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Elric of Melniboné

Book 1 in the series:Elric Saga

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'Elric of Melnibone' by Michael Moorcock is the first in the Elric Saga series, featuring Elric, the albino emperor of the Dragon Isle. Elric rules the island empire of Melnibone from the Ruby Throne in dreaming Imrryr, a civilization in decline. The story follows Elric's struggles against external threats, power plays within his family, and his own illnesses. He makes a deal with Chaos that comes at a great cost, leading to a dark and anti-heroic narrative. The writing style is described as dark, melancholic, and lyrical, with a focus on Elric's quest for survival and mastery of his evil blade, Stormbringer.

Characters:

Characters are complex and morally ambiguous, with Elric as the central anti-hero, while supporting characters often tread into one-dimensional territory, particularly exemplified by his rival, cousin Yyrkoon.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is marked by lyrical and poetic prose, characterized by a pulp-like brevity that combines simplicity with dense narrative elements, using a mix of archaic and modern language.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is centered on an introspective and philosophical storyline that explores Elric's struggles with his responsibilities as a ruler amid conflicts with his cousin Yyrkoon, incorporating themes of morality and power, alongside sword and sorcery elements.

Setting:

The setting is an imaginative fantastical land of Melniboné, characterized by dark sorcery and mythical elements, depicting an ancient civilization in decline with surreal landscapes and grand yet decaying cities.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast, featuring quick transitions between scenes and short chapters that result in a brisk narrative flow, often leaving little room for detailed character development.
IT IS THE colour of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from...

Notes:

Elric is an albino emperor of Melniboné with white skin, long white hair, and red eyes.
He is considered an antihero, struggling with his identity and his responsibilities.
Unlike traditional fantasy heroes, Elric is weak and relies on drugs for strength.
His cousin Yyrkoon is a charismatic rival who desires to overthrow him.
Elric must choose between tradition and social justice for his people.
The series explores themes of morality and the burdens of leadership.
Moorcock's writing is characterized by quick-paced stories originally published in pulp magazines.
Elric wields a cursed black sword named Stormbringer that consumes the souls of its victims.
Moorcock is known for creating the concept of the multiverse in fantasy literature.
The Elric stories have influenced various modern fantasy works and authors, including Neil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin.
The series presents a dark, melancholic tone, often questioning the nature of good and evil.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Elric of Melniboné include themes of drug addiction, violence, moral ambiguity, betrayal, and death.

From The Publisher:

From World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Michael Moorcock, comes the first book in his famous Elric of Melnibone series, brought to vivid new life with stunning illustrations.

In one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the 20th century, Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone's years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric's amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country's best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.

Elric of Melnibone is the first in Michael Moorcock's incredible series, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations. The beautiful, vivid illustrations bring new life to the story and are sure to captivate fans, new and old.

Ratings (24)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (8)
Liked It (6)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (3)

Reader Stats (60):

Read It (22)
Currently Reading (3)
Want To Read (24)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (9)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
2 months

Eh. Part of it held my interest, and I liked the world-building, but the writing left something to be desired. There were a lot of run-ons and it reads very much like an older fantasy novel.

 

About the Author:

Michael Moorcock is one of the most important and influential figures in speculative fiction and fantasy literature. Listed recently by The Times (London) as among the fifty greatest British writers since 1945, he is the author of 100 books and more than 150 shorter stories in practically every genre. He has been the recipient of several lifetime achievement awards, including the Prix Utopiales, the SFWA Grand Master, the Stoker, and the World Fantasy, and has been inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. He has been awarded the Nebula Award, the World Fantasy Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Guardian Fiction Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. He has been compared to Balzac, Dickens, Dumas, Ian Fleming, Joyce, and Robert E. Howard, to name a few.

Neil Gaiman is an award-winning author of books, graphic novels, short stories, and films for all ages. His titles include Norse Mythology, The Graveyard Book, Coraline, The View from the Cheap Seats, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neverwhere, and the Sandman series of graphic novels, among other works. His fiction has received Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Eisner awards. The film adaptation of his short story "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" and the second season of the critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated television adaptation of his novel American Gods will be released in 2018. Born in the UK, he now lives in the United States.

 
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