Reviews

Elric Melnibonélainen by Michael Moorcock

eauderat's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

outcolder's review against another edition

4.0

At first I was a bit surprised by the writing style, which was somewhere between juvenile literature and the matter-of-fact bluntness of viking sagas. I mean it was kind of a rockier path to tread than other Moorcock fantasies I have read. The simple style belies the themes he is introducing. Elric wants to be a good guy, but he is the emperor of an evil kingdom and so torn between his "strange ideas" and "tradition." I think anyone growing up with some privilege in this world is in a similar situation. If we do what is expected of us, we are just keeping the remnants of imperialism chugging along even though we know it is doomed to fail sooner or later. So that's like how once Melnibone was the center or power and trade in the world but they know it will one be overwhelmed by the "young kingdoms." It is done in a way where it is fanciful enough that you can just get into the story like a fairy tale, only a nerd like me would be like, "oh, Melnibone is like London or New York..." because it's not. Not at all. But then again. Also, there are the Faustian pacts which appear in other Moorcock stories as well, the hero knows he is being manipulated by forces he is trying to resist but he needs to work with those forces anyhow to attain his goals and he doesn't know the full extent of the manipulation or the motivation behind it. We think we are individuals making our own decisions all day long: what to eat, what to say in the meeting, who to vote for, what to wear... but all the while we are being manipulated and we can't really know if it was really the right thing to do and in the meantime the princess is a prisoner and we gotta go rescue her. If you follow my drift. I think there are other Moorcock books that I liked more, but I can definitely see why this series is always near the top of best of lists of 20th century fantasy stories, right up there with Tolkien and Le Guin.

birdybird's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.75

I was (delightfully) surprised to find Elric’s character as engaging as it was. Same goes for the simultaneous straightforward yet detailed  descriptions on the part of Moorcock - who certainly knows how to build a world from the groundwork up.
Pacing can get wonky, some conflicts feel rather quickly resolved (like Grome) and there is some sentence level wording things that would occasionally give me pause but overall a solid read and I look forward to reading the emotional devastation  later works.

vassooo's review against another edition

DNF at 15%.

Usually I don't read books without a lot of romance or sex or both until I do. So I warn you that this review points some of my fanfiction tendencies.

For that problem I thought I found the perfect solution but it didn't work. While reading the story I it bored me and to cure that I started imagining a story with Elric where we were doing 18rated things whenever wherever, cocooned by his white hair. It wasn't enough.

Then I tried imagining Elric or me giving a good spanking to Yyrkoon so all this angst and drama could be avoided and turn to enemies to lovers trope. That worked for a little bit.

Other than my fantasies I appreciated the twist against consumerism culture where you utilize your prisoners as food but at last I realised even if is good is not my thing. Writing was not my style. I don't know how to describe it exactly. The usual-poetic-epic-fantasy style. It tires me and disconnects me a little from the characters, but I guess most fantasy readers will like it. For example,

"Their clothes had been torn from them, but their bodies were clothed in blood from tiny wounds, precise but severe, made by the artist who stood, scalpel in hand, surveying his handiwork. The artist was tail and very thin, almost like a skeleton in his stained, white garments. "

The artist is the torturer turned poetic by the butcher work if you are wondering.

Famous last words before I dnf where a dying captain dies with a cup of tea in his hands.

"One knee bent, one leg stretched behind him, Elric began to withdraw the long sword, looking up into the barbarian’s face which had now assumed an expression of reconciliation. ‘That was unfair, Whiteface. We had barely begun to talk and you cut the conversation short. You are most skillful. May you writhe forever in the Higher Hell. Farewell.’"

dvri's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

will_cherico's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a super intriguing book and a great introduction to the larger multiverse of Moorcock after finishing his Dorian Hawkmoon quadrilogy. Elric is a disabled philosopher emperor whose hedonist land of Melniboné makes for an incredible setting, supplemented by Moorcock's impressive and never intrusive worldbuilding. There isn't a bit of fat on this story - it's all the best parts of contemplative and pulpy fantasy, and the finale of Elric's chase after his evil cousin Yrkoon sets up the next entry perfectly.

mark_m's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

Really enjoyed the world building and characters within the world of Melnibone! Straight on to book 2!

halynah's review against another edition

1.0

One of the worst books I've ever read. Writing style - appalling, plot - primitive, world building - laughable, characters - all morons. I am floored

takumo_n's review against another edition

5.0

I was not expecting this to be this good and imaginative. The story of an emperor that challenges the destiny that his very gods had intended for him, going through different lands and realms of reality, with their own rules and magic, was endlessly creative and interesting. Now I understand why this was so influential.

montescrito's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0