The White Wolf's Son: The Albino Underground

Far from being played out, Moorcock writes with as much power as ever. Certainly he's lost the adolescent obsessions which powered his early work and made his Stormbringer so overwhelming to those of us who began reading his work in their late teens and early twenties, but as The Vengeance of Rome, his latest book, shows, he's still full of energy and invention. The problem with writing riffs on old themes, of course, is that the mature writer has to use a form developed by his old self. In my view Moorcock has solved this problem by shifting attention away from the angst of his central character to the point of view of a rather mature little girl (clearly based on Alice). A good, intelligent read by someone who has thought long and hard about the relations between romance and reality.

I've been reading Moorcock for over 20 years and he just keeps getting better. If you are looking for traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy like the original series, you will be disappointed. Moorcock has moved past that, so enjoy it for what it is. This is still fantasy, but it's expanded so that it's new and fresh (unlike most fantasy being published). He also takes time to criticize religious fanatics, and the current administration of George Bush. A brilliant author who deserves a wider audience.

The last two Elric novels were pretty "deep and heavy" with the style and thoughts of Count Von Bek. A lot of pondering and musing and such. I was quite surprised to see this one was written from the perspective of a bright 12 year old. It made the book easy to read through. The events that take place are confusing, interesting, shocking as always. The story explains a lot about Elric and his 1000 year dream. That is, if you are familiar with other work of Moorcock such as the Multiverse graphic novel. Turns out he has been in "our realm" for nearly thousand years, trying to get to his blade and partake in the world's history. Yes, Elric (our Monsieur Zodiac) isn't on every page, but it is obvious that Elric is the main character. He is the one. No other champion has his burden and his power. Many familiar characters show up, Bastable, Hawkmoon, Erekose, Gaynor and Klosterheim are to name a few. And Oona ofcourse. Though the white wolf's son (Onric) plays a relative small part it all makes sense in the end. Until now Onric never played a part in the stories, yet he is the key to the whole cycle it seems. Heralded as the 'end of the saga' it leaves me as always with both answers and questions. Elric restores the balance in this book and apparently thus saving the multiverse from destruction. So now he can go back to his own world and destroy then remake his and other worlds. While doing this he finally rids the multiverse of Gaynor..for now..I get that. Good. Great closure. Now the questions (and they are of the type that make me jump up and down and want to read more stories!) DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS (in that case go buy the book and read for your self!) Onric, Elric's son, lives on in "our realm" as John Daker..The character that is said to know (or maybe even be the cause) for the curse of the Eternal Champion. OooOOOooOO..what did he do? what is the secret? That one is still not completely answered as far as I know! In short: Great book, surprising twists. Mr. Moorcock does it again. Kudos.

I've been reading Moorcock's works for nearly forty years. Needless to say I'm hopelessly hooked. It has been my unadulterated pleasure to play spectator to this great writer's constantly growing skills. It seems as though as my tastes have matured, so Moorcock has always been there to coax me forward into more complex literary delicacies. Whereas the early Elric stories such as The Dreaming City were like downing two or three double espressos, these later books are more akin to a day long repast of intricately contrived delicacies. I still feel like a spectator who has been lucky to win a ring-side seat to a magic performance and yet with all my wits about me I still can't conceive of how the magic is created. Unlike those rapidly contrived jolts of chaos of the early sixties this latest book is a fantasia of quality and depth, ranging from the astonishingly accurate hearth of a young girl's home on the old Yorkshire moors (a place I am intimately familiar with) to the Oz-like realms of the City in the Autumn Stars. Moorcock's brain is literally teeming with literary references and styles. His scholarship of Victoriana is self-evident, as is his uncanny appreciation of indigenous life in so many different settings. In his last book "The Skrayling Tree" you were left believing that the author himself must have lived all those separate lives, as a Viking or as a nomad of the American plains. Such was the breadth and passion of the detail. I am constantly astounded that this author can continue to surprise and confound me. I find it difficult to convey my enthusiasm in a way to do you justice. Michael, I get the distinct impression we don't deserve you!

Oonagh von Bek is staying at the family home in Ingleton, West Yorkshire in England where she meets two men she instinctually distrusts. Friends of her grandmother Oona Von Bek also arrive in the village to guard her from her enemies. As she explores the nearby caves, a quake opens the multiverse sending Oonagh into another realm where she meets an educated fox who walks upright and wears clothes. He becomes her protector when the two men follow her into the underground city of Mirenburg, a mirror image of the city above ground. It is there that she is reunited with her grandmother, the near immortal beautiful Oona who has, with the champions who tried to protect her in Ingleton, come to bring her home if they can find the right road in the multiverse. Elric the Eternal champion is diverted from his one thousand year quest to find his sword Stormbringer to search for his great-granddaughter and foments a rebellion against the twisted science and sorcery using empire of Granbretan in order to try to find her more easily. Oonagh and her friends travel into the heart of the rebellion where she is kidnapped by her enemies who want to remake the multiverse in their own image. Different Avatars of the Eternal Champion make appearances in this classic Good vs. Evil fantasy. Elric's role as the Eternal champion is to make sure that Oonagh isn't used to bring about the apocalypse her enemies desire. He is a heroic and tragic figure, controlled by forces that nobody can defeat because they bring balance to the universe. Michael Moorcock, the grandmaster of sword and sorcery fantasy, provides one of the best books he has ever written. Harriet Klausner