Scroll down for a recent review of "The Vengeance of Rome," December 10th/24. 66 books by Moorcock reviewed on this page, and one by a different author.
BEHOLD THE MAN
Avon/Equinox #22, printed in April, 1976.
Cover art by Bob Foster.
Michael Moorcock is an English writer born in 1939. He has
written more fantasy than SF, and I have yet to decide how I will
proceed with reading more of his works. I will perhaps focus at first
upon his SF novels, as well as his many award winning novels, some of
them in fantasy. Stay tuned to this channel for further updates.
From 1966 comes a story that shook the SF world when it came out. This edition from 1976 is 160 pages long. It received the Nebula Award, and was read by nearly everyone in college, except perhaps a few of those in religious studies, who likely were told to avoid it at all costs. It is one of two books in the Equinox series that I have read previously (the other is Black Easter, by James Blish, forthcoming in these review pages), and it left me permanently changed in my thinking, not only about religion, but also about how early historical events have been reported and handed down to us. I read it in my mid-teens, passed to me by a SF reading uncle.
There is very little science in the story--a time machine allows Karl Glogauer to go back and meet Jesus. We learn nothing of the science of how this was done; we simply must accept that it was done and go along for the ride. So it becomes an "If..." story. If I could go back in time I would likely choose to meet Franz Joseph Haydn, the composer. It likely would not make as thrilling a tale as meeting Jesus, but then again one never knows. Moorcock chose Jesus, so off we go.
The writing is very disjointed, though easy to read, as we slowly accumulate details of Karl's sorry background, and watch him flounder around in the Middle East of 28 AD. The writing constantly jumps back and forth between the past, the near present, and his current misadventures in 28 AD. Interspersed with these aspects of the story are quotations from the Bible that have a direct bearing on the plot. Being one of the most messed up people who ever lived, it is not surprising that Karl trains in psychology, and has a growing Christ complex. Moorcock does his best to use as much historical facts from 28 AD as was known to him in 1966. It is enough to set the tale and allow events to proceed on their inevitable course.
There is a constant breaking down of the myths surrounding Jesus and "what really happened." Many of these are scathing admissions of how the story of Jesus was altered by the time it was written down, and how easy it is to explain so many of his miracles. Karl is able to heal many people, as their ailments prove to be psychosomatic, but there are many that he cannot heal. The Bible never speaks of these failures, of course. Forty days and nights in the desert? Speaking in tongues? Darkness descends at the crucifixion? Walking on water? Loaves and fishes? All explained neatly and scientifically. Meeting Mary and the historical Jesus will certainly leave you shaking your head.
Moorcock has written a masterpiece of fiction, but he also demonstrates how oral history can be made to appear truthful; yet it becomes a truthfulness which is not very truthful. Was there a Jesus? Was he a time traveller, or perhaps a man from outer space? If there was such a figure, there is little doubt in my mind that his story has been somewhat altered from who and what he really was and did. Have you ever seen a Hollywood biography or "true story" that sticks to facts about its subject? This is a book that has probably been read and reviewed more than any other title in the Avon/Equinox series. If you have not read it, get to it. It is very short and very easy to read. It even has a plot! If, like me, it's been many years, then it's likely time for a reread.
**** stars. Reviewed July 9th/18
From 1966 comes a story that shook the SF world when it came out. This edition from 1976 is 160 pages long. It received the Nebula Award, and was read by nearly everyone in college, except perhaps a few of those in religious studies, who likely were told to avoid it at all costs. It is one of two books in the Equinox series that I have read previously (the other is Black Easter, by James Blish, forthcoming in these review pages), and it left me permanently changed in my thinking, not only about religion, but also about how early historical events have been reported and handed down to us. I read it in my mid-teens, passed to me by a SF reading uncle.
There is very little science in the story--a time machine allows Karl Glogauer to go back and meet Jesus. We learn nothing of the science of how this was done; we simply must accept that it was done and go along for the ride. So it becomes an "If..." story. If I could go back in time I would likely choose to meet Franz Joseph Haydn, the composer. It likely would not make as thrilling a tale as meeting Jesus, but then again one never knows. Moorcock chose Jesus, so off we go.
The writing is very disjointed, though easy to read, as we slowly accumulate details of Karl's sorry background, and watch him flounder around in the Middle East of 28 AD. The writing constantly jumps back and forth between the past, the near present, and his current misadventures in 28 AD. Interspersed with these aspects of the story are quotations from the Bible that have a direct bearing on the plot. Being one of the most messed up people who ever lived, it is not surprising that Karl trains in psychology, and has a growing Christ complex. Moorcock does his best to use as much historical facts from 28 AD as was known to him in 1966. It is enough to set the tale and allow events to proceed on their inevitable course.
There is a constant breaking down of the myths surrounding Jesus and "what really happened." Many of these are scathing admissions of how the story of Jesus was altered by the time it was written down, and how easy it is to explain so many of his miracles. Karl is able to heal many people, as their ailments prove to be psychosomatic, but there are many that he cannot heal. The Bible never speaks of these failures, of course. Forty days and nights in the desert? Speaking in tongues? Darkness descends at the crucifixion? Walking on water? Loaves and fishes? All explained neatly and scientifically. Meeting Mary and the historical Jesus will certainly leave you shaking your head.
Moorcock has written a masterpiece of fiction, but he also demonstrates how oral history can be made to appear truthful; yet it becomes a truthfulness which is not very truthful. Was there a Jesus? Was he a time traveller, or perhaps a man from outer space? If there was such a figure, there is little doubt in my mind that his story has been somewhat altered from who and what he really was and did. Have you ever seen a Hollywood biography or "true story" that sticks to facts about its subject? This is a book that has probably been read and reviewed more than any other title in the Avon/Equinox series. If you have not read it, get to it. It is very short and very easy to read. It even has a plot! If, like me, it's been many years, then it's likely time for a reread.
**** stars. Reviewed July 9th/18
BREAKFAST IN THE RUINS
From 1971 comes this masterful and insightful collection of historical fiction, with Karl Glogauer. I wasn't too interested in the linking story, with a modern Karl exploring his sexuality, nor in the What Would You Do? paragraphs after each episode. What makes this book truly great are the individual stories, each starring Karl at a different age, from childhood through adulthood. Karl becomes the symbol of an Everyman in each story. The stories vary in location, date, and intensity, but all of them are special in some way.
My favourite one is longer than most of them, and involves Karl as a child getting unwittingly involved with Russians escaping the secret police in Russia, coming to 1905 London to start new lives, and still having to deal with them. The story is devastating not just for what happens, but for the setting itself, and the people who are trapped by their poor paying jobs, working all hours of the day and into the night. Each of the tales is a window into worlds that people don't often shine lights into. They are parts of true history best forgotten, according to many. But Moorcock gives us scenes of horror from many different countries and times, each one sacrificing a different version of Karl. The stories don't really even have to be read in any particular order, if the linking story is ignored.
The linking story shows Karl as a homosexual, retiring to a room with a handsome and well built black man he met at the rooftop garden of a big London department store. Their doings and conversations make up the linking segments of each chapter, as their roles and physical selves literally reverse during their stay together. Due to these segments, the book probably sold a lot of copies to homosexual readers in its day.
The book is a must read, and turns into a unique and very penetrating look into some of history's darkest moments. With Karl at the center of the stories, we feel a personal connection to history through him. Highly recommeneded.
****+ stars. Reviewed May 17th/22
THE CORNELIUS CHRONICLES
Cover art (uncredited) by Stanislaw Fernandes.
THE FINAL PROGRAMME
From 1965 comes the first of four novels by Moorcock featuring hero Jerry Cornelius. He also features in short stories by Moorcock, as well as by many other authors. I read one by P. J. Farmer a while ago. The first novel was completed in January 1965, and is divided into four phases, 18 chapters, and 163 pages. There are five inside illustrations by Malcolm Dean, and an introduction by John Clute for this revised 1977 edition.My first impressions of this very fun to read novel are that of Doc Savage, James Bond, and Ripley somehow combining to make a pretty groovy adventure. A film was made of this novel in 1973, and I will be on the lookout for it. Jerry is a very rich man, having previously robbed a bank with a banker accomplice. The story begins at Angkor in Cambodia, and we also spend time in London, and then in Arctic Sweden. The underground cave part of the story reminds me a lot of Doc Savage adventures, though Doc never went to many parties, and sex was a total no no. James Bond had more luck with and thirst for women, though Jerry will take on males and females in bed; he is not particular which. The Ripley part of Jerry's character is the assassin in him--he sets out to kill his brother, but commits a few other murders along the way.
If you read the excellent introduction by Clute you will know the "surprise" ending in Book 4. However, knowing it in advance is not a bad thing in this case, and I was able to notice several good clues which might have slipped past otherwise. I have read some pretty good party scenes in SF and other books lately, with works by Norman Spinrad and John Sladek coming first to mind. But none of those parties can hold a candle to Jerry's party, which lasts for several months. Good times!
There is nothing particularly avante garde about this first story, and a quick read will give the reader a straight forward, if somewhat eccentric, adventure tale. I remember the Heavy Metal Magazine comic, drawn by Moebius, about Jerry. It was called "The Airtight Garage," and was quite different than this first novel. I am assuming that the further the series progresses, the weirder things will become. The ending to this volume is quite strange, and left me quite curious as to where Moorcock will go next. The second volume wasn't written until the early 1970s, and it is doubtful if Moorcock had even planned a sequel. At any rate, I am looking forward to it.
**** stars. Reviewed July 27th/19
A CURE FOR CANCER
From 1971 comes the second volume of the adventures of Jerry Cornelius, and they are just as wacky, puzzling, and fun as the first volume. This one lasts for 254 pages, with numerous illustrations by Malcolm Dean. Once again we meet the action hero, this time as a white-haired black man, who dresses with particular flair. His music tastes range widely, from the Beatles to Bartok. Women seem to fall into his bed.
The clues as to the surprise ending in Book 4, mentioned above in the first book review of this series, come faster and harder, as the titles refer to cancer surgery and treatment. We get a more vivid sense of a Walter Mitty at work here, a man who's imagination is not only unrestrained and full of fun and adventure, but who might be using said imagination to escape a harsher reality.
One of many interior illustrations, this one showing a frustrated Bishop watching Jerry escape his grasp.
A final showdown between the Bishop and his side against Jerry and his side.
As much as there can be said to be a plot, the story revolves around a black box that Jerry invented, which has the power to bring one face to face with the multiverse. The multiverse has a lot to do with Moorcock's fiction in general, but we see it here revealed in its naked simplicity. The evil Bishop wants it, but only to postpone doomsday. Jerry wants it just to keep moving on, not stagnating, seeing where it takes him (and us!) next. I'm with Jerry. With a fantastic tool such as this, one should use it.
I like how Jerry is always rescued or able to elude his captors almost at will. He is often aided by technology at his fingertips, whether it be a jet fighter or an expensive and rare,very powerful automobile. Or even a dogsled, in one instance. This again hints at what might be going on in the background, in behind the story we are reading. Who is in control? What is the game he is playing? Whatever it is, Moorcock has written a vastly entertaining pair of books so far. I am once again looking forward to book three.
**** stars. Reviewed September 19th/19
THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN
From 1977 comes Part 3 of the Jerry Cornelius series, written 6 years after Part 2. This entry is 254 pages long. I enjoyed this story the least of the three I've read so far. The main reason is that Jerry is hardly in it at all, but spends most of the story dead, or being resurrected. Mostly dead. As Jerry is, literally, the life of the party, his presence is sorely missed. Instead, we spend time with a host of other characters, including his brother Frank, sister Catherine, and his mother. Oh, God, his mother. Some of the most painful prose I have ever read are the (many) passages with his mother. She is one of fiction's most easy to hate characters. Readers will not enjoy her presence. At all.
We also spend time with Captain Nye, Una Thursson, the Bishop (he's back, but in a more subdued role) and many others, including Colonel Pyat. As a continuous storyline, the novel makes no sense at all. Events and characters jump around through time, and we are never certain if we are in the past or the future. Only the present matters. Do not read this expecting a coherent story in any sense of the word. The first two volumes managed to tell a story, but this one goes off into tangents constantly. However, rather than find it infuriating, I found it kind of refreshing. When I would sit down to read some more, I would never know where the hell I was, or was going. The same collection of characters are the only links here, though the setting is mostly England, and often, London.
This book reminded me strongly of the Moebius strip "Airtight Garage," which appeared in Heavy Metal back in the day. The 4-part comic is on-line, and can be read for free (go to readcomicsonline.to). One of the main reasons for the similarity is the Steampunk quality of each story, masterfully illustrated by Moebius, and so casually accepted in Moorcock's novel. There are Zeppelins, flying boats, steam yachts, locomotives, tanks, and powerful old motor cars.
Though overall I enjoyed reading it, and realize that I need to reread it, I wish Jerry had been in it more (and his mother less). There are some true gems of writing scattered throughout the book. I would like to give a quote from page 617:
"If time could stand still," said Hira reflectively, "I suppose we should all be as good as dead. The whole business of entropy so accurately reflects the human condition. To remain alive one must burn fuel, use up heat, squander resources, and yet that very action contributes to the end of the universe--the heat death of everything! But to become still, to use the minimum of energy--that's pointless. It is to die, effectively. What a dreadful dilemma."
Those are words to ponder, and there are many passages of a similar vein. There is some good mining to be done here. Though worth reading, this entry is not nearly as enjoyable as the first two parts.
*** stars. Reviewed October 30th/19
Except
for the very first book in this series, I find myself without words to
describe the books to someone who has never read them. The character of
Jerry Cornelius is, in a sense, everyman, someone longing for a life
richer and fuller than the one he must lead. Since the days of Homer,
listeners and readers of tales have wanted to be able to act heroic, and
walk with true confidence and importance of being. But alas, most of
us have to stay home and play the fool, or the sad clown, as does
Jerry. Except that Jerry is liberated by his imagination, and his
ability to turn lead into gold (or vice-versa, as the need may arise).
_____________________________________________________
THE HAWKMOON SERIES
One kingdom, under Count Brass, manages to remain apart from the mayhem caused by the British invaders, a small marshy land in the vicinity of Marseilles, near the mouth of the Rhon River. Count Brass lives in a pretty cool castle with his daughter Yisselda, his advisor Bowgentle, and a populace and small army that he rules and protects with fierceness and great wisdom. He has a few tricks up his sleeve whenever Baron Meliadus comes calling. This evil man is the true power behind the dark British invasion, and he comes seeking the aid of Count Brass.
He falls in love with Yisselda, and disgraces himself by trying to kidnap her from the castle. Humiliated by Count Brass in single combat, he storms off to fetch his army. Dorian Hawkmoon is the last duke of Koln, and he has lost his country to the Dark Empire. He is kidnapped and brought to Meliadus. Meliadus inserts a remote TV camera in Hawkmoon's skull, and sends him off to Kamarg to kidnap Yisselda. Count Brass figures out what is going on, and that Hawkmoon can be killed at any time by Meliadus. Count Brass helps Hawkmoon, and they become allies in the battle against the Dark Empire.
The novel is divided into three shorter books, with book two being the great battle, as the forces of evil attack Kamarg and Count Brass' castle. This is the highlight of the first story, and is well handled and fun to read. The third book has Hawkmoon travelling to Persia to seek a wise man who can completely shut off the TV jewel in his skull, freeing Hawkmoon from Meliadus' reach forever. The journey is okay, but not the best writing or journey I have been on in a fantasy novel. We do meet the character Oladahn, a small giant, who becomes the hero's trusty sidekick. He is a good character to have in the novel, but is a bit two-dimensional.
My main complaint of this first novel is the climactic battle Hawkmoon has with Meliadus. It is so ridden with cliches, including the disappearance of the body of the supposedly dead Meliadus, that it just made me angry. Of course Meliadus will be back. But why couldn't the author just say so, instead of couching the fact in secrecy? Will we really be surprised when he makes his next appearance? I think not.
It certainly isn't Lord of the Rings, but so far the Hawkmoon/Runestaff series is off to a decent start. It has the air of a true adult fairy tale about it, the kind of thing that Ballantine tried to publish with its adult fantasy series, under the direction of Lin Carter. I am looking forward to reading book 2.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed February 4th/20
Cover and inside art by Vance Kovacs. This volume contains 2 novels.
THE CONDITION OF MUSAK
The
final novel in a spellbinding series, this one is from 1977, and is 297
pages long. There are four illustrations by Richard Glyn Jones (2 of
them are shown, below). Harlequin, Columbine, and Pierrot feature
prominently in this escapade, as Jerry confronts who and what he really
is. The novel is packed with adventure, mystery, glamour, humour, and
more folk lore than it is healthy for any one author to know about.
Jerry's windowsill in Ladbroke Grove, London,
becomes, for him, Angkor Wat, and even a rooftop
garden restaurant atop a department store.
Jerry as Harlequin, to Catherine's Columbine.
Illustrations by Richard Glyne Jones.
The
way the books are written, with time and events jumbled in such a
fashion, the series is infinitely re readable. I already want to reread
the first book again. This kind of writing isn't for everyone, but if
you enjoyed John Sladek, you will love this series. And if not, then
just stick to the first novel, as it is easy to read and makes more
linear sense than any of the others. this has now become one of my
favourite literary series of all time.
**** stars. Reviewed December 22nd/19 (Happy Winter Solstice)
_____________________________________________________
THE HAWKMOON SERIES
THE JEWEL IN THE SKULL
Cover and inside art by Vance Kovacs.
My handsome Tom Doherty edition is from 2015, and contains the first two novels of this four-volume series. Jewel In The Skull was written in 1967, with some of it rewritten in 1977. It is 216 pages long, and contains 10 interior pages of art, including one two-page spread. The story takes place in a far-future Europe, where Great Britain has become the new and very evil menace. They are forcibly uniting dozens of smaller duchys and countries with their overwhelming armies and cruelty. In this future Europe there are flying machines, heat weapons, giant flying flamingos, weapons that work almost as a combination of magic and science, as well as bows and arrows, swords, shields, spears, and other standard medieval weapons. It's a pretty interesting combination of eras and artifacts on which to build a world.
A two-page illustration by Vance Kovacs. Count Brass battles a baragoon.
He falls in love with Yisselda, and disgraces himself by trying to kidnap her from the castle. Humiliated by Count Brass in single combat, he storms off to fetch his army. Dorian Hawkmoon is the last duke of Koln, and he has lost his country to the Dark Empire. He is kidnapped and brought to Meliadus. Meliadus inserts a remote TV camera in Hawkmoon's skull, and sends him off to Kamarg to kidnap Yisselda. Count Brass figures out what is going on, and that Hawkmoon can be killed at any time by Meliadus. Count Brass helps Hawkmoon, and they become allies in the battle against the Dark Empire.
Hawkmoon is captured and brought before Meliadus. Art by Vance Kovacs.
The novel is divided into three shorter books, with book two being the great battle, as the forces of evil attack Kamarg and Count Brass' castle. This is the highlight of the first story, and is well handled and fun to read. The third book has Hawkmoon travelling to Persia to seek a wise man who can completely shut off the TV jewel in his skull, freeing Hawkmoon from Meliadus' reach forever. The journey is okay, but not the best writing or journey I have been on in a fantasy novel. We do meet the character Oladahn, a small giant, who becomes the hero's trusty sidekick. He is a good character to have in the novel, but is a bit two-dimensional.
Not surprisingly, Hawkmoon and Yisselda fall in love. Art by Vance Kovacs.
It certainly isn't Lord of the Rings, but so far the Hawkmoon/Runestaff series is off to a decent start. It has the air of a true adult fairy tale about it, the kind of thing that Ballantine tried to publish with its adult fantasy series, under the direction of Lin Carter. I am looking forward to reading book 2.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed February 4th/20
THE MAD GOD'S AMULET
From 1968, this is the 2nd book of the Hawkmoon series, and Part 2 of Volume 1 of my handsome paperback edition by Tor (published in 2015). It is 195 pages. It is loaded with illustrations, like Part 1. The second book is itself divided into 2 books, but is a direct continuation of the story.
In the first book of Mad God's Amulet, Hawkmoon and Oladahan enter an abandoned city, only to find it occupied by the troops of the Dark Empire. Oladahan is captured. New allies, in the form of nearly invisible wraiths, come to the rescue. Hawkmoon is given a task by his new friends, which is to gain access to two machines, made with very old science no longer known. He has to kill a beast to get there, and general havoc results. A new ally joins them, and D'Averc jumps ship from the Dark Empire to Hakmoon's cause.
The wraith folk. Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
Their next encounter is with the namesake Mad God's ship, and again we have an adventure worthy of the best of Conan and his ilk. Attacked by pirates who are seemingly quite mad and willing to prove it, their fortunes allow them to defeat the nasty folk and escape on their ship.
Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
Hawkmoon learns that Yisselda has been captured by the Mad God, and he goes to the castle to seek her. The 2nd book opens as the three seafarers arrive on land. They meet up with the Warrior In Jet And Gold once again, and he tells Hawkmoon what he must do to recapture Yisselda. One of the things he must do is take possession of a red amulet, which will not only aid him in recapturing his girlfriend, but will also help him in his fight against the Dark Empire. But he is not interested in the amulet, and only wants Yisselda.
The story of Yisselda's release, and their bold escape from the castle (and Hawkmoon's gaining of the amulet) is all very good story telling. There is no let up in the adventure, and the heroes are always on the move. The volume ends with another great battle against the forces of Meliadus, and an unexpected reprieve for the good guys.
Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
At times I am reminded of Moorcock's very fine Martian trilogy. He still seems influenced a lot by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and of course Robert E. Howard. But in this series (as in the others, too) he has found his own unique voice. His adventure tale is strange but compelling. However, his heroes are still too one-dimensional, as are the bad guys. Crush, kill, destroy. Still, the books are a great way to kill a few evenings, and I am looking forward to the next part of the story.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed March 16th/20
THE SWORD OF THE DAWN
THE SWORD OF THE DAWN
Volume Three of the Runestaff/Hawkmoon series was written in 1968 and revised in 1977, and is 208 pages long. Hawkmoon is turning out to be a typical brainless sword and sorcery hero, someone not the least bit interested in magic amulets, magic swords, and the legendary runestaff. Most people with a tiny bit of intelligence might realize that these things might come in handy in defeating the evil forces of Meliadus. But not Hawkmoon. He can do it all himself. Even though the recent sword acquisition came in mighty handy after all, even though he wanted nothing to do with it. All he wants is to get back to Yisselda, and then go off to fight the evil forces. A two watt bulb in a giant lamp, that's our Hawkmoon.
If Hawkmoon is a disappointing hero, merely another big man with a big sword, at least some of his accomplices are more likeable. And if I'm the only one getting tired of Meliadus, I'd be very surprised. I suppose we'll have to wait till near the end of Book 4 to see them fight again. But will Meliadus really die? Or will he come back in some future unwritten sequel? I can hardly wait to find out.
Looking a lot like a scene from Robert E. Howard.
The evil mastermind behind the conquering of Europe, King Huon floats and swirls in his oversized watery globe. Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
Moorcock has been writing with a formula in mind since the start of this series, which is not even the equal of most of Robert E. Howard's much better output. I am reminded of some of the lazy writing that P. J. Farmer did in his latter years. For this is lazy writing. Most of the first half of the book is a ridiculous excuse to get Hawkmoon and Meliadus back together again, as if they were some long lost lovers. Hawkmoon is captured and tied up. Is this the end of Hawkmoon? No, because later he gets captured and tied up again. And on it goes.
While the book is hardly boring, it seems a mere sketch, an outline that might be presented to a movie producer, rather than an actual novel. It's a disappointing entry in the series, which I am glad will be ending after one more book.
** stars. Reviewed April 26th/20
A two-page spread, showing the runestaff hanging on the wall behind Hawkmoon. As the focus of four books and untold destinies, it's a pretty boring object, and doesn't really do very much. A few bennies at the right moment in battle would have had the same effect, giving a final burst of strength to Hawkmoon. Inside art by Vance Kovacs.
And so the 4-book epic comes to a conclusion. There is no chapter about mopping up, or trying to figure out how things might work from now on. Only someone like Tolkien has the guts and the patience to show something like that, with his brilliant chapter entitled "The Scouring of the Shire," at the end of LOR. So no sooner is the big battle ended, then the book stops its narrative.
It's a good series overall, with Book 3 being the weakest. I would not reread it, however. Ifr someone has never read any sword and sorcery novels before, I would consider giving them my copies. But if you've read Howard or Leiber, you can safely give this series a miss. 16 Hawkmoon comics were published, doing a very good job of telling the story, with fantastic illustrations. You can find it at readcomicsonline.com. That I can recommend.
*** stars. Reviewed June 5th/20
THE RUNESTAFF
The fourth and final Hawkmoon novel is from 1969 (revised 1977), and is 188 pages long. All the books are very easy reading, with many fine illustrations inside by Vance Kovacs. Throughout the series a lot of really good people die. It could be argued that too many of them die. And the end book of this series keeps that tradition alive (pun intended) by killing off nearly everyone at the end. Nearly, but not quite. A few make it through. But two of the deaths did bother me, and will hopefully bother you, too. And it could be argued that there is far too much violence against civilians. No doubt there is. But any war really takes no notice of how many civilian casualties are caused. I'm sure a lot of good people died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, too. By the end of Book 4, there is virtually nothing left of Europe. I can't really quibble with Moorcock's view of war, however. Anyone who glorifies violence deserves to be sent off to war. Thus his descriptions, while horribly brutal, are quite representative of wars around the world.
For me the biggest disappointment was the runestaff itself. It turns out to be a stick with the spirit of a young boy inside it. Or something like that. We had a magic amulet, which was pretty cool, a magic sword that likewise was quite nifty, and magic rings that could carry the wearers through other dimensions. But the runestaff, the thing we've been waiting to see for 3 1/2 books, is quite plain. Though it proves decisive in Hawkmoon's final battle (yay, at last!) against Meliadus, it is a overall a pretty boring object.
And so the 4-book epic comes to a conclusion. There is no chapter about mopping up, or trying to figure out how things might work from now on. Only someone like Tolkien has the guts and the patience to show something like that, with his brilliant chapter entitled "The Scouring of the Shire," at the end of LOR. So no sooner is the big battle ended, then the book stops its narrative.
It's a good series overall, with Book 3 being the weakest. I would not reread it, however. Ifr someone has never read any sword and sorcery novels before, I would consider giving them my copies. But if you've read Howard or Leiber, you can safely give this series a miss. 16 Hawkmoon comics were published, doing a very good job of telling the story, with fantastic illustrations. You can find it at readcomicsonline.com. That I can recommend.
*** stars. Reviewed June 5th/20
THE CHRONICLES OF CASTLE BRASS
VOLUME 1: COUNT BRASS
Cover art by Richard Courtney (uncredited).
Count Brass is the 5th book of the Hawkmoon series, and is a direct continuation of the previous series. From 1973, this novel is 158 pages long. It is now five years after the battle at Londres, and Hawkmoon and Yisselda have rebuilt the castle and replenished the lands. They now have two toddlers, a boy and a girl. Everything goes well, though Hawkmoon misses his dead friends.
What does an author do when he has not only killed off the great enemies from the original series, but also most of the heroes? Why, find a way to bring them back, of course. In some ways this is a brilliant turn of events. The ghost of Count Brass has appeared in the marshes of Kamarg, blaming Hawkmoon for his death and seeking revenge by killing the hero. Hawkmoon finds out about this second hand, then finally goes himself in search of the truth. Struggling to escape from a quicksand bog, he slowly discovers what the truth really means.
In some ways we are also treading over material we've already spent four novels dealing with. I, for one, got very tired of Grand Breton and its hideous people, and were glad when they were finally put to rest. But here they come again, some of them in ghostly form, threatening once again to take over Europe and spread darkness across the land. It seems Moorcock did not tire of them, however. I mentioned in my reviews of Runestaff books how it seemed as if the author were merely sketching out ideas and plots, rather than taking time to describe events and situations and characters thoroughly. Perhaps he felt the same way. But for whatever reason, here we go again, but with an interesting twist.
I liked this book a lot, and look forward to the other two in the series. I don't wish to give away the plot, but you had to have read the previous series before undertaking this one. Nothing will make much sense unless you do. You will meet old friends and old enemies, and visit old places. The ending in particular is quite good, unexpected and leading readers to wonder what might happen next. Recommended if you enjoyed the original series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 9th/20
VOLUME 2: THE CHAMPION OF GARATHORM
From 1973 comes this 159 page continuation of the adventures of Hawkmoon. Castle Brass is in the first of three books within the story, but not in the final two. This is a really good story, and plunges us head first into the workings of a chaotic multi-universe, where Hawkmoon realizes that he has been other heroes before. He is rightly confused by it all, but in this story, most remarkable of all, he becomes a female warrior! That is 45 years before Doctor Who ever thought of casting a female doctor. Brave new world, indeed.
In the first book of three, Hawkmoon literally disintegrates into a sickly, weak, totally ineffective man, pining away for Yisselda, and even the kids from time to time. No one believes his story that they actually exist, and think he has gone mad. he does go mad, becoming interested only in working out battles with tiny model soldiers. He thinks he is looking for the solution to his memories, but he is actually avoiding them.
Along comes a female warrior of middle age, and lures him back into the world with stories of a ghostly army invading the east. He thinks Yisselda might be there, so he agrees to a long journey to discover the truth. The journey sees him transformed into a woman, and the story takes a more familiar turn, as the woman wants to lead her few remaining people against a usurper who now lives and rules in her city.
P. J. Farmer had his Wold Newton theory of heroes, and Moorcock has his multi-universe one. Both are complicated for novices, but after reading enough Moorcock, the idea emerges more clearly. I have yet to read the Elric stories, but I will eventually get round to them. This is one of the better Moorcock books I have read, and though the fight to recover a lost city is not a new one, the battle itself is very different from others of its ilk. Magic and science meet uneasily in these worlds, and the author often walks a tightrope between them. This is great storytelling, and very original, too.
**** stars. Reviewed August 11th/20
THE QUEST FOR TANELORN
Cover art by Robert Gould.
From 1975 comes the concluding book of a fascinating series. At 155 pages, it is an easy read and hard to put down once begun. Hawkmoon is back, and this time he and Yisselda leave Castle Brass in search of their two missing children. This book not only concludes the Castle Brass series, but the entire 7-volume Hawkmoon one. And wait. There's more! It is also the conclusion to Moorcock's entire multi-universe series of books. That's a lot of concluding!
Hawkmoon is helped in his adventure by three of his other eternal champion manifestations. Elric is there, Corum is there, and Erekose, too. Some of these heroes I haven't even read about yet, but it doesn't matter; Moorcock includes all readers in his story, and it is easy to follow and understand even if, like me, you still have a lot to read by Moorcock. Other popular characters return as well, but I will keep that part a secret.
Moorcock takes some nice shots at religion, including this quote from my edition: "Gods and their examples are not needed by those who respect themselves and, consequently, respect others. Gods are for children, for little, fearful people, for those who would have no responsibility to themselves or their fellows." Here here!
Moorcock takes some nice shots at religion, including this quote from my edition: "Gods and their examples are not needed by those who respect themselves and, consequently, respect others. Gods are for children, for little, fearful people, for those who would have no responsibility to themselves or their fellows." Here here!
I was a little disappointed in the writing (not the story) in the original 4-volume Hawkmoon series. I found it sketchy rather than filled out, and wished that the novels had been more epic in size and word count. This three-volume Castle Brass series is also short and sweet, but the writing is much better and more focused. I am sad that I have read the last of Hawkmoon (or have I?), but his adventures should be sought out by lovers of sword and sorcery books. I am now more enthused about reading the Corum and Elric books, and will have an image of the end game in my head as I read. Highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviewed September 13th/20
THE ELRIC STORIES
ELRIC: SONG OF THE BLACK SWORD
This volume is from Borealis Legends, and was published in 1995. It is 504 pages long, and contains three novels and three novelettes. There is some inside art, and a two page map, shown below. There is also a two page preface by the author, in which he says that he didn't enjoy Tolkien, referring to the Hobbits as cuddly. Seriously? What about the Ents, the Elves, the Riders of the Mark, Eowyn, the Dwarves, and so on. The Nazgul, the Rangers. Were they too cuddly? And what about his greatest work, unfinished at his death, namely the Silmarillion? More imagination per page than most authors create in their lifetime. So many writers were/are jealous of Tolkien's success and mastery of the adventure tale, and Moorcock is a sad case. He loves Edgar Rice Burroughs, though.
There is one more thing to discuss before we begin this journey. There are four comics that, according to Moorcock, present a prelude to the first novel of Elric. The comics feature truly wonderful interior art,and can be read for free on ReadComicsOnline. Here is the cover of Issue 1 of 4.
ELRIC OF MELNIBONE
From 1972 comes the first Elric novel, lasting 120 pages in my edition, though the first paperback edition back in the day was 189 pages. Elric is a weak emperor, and he knows it. His strength comes from potions that he must take. He is in love with Cymoril (which sounds a lot to me like Silmaril), sister to the ambitious Yyrkoon, who wants Elric dead and to take voer the throne. Despite Yyrkoon's treachery (and if you have read the four comics mentioned above, his treachery is now legendary) Elric does not censure him or put him to death or imprison him. So much for common sense in an emperor.
There is a battle with invading treasure seekers, and in that battle Yyrkoon seizes his chance to be rid of Elric and assume command of the Dragon Isle where they live. With Elric presumed dead, he returns victorious from battle and marches up to the throne. Guess who is sitting on it? How did Elric get there? Not even Tolkien or Burroughs would have been able to figure that one out, but it's no problem for Moorcock. Again Yyrkoon is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. This time Elric means business; there will be punishment. Except that he forgot that Yyrkoon is a great wizard, and when he confines him to his tower, it doesn't take the bad guy long to sneak away with Cymoril, and go off to plan Elric's destruction. Sigh. A bad guy and a good guy, and a girl they both want; this must be some kind of new story plot.
There is very little original writing in this first book. The ending makes clear that sequels are planned. After finally rescuing his girl and capturing Yyrkoon, he brings him back to Dragon Isle. then Elric sets off for a year of adventure, leaving Yyrkoon in charge, and Cymoril stays behind. Really??!!! Elric is one of the most flawed heroes I have ever encountered, yet he somehow manages to win a lot. Much of Edgar Rice Burroughs' writing is better than this,and much of Moorcock's, too. I am hoping for improvement.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 17th/22
THE FORTRESS OF THE PEARL
Written in 1989, this much later written Elric novel fills in the blanks of his year of travel with a compelling story. It seems to be a compendium of styles, from Lovecraft, Dunsany, E R Eddison, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Frank Baum, and Fritz Leiber, not to mention Homer, who started it all. They actually blend well! My version is 164 pages, but the original paperback version is 248 pages.
Elric wanders in the desert, arriving at the isolated city of Quarzhasaat, where he is tricked into carrying out a task for one of the corrupt aristocrats. He is practically dead when found and rescued by a young boy, who himself becomes a pawn in this intricate story. Elric must seek the pearl, the greatest pearl ever created. To do this he must enter a young girl's dream, with the help of a female dreamthief.
The story becomes a long journey, filled with hazards and with friends all along the way. Jerry Cornelius and his little cat make a guest appearance at one point, helping the two travellers more than once. The journey leads to the Silver Flower Oasis, and thence on into the lands of dream. All in all this is a very good adventure, much better written than the original Elric story from 17 years earlier. While such a thing is to be hoped for, it is not necessarily the case. Well done!
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed February 17th/22
SAILOR ON THE SEAS OF FATE
The 3rd Elric story in my omnibus edition is from 1976, and is 129 pages long. The original paperback edition was 170 pages. It consists of three linked novellas, called Books by the author. The first one relates directly to the Hawkmoon novel written one year earlier (see above) called The Quest For Tanelorn. In that story, as in this one, the four manifestations of Elric join to destroy the evil brother/sister godlike beings who inhabit a desolate island, each in their own tower. Elric is picked up by the blind captain, and joins Erekose, Hawkmoon, and Corum. The story is exactly the same as the earlier one, but seen from Elric's perspective this time. After the battle each hero goes his own way once again. Elric sticks with the ship a bit longer before leaving it to try and return to his own world.
In the 2nd story he lands on an island where he finds a group of nasty pirates, but from different eras of the past. He also finds a friend and ally who will stick with him until the end of novel. At its heart this is a ghost story, as the ghost of a man seeks revenge on a sorcerer who cruelly dealt with a maiden he really loved more than he knew. The soldier seeking revenge is accompanied by a white horse that is able to follow the wizard. At the end of this story, Elric and his companion are able to return to their own world, where they are found floating in the sea by yet another new friend and ally.
The third story (The Jade Man's Eyes) is one of pure adventure, as the three men and ship's crew seek a lost city in the jungle of a land that is only known through some very old, mistrusted myths. Savage jungle creatures, a ruined city, a crystal-eyed giant statue, and a man living there who cannot die, are all ingredients of this almost familiar tale. Needless to say, there are very few survivors, and some surprising deaths. Perhaps not the best jungle/lost city story I have read, it does have all the basic ingredients (though no women).
A good addition to the tale of Elric's year of wandering.
*** stars. Reviewed March 14th/22 The Dreaming City is from 1961, and is 28 pages long. Elric is finally ready to return home. He finds out that his cousin has yet again usurped his throne, and has Elric's wife prisoner and under a sleeping spell. Elric organizes a navy from enemy countries and attacks his own city, destroying it completely, though barely escaping with his life. In getting his revenge on the usurper, he ends up harming himself more.
*** stars. Reviewed April 14th/22
While The Gods Laugh is from 1961, and is 32 pages long. This is a good adventure story, as Elric falls in with a strange and beautiful woman. They go in search of a lost magic book, each hoping to have their main wish granted. Elric wishes to find out if there is one god above all the others. They gain another ally on their journey. This is a story very much in the tradition of Conan, and is well told.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed April 14th/22
The Singing Citadel is from 1967, and is 29 pages long. Another Conan-type adventure, this time Elric takes on yet another task that a female asks him to. A mysterious citadel has appeared in the countryside of her kingdom, and is drawing away people who are never seen again. Elric enters the citadel, finding an old acquaintance who should not be on Earth, and is causing havoc. How to get rid of him? The story ends anticipating a sequel, as Elric next sets out to find the sorcerer who tried to kill him.
*** stars. Reviewed April 15th/22
1: ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS
A 459 volume from 2008, it contains several shorter tales as well as a novel. It also has several b & w pages of art from some of the original publications of the stores. There is a foreword by Alan Moore, and an introduction by the author. As well, there is a 2nd intro by the author. I have read three of the shorter stories elsewhere (see above). There are also two concluding essays by Moorcock, and ones by Alan Forrest and Anthony Skene. I am counting this volume as two books.
THE STEALER OF SOULS (4 novellas)
The Dreaming City is from 1961, and is reviewed directly above. *** stars.
While The Gods Laugh is from 1961, and is reviewed directly above. ***1/2 stars.
The Stealer of Souls is from 1962, and is 46 pages long. A decent story in which Elric seeks help from his homeless kinsmen in taking down an evil wizard. At first he is hired by merchants to kill the most successful merchant in the city, but plans evolve. Lots of magic, some grim fighting, and some humour.
*** stars. Reviewed Dec. 11th/22
Kings In Darkness is from 1962, and is 32 pages long. Elric and his friend rescue a girl and agree to lead her safely home, after her family and guards were attacked and killed (though most of the mercenary guards ran away). On the way they take a detour through a creepy forest, and have dealings with the murderous king who dwells there. A pretty dark adventure. Elric ends up marrying the young woman they rescue.
*** stars. Reviewed Dec. 11th/22
The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams is from 1962, and is 34 pages long. Another decent sword and sorcery story, as a barbarian hoard bears down on the city where Elric lives with his wife. Boy, did those barbarians ever pick the wrong city to molest. With cats, dragons, magic, and bloodshed, this is a worthy addition to the Elric chronicles.
*** stars. Reviewed Dec. 11th/22
Mission to Asno is from 1957, and is 11 pages long. A story from Moorcock's youth, when he edited a magazine devoted to Edgar Rice Burroughs and similar fiction by contemporary writers. This is one his short contributions.
* star. Reviewed Dec. 11th/22
STORMBRINGER (4 novellas)
Dead God's Homecoming is from 1963, and is 57 pages long. In one of the most freqwuently used tropes in heroic fantasy, Elric's wife is kidnapped and brought far across the Pale Sea. Elric follows mysterious messages to try to reclaim her. In between he fights in a war for the losing side, encounters ten awakened servants of fate, and battles a long dead god who is trying to serve Chaos. A good adventure, and we get to see some different parts of the world than previously.
*** stars. Reviewed January 14th/23
Black Sword's Brothers is from 1963, and is 52 pages long. A direct continuation of the previous story, Elric learns that his sword has additional powers. He journeys to seek help from white wizards, but can not reach their island. Instead he is led back to the volcano where his allies dwell, and given new tasks. He must banish the dark lords of Chaos, and stop the march of evil across the world. Is Elric up to the challenge? You bet. Another decent story.
*** stars. Reviewed Jan. 14th/23
Sad Giant's Shield is from 1964, and is 57 pages long. Sometimes Moorcock is more of a sketch artist than a writer artist. He can skim over details which a more careful writer would take pains to fill out. Moorcock often takes the shortest route to as destination, and the fastest. This could be seen by some as lazy writing, and perhaps it is. But I consider it simply a different way of writing. I don't want to read a Tolkien epic every time I sit down with a book, nor hear about what everyone had for breakfast. Moorcock really skimps on detail in this story. Despite his comments about not liking Tolkien, he is essentially writing a very similar epic here. But he is writing in shorthand. A different writer could have made a full dozen books from these 8 novellas included in this volume. I think what Moorcock really doesn't like about Tolkien's writing is all that walking. His tale of good vs evil is essentially the same one, and Elric and Moonglum could be seen as Frodo and Sam, with Elric's cousin as Aragorn. Anyway, I wish Moorcock had taken a bit more time and care with this story, and filled in a few more details.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 15th/23
Doomed Lord's Passing is from 1964, and is 50 pages long. The final Elric story is a fitting end to the series (even though more stories were to follow). Elric fights the final battle, the 4th in this 4-story series. He gets help again, and is more or less led to each fight, much like a puppet. He gets his revenge, but it is not very sweet. Elric is a hero unlike most other heroes, though in some ways is no different than others, either. He is fated to carry out his actions, and he is as much of the problem as he is of the solution. What is different about Elric is his level of awareness. At times he can tell exactly what it is he has to do and why, but at other times he merely follows advice because there is nothing else he can do. Sauron (sorry, the "dark gods of chaos") is not defeated, but sent from the Earth, unable to return. But what does Elric's victory mean? Simply another chance for a higher form of life to try again on a remade planet. And what a mess we have made of it.
*** stars. Reviewed January 15th/23
ELRIC VOL 2: TO RESCUE TANELORN
The 2nd volume of the Ballantine series is 469 pages long, an was published in 2008. There are introductory essays by Walter Mosely and Michael Moorcock, not counted in the page numbering. There are fifteen stories, with a bonus section at the end showing older cover art for some of the stories.
The Eternal Champion has been previously read. See the Eternal Champion sequence, below.
To Rescue Tanelorn has been previously read. See Elric of Melnibone, above.
The Last Enchantment is from 1978, and is 14 pages long. Elric meets the Lords of Chaos, and they will release him if they can be granted a request; they want Elric to create something new, and they want it to be a joke.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 7th/23
The Greater Conqueror is from 1963, and is 50 pages long. This could be considered historical fantasy, as the body of Alexander The Great is here possessed by an evil spirit, which must be expunged at all costs. Simon is the sword wielding hero, and he is certainly part of the solution. A good tale.
*** stars. Reviewed May 7th/23
Master of Chaos is the first story in the Earl Aubec volume. See that volume below.
Phase 1: A Jerry Cornelius Story is the very first part of the Cornelius Chronicles (see above). It deals with the Cornelius home, its treasure and its destruction.
The Singing Citadel is from Elric: Song of the Black Sword volume, above.
The Jade Man's Eyes is from "Sailor on the Seas of Fate", above.
The Stone Thing is from 1964, and is 6 pages long. This is a very short humourous piece, playing on the theme of a hero's missing body parts replaced by substitutes.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 8th/23
Elric At The End Of Time. See "The End of Time Series", below (forthcoming title).
The Black Blade's Song is from 1994 and is 32 pages long. This is a top notch tale as Elric meets up with Von Bek, as they witness the destruction of Chaos. Elric is offered a choice. As good as anything Leiber ever wrote.
****+ stars. Reviewed may 8th/23
Crimson Eyes is from 1994, and is 16 pages long. A modern Van Bek ancestor deals in an old fashioned way with several deserving government and private financial people. A detective tracks him down in London.
*** stars. Reviewed May 8th/23
Sir Milk-and-Blood is from 1996, and is 12 pages long. Another modern tale of the Albino, this time he is sent to "give release" to a pair of bungling terrorists.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 8th/23
The Roaming Forest is from 2006, and is 27 pages long. An old fashioned sword and sorcery tale starring the Red Archer, who becomes trapped on an island out of his time, unable to find his way back. When he is captured by a roaming forest, he discovers an ally who also hopes to get back to her own time and place. A good tale.
*** stars. Reviewed May 8th/23
3: THE SLEEPING SORCERESS
From 2008 comes yet another Elric collection, including two novels, some short essays, and a few pages of early Elric art form past publications. There are a large number of interior illustrations as well, undertaken by Steve Ellis. Of the two novels, I had read one before, but the essays seem new to me. The volume is 348 pages long. There is a brief foreword by Holly Black, and an introduction by Moorcock.
THE SLEEPING SORCERESS
Written in 1971, the novel lasts for 154 pages. It contains three shorter tales, all linked by characters and Elric's pursuit of an evil wizard. Book 1 is called "The Torment of The Last Lord." Elric and Moonglum are kidnapped by supernatural beasts and find their way to an abandoned castle in the snow. In its highest tower they encounter Myshella, a sorceress held under a spell by the evbil wizard Elric is pursuing. She needs some help to wake up from her long nap. Though this part of the story is wonderfully gothic and the atmosphere quite unique, Moorcock, as he often does, takes short cuts with his writing. Elric needs to go to a distant land and fetch some magic thing or other. This quest could occupy an entire volume with most writers. But Moorcock is lazy, and within a few pages Elric is gone and back again with the needed magic. Not his best writing here, despite the huge battle outside the castle and its aftermath. One question: why did the evil wizard bring a vast army with him to attack the castle, when only a sleeping woman was inside?
Book 2 is called "To Snare The Pale Prince," and involves a visit to a city that Fritz Leiber would have had a lot more fun with. The city of beggars story is again not Moorcock's finest moment. Elric is lured to the city so that its leader can seek revenge, aided by the evil wizard. More magical battles, and more fast travel, and more senseless deaths.
Book 3 is the best of them, and is called "Three Heroes With A Single Aim." This is a retelling of "The Vanishing Tower," encountered elsewhere, where Elric must join with Erekose and Corum to rescue Corum's travelling companion (and his little cat). This is truly an adventure story worthy of Leiber. Though read previously from a different angle, its retelling makes more sense to me at my current stage of Moorcock reading.
Overall book rating: *** stars. Reviewed July 8th/23
THE REVENGE OF THE ROSE
Cover art by Robert Gould.
From 1991 comes another adventure featuring everyone's favourite albino sword and sorcery hero, The Revenge of the Rose. This 233 page novel features a traditional story arc, with Elric having to retrieve a casket containing his father's soul. And so he goes on a quest featuring a dragon, the lords of Chaos and their underlings, a family of clairvoyants, a poet (who lived in the time of Gloriana!), and Rose, Moorcok's answer to Red Sonja. While the story arc follows a traditional path (including the inevitable battle between Elric and the main bad guy, Gaynor), the story ingredients are anything but traditional. While in the same general league as Tolkien, Peake, and E R Eddison, Moorcock has always been more a sketch artist than a true old master. He seldom takes enough time with his characters and situations, choosing instead to move things along almost at the pace of a pulp writer, forgoing details for action. That is not to say there is no introspection or good conversation in his stories, but these features are not the main reason one reads Moorcock. Having said this, Revenge of the Rose seems to probe deeper than other Moorcock novels, and along with the lovely plot twists, turns, and revelations, proves again that Moorcock can write literature when he wants to take his time and do so. Besides being a very good writer, this novel shows off his incredible imagination, as the places Elric and company visit are certainly on another plane of existence. If the story seems to begin like another old tale of sword and sorcery, hang on a bit. You will enjoy this epic tale, guaranteed.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed Dec. 11th/23
THE DREAMTHIEF'S DAUGHTER
There is only one fantasy plot novel. A really bad guy, who seems to have unlimited and endless evil powers, plans to take over the world/universe. The good guy is helpless to stop him, and undergoes horrible ordeals, suffering mightily. Until the last few pages of the book, when evil is defeated. Tolkien did not invent this age-old plot; he just happened to write the best version of it, ever. So anytime this plot is encountered (just open any fantasy novel), that writer is up against some mighty stiff competion. In this case, Moorcock falls far short of writing a memorable and lasting work of fantasy fiction.
The Dreamthief's Daughter is from 2001, and is 241 pages long. I couldn't wait for it to end. The author tries a lot of new tricks. Instead of one Elric, there's two (Elric and Ulrich). It is revealed that he has a daughter, referring back to a much earlier and very fine Elric tale called "The Fortress of the Pearl." His evil cousin is back, unfortunately. One can quickly get very tired of this 'cousin', who has appeared in many Elric tales. I did. And then there are the Nazis, on the rise. Of course there would have to be Nazis. And might as well throw in the Holy Grail. And dragons over England, helping defeat the German air attack on London in 1940.
I know this is fantasy, and Elric, and all that. But I found it very tiring reading. A low point for me in the Elric saga.
** stars. Reviewed May 11th/23
THE WHITE WOLF'S SON
Though better written than the previous Elric story, The White Wolf's Son still has several problems. In this story, published in 2005 and 339 pages long, Moorcock attempts to unite many of his favourite characters, including Elric, Bastable, Lord Renyard (the fox), Corum, and others from different series. Oona is back (the Dreamthief's daughter), as is our trusty bad guys, Gaynor and his sidekick Klosterheim. New to the story is Oonagh, the 12 year old granddaughter of Oona. It's all quite confusing, especially if you haven't read the Corum books in a while.
While Moorcock gives a heroic effort to bring so many previous characters into one book, his plot is still mostly fantasy nonsense. Of course the bad guys get their way until the final twenty pages or so, and the great climax of the story is a swordfight between Gaynor and Elric (how original, he comments drily). And the problem of having a 12 year old as the central character, we know deep down that nothing will really happen to her that is bad. She does lose some blood for a sacrifice, but as she is telling the story, she obviously survives. She is plucky and smart, and is actually a welcome character compared to the morose people usually found in Moorcock fantasy novels.
Now for the plot. The two bad guys have worked for hundreds of years for their chance to destroy everything, or rule everything, or something. Their plot can't miss (remember The Master from Dr. Who?). Well, here is a spoiler. They fail again. What a surprise ending indeed.
I get the feeling that the author was trying to wrap up his Elric tales with this book. We shall see....
*** stars. Reviewed June 10th/24
______________________________________
THE SUNDERED WORLDS
Cover artist uncredited. It might be Jack Gaughan.
This is the first SF novel by the author. Written in 1963, it was revamped in 1965, and again in 1970 under a different title. I believe I read the 1965 version, which is 158 pages long. It consists of a Prologue, 18 chapters, and an Epilogue. This also marks the 250th book I have read related to my Avon/Equinox review project. Moorcock's Avon/Equinox volume, above, is the 22nd (out of 27) in the series. Next up is #23 by Ward Moore, followed by one other book by each of the previous authors in the series, before I eventually arrive at Avon #24. It has been a very fun project, and eminently rewarding. It will last for some time yet.
Some of the books have been very easy to read, while others present their own unique challenges. First novels by authors can be particularly difficult, and Moorcock's shows why. The story is filled with some very imaginative ideas. However, the author finds trouble in describing his ideas to us. We get the fact that the places visited are so weird as to almost defy description. Yet, somehow, other writers manage to give us workable descriptions. Moorcock throws in enough big ideas to last him through a 4 or 5 book series, but he jams it all into 158 pages. This leaves us bewildered, to say the least.
Moorcock's grasp of physics is also shown to be rather shallow, though he seems unconcerned. His realization of the size of a single galaxy, never mind a full universe of them, and several other universes besides, is woeful to say the least. To even think that humans will survive the lifespan of our own universe, whether it continues to expand, or, as in the present novel, stops expanding and begins to contract, is rather stretching the belief system. In Moorcock's book, the universe seems to suddenly contract within a matter of weeks, when in all likelihood it would take billions of years.
Many people do not read SF for the science, however. How about characters? Moorcock is an even poorer character developer than he is a layman scientist. The characters are woeful, one-dimensional beings for the most part, though at the very end it would appear that at least four of them have made some progress. We also encounter a number of aliens, who are either totally evil or totally good. We fight the bad guys and try to make peace with the good guys.
As far as plot and setting go, the first half of the book is very difficult to get through. I doubt I would have finished it had I not committed to reviewing it. We visit many different planets and dimensions, with very little in the way of description. The plot, however, does move forward, albeit strangely for the most part. Three men are seeking out a ghost system consisting of a binary star and something like 11 planets, which pass through different universes briefly from time to time. Renark is a Space Sensor, in tune with the entire universe. His job is similar to the pilots in Frank Herbert's Dune, who must use spice to attune their minds to avoid crashing into stars and planets on long voyages. Renark has discovered a secret, and he must seek an answer on one of the wandering planets.
The second half of the book settles down a bit more, as two million ships of humans leave their universe in search of a new one. When they arrive, they are immediately at war against another civilization. After a few skirmishes, the aliens challenge the humans to The Game, and much of the second half takes place during this event. The Game is a devastating psychological war, pitting human minds against the aliens, winner take all. The Blood Red Game destroys minds, and whoever can outlast the other will win.
"Never in the history of the human race had such dreadful battles been fought. This was more like a war between depraved demons than between material creatures."
Indeed it is a rather crude battle, one in which the aliens have many advantages. Can the humans defeat the aliens and win the universe for themselves, or will the human race perish, as did its home universe? These and other exciting questions await the reader who can wade through some pretty thick and intense material. The first half seems to drag, but things do pick up and become quite interesting. Just forget about the science part.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed August 28th/18
Mapman MikeTHE FIRECLOWN (THE WINDS OF LIMBO)
Cover art by Richard M. Powers.
From 1965 comes Moorcock's 2nd SF novel, lasting a brief 158 pages. The title of my copy does not seem as appropriate as The Fireclown, which at least identifies the main character of the story. The Fireclown himself is a pretty scary character. He is around 6' 6" tall, and very large in girth. He not only has a physical presence, but a very charismatic personality. He seems to arrive on Earth at one of those critical times (Moorcock would come to call such people The Eternal Champion). Things have been running smoothly in the world government for about 100 years; no wars, no starvation, no unrest of any kind. It would seem like that is a long time for people to remain calm. And so the Fireclown's speeches come to be misconstrued by his eager listeners, whose numbers grow exponentially each time he talks. The government soon identifies him as a threat, and tries to eliminate him from the scene.
The story is quite engaging, and though the writing is reminiscent of Farmer and his adventurous plots, there is a unique voice emerging here. Moorcock's writing has improved vastly since Sundered Worlds, and he seems able to follow a plot line through to the end without jeopardizing its logic or flow. The hero and heroine undergo some pretty life-changing experiences, including a brief journey to the center of the Sun (yup), as well as a jaunt to the galaxy's center (before we knew anything about black holes, so we don't encounter one here). These experiences, along with a negative historical spaceship experience, have driven the Fireclown mad. And though the book at times reads like a mystery crime story, all is made clear by the end.
The book, though heavily involved with politics, is at heart an adventure SF story, with plenty of action along with the subterfuge. I love the character of the Fireclown, and what he is attempting to preach (we need awareness of ourselves and our surroundings to survive, not merely intelligence). I wish the book had been longer, and his character even more developed. However, Moorcock does a pretty fantastic job with him in the short time we encounter him. A good read!
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed October 18th/18
THE TWILIGHT MAN
Cover art uncredited.
In 1964 the author wrote a 2-part story for New Worlds. It 1966 it received a thorough rewrite, and at 157 pages this is that version. It is the strange tale of Clovis Marca, and of the Earth that has, as a result of a passing alien invasion, stopped spinning. The dark side is perpetual cold and ice, with no life on it. Most people live in the daylight, but they eventually discover that they are unable to reproduce. The constant radiation bombardment has made the men impotent and the women infertile. This is a theme that John Christopher, surprisingly, did not use in one of his end-of-the-world scenarios. He would have used a disease rather than an alien invasion, but it would have been interesting to hear his take on possible outcomes.
Instead, we have Moorcock's muddled, almost juvenile version of events. With a very limited population that will soon die out, the remaining humans quickly lose their minds, and all self-discipline. A near chaos existence becomes the new norm, led by the bad guy Almer, who not only wants to rule the world, but wants to get his mitts on Marca's girlfriend, Fastima. They are in hiding, but are quickly found and persecuted. As Marca is about to die, the story takes a u-turn, and Marca and Fastima find themselves back in the twilight zone, where Marca is from. He came from an incestuous relationship between his father and his sister, but this is normal for dwellers in the twilight part of Earth. No hope there for reseeding the population.
When the alien invaders of long ago stopped the Earth's rotation, they also managed to crash the Moon into the Pacific Ocean. The biologist/wizard Sharvis has secluded himself inside the hollowed out Moon, and Marca seeks him out. His original goal was to see if the great man could help Earth regain its population growth, but he becomes distracted and asks for eternal life instead. This, despite the warnings he has been given about Sharvis. In the end, everyone gets what they wish for, but, as the saying goes, be careful for what you wish. The ending has an Aesop's Fable feeling to it, with a similar simplicity and ambiguity.
Considering that 1966 was the year that Moorcock wrote the incomparable Behold the Man (see top), this is a disappointing lurch into the SF domain. Think of it as one side of an Ace Double, though below the standards of some of the great authors that contributed to that memorable series. Considering that this is the improved, updated version, it makes me very leery of ever coming across the original version.
** stars. Reviewed Nov. 22nd/18
THE MICHAEL KANE MARS TRILOGY
1) CITY OF THE BEAST
Cover art by Richard Hescox. A nice tribute to Frazetta.
Michael Moorcock, like P.J. Farmer, was strongly influenced in his youth by Edgar Rice Burroughs. His Mars trilogy is essentially the same as Burroughs' books on the subject. This first volume is from 1965, and is 160 pages long. The author includes a new foreward for this edition (1979). John Kane is sent to Mars by mistake when he volunteers to test his own matter transmission device. He appears on Mars perhaps ten million years earlier than when he left Earth.
There are some differences with Burroughs' Mars. For one thing, there is an advanced elder race which has left its power sources, weapons, and flying ships behind. Though their power is winding down, they have continued to function for thousands of years. This race was at war with a similar race, and they seem to have virtually destroyed themselves in the process. Mars is littered with the ruins of their extensive cities.
There are many similarities, too. The women are gorgeous and don't seem to wear many clothes (neither do the men--see the cover art, above). There are huge blue guys called the Argzoon. There is a lot of fighting, much of it done with swords. There is a good girl and a bad girl (blonde and brunette, in that order). There are cities of humans, and cities of the Argzoon. If I had just finished reading all of the Burroughs Mars books I likely would have been less impressed by Moorcock's ode to those volumes. But as I haven't read them in years, I took great delight in reading this first volume. There is adventure and misadventure on every page, and the novel flies by. It can be read in a day. Moorcock claims that he wrote all three novels in one week!
Frontispiece art by Hescox. Meet Horghul,
the bad girl.
If you want escapism that is fun and filled with action in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs, look no further. There are also hints of Robert E. Howard, and H. Rider Haggard. Enjoy!
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 26th/19
LORD OF THE SPIDERS
Cover art by Richard Hescox.
The second installment of Moorcock's tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs is from 1965, and is 160 pages long. Everyone's favourite bad girl is back, as Moorcock proves that he can write action-packed pulp SF with the best of them. In this adventure, he manages to return to Mars and get involved in dangerous deeds of derring do again and again. He ends up in a part of Mars that he does not recognize, and thinks that he has returned to a different time. He has no hope of finding good girl Shizala, and so commits to helping an alien from a different race overthrow a cruel government.
We get to explore some of the mysteries of the earlier races of Mars, the ones that destroyed one another during a devastating war thousands of years ago. Their destroyed cities and some of their inventions are still around, and Earthman John Kane gets to explore an underground city of theirs, after stumbling across a strange tower in the desert. Nasty things live there now, but Kane and his small band of merry aliens manage to escape, after manufacturing a helium balloon from materials remaining in the old city.
We travel by balloon off and on for the remainder of the adventures, including capture by giant spiders, no doubt a nod to Tolkien as much as Burroughs. We do meet with the Lord of the Spiders, though that is only one of many strange adventures that Kane has on Mars. When we come across bad girl Horguhl once again, she is up to her old tricks. She has used her mind bending powers to pit friend against friend, and a war is about to break out between the two largest and most powerful cities in the South. Can Kane stop this war in time? Will he find Shizala? Will he survive, and get back safely to Earth? Of course he will.
The Martian fun continues, with one more volume to go.
*** stars. Reviewed March 4th/19
BARBARIANS OF MARS
Cover art by Dorian Vallejo.
The third and final volume of Moorcock's Mars series is as short and fast paced as the first two. From 1965 (he wrote all three at one time) I read it in one day, in two sittings. Despite trying to learn more about machines left behind much earlier by Mars' technologically advanced civilizations, Michael Kane is thwarted at every turn. Kidnapped by barbarians, then by dog people, then by the first ones, he gets himself into more trouble in one short novel than most heroes undergo in several. And this is the key to pulp writing--sketch out a 500 page novel and give it to us in 156 pages. Norman Spinrad would be aghast.
If you enjoyed the first two books, then this one offers more of the same. Mars is peopled with fascinating critters and humans, most of whom we get to meet only briefly. Slam bam thank you Moorcock!
*** stars. Reviewed April 21st/19
_______________________________________________________________________________
THE WRECKS OF TIME
Cover and 2 inside artworks by Jack Gaughan.
From 1965 comes this 135 page novel by an author who can take readers to great heights of SF writing, or leave them bewildered and limp by his attempt. This attempt is pretty fine, though at the beginning I thought I was in for a rather dreary read. But the story got better and better. Faustaff, the hugely overweight yet agile hero, reminded me a bit of Farmer's Father Carmody, even though Moorcock's man is an atheist and lover of food, drink, and women.
Faustaff heads an organization that deals with planet-destroying Unstable Matter Situations, caused by a 2nd but unknown organization bent on destroying worlds. All of the worlds are clones of Earth, each with their own unique landscapes and people, even though similarities exist. The plot is difficult to describe, but the Unstable Situations are getting worse, and of the 15 remaining planets, most of them appear to be losing the battle for existence. Complicating the two groups battling for the planets is a third group, called the Salvagers. They come in just before or after an Unstable Situation and grab what they can of equipment either wrecked by the event, or left behind in haste by Faustaff's group when in need of a hasty exit.
As Mark Twain once remarked when discussing the benefits of travel abroad, no matter where you go, you keep running into yourself at every destination. And so it is with the great mystery that hovers just beyond reach throughout most of the book. It would seem that humans of one sort or another are behind everything that has happened and is happening to these Earth planets. Experiments, nearly one thousand of them, have all resulted in failure. Faustaff might know why.
This is pretty decent SF writing, and I liked the book a lot. It opens itself up to many sequels, and even this book alone could have made a very good TV mini-series. However, very few authors were into that sort of thing, until Tolkien was unleashed upon the world. A recommended read.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 7th/19
There was already a large supply of madness in his family. His wife cannot bear to even see strangers, and remains in her apartment most of the time back on Earth. The others and the Ryans (who have two children, both boys) used to meet secretly in his apartment to try and come to terms with what was happening outside, and to create a plan to deal with it. These were damaged people before they got off the ground. Most of them could not talk freely with others, and could not bear to look out of windows at the world outside. So we have a pretty good idea of what might come from this journey should they ever reach their destination.
Cover art by Ken Barr.
Cover art uncredited. 
Cover images Dreamstime/Funny Little Fish
Art by Chaykin.
Cover art uncredited. 
There are three novels in here. Cover and interior art by Chris Moeller.
BOOK 3: THE STEEL TSAR
Cover artist uncredited.
Cover artist uncredited (Stanislaw Fernandes).
Cover artist uncredited (Stanislaw Fernandes).
Cover art by Stanislaw Fernandes. 
Cover art by Bob Pepper.
Cover art by Bob Pepper.
Cover art by Michael Whelan.
Cover art by Robert Gould.
Cover art by Mick van Houten.
Cover art by Janet A. Dannheisen. 
Inside art by Michelle Prahler.
A later Ulrich Von Beck meets The Eternal Champion. 
Inside art by Michelle Prahler. 
Cover design by John Sposato.
Cover by John Yates. I read the kindle version.
I read the Kindle edition.
I read the Kindle edition.
Cover art by Mark Harrison.
Cover art by Bill Binger.
Cover by Lee Binding.
Cover art by Dorian Vallejo
This is pretty decent SF writing, and I liked the book a lot. It opens itself up to many sequels, and even this book alone could have made a very good TV mini-series. However, very few authors were into that sort of thing, until Tolkien was unleashed upon the world. A recommended read.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 7th/19
TRAMONTANE
Cover and inside art by Jack Gaughan.
The author is new to me, and I have since discovered that he wrote for the pulps and was friends to many of the great early SF writers. This novel, from 1967, is the 4th and final story in a SF/Fantasy series based on the Finnish foll epic The Kalevala. Since reading Book 4, I am now seriously interested in reading the first three. The present story is 119 pages long.
It tells of the adventures of Kullervo Kassi, a misshapen man whom people treat overly badly. He is friendless and full of hate and evil thoughts. He is taken in by the witch Louhi, and groomed to be her instrument of destruction for an ancient race called the Vanhat. Once his training is complete he is sent back to Terra to find and destroy these people, who are said to have legendary powers that Louhi fears. Tramontane (which means a person from the other side of the mountains, in other words an unwanted stranger) Kullervo sets out on a bold adventure on a planet which was evacuated eons ago, leaving behind only dregs of humanity. No one really knows what kinds of things Kullervo will run into, but we soon find out.
This is high adventure in the best tradition of P. J. Farmer, with a little destructive black magic thrown in for good measure. The hero is certainly one of the strangest I have ever encountered in literature, and despite his ugliness and low breeding, his hatred for nearly everyone and his thoughts of violence, we cheer him on his way. His is not only an outward adventure in search of clues to the Vanhat existence, but it is also an inner journey, as he discovers beauty and goodness in things. These are very new experiences for him, but his awakening is handled well and we believe it when he begins to change. Though he does not falter in his task to the witch, he is discovering things he never knew existed.
A wonderful tale, as much a fantasy as SF, it is highly recommended.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 9th/19
SAILING TO UTOPIA
THE ICE SCHOONER
Cover art by Rick Berry.
This is Volume 8 in the Omnibus editions. It contains three novels and a novelette.
The first novel is The Ice Schooner, first published in 1966 Harry Harrison's SF magazine called Impulse. It was published in three parts. It was published in novel form in 1969. In the introduction to the omnibus, Moorcock claims he wrote the book himself, unlike the others in the volume. This version is 205 pages long, and is dedicated to Keith Roberts, artist (see image below).
Cover art by Keith Roberts.
Captain Konrad Arflane is out of a job, his ship having been sold due to the misfortunes of the city where he lives and works. He lives in a distant future, when ice covers the globe, and one travels by ice schooner or skis. Arflane has left his home in despair and has set out on a solo expedition to nowhere. He comes across an old man struggling in the snow and cold. Something compels him to save the old man, who lives in a rival city, whose fortunes have overtaken Arflane's.
Arflane brings the old man to his city, where it is learned that he has saved Lord Rorsefne, the most important ship master in the most prosperous city. The captain is told to wait around a while until the old man is well. The Lord asks a favour of Arflane, then dies. The favour is to head an expedition to New York, far to the north. The Lord had been on such an expedition when his schooner was wrecked, and he has made charts to aid the captain.
Portrait of Ulrica Rorsfne, daughter to the old Lord whom Arflane saves. She and her husband embark on the journey to New York aboard the schooner.
Inside art by Rick Berry.
It takes a full 100 pages before the Ice Spirit, the finest ship Arflane has ever seen, departs the city for its long and dangerous voyage across the ice. Until then we spend time in cheap taverns, touring the Ice Spirit, and land whaling, which is the main source of income and trade among the eight cities of the plateau.. By the time the ship sets sail, we are well acquainted with the world in which Arflane lives.
The adventure is a good one, and this novel joins the small but select group of winter and ice stories I have come across from authors of the Avon/Equinox series, including John Christopher and a decent juvenile one by Robert Silverberg. Moorcock's story is a bit like Moby Dick, in that Arflane's trip to New York will change him forever, and not in a good way. The men of the cities worship the Ice Mother, knowing in their hearts that she wishes all things to be cold and snowy. The people have adapted to this climate, and want no change. But change is arriving, slowly, and men like Arflane are unable to accept change. The climate has begun to warm.
I loved most of this book, and found it difficult to put down. The characters are well drawn, and some of them develop quite a bit during the narrative. However, I found the arrival in New York to be a bit of an anti-climax, and the fact that Arflane would not even go and look at a real garden somewhat distressing. A tree that bends in the wind will survive a storm, but the one unable to bend will be broken destroyed. Such is Arflane, and the book ends on a sad and solitary note.
A very good read, one of the few really good winter books I have read.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed October 16th/20
THE BLACK CORRIDOR
The 2nd novel contained in the omnibus comes from 1969, and is 150 pages long. This time we are sailing in a space ship, headed for an Earth-like planet orbiting the Barnard's star. The story is told from the point of view of Ryan, who is the sole crew member of the Hope Dempsey. 12 other people are stored in hibernation, to be awakened at the end of the 5 year flight. They are all family or close friends, escaping from a future Earth that has seen civilization totally crumble and disintegrate. The 13 colonists stole the space ship, using it to start life anew and to escape the hideous political savagery of Earth.
Cover for the 1969 edition by Diane and Leo Dillon.
The story is similar to several by Barry Malzberg, as we watch the mental disintegration of Ryan aboard his space craft, after a journey of three years. He has two more years before he will have company. On Earth, we flash back to his time as owner and manager of a successful toy store. Things in England begin to unravel as foreigners are persecuted and kicked out of jobs, and that includes anyone who is not English. Welsh, Irish, etc. are not welcome, and once the Patriots political party take over things, they spread the idea that space aliens are responsible for all the things going wrong with the world and the country.
Is it just loneliness that is driving Ryan crazy, causing his nightmares and waking hallucinations, but visual and auditory? As we learn more about him and the events that overtook him via the flashbacks, we quickly realize that there is much more to Ryan's downhill behaviour. He is suffering a terrible guilt, from having murdered more than once. He tries to convince himself that it was necessary to help him escape to space with his family, and he is mostly right. It was evil, but necessary. But that doesn't stop his mind from degenerating as a result of his actions.
Inside art by Rick Berry, a portrait of a madman.
And with Ryan's onboard madness growing worse each day, we are left in some doubt if the journey will ever be completed safely. This is yet another example saying that ordinary folk do not belong in space; such an environment is reserved only for super beings. The Black Corridor itself is space, of course, the vast void of nothingness surrounding the puny ship. But it is also a good name for the human mind, trying to cope alone with things far beyond its power. This is a powerful story, if somewhat implausible (stealing a ship from the UN? Really?). Recommended.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed November 17th/20
THE DISTANT SUNS
The final novel in this wonderful volume is from 1975 and is 141 pages. It's pretty similar to many pulp novels from the 1940s and 1950s, as three people leave Earth for Alpha Centauri, on the first interstellar flight. Earth is overcrowded and undergoing violent protests. A new planet is sought that might take up some of the excess population. Away sails Jerry Cornelius (!) and his wife Cathy (!), as well as old Professor Marek. The ship is run by an advanced computer, and there is little for the people to do.
Rather than take many years to complete the flight at sub-light speed, the new discovery of warped space makes the journey last a mere three weeks. However, travelling through the warp takes its toll, with the computer and Marek driven mad by the process. The ship successfully lands on the moon of a moon of a planet orbiting the star, and lo and behold there are humans there, from Asia. There is no explanation given for this little surprise.
I enjoyed reading this story, being a big fan of the pulp SF novels. This one, with references to the Morlock and to Neil Armstrong, is better than the average well written story of its type. The outbound trip, Earth's precarious political situation, and especially the planetary adventure once they arrive kept me turning pages. I just wish a bit more time was devoted to the riddle of the people who had arrived centuries earlier, and now lived in one city, as well as in bands of roaming outsiders.
A fun read, like the other stories in this volume.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed December 15th/20
FLUX: Also included in the volume is this short story from 1963, lasting for 35 pages. Starring Max Von Beck (!), it is Moorcock's tribute to H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. Virtually every SF author writes about time travel at one point of their career, and Moorcock proves he is no exception. Europe is at a crises point and ready to implode. The leaders know not which way to turn, or who's advice to follow. They are stuck. They send Von Beck 10 years into the future, to find out which choice they should make. Away he goes, off on some pretty wild adventures. This story covers a lot of territory in a very few pages, and is highly recommended. The secret of time travel will be yours if you read it.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed December 15th/20
CORUM: THE SWORDS TRILOGY
THE KNIGHT OF THE SWORDS
My edition contains the first three Corum novels, lasting 403 pages altogether. The first novel, The Knight of The Swords, is from 1971, and is 149 pages long. It seems to be a mish-mash of Howard, Burroughs, and Tolkien's Silmarillion. The hero is Prince Corum, one of the Vadhagh, a race that is no longer extant in our world. They had the ability to see through at least five planes of existence, though that power had been weakening of late. Confined voluntarily to their isolated castles, they pursued art, music, and learning at the expense of knowing what was going on around them. They did not feel threatened. When Corum's father is about to die, he asks his son to go forth and bring him news of their relatives and friends in other castles. Corum sets out on his adventure, little guessing the horrors and tribulations that await him.
Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories always seem to feature a similar hero, namely one who is upstanding, well-rounded, stubborn, often a poor decision maker, and someone surrounded and followed by tragedy wherever he goes. Though simplistic, the story is a good one, and features all of the ingredients that go into a decent sword and sorcery novel, plus a few others. There is a beautiful girl who must be saved, an evil overlord who must be overthrown, minor enemies to overcome, and a lot of land and sea to cross in search of destiny. Even so, it is quite different from the authors' Hawkmoon series (though the two heroes are interchangeable) and his Mars one.
The series is off to a great start, and I am looking forward to book 2.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 14th/21
THE QUEEN OF THE SWORDS
From 1971 comes the 124 page sequel, and I must admit it left me quite disappointed. This could be best called a 'potboiler' novel, where the author's ideas really don't get developed well at all. The focus is on non-stop action, and once again we see the countryside ravaged, men, women, and children killed indiscriminately, and the bad guys laughing and singing as they do it. Virtually every Moorcock fantasy book has the same thing happening, and it begins to seem like he knows of no other way to conduct war. I would like to turn his attention, and those of his readers, to E. R. Eddison as only one example of how to do things better.
The book is a pastiche of Tolkien, especially The Silmarillion, Burroughs, Robert E Howard, and even Fritz Leiber, all of whom do a better job than this messy concoction. One thing I did like was the addition of the Jerry Cornelius character, though in the end this is just another way of saying that Moorcock has difficulty writing for women characters. As Jerry comes to the forefront, Rhalina becomes more of a background character.
Corum's battle against the Queen never takes place; his job is undertaken by Arkyn, a god, and by the Cosmic Balance. We spend precious little time in the Pyramid city, though I did enjoy the landscape and epic journey across a different plane of existence, accompanied by the King Without a Kingdom. And |I loved the opening scene on the beach near Moiden Castle, as the giant walks past with his net, stopping to search through it and throwing most things back into the sea (including Jerry). With this kind of opening I had hoped for a very fine adventure. Instead, it seems like it was just more of the same thing. this from an author who can do better.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed February 14th/21
THE KING OF SWORDS
The concluding chapter, also from 1971, is 128 pages long, and includes a lengthy summary of events so far. The third book is an excellent conclusion to a worthwhile series, bouncing back nicely after a rather routine 2nd book. Corum, Jhary, and Rhalina set out to save the land from a violent madness that has struck the peaceful lands, setting neighbour against neighbour and friend against friend. Their journey encompasses several planes of existence, and the foes they encounter along the way test their strength and skills right to the very end of the story.
Much like the heroic characters in The Worm Ouroboros, the masterpiece of fantasy fiction by E. R. Eddison, Corum always seeks peace but can only find it through violence and war. This time, he fights against all of the combined forces of Chaos. However, he does gain two great allies in his battle; Corum, Elric, and Erekose all unite to form one mighty warrior, ble to do things neither hero could do on their own. This combining into an uber hero, or, as Moorcock calls them separately, the Eternal Champion, to defeat the forces of darkness, is an amazing concept, combining heroes from different novels and series, and it works well here, as it has worked well on other stories by the author.
The only disappointing thing (for me) is the fact that Rhalina is only there as window dressing. She never really gets to do anything, except get captured by the King of Swords, used as a lure to catch Corum. It would have been much more effective had she contributed to the demise of Chaos somehow. Of course I am thinking of one of Tolkien's greatest characters, Eowyn the Shield Maiden, who manages to kill the head Nazgul in Lord of the Rings. Moorcock has created male heroes only, and I would have hoped for something better.
I really loved the tie-ins with Kwll and the Wading God at the end, too, as well as Corum's hobby and occupation at the end of the story. Overall, the series is a great achievment, and while recalling several other heroic tales (Conan and Tolkien to just name two), the stories here are totally original and filled with unique settings, characters (Jhary and his winged cat, for instance), and plot. Highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviewed March 22nd/21
THE ETERNAL CHAMPION SEQUENCE
THE ETERNAL CHAMPION
Originally written in 1970, the new edition has additions by the author from 2014. The updates merely mention some of the many other incarnations the hero has undergone since being first written. The essential story is the same. This tale is as tragic as anything ever written by Shakespeare. Like in most other fantasy novels by Moorcock, nearly everyone dies. It deals with Humanity's need to engage in war, and to try and utterly destroy the enemy. We are talking genocide.
John Daker, like John Carter, is at home tossing and turning one moment, and the next moment he has become a summoned warrior named Erekose. He is tasked with fighting the dreaded Eldren race, and wiping them out entirely before they do the same to humans. Erekose goes to battle, winning most of them handily and becomes intent in wiping out the Eldren. Then he meets one of the enemy, and finds them not so bad. Doesn't matter. Crush. Kill. Destroy. Until there is just a handful of the enemy left. Kill them all, shouts the King. Until he dies. Kill them all, shouts the Queen, who was once Erekose's lover. Now she is a frothing maniac, like the rest of the humans.
Erekose finally takes the side of the Eldren, finding them a noble and intelligent race, unlike the humans. He wants to spare the few remaining Eldren, and with good reason. Without an outside race for an enemy, he knows that the humans will soon turn on one another, and human versus human wars will resume. At least with some of the Eldren remaining, humans will stick together. But is not to be. Intent on wiping out the last of the Eldren, with Erekose now firmly on the side of the enemy, the humans attack.
Moorcock's view of Humanity is not only realistic and plausible, but too close to the truth to be denied. Our love and need for war, combat, competition, putting down others not like us, coupled with our xenophobia, all combine to make us the most destructive force on Earth. This is a sobering bit of "fantasy" to read. Only it isn't really fantasy after all, is it?
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 18th/21
BOOK TWO: PHOENIX IN OBSIDIAN
Book 2 is from 1970, revised in 2014, and is 193 pages of easy reading. Erekose has been torn from his bed and his woman, and appears in a frozen waste land with a red sun that is dimming and not offering much hope for survival for the people who still live here. Though the story in part is already familiar (the hero has been summoned to aid some side or other in battle), this story takes a very different track from the other ones in this sword and sorcery tradition of Moorcock. The obsidian city of Rowernarc not only has a perverted and quite mad leader, but the entire city seems given over to lustful pleasures. They all assume that there doom has arrived, so why not live it up until the final day.
The hero finds himself called Ulric, a man from old legends whom everyone seems to know, but have never seen. He gets along fine in the city, and tries to find out why he was brought there by the gods. He eventually finds out, as the adventure moves next out to sea, and then back to a different city, amidst the scarlet fjord, a place that once knew great learning and technical progress, but now is mostly a fishing town. Ulric allies himself with these people, since he was betrayed by the corrupt leader of Rowernarc and left to die on a small island at sea.
Ulric finds himself tormented by the thought of bearing a black sword. Somewhere in his past he has sworn not to take up this weapon ever again. It is a powerful killing tool, but he has to eventually reluctantly accept it. The third group of people Ulric must deal with are the silver Moon folk (yes, from the moon, which has fallen to Earth eons ago). He must rescue their queen to save the fisher folk from being destroyed by the leader of Rowernarc.
The plot continually moves along, and the adventure is quite a good one. The book ends with a definite cadence, though left open for more adventures, which, thankfully, did occur. But Moorcock had really intended this 2nd book to be the final one in this series. It was to be eventually continued in a comic illustrated by Howard Chaykin (see below), and then another full novel. Though the first book need not be read to enjoy this book, the two books are connected
***1/2 stars. Reviewed August 20th/21
THE SWORDS OF HEAVEN, THE FLOWERS OF HELL
In 1979 Chaykin created this wonderful graphic novel, from a story outline by Moorcock. It can be read in half an hour, but the art is absolutely stunning, one of the finest comics I have ever come across. The story begins where Book 2 left off, and John Daker emerges in a new time and place for an adventure as another of his suddenly named eternal champions. His newest hero name is Clen of Clen Gar, and he marches into a strange battle, one that will aid the angels to find their missing plane of existence. The story is good, but it is the art that amazes and leaves a lasting impression.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed September 20th/21
THE DRAGON IN THE SWORD
From 1986-87, and possibly reworked in 2015, comes this 345 page concluding volume in this Eternal Champion series. As one of the main characters in the story is Count Ulric von Bek, this story also fits into his series of tales, which will eventually appear in this blog, too. This time Daker's hero name is Prince Flamadin, and his arch enemy is his twin sister, Sharadim. She wants the dragon sword for evil purposes. When delivered to one of the gods of Chaos the sword will give him infinite power. Daker/Flamadin wants it to help the Elder race, who are currently separated by sex. The women are in this plane and the men in another, separated by fate. The sword in good hands will help bring them back together.
This is a good adventure story, better written than some of the early eternal champion tales. Moorcock takes his time developing plot and characters, and we get some truly amazing settings. Probably one of the best things I've ever read concerns the strange ships that churn through the swamp. Von Bek and Flamadin are guests aboard the most decrepit ship of the fleet, commanded by a degenerate captain named Armiad; he sides with the evil Sharadim later in the story, no surprise to readers. But the ships are a wonderful backward invention by Moorcock, and I could only wish that readers had been allowed to sail on one of the better craft.
While the story arc is pretty standard for this type of story (sword and sorcery), it builds to a nice climax, and by the end of the book Daker's adventures are finally at an end. Does he get back with Ermizad? You'll have to read to the very last page to find out. Well worth reading, and a fine conclusion to the mini-series.
**** stars. Reviewed September 27th/21
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A NOMAD OF THE TIME STREAM
This fine oversized paperback edition was published in 1993, and in the short forward by Moorcock he claims to have expanded and rewritten the books for this update. Originally the books were published in 1971, 1974, and 1981.
BOOK 1: THE WARLORD OF THE AIR
Originally from 1971, this version is 145 pages. It contains several pages of b & w illustrations, from the sketchbook of Oswald Bastable. Mr Bastable finds himself leading a military expedition in northern India in 1902. He is captured by the enemy, but during his escape there is a terrible earthquake. He awakens amongst ruins long grown over, and is resuced by an airship. He finds himself in 1973, and the adventure begins. There is a typical framing story, much used by Burroughs and often copied by Moorcock, but it suits the story well, so I have no complaint.
Moorcock, in supposing the existence of parallel and similar universes, gives us an alternate version of history up to 1973, one where steam and lighter than air craft dominate technology (think modern steampunk fantasy), and colonialism is alive and well. China is completely subdued by Japan, and American, Britain, France, Germany, etc. still run things their way in their colonies. The author does a good job of showing us why it appears to be a good thing at first, but as Bastable learns more about the behind the scenes suffering that the native people have to endure, he eventually switches sides.
This is a good adventure story, and the airships are a real marvel and fun for readers to travel on.
*** stars. Reviewed June 16th/22
BOOK 2: THE LAND LEVIATHAN
From 1974 comes Oswald Bastable's 2nd adventure, as related through the writings of Moorcock's grandfather. This book is a slim 130 pages, but like the best pulp novels it covers a lot of ground. The book is divided into three sections: a prologue and two short books. The prologue details Moorcock's grandfather's trip to China, in search of Bastable. This is quite an adventure in itself, until he finally reaches his destination and finds a manuscript left to him by Bastable. From there we switch to another alternate world, 1904.
In this world, completely devastated by world war, two leaders emerge. One is called the Black Atilla, real name General Hood. He is a conqueror and with his African army, navy, and airforce, sets out to conquer the whites of Europe and North America. He wants to free Blacks from their subservient roles in society at the hands of the whites (remember where Blacks were on social ladders in 1900?). The second great leader is Gandhi, who now rules over South America, and is trying to establish a peaceful co-existence with the rest of the world.
We get a good look at where England stands when Bastable lands in the south and makes his way towards London. Plagues were released during the war, killing nearly everyone (though Blacks are immune), and only roving bands of cuthroats are active, capturing and/or killing strangers. Bastable makes his way to Scotland, joining a submarine crew of raiders for a year. They then join with Gandhi's forces, and eventually Bastable is sent as an envoy to Atilla. He joins his forces on the attack of the USA. At first he distrusts Attila and his motives, but eventually realizes that conquering the whites, who have enslaved the Blacks, is the only right choice.
With lots of adventure, battles, and dangerous travel, this is a great novel for lovers of pulp SF fiction. Moorcock, with his alternate universes, can indulge his whims of fantasy without much restriction. A fun read, though the white race comes out stinking badly.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 16th/22
It took Moorcock 7 years to get around to publishing the third Captain Bastable story. In this edition it lasts for 146 pages. The final manuscript is received by the author from Bastable via his grandfather and Mrs. Persson. Several characters reappear here from previous stories, including ghostly doings by one of the Von Becks. In this time stream, Japan has been bombed badly and declares war on England and Russia. Bastable is in Singapore when it is levelled by Japanese airships, barely escaping with his life on a hospital ship. That ship crashes and is raided and looted by bandits. Again Bastable escapes, lying unconscious beneath several dead bodies fo a time. He escapes to a small fishing village, spends time there before escaping by motorboat. he eventually washes up on Rowe Island, a British mining island colony. However, most of the whites have fled, the mines are shut down, and the natives are getting restless.
I enjoyed my stay on Rowe Island, discovering traces of Ballard in the writing and some of the lost characters. Most of the action and dialogue take place in the island hospital and in the lone remaining hotel. Eventually, the Japanese arrive and capture the whites. More adventures ensue, but the writing becomes more philosophical, as the author and his characters ponder the purpose of the multiverse and their place in it. The Steel Tsar is a ruthless socialist, based on Stalin, and is also named after a giant creation that Harryhausen would have happily animated: a giant, scimitar-wielding robot created by one of the oddest characters to ever appear in a novel.
I also enjoyed the end part of the book, where the discussion were taking place. Here is just one quote from near the very end. Mrs. Persson is speaking.... "We have only institutions and a crude, fragile kind of democracy standing between us and absolute Chaos. That is why we must value and protect those institutions. And be forever re-examining them." Well said!
This has been an enjoyable series, with each book containing both pulp adventure of the finest sort, and enough philosophy to keep discussing it for a long time to come.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed August 17th/22
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THE CHRONICLES OF CORUM
THE BULL AND THE SPEAR
My edition contains the 2nd trilogy in the Corum series, published under the Berkley Fantasy label. The entire volume is 381 pages long, and was published in 1983, 2nd edition. The stories date from 1973 (the first two) and 1974.
THE BULL AND THE SPEAR
Moorcock is of the opinion that anything goes in fantasy. If it takes a magic spear and a really huge bull to defeat the enemy, than roll with it and see what happens. This 4th entry in the Corum series is 128 pages long, and contains a Prologue that sums up events so far. There is also a very short epilogue. The story is divided into three books, each book containing multiple chapters.
The story begins with a brooding Corum, alone in his castle after the death, by old age, of his beloved Rhalina. He receives a visit from Jerry, and accepts a mission to save a group of besieged people. These people live near his castle, but a long time in the future. Once again there is a terrible enemy to face, a long quest to fulfill, and a new redhead to conquer Corum, last of the Vadhaugh race.
Corum encounters a group of humans under attack by creatures that literally fell through the cracks of the dimensions. They bring with them an eternal, very cold and harsh winter. And a lot of nasty hounds. And other assorted creepies. After one battle, Corum is convinced to seek the requested spear, which can then be used to tame the great bull (don't ask, just roll with it). He sets out on one of his interesting journeys, encountering a wizard who guides him, but also makes some demands on him. The spear is under the protection of its maker, an eight foot high dwarf (don't ask...), and Corum has to do some heavy bargaining to obtain it. His return journey is fraught with danger, and on his return he leaves again immediately to try and locate the bull, with the aid of his new girlfriend, a warrior princess (the best kind of girlfriend to have, by the way).
This is a good questing tale, and though quite short it contains enough elements to satisfy most readers of this genre. Corum is not a barbarian, but a very well educated and highly intelligent person, one with deep feelings and plenty of fear. Several times in his quest he gives up and welcomes death, but somehow manages to overcome his enemies and continue on. The end of the book is actually a happy one, but most readers suspect that things won't remain that way for long. I am looking forward to the next book.
*** stars. Reviewed April 20th/21
THE OAK AND THE RAM
Book Two of the 2nd Corum trilogy is 130 pages long, and divided into three parts. All of the usual facets of Moorcock's like-minded tales are here: there are heroes, villains, innocent folk, adventure, a journey quest, and more magic items to aid the good guys along the way. While nothing is really new or unexpected here, Moorcock at least maintains some quality to his writing. We don't get the feeling (too often) that he is merely following a set down formula, and filling his pages with enough material to publish another slim book.
The main thrust of this story is the rescue and rehabilitation of the Druid High King, who has been captured by the enemy (why wasn't he just killed outright), held in guarded tower, and turned into a grass eating sheep. Only a special grass keeps him alive (why is he being kept alive?), so once he is rescued he goes physically downhill rather quickly. Goffanon, the 8-foot high dwarf giant, is back, along with a kinsman, a real giant called Ilbrec, who really helps out a lot in the 2nd major battle against the Fhoi Myore and their awful minions.
Despite the victories obtained by the heroes, Corum seems to enjoy brooding over his fear of a strange harp and its music, and his death, despite the happier moods of his comrades. Jerry and his cat is back, and the evil, cowardly knight Gaynor, and the evil, selfish wizard Calatin. There are no grey characters here, only good ones and evil ones. As usual, I am looking forward to the next, and last, book of the series.
*** stars. Reviewed May 16th/21
THE SWORD AND THE STALLION
The sixth and final Corum book was published in 1974, and is 126 pages long. Overall, this is one of the best of the series, and it provides a suitable ending to the adventures and tragic life of Corum, a man called upon to become a hero. Once his work is done, the hero has no more place in the grand scheme of things. Though Moorcocks' sword and sorcery books pale beside those of much greater masters E. R. Eddison and Fritz Leiber, they have their own merit and place in the scheme of things. They are essentially humourless stories of great evil being overcome by good, though by the end of all battles there isn't much good left to begin again. Moorcock often goes way over the top with the amount of killing and destruction, though ask any civilian who has lived amidst a great war and they will tell you he is not exaggerating.
While all three books in this volume could be read one right after another, I always find it best to leave time between stories. They are all rather similar, in that Corum must go on a quest to find something or other to help him in his next battle, arriving just in time to save the world for another day or two. However, in this final story, he and his helpers arrive a bit too late to save very much. The central castle from which he operates is called Caer Mahlod (say it quickly and see what you get!), tying the history being told to that of future histories and future kings. It's a neat thing to do, and adds a nice dimension to the tale.
As always in Moorcock's tales in this genre, the hero's associates are amazing creatures in themselves, from the two giants and giant horse, to Jerry Cornelius and his cat (and hat), adown to the woman warrior he loves. If the first two books of this 2nd Corum trilogy do not fully awake the reader to Moorcock's talents, then hopefully this satisfactory conclusion to the series will do so.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 20th/21
___________________________________
DANCERS AT THE END OF TIME
VOL. 1: AN ALIEN HEAT
From 1972 comes the 207 page first volume of a mighty strange series. Which is nothing new for Moorcock. The action takes place a million years in the future, amidst the most decadent society ever imagined on paper. Jherek Carnelian is the main character. We first meet him at a lakeside picnic with his mother. Here we discover that Jherek was "born," something that appears to be a rare event in this time. Next we attend a grand party, where the full picture of the decadence of the age is fully illuminated. We follow the adventures of Jherek that lead from the events of the party, until he is hung for murder in 1896. In between, quite a bit happens.
Jherek is a so called expert on the 19th C, and through his lack of any real knowledge of the age we learn how ignorant of the past this society really is. During the party an alien comes to speak to the guests, telling them that the universe is collapsing, and will come to an end very soon. No one seems to care, and they quickly become bored with the messenger. The alien becomes part of the menagerie of one of the guests, as doesa woman from the 19thC, who was mysteriously abducted and apperas at the party. Jherek meets her briefly, has his face slapped by her, and proceeds to fall in love with her.
The book, while mostly refreshing, is quite tedious in places, especially as it deals with Jherek's naivete when he returns to the 19th C to look for the woman, who was sent back to her time. It becomes very tiring, and we are often reminded of the Eloi in the film version of "The Time Machine." Jherek has no skills whatsoever in dealing with events in the 19th C, and becomes even less than a child in the hands of people from that era. He is incapable of dealing effectively with any situation that arises. For even a child would learn minute by minute, and begin to deal more effectively with events than Jherek ever does. So at times one wishes to throw the book against the wall. Be warned.
*** stars. Reviewed September 15th/22
VOL 2: THE HOLLOW LANDS
From 1974 comes the 192 page 2nd volume in the bizarre series featuring the adventures of Jherek Carnelian. Jherek is a man from the very distant future, a man used to having almost anything he wishes whenever he wishes. He is known around town as somewhat of a historian, specializing in the 19th C. Of course this was hundreds of centuries earlier, so he doesn't really know very much. Until he time travels there, to regain his lost love, Mrs. Underwood.
After several quite hilarious adventures in his own time, he is once again transported to London in 1896, where in the previous volume he barely escaped his own hanging. He meets up with H G Wells, originally from Bromley, who just happens to be returning briefly to his home town. he agrees to take Jherek to the address of Mrs. Underwood, and he quite surprises her with his appearance, as she had assumed him to have been hanged.
The London adventures are also very amusing. Jherek's extreme naivete doesn't seem to intrude quite as much this time around, making the story flow better, and become much less aggravating. His involvement with some hostile space aliens back in his home time enable him to fall into a large hole, where he finds a nanny robot looking after children for thousands of years. The same children. At first mistaking Jherek for a rather large child, she soon realizes here mistake, and thus helps him to travel back in time to look for Mrs. Underwood. The entire London adventure is something of a SF version of a Carry On movie, perhaps called Carry On Jherek.
Overall the book is quite readable. If you don't like something you are reading, it will soon change to something else, so carry on....
*** stars. Reviewed October 16th/22
VOL. 3: THE END OF ALL SONGS
Moorcock's 3rd volume in his unusual and entertaining Jherek Carnelian chronicles hist it right out of the ball park. It is a long read, at 275 pages and small printing, but it is great fun. Following the adventures of the many strange characters in this series has sometimes been more than a bit frustrating, with Jherek being the most troublesome. But he comes a long way towards being human in this story, thanks to his love for Amelia Underwood, a prim and proper woman from the London suburbs of 1896. She is having just as much trouble adjusting to Jherke's futuristic time as he is adjusting to his need for her, and how this need affects him.
By now most of the adventures seems less outrageous as they did in the first volume, though they are every bit as bizarre and fantastic. Jherek's far future society has a thing for the 19th and 20th C, which Amelia only fuels with her specific knowledge and experience living back then. There are many examples of hilarious mis-readings of past history by Jherek's contemporaries, including versions of Adand and Bede, Cupid and his arrows, Alexandria, built all of books and burning down, mushroom clouds over Hiroshima, showering edible mushrooms over the landscape, a frozen Minneapolis, etc.
But Jherek and Amelia have won our hearts in this book, and we root for their happiness together. However, that seems an unlikely event, since the universe as it is known, is about to expire. Moorcock has created the perfect ending to this three volume series, and the philosophy, poetry, and earnest discussions that permeate this volume create a work that holds fascination beyond its mere words, and beyond what this reviewer could ever convey here. A must read.
****+ stars. Reivewed November 19th/22
VOL 4: LEGENDS FROM THE END OF TIME
Published in 1976, this 175 volume contains two novelettes and a novella linked to the above series. During the doings of these three stories, Jherek is absent on his travels to 19th C London. However, many other characters are present, and new ones are introduced.
Pale Roses lasts for 42 pages, in which Werther de Goethe istaken from his miserable doldrums by a well wisher. He finds a young girl floating on a shell in a stormy sea. She tells him her history and he adopts her. She becomes his sole reason for living, and he jealously guards her from the rest of the characters. However, he slips up one day and sleeps with her. Realizing his abuse of trust, he commits suicide. But was the girl really who she said she was? And did Werther die forever? Could such a story have a happy ending? No, no, and yes.
*** stars. Reviewed Feb. 18th/23
White Stars is 50 pages long and involves a fencing duel to the death between Lord Shark The Unknown and The Duke of Queens. Of course it involves a lot more, but that is the central thread upon which the story is spun. There are also a squadron of space soldiers, at war in their own time with the Alpha Centaurians, who get time hijacked to the end of time. Again, can a fight to the death end happily?
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Feb. 18th/23
Ancient Shadows, at 76 pages, is the longest and most complex of the three stories. A woman time traveller and her young son (he is only 60) arrive at the end of time, hoping to make a few quick observations and then return to their own time. Meeting with the denizens of her new situation, the woman is appalled at the decadence and overabundance of matereial things. However, her young son is delighted. They come from a society of severe restraint in all things. The woman never is able to come to terms with her newest existence, and is always striving to return to her own time. Though the Morphail Effect is explained to her, she doesn't believe it and wants to go anyway. Can such a story end happily? Not likely.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Feb. 18th/23
VOL 5: A MESSIAH AT THE END OF TIME (The Transformation of Miss Mavis Ming)
From 1977 comes the next tale in the end of Time series, this one lasting for 192 pages. I never thought I'd miss Jherek, but having Mavis Ming as a main character again, with the addition of Emmanuel Bloom, alias the Fireclown. I think it was a great mistake to bring the Fireclown into this series. While I really liked the Fireclown in his original appearance in the book of that name, this time around he is a tedious bore, not really any different than the people he has come to preach to. And so isntead of a character who might galvanize the lives of the inhabitants, he in fact becomes just like them. His way is the best; he is the true prophet, etc.
His instant affection for Mavis is puzzling, to say the least, and so is her rejection of him. Like much of this novel, many things don't make much sense. The ending is ridiculous, and I don't think I've ever come across a book more sexist than this one. The Fireclown's insistence on conquering Mavis, and her so-called benefactor trading her away for another fake Grail cup, is really a bit much.
All in all, a huge disappointment.
* 1/2 stars. Reviewed April 13th/23
VOL. 6: ELRIC AT THE END OF TIME
This 221 page story collection was published in 1984. It contains stories of various length by the author, as well as several essays.
Elric At The End of Time is a novelette from 1981 and lasting for 54 pages. Unlike the appearance of the Fireclown in the previous volume, Elric's arrival is indeed a welcome one. There is a lot of fun being had here as Moorcock pokes fun at his Elric hero in many different ways. A joy to read.
**** stars. Reviewed June 6th/23
The Last Enchantment is from 1978, and is 15 pages long. See above, Elric: The Quest For Tanelorn (Vol 2).
The Secret Life of Elric of Melnibone is an essay from 1966, and is 9 pages long.
Sojan The Swordsman is from 1957 and 1958, and is 108 pages long. When
Moorcock was 17 he started and wrote for a magazine called Tarzan.
Sojan was his barbarian hero, and here we have 12 silly chapters of his
juvenile writing. Take it for what it is.
* 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 7th/22
New Worlds--Jerry Cornelius
is an essay from 1972, and is 14 pages long. Moorcock gives a bit of
the history and philosophy behind the magazine he edited for many years,
and a bit of the same for his Cornelius stories. Unrated.
The Stone Thing is from 1974, and is 4 pages long. See above, Elric: The Quest For Tanelorn (Vol 2).
___________________________________________________
EARL AUBEC
Cover art by Amano Yoshitaka.
A novel and several stories, including an intro by Moorcock, make up this massive 600+ page volume, published in 1993. The stories date from 1959 to 1993.
Dear Reader is a short intro by the author.
Earl Aubec is from 1993, and is 13 pages long. It is an origin story, explaining how the Earth was created and slowly expanded over time. The Earl goes alone to conquer a mysterious castle, said to be occupied by a lone female sorceress. He must battle his own fears to win the prize, which he does. But the prize turns out to be as mysterious as the castle itself. Score one for Law.
*** stars. Reviewed August 5th/23
Jesting With Chaos is from 1993, and is 10 pages long. This is an updated version of The Last Enchantment. See To Rescue Tanelorn, above (Elric Vol 2).
The Greater Conqueror is from 1963, and is 39 pages long. See To Rescue Tanelorn, above (Elric Vol 2).
Going Home is from 1962, and is 14 pages long. A rare purely SF tale about a colony sending an expedition back to Earth 300 years later in an attempt to discover why their people left in the first place. Basic SF 101, it's still a good enough tale to read today, though our view of human psychology has likely changed since 1962. I know plenty of psychos I'd like to ship out to the stars.
*** stars. Reviewed August 6th/23
Hanging The Fool is from 1989, and is 17 pages long. One of Moorcock's Euro-tales, of which I am immensely fond. No fantasy elements here, but the Tarot Deck plays an important role in the story, and it has a grisly side to it.
**** stars. Reviewed Aug. 6th/23
Consuming Passion is from 1966, and is 8 pages long. A juvenile horror story, like something typically bad from Stephen King. This one is about a pyro with a super power.
* star. Reviewed August 6th/23
Wolf is from 1966, and is 6 pages long. A pyscho commits a murder, his second one by the sound of it.
* star. Reviewed August 6th/23
Environment Problem is from 1973, and is 9 pages long. A demon collects a soul, in atypical deomon-collecting-a-soul story. It would seem that the devil cheated at the end, however.
** stars. Reviewed August 6th/23
The Opium General is from 1984, and is 8 pages long. A mentally ill drug user is looked after by his girlfriend. A grim slice of London life story.
*** stars. Reviewed August 6th/23
A Dead Singer is from 1974, and is 8 pages long. I think Iain Banks would have loved this story, and some of it reminds me strongly of his writing. Jimi and a roadie take a little trip. Highly entertaining!
**** stars. Reviewed August 6th/23
The Love Beast is from 1966, and is 10 pages long. An end of civilization story, heavily laden with irony. An alien form comes to Earth to love the people, but it comes at a bad time.
** stars. reviewed August 6th/23
The Ruins is from 1966, and is 8 pages long. A man's mind crumbles to dust. Rather bleak fiction.
*** stars. Reviewed August 6th/23
GLORIANA: OR THE UNFULFILL'D QUEEN
From 1978 (my edition is from 1986) comes this sprawling 378 page fantasy, owing much to the Gormenghast books of Mervyn Peake, to whom this volume is dedicated. Besides Peake, other influences could be Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare. Think of Gloriana as a substitute for Queen Victoria, living in the largest palace ever conceived. Gormenghast, as sprawling as it is, would fit into one wing of Moorcock's palace, which is in London. Also, think of some of the American colonies as still loyal to England, as is Arabia, India, China, etc. The empire still glows mightily.
Gloriana's biggest problem is that all lovers leave her unsatisfied; she has never experienced a proper orgasm. She has rooms and rooms of decadent sexual inhabitants, to which she visits on whims. This is the first main fantasy novel I have read that brings sex well into the picture, and uses it as it probably is and would used; to gain loyalties and to seal bargains, as well as for pure amusement. In that sense it harkens towards the writing of Fritz Leiber. But like Leiber, the book uses sex, but does not dwell upon it. Queen Gloriana soon has more problems facing her than probably any other monarch in fiction or fact.
The novel begins slowly (like Peake's series), but continues to build throughout. There are perhaps too many characters for a single book, even such a long one, but eventually most of them will become familiar to the patient reader. There are so many surprises and twists and turns to the plot that I won't attempt to convey anything of what takes place to move the story along. But move along it does, to its rapturous conclusion. The ending itself is one of the novel's biggest surprises.
Certainly one of the best fantasy novels ever written.
**** stars. Reviewed Nov. 12th/23
THE GOLDEN BARGE: A FABLE
The Golden Barge
is a dark fantasy novel from 1979, and is 120 pages long (189 pages in
the paperback edition from 1979, above). It is a flawed work, but
quite interesting nonetheless. A man, Tallow, heads down river in a small
boat, following a mysterious golden barge. He can never quite catch it,
though, and his adventures along the river make up the bulk of the
book. He sees it one day at home, and soon abandons his mother to follow the mysterious boat. He comes
across a castle and becomes involved there with a beautiful woman.
Later he becomes imprisoned in a city, held "for his own good." After
escaping, his adventures continue, and include becoming involving in a
small country's revolution, finding an abandoned baby, kidnapping a
young boy who thinks can help him find the barge, and even makes a quick
journey across dimensions to a mysterious fairy land.
I
believe that Moorcock was inspired by Lin Carter's fabulous Ballantine
Adult Fantasy series, and if the series had continued no doubt Carter might
have published this one as part of it. A bit like Dunsany and a bit
like Fletcher Pratt, and a bit like many others, including William
Morris. In turn, he may even have influenced P. J. Farmer in his
Riverworld series. What is this strange tale all about? Firstly, we
all make a voyage, and it is called Life. Along the way we make
choices, choices which not only affect us, but others around us. Tallow
makes some very poor choices, some very selfish choices, and he is the
cause of much death and tragedy around him.
Tallow
seems to be searching for something mysterious, hoping to find it
aboard the barge. What does he hope to find? Inner peace, for one
thing. His urge to keep searching is so strong that he cannot turn it
off after a time, even though he has had more than enough opportunity to
do so. He is a man in search of a soul, in search of his own humanity,
which continues to elude him at every bend in the river. He is so
deeply lost that he cannot find his way out, and it is difficult to
blame him for the bad things that happen because of his choices. He is
what he is, and seems incapable of change. Do you know anyone like
that? I'm certain that you do. They are everywhere among us, causing
pain and destruction as they blindly follow their own path, unseeing as
they go. Moorcock has created one of the strangest fantasy characters
ever penned. If nothing else, Tallow is unforgettable once you have met
him.
*** stars. Reviewed August 8th/23
The Deep Fix is from 1964, and is 49 pages long. A brilliant man invents a cure for psychosomatic traumas, and soon everyone is being cured of their mental illnesses. But wait! What happens when everyone is sane? This novella reads like an extended nightmare, one that you wish you could awaken from, but can't. Worth reading, but not necessarily a pleasurable experience.
*** stars. Reviewed August 10th/23
The Real Life Mr. Newman is from 1966, and is 32 pages long. A former astronaut has cracked up, hiding from authorities in London. He meets a woman and they travel together, leaving London by clipper ship (with Captain Conrad!). They visit Paris, then Berlin, and finally Athens. But their travels take place as they dwell intheir inner mind, as opposed to their outer mind, where the rest of us supposedly live. The story is a bit muddy in getting across its ideas, but is quite an interesting read nonetheless.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 8th/23
Goodbye, Miranda is from 1963, and is 4 pages long. A very short tale of murder, mayhem, and madness.
** stars. Reviewed Sept. 8th/23
Islands is from 1963, and is 18 pages long. Every man should live more in his own personal universe. Or so an eminent German doctor believes. With his help, and a patient on the verge of madness, a special institute is able to change man's quality of existence forever.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Sept. 8th/23
Casablanca is from 1989, and is 19 pages long. The first of four short stories under the umbrella title My Experiences In The Third World War. The first story features a Russian spy investigating the claim that a boy has been found who is a direct descendant of the Prophet, asnd will be used to try and unite the Arab world. But there is one fly in the ointment, and the spy is quick to find it out. One of Moorcock's highly readable Euro stories, this was to be a chapter in a book. The publisher went under before completion.
Going To Canada is from 1980, and is 10 pages long. The Russian is on his way to Toronto, but much of this short tale is about the currentl political situation.
Leaving Pasadena is from 1980, and is 17 pages long. Much of the story takes place in Venezuela, as the Russian goes on a diplomatic mission. Russia and the US are allies against China in a war that has already seen nuclear bombs dropped in Africa and Australia. The Russian falls in with a young prostitute and spends most of his time with her, before returning to California. More a love story than a war story.
Crossing into Cambodia is from 1979, and is 16 pages long. A grim tale of jungle warfare, as a Russian military unit makes its way towards its rendezvous point. The final chapter in a series that was meant to continue, but never did. Our hero survives, for a time. A promising start to a novel that would have become bleaker and bleaker, so perhaps better left unfinished.
*** stars overall rating for the 4 stories. Reviewed September 9th/23
Mars is from 1988, and is 14 pages long. Far in the future, a Martian colony has survived the catastrophic disappearance into sapce of both Earth and Neptune (a failed science experiment). Most live underground, but a few still wander the desert surface, with its ruined cities and space ports, all abandoned. Two adventurous surface colonists greet a strange pair of alien visitors, trying to discover who they are from whence they came.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
The Frozen Cardinal is from 1987, and is 10 pages long. An exploring party 6 light years from Earth comes across a strange sight: a fully attired Cardinal frozen in ice. What can it mean? Only one thing.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
Peace on Earth is from 1959, and is 12 pages long. Two immortal humans (they can die by trauma etc.) wander back to the home planet, in search of something elusive which they cannot describe. After a short search, they find it.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
The Mountain is from 1965, and is 10 pages long. A post apocalytic tale of the far north, as two surviving scientists track a girl towards a large mountain. One of the men is grounded in the here and now, whilst the other gradually wanders adrift in a more spiritual plane.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
The Time Dweller is from 1964, and is 16 pages long. In Earth's far future, when the Sun is fading, a lone man travels to a distant city, where customs are very different. Aressted for eating his lunch 10 early, and in public, he is sentenced to a year of penal labour. However, he manages to fix their main clock, and is forgiven his trespass. How did he fix the clock? How indeed.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
Escape From Evening is from 1965, and is 25 pages long. A 2nd story set in the same time as the previous story. This time citizen of the far distant Moon comes to Earth, to live a natural life. Moon people are becoming too machine-like. But he soon finds Earth dwellers too accepting of their fate, doomed to extinction by the dying Sun and planet. He wants to travel back in time and live in a golden age. He gets the first part of his wish, but not the second. An interesting take on time travel, and why it is impossible to return to the past. However, visiting the future is a possiblility.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 10th/23
Waiting For The End Of Time... is from 1976, and is 13 pages long. The very last days and moments of the Earth are conjured up in this atmospheric story. With only two humans remaining, we relive their final moments together.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 11th/23
The Stone Thing is from 1974, and is 4 pages long. See To Rescue Tanelorn, above (Elric Vol 2).
The Last Call is from 1987, and is 4 pages long. Someone has had a wee dram too much to drink.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Sept. 11th/23
My Life is from 1993, and is 4 pages long. A brief excerpt from "My Life," an unfinished memoir. Early sexual awakening is the topic.
** stars. Reviewed Sept. 11th/23
The Museum of the Future is from 1990, and is 8 pages long. A somewhat confusing story, or else I was too tired when I read it. An hommage to H. G. Wells and The Time Machine.
** stars. Reviewed Sept. 11th/23
To Rescue Tanelorn is from 1962, and is 24 pages long. See To Rescue Tanelorn, above (Elric Vol 2).
VON BEK
My volume contains three novels and a short story, lasting for 704 pages. The third novel is the same as the sixth Corum novel (see just above). There is also a 4-page introduction by the author, and 4 interior b & w portraits, one placed before each story.
THE WARHOUND AND THE WORLD'S PAIN
The first story is from 1982, and is 169 pages long. The Warhound is Count Ulrich Von Beck, and we are amidst the 30 Years' War, in Germany. Beck is a captain knight, and has partaken in wartime atrocities we today could never imagine, except for the fact that they still happen in 2021. One of the worst was the Magdeburg, historically being the low point of the 30 Years' War. The war was senseless, as Protestant fought Catholic, and Catholic fought Catholic, and after a time, anybody fought anybody. Von Beck, tired of war and killing, seeks refuge in a quiet forest, soon coming to a beautiful castle with no one home. Eventually we find out to whom the castle belongs; Lucifer Himself.
And so begins the first Von Beck adventure, as he soon sets out on a quest, workign for Lucifer. leave it to Moorcock to figure out a way that an honest soldier would come to work for Lucifer, but he does, and it all makes perfect sense, if one can believe in Lucifer and God. Of course Van Bek doesn't, at least until Lucifer takes him on a short visit to Hell. Afterwards, despite his healthy skepticism, he believes.
Though the book is well paced, not too fast and not too slow, we are soon amidst an adventure like no other. The core of the story is a journey in search of the Holy Grail, but it is a journey like no other. There are hazards, there are friends, and there are fierce an unholy enemies. Von Bek is hoping that the Grail will aid in solving the World's Pain, from war and hunger through disease and corruption. Good luck with that! A quote from near the end of the story says is nicely:
"Even now I cannot be sure if I experienced a hint of what Heaven might be. It seemed a kind of clarity, a kind of understanding. Can Hell and Heaven be merely the difference between ignorance and knowledge?"
And so Von Bek's journey is as much a metaphysical one as it is a supernatural adventure. Moorcock postulates a Lucifer that is trying to get back into God's good graces. But it is a God who has become deaf to his pleadings. And so Von Bek becomes the go-between, and the success of his mission becomes not just an Earthly success, but one that will affect Heaven and Hell, and all in between worlds. Though parts of the story reminded me a bit of William Morris' Well At The Worlds End, the track Moorcock follows is a most original and fascinating one. This novel is well worth seeking out, whether on its own, or as part of the Van Bek series (which also ties into the Corum series, as mentioned above).
***1/2 stars. Reviewed October 21st/21
A CITY IN THE AUTUMN STARS
From 1981 comes this 282 page historical sequel to the first Van Bek novel, above. This one follows an ancestor of Ulrich. The time is 1794, and the French Revolution has turned very ugly. Manfred von Beck has been given his assistance to the Revolution, but now that it has turned into The Terror, he flees the city of Paris, horrified by what has become of the Revolution. He is pursued by Robespierre's military captain, barely escaping with his life. The first third of this fairly long epic concerns his escape from Captain Montsorbier, including his flight to Switzertland, and on to Prague, and then the (imaginary) city of Mirenburg, where he renews an old acquaintance and makes a new friend.
One of the things I really enjoy when reading Moorcock is the way he has his hero bond with a male friend or two. St. Odhran was met in the Alps, and is encountered again in Mirenburg. He is a balloonist, and much of the story concerns the two of them in several balloon adventures. However, it is at the inn in Mirenburg that Von Beck first encounters his beloved to be, the strangely beautiful Libussa, Duchess of Crete. The fate of these three, along with Montsorbier, takes into the Mittelmarch, that land reached only by certain individuals at certain times. Entering by balloon, Von Beck continues his search for Libussa, and they land in a different Mirenburg. The fantasy element doesn't really get too far underway until the halfway point of the novel, when it begins to take over the narrative.
Von Beck comes under the spell of Libussa, unable to do or think of anything or anyone else. in her presence he does her bidding, as happy as a man can be. There adventures turn serious when the quest for the Grail deepens, and there are battles, wounds, deaths, and strife as two factions fight for the object. Lucifer makes a guest appearance, discussing with Von Beck the merits of following his heart, but staying on the side of good.
Though I enjoyed the book, it does drag somewhat, especially the first half. Moorcock writes well, but he is no E R Eddison, Umberto Ecco, or Guy Gavriel Kay. However, there are many quotable passages, such as the following from page 407 of my Borealis edition:
"Montsorbier recruited the hopeless, the powerless, the weak. What could he be promising them? The same as Robespierre? A heaven on earth? It made me wonder if, without dreams, mankind could continue at all! What ancient genius invented the myth of the improving future?"
It does help to know something about European history at this time (just before 1800), and about Europe itself. North American audiences of fantasy will perhaps find some of the text slow going, but once events move to the Mittelmarch, they will feel more comfortable. Von Beck's obsession Libussa is quite believable, and becomes his main catalyst for action. He cares nothing for the grail and what it might do for mankind, nor does he crave any power from it. He simply wants Libussa, and to be with her all the time.
Moorcock creates some wonderful settings, often in taverns, and the secondary characters we meet are fleshed out and fascinating on their own. Prince Miroslav, Lord Renyard (the scholar fox), and Red O'Doud are only a few of the fascinating people encountered in this magical and mystical journey. Well worth reading, and possibly even rereading.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed November 18th/21
THE DRAGON IN THE SWORD
This novel is reviewed under the eternal Champion series, above.
THE PLEASURE GARDEN OF FELIPE SAGGITARIUS
The large volume ends with a 15 page short story, from 1992. It follows the final novel, as a futuristic Von Bek tries to solve a murder. Involved is Hitler, Bismarck, Klosterheim, Eva Braun, Einstein, and Kurt Weill. It serves more as a tongue in cheek murder mystery than as an actual Von Beck adventure. Still, it makes a satisfactory if strange coda to the series.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Nov. 18th/21
_______________________________________
THE COLONEL PYAT SERIES
1: BYZANTIUM ENDURES
From 1981 comes this very long first book of a most promising series. My hardcover edition runs 373 pages, with large pages and small printing. The very best books that deal with historical events are sometimes not the ones that deal with overall views and after-the-fact analysis; sometimes the best books about history are from the 'man on the ground,' so to speak. Biographies are often useful in learning about certain places at certain times, as are autobiographies. What Moorcock has achieved with his fictional "Colonel Pyat" is perhaps invent a new kind of historical fiction. Born in Kyiv in 1900, the first book follows the young boy through one of Russia's darkest times, up to about 1920. He lives through the Great War, the Revolution, and the Civil War before finally fleeing from Odessa to Constantinople at the end of this first book.
By confining his hero to Russia and Ukraine in the first volume, readers are able to digest a lot of history as it happened. Despite being a fictional autobiography, the events depicted were real, though of course not all the details. Pyat is an engineer, interested in all things mechanical and modern. He grows up in Kyiv, moves to Odessa on the Black Sea to live with an uncle for a time, who then sends him to a school in Petersburg to gain an engineering degree. Of course the war interferes with plans, and he is never able to gain his piece of paper, though he does pass his exams with flying colours. Back to Kyiv, and then, through a very long sequence of mostly bad events, makes his way again to Odessa.
The character of Mrs. Cornelius (to be Jerry's mother in a different series of book) becomes a veritable guardian angel to the young Pyat. She is a truly inspired creation, and totally unique in the history of literature. Readers will either love her or hate her; this reader loves her. The story is told by the very old Pyat, who operated an antique shop in Portobello Road in London until his death. He and Mrs. Cornelius remained good friends all their lives, and we can look forward to more of their adventures and meetings in the next three volumes.
I learned more about early 20th C Russia and Ukraine from reading this book then anything else I have ever read throughout my life, all tolled. It is a time of great darkness, despair, cruelty, extreme hardship, and, to put it most simply, a time of complete chaos. I finally understand what makes a Russian tick, as well as that of a Ukraine citizen. This is a very fascinating book, one of the best historical fictions I have ever read. Highly recommended.
****+ stars. Reviewed January 11th/23
2: THE LAUGHTER OF CARTHAGE
From 1984 comes the 2nd of four novels that make up the "autobiography" of fictional Colonel Pyat. Like its predecessor, it is a very long book and covers a lot of ground. Including the introduction we are looking at around 534 pages. In some ways this story is as engaging as the first one, but in other ways it isn't. Pyat's madness becomes much more evident in this volume, and his asides and comments grow longer and more manic. The story itself, when it is told, is as fascinating as the first book. Another thing that makes this volume a bit less fun to read is the amount of untranslated foreign language rants and sentences that occupy the paragraphs. French, German, Russian, and possibly other languages are used, and most readers will have no idea what they say.
We last left Pyat on a boat pulling away from Odessa and heading towards Constaninople. The ride there takes its time, stopping off at other waypoints, and having on board adventures as the ship sails on. Constaninople adventures take up a large portion of the first half of the novel, and are great fun to read. One of my main complaints about Moorcok's fantasy writing is how sketchy some of it is, seeming to move from action sequence to action sequence at the great cost of allowing us some details of the world we are in. Things go completely the other way in this series, as we are loaded down with sights, smells, descriptions of all sorts, depth of characters, and a true feeling for the city itself as a character in the novel. From here we move to Rome, and then to Paris.
While Pyat may be a fictional character, he is situated in the true happenings of the 1910s and the 1920s. He meets many real characters from the time, and sometimes becomes involved in events that actually occured. This is not historical fiction at all, but a unique way of telling the complicated story of just what was going on in Europe at the time. While no one person could possibly understand all of it, Pyat has opinions on just about everything. His anti-Semitism and general racism become even more outlandish. He supports the cause of the white protestant, and is against the pope and all that Catholicism stands for.
So we are not too surprised when this Pyat character, who loves D. W. Griffith and all that his films stand for, supports the work of the Klan once he arrives in the US. At first I wasn't thrilled with the American portion of the book, but by waiting patiently for several pages the story became completely fascinating again. Despite its great length, this is a series worth reading. at the conclusion of book 2 Pyat is about 22 or 23 years of age and about to be reunited with the love of his life once again, after a lengthy interval. I am looking forward to the 3rd book.
**** stars. Reviewed February 18th/24
#3: JERUSALEM COMMANDS
From 2013 comes the 482 page 3rd part of Moorock's epic series detailing the life and adventures of Colonal Pyat. The events here take place between 1925 and 1929. At some point in this wonderful series I suspected that I would begin to tire of Pyat, and that process is now well underway. I am reading the volumes too close together, so I will rest Pyat for a while, and possibly even rest Moorcock for a time. Pyat is the cocaine sniffing Cossack from Kiev who continually denies his Jewishness. His rants against Moslems and what they represent to the world are pretty much non-stop, as are his rants against Jews. Sometimes his insights are quite enlightening, and at other times one wonders why there isn't a fatwah laid upon the author. I guess not many people have read it or drawn undue attention to these books.
Pyat is an entertaining person, very full of himself, and his fictional memoirs are among the best travel writing ever laid down on paper. This time we begin in the USA, slowly making our way to New York from Los Angeles and back again, with many adventures in between. Pyat is a silent movie star, as is his best friend Mrs. Cornelius (mother of Jerry). With his beloved Esme, they embark on a ship to Egypt (from LA) to make a desert epic film. The journey is long but great fun to read.
Filming doesn't end up going so well in Egypt, and Pyat and Esme become sex slaves, forced to make pornographic films. Mrs. Cornelius, who knew better and gave fair warning, leaves unhindered. Poor Pyat. He goes through a living hell, and doesn't talk much about the details. These are left to the readers' imaginations. Then it's finally an escape into the desert, followed by a balloon ride to Morocco. In Morocco Pyat slowly recovers from his nightmare in Egypt, but again gets into deep trouble, becoming a captive of the rich Arabic leader of Marrakech. Escape finally comes, but not in the expected way.
The book is often tiring to read, though admittedly it is very good. I recommend taking a lot of time to read these novels. I have been gobbling them. Pyat's Egypt experience is certainly a low point, but there are many high points to balance things out. Whether amidst a bustling city or stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert, Moorcock always uses just the right words to get the mood and the atmosphere down perfectly. Highly recommended series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed April 19th/24
THE VENGEANCE OF ROME
The Vengeance of Rome is from 2013, and is 638 pages long. The 4th and final volume of the Colonel Pyat series is a truly remarkable achievement. Moorcock has been able to take a virtually untreatable subject--the history of the western world from the early 1900s to present day London, and make it read like a novel. Which it is. While the main characters are fictional, the events enwrapping theses characters are not. Think of Woody Allen's Zelig film, where he was able to take his character and insert him into old newsreels to make it look like he was really there at the time. Moorcock goes much deeper, though, taking 2000 pages to firmly insert Pyat into 20th Century history. And by all indications, the century, especially the first half, was nothing but a series of unspeakable horrors, culminating in Hitler's rise to power and subsequent events.
The character of Pyat is difficult to describe. He uses cocaine when available (though claims he is not addicted), is against Jews (in the end denies his own mother and his Jewishness), is an engineer who designs futuristic ideas, often dealing with flight, makes love to women and men (though he much prefers women, especially younger ones), and travels the world, getting into serious difficulty no matter where he happens to be. Pyat is a marvel of a man, and I dare say he is "everyman," one who seems to embody not the worst nor the best of the male sex, but fits just about in the centre. However, his lows are very low, but his highs are also remarkable.
The story continues where volume 3 left off. Pyat is soon in Italy, and we are immersed in the world of Mussolini. After his Rome adventures the setting moves to Germany in 1930, remaining there until just before WW II. Pyat's one personal encounter with Hitler must go down as the most shocking scene in the entire series, and there have already been several doozies. Pyat spends time in German prison camps before managing to finally get to England, his destination since volume 1. Mrs. Cornelius continues to provide him with literature's weirdest sidekick. The book's final scene, where Pyat denies he is Jewish (as he has already had to do hundreds of times in the story), seems to be a perfect ending to one of the greatest series of books ever written. Really, it could not have ended any other way. The books are definitely worth a reread, in perhaps five years or so. Until then, Pyat's adventures in 20th C. history will never be forgotten. Very highly recommended series, ending with perhaps the best book of the four.
****+ stars.
THE BROTHEL IN ROSENSTRASSE
First published in 1982, this 190 page novel takes place in fin de siecle Europe, specifically in Mirenburg, Moorcock's image of the perfect European artistic city. The book has only three chapters, with the first one being the most difficult to get through, as it is filled with page after page of description of the city, situated in Germany's Waldenstein. Though written well before A City In The Autumn (see above), it seems fit to read it here. For one thing the dates work, as this story takes place at the very end of the 1800s, nearly one hundred years after events in the other novel.
Essentially the story is about a man (a Von Bek) dying in his bed, looked after by an older man, a servant. Von Bek is writing his memoirs, and his thoughts go between the present and the past, often in the same paragraph. Von Bek was a rake (at least in his own mind; we never know for certain if he has imagined some things from his past life or really lived them all. He takes a young lover, a girl of 16, whose parents have gone to Italy and left her with a relative. They end up in Mirenburg, in a hotel at first, but then move to rooms in the brothel. The second chapter deals with events and happenings at the brothel, and the people who frequent it. At this point the book becomes fascinating for its unsentimental look at the lives of the women who work there, and the clients who visit. There is a good deal of sex, some of it extreme and some of it violent.
The third chapter deals with a war, and the siege of Mirenburg. This mirrors the siege of Paris, a true event, in how people survived during the bombardment, but is even more harsh and terminal. The finest city in Europe is totally destroyed by the invaders. Von Bek and his little Alexandra plan to leave the city via the underground sewer system, but when he goes to meet her at the rendezvous point, she does not appear. This marks the turning point for Van Bek, and his life seems to come to an end at this point, just as the city itself is destroyed.
I loved the book, except for the exposition, and was soon immersed in European decadence at its finest and most intimate. Moorcock has created much truth with this fictional account of a man who loves young girls, especially his Alex. It is not a book related to much of his other writing. The only fantasy element is the city itself, and the fact that Von Bek's memories might also be fantasy. In a book filled with quotable moments, I have chosen only two.
"Man's greatest monuments, his architecture, never outlast his acts of aggression." P. 181.
"Greed is not evil. What is evil is the manipulation of others in order to satisfy it; the quest for power. That is the crime." P. 187.
I highly recommend the book, but it is for serious adult readers.
**** stars. Reviewed December 14th/21
FABULOUS HARBORS
There is a short intro followed by 11 stories by the author. The book is from 1995, and is 228 pages long.
The Retirement of Jack Karaquazian is from 1995, and is 3 pages long. This is not a story, but rather an assembling of the listeners, several of whom were met in earlier volumes of the Blood series.
The White Pirate is from 1994, and is 28 pages long. A bit of a mish mash and not that successful, it is the story of two men who live eternally and indesctructably. One of them manages to do it in style, while the other becomes a wandering madman. Still worth reading due to its high rating on the bizarre scale.
*** stars. Reviewed Oct. 13th/23
Some Fragments Found in the Effects of Sam Oakenhurst is from 1995, and is 4 pages long.
The Black Blade's Summoning is from 1995, and is 31 pages long. See Elric vol 2, above, "The Quest For Tanelorn."
Lunching With the Antichrist is from 1993, and is 39 pages long. This longer story borders on non-fiction, and is perhaps a little too close. There are hundreds of interesting people out there whose stories have never been told, or have been obliterated by time. Had this been one of them I would have rated the tale four stars. But I had to keep reminding myself I was reading fiction. A very interesting character with a very interesting house. Superior writing, but why?
*** stars. Reviewed October 14th/23
The Affair of the Seven Virgins is from 1995, and is 30 pages long. Sextan Beck, a private detective remarkably akin to Sherlock Holmes, takes on a supernatural case that goes far beyond the borders of England. A bit silly, and not as good as the similar stories by Philip Jose Farmer.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Oct. 15th/23
The Girl Who Killed Sylvia Blade is from 1995, and is 16 pages long. One of the original seven virgins from the previous story goes bad and is murdered by naother woman in Chicago. The Beck that investigates is a reporter for the Tribune. Grim noir, but nothing very new to the genre.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Oct. 15th/23
Crimson Eyes is from 1994, and is 14 pages long. See Elric vol 2, above, "The Quest For Tanelorn."
No Ordinary Christian is from 1995, and is 25 pages long. A bit of a masterpiece, with plenty of angles and points of interest. It is the kind of story that one might dream, forgetting much of it next morning. The Albino features, as do the old Egyptian gods and Aton, the new god. A desert oasis provides the most interesting backdrop so far in this volume. Recommended.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Oct. 15th/23
The Enigma Windows is from 1995, and is 13 pages long. A Jerry Cornelius story about him trying to rescue his sister from a cyberspace sleep, induced by his evil brother. State of the art 1994 computers. Not very good.
** stars. Reviewed Oct. 16th/23
Epilogue: The Brides of the Moon is from 1995, and is 12 pages long. A man loses his family during a hike to a hilltop while attending the Glastonbury music festival. For 24 years he tries to exasctly retrace his steps of that journey, in hopes of recovering them. A fairy magic story with the bones of a good TV series awaiting.
*** stars. Reviewed Octoberv 16th/23
DOCTOR WHO: THE COMING OF THE TERRAPHILES
Despite the poor cover, this is a cracking good read. From 2010, this 343 page adventure features the Matt Smith Doctor and fellow traveler Amy Pond, one of the best combos in the entire series. Imagine if Michael Moorcock had sat down with P D Wodehouse to write a Doctor Who novel, and called in assistance from Neil Gaiman and Iain M Banks. Well folks, here it is.
Moorcock makes fun of all the British adventures the Doctor finds himself in. In the earliest days we had the travelers in Asia with Marco Polo, dealing with Aztec sacrifices in Mexico, and also in ancient Rome. Has the Doctor ever had an adventure in Africa, or Antartica, or South America or Australia? I can't answer that at the moment, but I do know that he has had hundreds of adventures in Britain, mostly in merry olde England. So Moorcock has fun with that theme in this novel.
The plot is complicated, and there are perhaps too many characters, but this just means that the novel is rereadable, and should not be thrown away afterwards. It has to do with a large and grotesque woman's hat, which just might hide the object needed to save the universe (another Doctor Who trope that Moorcock handles so beautifully). There are many side-splitting moments in this book, which stars the Moorcock multiverse, and even a pirate Jerry Cornelius! There are also plenty of references to other Doctor Who adventures.
This is the only Doctor Who novel I have ever read (though I have seen all but the most recent episodes), and will likely be the only one I ever read, unless Moorcock writes another one. It is totally brilliant, loads of fun, and has enough science to keep the geek in me satisfied.
**** stars. Reviewed March 16th/23
BLOOD: A SOUTHERN FANTASY
From 1995 comes the first book in Moorcock's Second Ether Trilogy. It is 336 pages long, and is a truly awful book. Mixing SF pulp fiction (the really bad kind) with some kind of avant garde style of writing, there isn't a single redeeming page in this unholy mess of a novel. This isn't the first Moorcock novel this reviewer has panned, but I hope it will be the last. There are four main characters, two men and two women. They are gamblers after the Earth has pretty much been swallowed up by a vast black hole sort of thing near Biloxi, MS. After all, what else do people in Mississippi do but gamble. Our heroes inject themselves into the Game of Time, and play for stakes that only Moorcock might understand. As usual, it's Chaos against Law, and the gamblers are hoping to keep a balance in the multiverse. So what. Many reviewers of Moorcock are truly afraid to call him out when he goes off the rails and wastes our time. This novel goes way off the rails (deep into the muddy Mississippi River) and wastes our time. I dread the thought of reading a sequel, and may not...
* stars. Reviewed March 12th/24
Page completely proof read on March 10th, 2019
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