The Elric Saga, Part I (Omnibus)
by Michael Moorcock
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 251)
Read in June, 2007
I attempted, but never made it through, this series as a kid, inspired its pantheon’s inclusion in the original Dungeons and Dragons Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia (the Melniboné mythos, along with H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulu Mythos, were removed from subsequent printings - and my sister's ex-husband swiped my copy from a box in my parents' garage, the rat!). Now, mid-way through the first six books (the series has, over the last twenty years, grown to nine, er, eleven books – no wonder I’...more
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Read in June, 2008
After finishing the first third of this book, which is my first exposure to Elric, I decided to put it down. It is possible that I'll go back and read the other two stories at some point, but right now, all I can say is, for some reason I'm just not into immersing myself in the story of a character who just keeps falling into a more and more hopeless mess, losing more and more of the things he cares about, etc.
I concede, the writing is rich and wonderful and the tone is compelling overall. A...more
I concede, the writing is rich and wonderful and the tone is compelling overall. A...more
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From what I understand, Elric was born out of Moorcock's frustration with all the predictable Tolkienesque fantasy out there. You can't get less like Tolkien than this.
Elric is the emperor of Melibone when the story starts. The Melniboneans are a race of evil, decadent, demon-worshipping elf-like beings. Elric's a sickly albino, dependent on drugs and herbs to survive, in love his his cousin Cymoril and in constant conflict over the throne with her brother Yrkoon. Once Elric finds Stormb...more
Elric is the emperor of Melibone when the story starts. The Melniboneans are a race of evil, decadent, demon-worshipping elf-like beings. Elric's a sickly albino, dependent on drugs and herbs to survive, in love his his cousin Cymoril and in constant conflict over the throne with her brother Yrkoon. Once Elric finds Stormb...more
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This is "anti-fiction" (bad term, but oh well). Michael Moorcock wrote this series to be a reversal to cliches of the genre inspired by Tolkien and the like. Main character Elric is written as a direct antithesis to Conan the barbarian. This makes The Elric Saga... wait for it... good!
That being said, it is also kind of creepy. Elric is a "tragic hero" who losses everything, gradually. In this unstable world, Moorcock's characters seek some semblance of order. They rarley f...more
That being said, it is also kind of creepy. Elric is a "tragic hero" who losses everything, gradually. In this unstable world, Moorcock's characters seek some semblance of order. They rarley f...more
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Very "fantastic" as far as fantasy goes, and the second book, Sailor on the seas of fate, would probably make more sense if you have read more of Moorecock's work, as he brings in a lot of characters that are evidently from other series and books. Not entirely my cup of tea, insofar as Morecock can be rather heavy-handed making his philosophical pronouncements. Think Robert E. Howard with a more 60's sensibility and you're not far off.
As an important part of the modern fantasy...more
As an important part of the modern fantasy...more
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Read in January, 1989
I read these three novels long time ago in Junior High (between 1986-1989). I recently reread this book, Part One, which has the first three novels, Elric of Melniboné, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. I liked them but they are better in Junior High. Also, I prefer the last three original books found in Part Two.
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Read in January, 1987
I'll never forget reading this. I was camping out at the record store for Pink Floyd tickets, trying to read my book, when the drunk next to me started pissing himself. A heavy stream of uine splashed down from the bottom of the lawn chair onto the pavement.
Anyway, the book helped keep me detached from that situation.
Anyway, the book helped keep me detached from that situation.
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recommended to Quentinloca by:
Joe Williams II
While it is fun to read a fantasy book with an anti-hero, perhaps the main character, Elric, is more powerful when you are a teenager, full of cynicism and contempt for the world that is not nearly as intelligent or enlightened as you are.
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The evil, doom-shrouded hero. A nice break from all those upbeat fantasy books. Tragedy stalks Elric's life, and when you have a sword that sucks people's souls, sometimes your friends souls, you can see why.
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Moorecock is a classic, but I can't stand his prose. His hero is uninteresting and I don't like the constantly shifting setting. Fantasy? Sci-fi? He jumps around, and I don't find it engaging.
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The Elric Saga is a very dark. It follows Emperor Elric's life as he betrays his people, slays the woman he loves, and lives out his life as a puppet to the god's and his devil sword.
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Read in January, 1998
I really like the Elric series. I have always liked the idea of an Anti-Hero. This collection was very handy to have all these stories in one book.
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He will never replace Tolkien in my heart for fantasy creation, but Moorcock's Elric is a unique character worth following.
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Superior sword-and-sorcery tales. Definitely in their own category and not a Tolkein of Howard rip-off.
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Top shelf heroic fantasy with just the right amount of literary pretense.
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Read in January, 1980
This is where it all began.
There is no other story like this.
There is no other story like this.
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