Scan barcode
adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Golden Age Masterworks paperback collects all six Jirel stories which were originally published in Weird Tales magazine in the 1930s.
With Jirel, Catherine Moore created a strong female character in the male dominated pulp fiction of the sword and sorcery genre.
Before Xena or Red Sonja there was Jirel, the fiercest and most relentless warrior in the land of Joiry which appears to be based on medieval France.
With her flaming red hair and yellow eyes she cuts quite the figure.
The first tale, Black God's Kiss starts in the midst of the action as the kingdom has been captured and Jirel is at the mercy of Guillaume. The situation changes fast as she's not only defiant but her anger takes her on a quest into Hell itself to find a weapon to help regain freedom and to have her revenge.
Although handy with a sword or knife she's no pale copy of Conan but a new kind of hero forever simmering with rage and it's this strong will that sees her triumph against foes that lesser mortals would run from.
These are tales of magic, demons and other worlds, dangerous quests and impossible odds.
Only one of the stories has more of a sci-fi flavour and that is Quest of the Starstone which was co-written with her husband Henry Kuttner.
There's a descriptive quality to the prose which shows great artistry. These aren't just pulp fantasy tales quickly dashed off but character building, immersive stories of blood, honour and righteousness.
Maybe not as prolific as Robert E Howard or Poe or Rice Burroughs but she deserves to be as well known.
'Anger burned out all trace of fear as she remembered the scorn in that ringing laugh.'
With Jirel, Catherine Moore created a strong female character in the male dominated pulp fiction of the sword and sorcery genre.
Before Xena or Red Sonja there was Jirel, the fiercest and most relentless warrior in the land of Joiry which appears to be based on medieval France.
With her flaming red hair and yellow eyes she cuts quite the figure.
The first tale, Black God's Kiss starts in the midst of the action as the kingdom has been captured and Jirel is at the mercy of Guillaume. The situation changes fast as she's not only defiant but her anger takes her on a quest into Hell itself to find a weapon to help regain freedom and to have her revenge.
Although handy with a sword or knife she's no pale copy of Conan but a new kind of hero forever simmering with rage and it's this strong will that sees her triumph against foes that lesser mortals would run from.
These are tales of magic, demons and other worlds, dangerous quests and impossible odds.
Only one of the stories has more of a sci-fi flavour and that is Quest of the Starstone which was co-written with her husband Henry Kuttner.
There's a descriptive quality to the prose which shows great artistry. These aren't just pulp fantasy tales quickly dashed off but character building, immersive stories of blood, honour and righteousness.
Maybe not as prolific as Robert E Howard or Poe or Rice Burroughs but she deserves to be as well known.
'Anger burned out all trace of fear as she remembered the scorn in that ringing laugh.'
sailor_marmar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mikepalumbo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
themorbidcorvid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mankan's review against another edition
2.0
Podcast review (swedish) http://lashart.podbean.com/e/cl-moore-jirel-of-joiry/
aceti_wonders's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
smiorganbaldhead's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5. (Vague spoilers.) I really enjoyed these stories. In particular, I enjoyed the first two stories’ exploration of the consequences of revenge. Still, I wish the central relationship in those stories had been more developed. Jirel’s romantic feelings in the second story are strange, though perhaps they are a magical consequence of her actions in the first story. The plot would have still worked if her feelings were of compassion and pity without being romantic. In the later stories, Jirel’s “violence” takes a magical quality, giving her power but also luring her back into the same mistake from the first story. In this way, the final line of the last story is tragic, and perhaps dramatic irony as Jirel doesn’t seem to see the parallel with her previous actions.
eric_conrad's review against another edition
4.0
Jirel, the heroine, has these adventures that are dark, brooding and puzzling. I wonder if they are meant to be allegorical in nature.
I can see Lovecraft here and as someone who enjoys the work of Michael Moorcock and his character Elric, I can appreciate the mood of the Jirel stories.
I can see Lovecraft here and as someone who enjoys the work of Michael Moorcock and his character Elric, I can appreciate the mood of the Jirel stories.