Take a photo of a barcode or cover
marthmuffins's reviews
304 reviews
Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
5.0
An overall brilliant collection of fantasy stories from Michael Moorcock. I would recommend internal chronological order over published order.
Elric of Melniboné - ****
Released in 1972 Elric of Melniboné is a prequel to the Elric Saga but can definitely be read beforehand. It introduces Elric, Albino Prince of Ruins, before he became the wandering antihero of earlier and later books and still has hope that Melniboné can better itself. This introduces many of the important characters in the Elric Saga such as Yyrkoon, Cymoril, Dyvim Tvar and, of course, Stormbringer Elric's sword and Elric's curse.
It is a fun, engaging story with great action and many a moody introspective moment from Elric, he heads to many weird and crazy locations such as the world Stormbringer is found on and Melniboné itself. While great, something didn't fully connect for me as much as the other stories as well as so this is nocked the book down down a star.
The Fortress of the Pearl - *****
Released in 1989, this is my second favourite story in the collection, Elric journey's into the mind of of a tribe's holy girl alongside the Dreamthief Oone so as to retrieve the Pearl from the fortress in her mind and save himself, the girl and a boy held hostage in the nearby city of Quarzhasaat.
This was a brilliant, if a little long, story that fully dives into the weirdness of Moorcock's Multiverse with the walk through the Dreamland's with Oone and the things they find there. Satisfying all the way through I enjoyed the ending especially.
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - *****
Released in 1976, this is my favourite story of the entire collection. Escaping capture on a ship that seems to travel between the dimensions of the multiverse, Elric ends up meeting incarnations of himself from other worlds, becoming stranded in a strange pocket dimension all before returning home and traveling to an ancient lost city where his long lost ancestors lived long ago.
This fully embraces the strange possibilities of the multiverse, including a team up with popular Moorcock protagonists Hawkmoon, Corum and Erekose and weird adventures through other dimensions and into ancient eldrich cities in forgotten forests. Definitely my favourite Elric story so far.
The Dreaming City - ***
Released in 1961, The Dreaming City is the first Elric story and it shows. A bitter Elric, cheated by his cousin of his birthright and beloved, plots revenge.
This felt incredibly rushed and ever so slightly out of character for Elric. It seems strange that he'd go from a man seeking to change Melniboné for the better into. It feels as if something is missing to explain why Elric has suddenly become this way which is mostly due to this being written before the previous stories.
While the Gods Laugh - ***1/2
Released in 1961, While the Gods Laugh is an improvement over The Dreaming City. Elric meets a woman from a winged race and together they search for the book of the Ultimate Truth.
This story is better than the previous one with a little more character given to the cast and a fair amount of lovely angst for Elric. This is also the introduction of Moonglum who I understand is important in the later Elric stories. But apart from the ending and Moonglum this story isn't too memorable for me.
The Singing Citadel - ****
Released in 1967, The Singing Citadel is a great short story for Elric. Elric is approached by the Queen of Jhakor to investigate a mysterious singing citadel that has appeared in the West of her nation.
I found this story fun with a great central concept behind it as well as further exploration of the workings of the multiverse and the Lord's of Chaos. Some great weird imagery inside the citadel itself but apart from that I've nothing much else to say, great short story.
Overall
Overall I'd definitely recommend this collection to fans of fantasy, sword and sorcery, angsty protagonists, Michael Moorcock and weird and fun concepts.
Elric of Melniboné - ****
Released in 1972 Elric of Melniboné is a prequel to the Elric Saga but can definitely be read beforehand. It introduces Elric, Albino Prince of Ruins, before he became the wandering antihero of earlier and later books and still has hope that Melniboné can better itself. This introduces many of the important characters in the Elric Saga such as Yyrkoon, Cymoril, Dyvim Tvar and, of course, Stormbringer Elric's sword and Elric's curse.
It is a fun, engaging story with great action and many a moody introspective moment from Elric, he heads to many weird and crazy locations such as the world Stormbringer is found on and Melniboné itself. While great, something didn't fully connect for me as much as the other stories as well as
Spoiler
the reason Elric leaves and places who he does in charge annoyed meThe Fortress of the Pearl - *****
Released in 1989, this is my second favourite story in the collection, Elric journey's into the mind of of a tribe's holy girl alongside the Dreamthief Oone so as to retrieve the Pearl from the fortress in her mind and save himself, the girl and a boy held hostage in the nearby city of Quarzhasaat.
This was a brilliant, if a little long, story that fully dives into the weirdness of Moorcock's Multiverse with the walk through the Dreamland's with Oone and the things they find there. Satisfying all the way through I enjoyed the ending especially.
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - *****
Released in 1976, this is my favourite story of the entire collection. Escaping capture on a ship that seems to travel between the dimensions of the multiverse, Elric ends up meeting incarnations of himself from other worlds, becoming stranded in a strange pocket dimension all before returning home and traveling to an ancient lost city where his long lost ancestors lived long ago.
This fully embraces the strange possibilities of the multiverse, including a team up with popular Moorcock protagonists Hawkmoon, Corum and Erekose and weird adventures through other dimensions and into ancient eldrich cities in forgotten forests. Definitely my favourite Elric story so far.
The Dreaming City - ***
Released in 1961, The Dreaming City is the first Elric story and it shows. A bitter Elric, cheated by his cousin of his birthright and beloved, plots revenge.
This felt incredibly rushed and ever so slightly out of character for Elric. It seems strange that he'd go from a man seeking to change Melniboné for the better into
Spoiler
the man bend on destroying itWhile the Gods Laugh - ***1/2
Released in 1961, While the Gods Laugh is an improvement over The Dreaming City. Elric meets a woman from a winged race and together they search for the book of the Ultimate Truth.
This story is better than the previous one with a little more character given to the cast and a fair amount of lovely angst for Elric. This is also the introduction of Moonglum who I understand is important in the later Elric stories. But apart from the ending and Moonglum this story isn't too memorable for me.
The Singing Citadel - ****
Released in 1967, The Singing Citadel is a great short story for Elric. Elric is approached by the Queen of Jhakor to investigate a mysterious singing citadel that has appeared in the West of her nation.
I found this story fun with a great central concept behind it as well as further exploration of the workings of the multiverse and the Lord's of Chaos. Some great weird imagery inside the citadel itself but apart from that I've nothing much else to say, great short story.
Overall
Overall I'd definitely recommend this collection to fans of fantasy, sword and sorcery, angsty protagonists, Michael Moorcock and weird and fun concepts.
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
4.0
A good follow up to the first book in the trilogy Foundation.
The book is split into 2 parts, the first dealing with another Seldon Crisis (dealing with the remains of the Galactic Empire) and the longer and more interesting second part were a curveball called the Mule is introduced, disrupting Seldon's careful planning and leading the protagonists to go on the search for the Second Foundation.
If you enjoyed the first in the series definitely pick up the sequel.
The book is split into 2 parts, the first dealing with another Seldon Crisis (dealing with the remains of the Galactic Empire) and the longer and more interesting second part were a curveball called the Mule is introduced, disrupting Seldon's careful planning and leading the protagonists to go on the search for the Second Foundation.
If you enjoyed the first in the series definitely pick up the sequel.
Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
4.0
3.75
Legitimately soul destroying. Could've probably been easily cut in half but I loved spending every second with Fitz as he washed his clothes, hunted, slept and has crippling mental breakdowns as he suffers constantly, all described in excruciating detail! Nighteyes, also a big bonus. Conclusion could've been smoother to, it's almost as if Hobb forgot that she should probably have one and just rushed it within the last 40 odd pages.
Would recommend the series to all those wanting to follow abused boys through their early life into early adulthood.
Legitimately soul destroying. Could've probably been easily cut in half but I loved spending every second with Fitz as he washed his clothes, hunted, slept and has crippling mental breakdowns as he suffers constantly, all described in excruciating detail! Nighteyes, also a big bonus. Conclusion could've been smoother to, it's almost as if Hobb forgot that she should probably have one and just rushed it within the last 40 odd pages.
Would recommend the series to all those wanting to follow abused boys through their early life into early adulthood.