Hawkmoon (Eternal Champion, #3) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Jul 18, 2008 Charles rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Hawkmoon is my favorite iteration of the eternal champion.

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Apr 29, 2021 J.W. Wright rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, owned

On a ravaged, post-apocalyptic Earth thrust back into the dark ages, the hell and horrors of war are a part of everyday existence. Granbretan, or the Dark Empire holds all nations under its iron-shod heel of evil and tyranny, and into this strides Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke of Koln, son of now-slain aristocratic father, prisoner of Granbretan, and unaware aspect of the Eternal Champion. Within him lies the power to liberate the Earth from the Dark Empire’s clutches….

I honestly didn’t know what to e On a ravaged, post-apocalyptic Earth thrust back into the dark ages, the hell and horrors of war are a part of everyday existence. Granbretan, or the Dark Empire holds all nations under its iron-shod heel of evil and tyranny, and into this strides Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke of Koln, son of now-slain aristocratic father, prisoner of Granbretan, and unaware aspect of the Eternal Champion. Within him lies the power to liberate the Earth from the Dark Empire’s clutches….

I honestly didn’t know what to expect picking up this particular omnibus edition of Michael Moorcock’s “Hawkmoon Series,” otherwise known as “The History of the Runestaff.” The cover art and design always greatly intrigued me, as did the interior artwork.
My first exposure to Michael Moorcock’s “Eternal Champion Cycle” was the SFBC omnibus editions of “The Elric Saga,” in three volumes, all of which were deliciously dark sword and sorcery that absolutely blew my mind. Through the years after that, I had read the White Wolf omnibus editions of the “Erekose Series” (which was simply titled “The Eternal Champion”) and the “Von Bek Series” which, I must say, I was a bit disappointed in. I had heard some great things about Hawkmoon, though, and also had learned that it was being currently adapted into a Netflix original series.
The White Wolf omnibus edition I have of Hawkmoon includes the four novels “The Jewel in the Skull,” “The Mad God’s Amulet,” “The Sword of the Dawn” and “The Runestaff.” with brilliant interior illustrations by James Cawthorn.
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the strength of this series. It is true sword and sorcery, set on a war-torn future Earth where sorcery and advanced science/technology seem to go hand in hand. Civilization as we know it has been thrown back into the dark ages, thanks to the horrors that occurred during what is termed as the “Tragic Millennium.”
The series isn’t as dark as the Elric Saga, but it is set in a very disturbing future hellscape ruled by the Dark Empire, or the Granbretanians, who are absolutely diabolical and almost alien in their cruelty and sadism. The main protagonist of this series is Dorian Hawkmoon, son of the slain Duke of Koln, who is taken into captivity by the Dark Empire, has a black jewel drilled into his skull to control him, and is set free to be their secret agent in the lands of Kamarg, one of the last bastions of true freedom that the Granbretanians are working to destroy.
When encountering the supreme guardian of Kamarg, Count Brass, and his mage, Bowgentle, the effects of the cursed black jewel are rendered dormant through Bowgentle’s magic, and Hawkmoon is brought out of the stupor he entered when he was captured and swears vengeance on the Dark Empire for the subjugation of his country, the slaying of his father, and for the enslavement of Earth itself.
The Hawkmoon Series is filled to the brim with adventure, swashbuckling, action, sorcery, futuristic machines, monsters, and ruins and relics of ancient and mysterious civilizations. Post-apocalyptic sword and sorcery is a subgenre of fantasy that definitely intrigues me and this series is no exception. The characters are very enjoyable. from the heroic and battle-hardened Hawkmoon to the good-natured and warriorlike Count Brass to the diabolical Baron Meliadus. While not as strong as Elric, this series really packs a punch and there are much thrills to be had. I really loved reading it and immensely look forward to the Netflix adaptation.
I give Michael Moorcock’s “Hawkmoon” a 5 out of 5. ...more

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