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A review by tgnewman
Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
4.0
General Overview
A short, punchy bit of pulp fantasy, Elric of Melniboné is a classic hero, who helped create the genre as we see it today.
Style
[a:Michael Moorcock|16939|Michael Moorcock|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] has a classic style for the story of Elric. It is nothing fancy, or new, but it is done very well. With the age of this story, it is clear to see how it went on to effect the genre to come.
Mr Moorcock's descriptions are strong. I very quickly picked up the feel of Melniboné, the intrigue therein, and the world around it. It seeps with age and grandeur, and hints at the darkness of its people. The minor elements of horror are well used, along with the great sense of mystery to some of the forces and powers in the world of Elric.
Story
This is Elric's origin story. How he came to wield the sword, Stormbringer, and the eventual doom that will befall Melniboné and its people. This I know, because this novel was written after the original stories of Elric were published in magazines. Later on, they were compiled into novels, including the origins of Elric.
This novel does not assume that knowledge however; a benefit to it.
Elric is a dark hero, tortured by his own morality. Emperor of ancient Melniboné, he does not think like emperor's before him, or embrace Melniboné culture. This is the cause of the main conflict in the story. We see Elric, over the course of his adventures grow and change, for the better and the worse.
There are a collection of minor characters, but all pale against our albino hero. None of them really stood out to me, and all just seems tools of the author and Elric to advance the plot.
Final Thoughts
A great piece of pulp-fantasy history to read. Not the most creative or original story, but one worth reading regardless.
A short, punchy bit of pulp fantasy, Elric of Melniboné is a classic hero, who helped create the genre as we see it today.
Style
[a:Michael Moorcock|16939|Michael Moorcock|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg] has a classic style for the story of Elric. It is nothing fancy, or new, but it is done very well. With the age of this story, it is clear to see how it went on to effect the genre to come.
Mr Moorcock's descriptions are strong. I very quickly picked up the feel of Melniboné, the intrigue therein, and the world around it. It seeps with age and grandeur, and hints at the darkness of its people. The minor elements of horror are well used, along with the great sense of mystery to some of the forces and powers in the world of Elric.
Story
This is Elric's origin story. How he came to wield the sword, Stormbringer, and the eventual doom that will befall Melniboné and its people. This I know, because this novel was written after the original stories of Elric were published in magazines. Later on, they were compiled into novels, including the origins of Elric.
This novel does not assume that knowledge however; a benefit to it.
Elric is a dark hero, tortured by his own morality. Emperor of ancient Melniboné, he does not think like emperor's before him, or embrace Melniboné culture. This is the cause of the main conflict in the story. We see Elric, over the course of his adventures grow and change, for the better and the worse.
There are a collection of minor characters, but all pale against our albino hero. None of them really stood out to me, and all just seems tools of the author and Elric to advance the plot.
Final Thoughts
A great piece of pulp-fantasy history to read. Not the most creative or original story, but one worth reading regardless.