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The Mad God's Amulet (The History of the Runestaff #2)
In Michael Moorcock’s vast and imaginative multiverse, Law and Chaos wage war in a never-ending struggling over the fundamental rules of existence. Here in this universe, Dorian Hawkmoon traverses a world of antique cities, scientific sorcery, and crystalline machines as he pulled unwillingly into a war that pits him against the ruthless and dominating armies of Granbreta
...morePaperback, 0 pages
Published
July 1st 1990
by Ace Books
(first published 1968)
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Originally published on my blog here in May 1999.
The second of the four Runestaff books begins with the hero, Dorian Hawkmoon, in Persia where he has travelled to rid himself of the Black Jewel which betrays his every move to the Dark Empire of Granbretan. He now has to fight his way back to the Kamarg, through a Europe which has fallen to the ever-expanding Empire, hoping that his family are still holding out.
The dangerous return journey is the subject of this book. The Empire is not the only e...more
The second of the four Runestaff books begins with the hero, Dorian Hawkmoon, in Persia where he has travelled to rid himself of the Black Jewel which betrays his every move to the Dark Empire of Granbretan. He now has to fight his way back to the Kamarg, through a Europe which has fallen to the ever-expanding Empire, hoping that his family are still holding out.
The dangerous return journey is the subject of this book. The Empire is not the only e...more
In the pub on Saturday, there were shelves of books - not just for decoration, like some pubs have, but in the hope that somebody might find something to read, for this was a good pub. And among them, this, in the old paperback edition with the ludicrous prog rock cover whose sheer unapologetic silliness doesn't really come across in this thumbnail. There was some mockery among my friends, about how they'd love to read it, except it was the second volume so they'd missed the beginning!
"Oh, I hav...more
"Oh, I hav...more
Para una visión general, remitirse a mi opinión del libro anterior (The Jewel in the Skull).
Aquí se introducen elementos interesantes, como el culto al "Dios Loco". Sin embargo, Hawkmoon queda como un perfecto egoísta a quien le importa un pepino los inocentes, ya que, en una escena clave, los manda a enfrentarse con un ejército mucho más numeroso sólo para poder salvar su asqueroso pellejo.
Se introduce un personaje interesante: Huillan D'Averc, un caballero hipocondríaco redimido (antes pertene...more
Aquí se introducen elementos interesantes, como el culto al "Dios Loco". Sin embargo, Hawkmoon queda como un perfecto egoísta a quien le importa un pepino los inocentes, ya que, en una escena clave, los manda a enfrentarse con un ejército mucho más numeroso sólo para poder salvar su asqueroso pellejo.
Se introduce un personaje interesante: Huillan D'Averc, un caballero hipocondríaco redimido (antes pertene...more
While the Hawkmoon books may not be quite so well known as the Elric novels and may not be quite as developed (though I'm not sure I agree with the last myself) they are probably my favorite part of Moorcock's Eternal Champion Cycle. I have the omnibus volumes but my first read of them were the paperback individual books. This one is actually a bit later than the volume I read I believe, but same cover.
I love these books, and I have read them over, and over....over the years.
Through an odd set...more
I love these books, and I have read them over, and over....over the years.
Through an odd set...more
Jan 23, 2008
Robert Beveridge
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
finished,
owned-and-gave-away
Michael Moorcock, The Mad God's Amulet (DAW, 1968)
The adventures of Dorian Hawmoon, last duke of Koln, continue in The Mad God's Amulet, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Runestaff. Hawkmoon, with the immediate dangers of the first novel neutralized, wants nothing more than to return to the Kamarg and his friends. Of course, this is fantasy literature, where nothing is simple. He gets sidetracked a couple of times, we spend some more time in the company of the mysterious Warrior in Jet an...more
The adventures of Dorian Hawmoon, last duke of Koln, continue in The Mad God's Amulet, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Runestaff. Hawkmoon, with the immediate dangers of the first novel neutralized, wants nothing more than to return to the Kamarg and his friends. Of course, this is fantasy literature, where nothing is simple. He gets sidetracked a couple of times, we spend some more time in the company of the mysterious Warrior in Jet an...more
Oct 07, 2010
Ottery StCatchpole
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-loves
I liked this book, it was a bit weaker than its predecessor which was awesome, but just the same it was good. The ending though was not so much foreshadowed as clearly obvious a few chapters before the end of the book which is my only real gripe, that and the lack of anything new in the way of technology or concepts like in the first novel but it in no way keeps this from being a great story, better than most fantasy fiction out now. Moorcock truly is a master of the genre and yes, I'm starting...more
I really dug this volume in the Eternal Champion saga, and yet I felt like something was missing the whole time I was reading it. I just now realized what it was -- my favorite character from the first Hawkmoon volume! Count Brass makes a very brief appearance in this book, and without this hyperbole of a HERO, Mad God's Amulet took on a much more serous tone than Jewel in the Skull. Hawkmoon's mood lightened up from the first book, but not enough to compensate.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this...more
Regardless, I really enjoyed this...more
The book was perfect to read on a cold day with not much else to do. It served the purpose of being easy, fast entertainment without my needing to extend much effort at all. So, I had it at 2 stars but bumped it up to 3 just because it was a nice dose of fantasy. Would I go out of my way to recommend it to anyone, nah, but it was a fine ride.
My edition seems to be from a different editor, Mayflower, but it's not listed, and these seems the closer one, in cover and age.
Mi edicion parece ser de otro editor, Mayflower, pero no aparece listada, y esta parece la mas sililar, en portada y epoca.
Mi edicion parece ser de otro editor, Mayflower, pero no aparece listada, y esta parece la mas sililar, en portada y epoca.
part 2 in the story of the runestaff. the bad guys have taken control of most of the world, castle brass is surrounded and in fear of being destroyed. hawkmoon is the hero and he does what is needed with some help from other forces. very typical moorcock read, fun to read and some good twists
The Runestaff saga continues, but I'm having trouble caring. This was one of my favourite Moorcock series as a teenager, but it hasn't worn well. There's plenty of much better fantasy out there now.
η ιστορία ξετυλίγεται σιγά - σιγά, η μοίρα πλέκει τον ιστό της περίτεχνα μέχρι να φυλακίσει τελικά και την "ανθρώπινη" έκφανση του Αιώνιου Προμάχου.
χμ.. η Μεγαλοβρεττανια λίγο Χίτλερ μου θυμίζει.
χμ.. η Μεγαλοβρεττανια λίγο Χίτλερ μου θυμίζει.
If you liked the The Jewel in the Skull, you will love The Mad God's Amulet. More depth, more suspense. Introduces my favorite character in the series: D'Averc.
A pretty average entrant in a prety average series. Perhaps a little tighter than the first, but not notably so.
May 08, 2012
Peter
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
alternate-history
One of the first SF books I read - I feel the Runestaff Trilogy didn't age well for me as they don't resonate now
A bit dull. Too much coincidence, to much description and travel with very little to interest.
view all 4 comments
Still remains one of my favourite sagas.....
In a decaying society, a hero's fate is bound to a mysterious magical artifact which encompasses his success and his doom. In other words, exactly like every other Michael Moorcock book.
I liked this the best of the Runestaff books, primarily because of the introduction of his sometime ally, sometime betrayer Huilliam D'Avrec.
I liked this the best of the Runestaff books, primarily because of the introduction of his sometime ally, sometime betrayer Huilliam D'Avrec.
I like the Runestaff books the best of Moorcock's series, if you consider the Count Brass books to be part of that. There's a more brutal turn to the stories here than with Elric.
Another super readable book done. I am so glad there are 2 to go in what must be one of the most readable and enjoyable sci-fantasy titles of all time.
Another in the Hawknmoon series. Didn't enjoy it as much as the first (The Jewel in the Skull), but worth a read for MM fans.
For any fantasy fan burned out on Tolkien clones the authors I recommend are Roger Zelazny, Fritz Leiber, and Michael Moorcock.
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Michael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956,...more
More about Michael Moorcock...
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956,...more
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