The Elric Saga PT. I

"There are 6 books in the original Elric saga; Elric of Melnibone is the first. All of them are classics not to be missed. Unlike most modern fantasy works, Moorcock's books have complex plots and are rich in language. Keep a thick dictionary at your side as you read these." -- Glenn G. Thater, Author of 'Harbinger of Doom'

This book includes the first three of the old six book Elric series that Moorcock put out. I was seriously into Moorcocks Elric stuff as a teenager and now after rereading it after all these years I still consider this to be a classic in the fantasy genre. Elric is far from being a typical or cliched fantasy hero, in fact I would label him as an anti-hero. Instead of being a strong chivalric hero Elric is a foppish weakling albino who is kept alive only through the use of drugs and sorcery. He sits on the throne of a declining empire that takes pride in being cruel and unjust to the rest of the world. He comes into possession of a sword that is more or less a demon physically manifested into the form of a black bladed two handed sword. The sword, named Stormbringer, feeds on the souls of those that Elric kills giving Elric their lifeforce and energy. He becomes dependent on Stormbringer like a heroin addict to heroin, needing it and the souls of those that he kills just to function. So yeah like I said not exactly Sir Galahad here. A very dark tale without being overly contrived. I'm surprised more of the black trenchcoat wearing goth/black metal/Marilyn Manson crowd of the younger generation hasn't caught on to the Elric stuff. I really enjoy Moorcocks Mulitiverse/Champion Eternal concept and would put those original Elric stories at the top of the Fantasy heap, second only to Robert E Howard and Tolkiens work.

An Omnibus edition that includes three books. Elric of Melnibone Elric is the emperor of a declining civilisation. It is threated from without, by the 'lesser' races of humanity. He also has to deal with the power plays and ambitions of his relatives, and has his own illnesses to bear, as well. However, he has a plan. He doesn't realise what and who it will cost him to carry it out, as he makes a deal with Chaos. 5 out of 5 The Sailor On the Seas of Fate There are three parts to this book. Sailing to the Future includes the crossover where Elric meets, Erekose, Hawkmoon and Corum aboard the Dark Ship of the Captain. Then there is Sailing to the Present, and Sailing to the Past. The latter is a reworked version of the Jade God's Eyes. 5 out of 5 and The Weird of the White Wolf The Weird of the White Wolf also is a book that contains several smaller pieces of work, namely : The Dream of Earl Aubec The Dreaming City While the Gods Laugh The Singing Citadel The first is a quick Eternal Champion interlude. In the Dreaming City Elric returns to the Dragon Isle to attack his cousin, who is holding his lover captive. While the Gods Laugh show Elric journeying with Moonglum, his version of the Companion to Champions, to find the Dead Gods Book. The Singing Citadel is a building with the properties of a siren, basically. Elric and Moonglum investigate. 4.5 out of 5

Moorcock is an excellent writer. His most obvious talent, to me, is his ability to drive both his story and his character's development via the same dark and despairing prose. Even when he writes the brightest, most gorgeous days, in the Elric saga, they are undercut by a real feeling of weight, depression, despair, and fatalism. This contrast can be shocking, especially if you have not previously read anything else by Moorcock. Moorcock's ability to build a character, and his methods, fall somwhere between Tolkien's action based and Gene Wolfe's sometimes explanatory styles. His prose is as dark as that of Mervyn Peake, though Moorcock is less poetic, and is much more focused on action. This collection of the first three books of the Elric portion of his even larger "Eternal Champion" multiverse, holds, in my opinion, some of the best fantasy available on the market. The story is less predictable an more engaging, more 'different' than I have been accustomed too by years of McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Salvatore, etc. dominating the fantasy fields. Moorcock brings back the strangeness that, almost twenty years ago, enticed me into the genre of fantasy, via Tolkien's books. I do not wish to equate Moorcock to Tolkien. Moorcock is a very, VERY different writer, with a style that is very, VERY much his own. It is a good, strong style. It is even a, dare I say it, UNIQUE style, in a literary genre that is consistently derided for the lack of new works with original writing styles. I highly recommend the purchase of both this collection and its sequel collection, 'The Elric Saga, Part II'. They offer an engaging and enjoyable reading experience.

Next to Tolkein, The Elric Saga is likely the best fantasy ever produced. Moorcock's portrayal of his characters is both vivid and wonderfully done. The power of his prose is flawless, and the books simply grab the reader and hurl them into a land where Chaos and Order strive for the souls of men. Elric is one of the best fantasy characters of all time. If you love fantasy and long for something akin to Tolkein quality, this is the series for you. Moorcock is a master storyteller.