaos), and it probably a big factor in the series overall success.
What to be aware of
This word is dated, and it's emulating a style even older (that of the pulps). There are certainly things that would look so to a modern reader, from the adverb-heavy descriptions to the rampant chauvinism. This is the style of work that was never meant to be inclusive for women or anyone beyond the "typically masculine" hero. It is interesting to read in context, but even for the time it was written there were already plenty of SF/F works that were ahead of their times, rather harking going back.
Felix's Review
Felix found this a lot more relatable. Probably because he himself comes from an older culture. He enjoyed the adventure, could see the dangers of emperors and their cruelties, and while he sympathises with the benefits of using magic and demonic swords, he'd rather keep otherworldly beings where they belong - elsewhere.
Summary
It's a dated work, and it shows. I'd recommend it for those trying to explore classic Swords & Sorcery, to learn from both the (good) style of storytelling and the (bad) way of handling diversity.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
A swords-and-sorcery prequel to one of the most famous heroes of fantasy. Moorcock wrote the original stories in the 1960's, but revisited Elric throughout the coming decades. I set out to read the original tales, but started with this prequel that was written when all the first stories were collected into volumes in the early 70's. Publishing, it seems, has always been a madhouse.
The story tells about how Elric came into possession of Stormbringer, his demonic sword. His character here is not as cynical and self-proclaimed evil as in the previous stories, but that is an artefact of Moorcock painting the picture of how Elric got to be the way he is.
What I liked
There is a certain charm (but see below) in old-style swords-and-sorcery. Not every book that has medieval weapons and mages is S&S, there are certain elements of style that stretch from Conan onwards: the personal rather than grandiose conflicts, the low-magic high-adventure, and often a sense of ennui accompanying the hero.
The writing style was interesting, employing a choice of words and sentence construction that fits well with the vaguely archaic saga-feeling and that one does not often see today. Elric himself is somewhat more relatable in this volume than the original stories, but in true pulp style having a character *interesting* is not the same as *sympathetic* - don't expect the deep attachment common in today's prurient YA styles.
I also enjoyed the cosmology and mythology, done in a style that perfectly fits the blurry border between Sci-Fi and Fantasy, the tone of low-magic Swords & Sorcery and themes common in the era (order vs chaos), and it probably a big factor in the series overall success.
What to be aware of
This word is dated, and it's emulating a style even older (that of the pulps). There are certainly things that would look so to a modern reader, from the adverb-heavy descriptions to the rampant chauvinism. This is the style of work that was never meant to be inclusive for women or anyone beyond the "typically masculine" hero. It is interesting to read in context, but even for the time it was written there were already plenty of SF/F works that were ahead of their times, rather harking going back.
Felix's Review
Felix found this a lot more relatable. Probably because he himself comes from an older culture. He enjoyed the adventure, could see the dangers of emperors and their cruelties, and while he sympathises with the benefits of using magic and demonic swords, he'd rather keep otherworldly beings where they belong - elsewhere.
Summary
It's a dated work, and it shows. I'd recommend it for those trying to explore classic Swords & Sorcery, to learn from both the (good) style of storytelling and the (bad) way of handling diversity.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Some characters you like, some you love, some you loath, or simply have no patience for. Then... then there are those characters that you find inexplicably drawn to, as if in finding them, you find fractals of your own reflection looking back. Elric has been long been that character for me. Broken, morally conflicted, physically deficient, hopeful and hopeless and beautifully flawed. Elric, so obsessed with what could be that he often fails to appreciate the present moment.
Beautifully detailed dreamscapes, civilisations, and complex characters; monsters written so vividly it makes your skin crawl. Moorcock is a master weaver of fantasy. This is a complicated saga of an albino emperor who seems cursed to be an eternal plaything of the gods, of his soul sword, his misplaced confidence in others, and his adventures throughout the Young Kingdoms, seeking answers to questions he can barely define.
Oddly enough, I don’t generally recommend Moorcock’s antihero often, or lightly. Sword & sorcery are a genre highly susceptible to ones own personal convictions, and I would recommend the book/s to mature audiences familiar with high/epic fantasy realms.
In the end, I know that, whatever books the world holds, however many I read, I will always return to Elric, and the Dreaming City will always welcome me home.
Beautifully detailed dreamscapes, civilisations, and complex characters; monsters written so vividly it makes your skin crawl. Moorcock is a master weaver of fantasy. This is a complicated saga of an albino emperor who seems cursed to be an eternal plaything of the gods, of his soul sword, his misplaced confidence in others, and his adventures throughout the Young Kingdoms, seeking answers to questions he can barely define.
Oddly enough, I don’t generally recommend Moorcock’s antihero often, or lightly. Sword & sorcery are a genre highly susceptible to ones own personal convictions, and I would recommend the book/s to mature audiences familiar with high/epic fantasy realms.
In the end, I know that, whatever books the world holds, however many I read, I will always return to Elric, and the Dreaming City will always welcome me home.
It would be really easy to dismiss Elric as tropey pulp fantasy. I mean, it absolutely IS that. But this is a character that first appeared in 1961 and a book that only came together in the early 70s. If anything D&D owes more to Moorcock than even Tolkien.
This is why when Elric is doing some his most stupid emo-princelinging, it helps to remember that pretty much everyone from Drizzt to Lotar and even Kylo Ren can trace their creative lineage back to the original mopey prince of pulp.
This is why when Elric is doing some his most stupid emo-princelinging, it helps to remember that pretty much everyone from Drizzt to Lotar and even Kylo Ren can trace their creative lineage back to the original mopey prince of pulp.
I read this as part of the eBook collection "Elric of Melniboné" which includes the first four chronological novellas, so this review is encompassing that collection.
The Elric novels have been a hole in my fantasy history. I've owned a few for a while but only got around to reading it when my book club picked it. I struggle to rate them with stars because by modern standards, they aren't really my cup of tea, but as part of the foundation of fantasy, they are interesting to explore.
Elric is maybe the original fantasy anti-hero, and I know he's inspired a lot of my favorites. In Elric I see the ancestor of Morpheus, of Geralt, of Harry Dresden, of so many of the tall, pale, brooding figures just trying to punch a few evil doers while wondering how far from true north their own moral compass has wandered.
The plots themselves are pulpy and commercial, the non-Elric characters are pretty flimsy, and the women are basically just there for Elric to rescue and/or have sex with, so they aren't really what I look for in a novel, but I'm giving it the four stars because I know my books wouldn't have evolved to where they are to day with this series.
The Elric novels have been a hole in my fantasy history. I've owned a few for a while but only got around to reading it when my book club picked it. I struggle to rate them with stars because by modern standards, they aren't really my cup of tea, but as part of the foundation of fantasy, they are interesting to explore.
Elric is maybe the original fantasy anti-hero, and I know he's inspired a lot of my favorites. In Elric I see the ancestor of Morpheus, of Geralt, of Harry Dresden, of so many of the tall, pale, brooding figures just trying to punch a few evil doers while wondering how far from true north their own moral compass has wandered.
The plots themselves are pulpy and commercial, the non-Elric characters are pretty flimsy, and the women are basically just there for Elric to rescue and/or have sex with, so they aren't really what I look for in a novel, but I'm giving it the four stars because I know my books wouldn't have evolved to where they are to day with this series.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been meaning to try reading some fantasy but I was put off by all the long series of thick books.
I became aware of this because of the plagiarism lawsuit against the Witcher books, saw that it was under 200 pages and gave it a try.
First off it’s so cheesy it belongs in a fondue and the cover belongs on the side of a 1970’s van, that said I really enjoyed it. Elric is a flawed, brooding scholar and reluctant antihero not the typical mindless brute of the sword and sorcery genre. There’s is absolutely no fat on this tale though it covers a lot of ground . Elric makes deals with gods and demons to rescue his love from the clutches of his jerk of a usurping cousin and go dungeon questing for the legendary black sword stormbringer.
Good times, I’ll read the next one!
I became aware of this because of the plagiarism lawsuit against the Witcher books, saw that it was under 200 pages and gave it a try.
First off it’s so cheesy it belongs in a fondue and the cover belongs on the side of a 1970’s van, that said I really enjoyed it. Elric is a flawed, brooding scholar and reluctant antihero not the typical mindless brute of the sword and sorcery genre. There’s is absolutely no fat on this tale though it covers a lot of ground . Elric makes deals with gods and demons to rescue his love from the clutches of his jerk of a usurping cousin and go dungeon questing for the legendary black sword stormbringer.
Good times, I’ll read the next one!
Rock N Rolll!!!! Also, kinda fruity (and we love that for it). The Elric Saga is looking like it could quite well become a new favorite series of mine!
I have more thoughts, remind me to return to this review!
I have more thoughts, remind me to return to this review!