Moorcock

Page 1 of 1

You cannot start a new topic
You cannot reply to this topic

Moorcock

#1 Guest_Reave the Just_*

Group: Unregistered / Not Logged In

Posted 29 April 2003 - 04:59 AM

apologies if there's already been a thread.

opinions on where to start with Moorcock. I read the first Elric book, but gave up on Fortress of the Pearl as it was, frankly awful IMHO.

I know this man's a genius - it's just knowing where to start as he's done so much and it all ties in (multiverse/eternal champion)

Opinions dear friends Posted Image

When in Rome, do the Jerk

#2 vaiski

High Fist

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 496
Joined: 12-May 04

Posted 22 February 2006 - 11:05 AM

I'll second that

.. haven't read Moorcock at all, and I'm at loss which books to order first. Are there perhaps some nice omnibus editions or.. ?

#3 Valgard

Bored Microbiologist (not a good combination)

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 386
Joined: 14-May 03
Location:Uk

Posted 22 February 2006 - 11:56 AM

I personally loved the Elric saga and think it is some of his best. Also the is the history of the the Runestaff from Fantasy masterworks which is the collected Hawkmoon stories which many consider to be among his best. I can also suggest Corum and Erekose (the Eternal Champion). The Dreamthiefs daughter is ok but skrayling tree is not his best work. they were available in collected works 15 had been produced when I last looked for them.

#4 vaiski

High Fist

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 496
Joined: 12-May 04

Posted 22 February 2006 - 12:41 PM

What is confusing me is that theres title like Elric: The Stealer of Souls (The Tale of the Eternal Champion, Vol 11) at amazon.uk with synopsis: A revised collection of five novels continues the epic of Elric of Melnibone, an albino prince who struggles in a world torn between Chaos and Law.
And on the other hand fantasticfiction.uk lists the Stealer of Souls as the first book of Elric Saga.

Anyways, I was thinking about ordering these: click and click . Good choices?

#5 Werthead

Ascendant

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 3,880
Joined: 14-November 05

Posted 22 February 2006 - 03:13 PM

The Tale of the Eternal Champion Series collects together every single Eternal Champion story in all of his guises, so if you want the complete Moorcock experience tracking down that series is a good way to go. On the other hand, if you were to also buy any of the Fantasy Masterworks Moorcock books, you may end up duplicating stories.

The Stealer of Souls is the first Elric book, but it's a relatively short collection of five stories which tend to be reprinted elsewhere (including in the Tale of the Eternal Champion Series). The Fantasy Masterworks book 'Elric', for example, (No. 17 in the collection), has all of the Stealer of Souls stories and Stormbringer to boot. It's a good introduction to his work.

Working out a buying/reading order for the Eternal Champion stories is a challenge in itself!

Visit The Wertzone for reviews of SF&F books, DVDs and computer games!

"Try standing out in a winter storm all night and see how tough you are. Start with that. Then go into a bar and pick a fight and see how tough you are. And then go home and break crockery over your head. Start with those three and you'll be good to go."
- Bruce Campbell on how to be as cool as he is

#6 Murrin

First Sword

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 560
Joined: 17-April 04

Posted 22 February 2006 - 05:20 PM

I'm planning to read the Eternal Champion series in the new revised order as found in the Orion/Gollancz editions. I already have the first two volumes waiting - Von Bek, and The Eternal Champion. The order of these editions was devised by Moorcock, I believe, and each one has a foreword written by him about the stories contained. The series in this form is:

Von Bek
The Eternal Champion
Hawkmoon
Corum
Sailing to Utopia
A Nomad of the Timestreams
The Dancers at the End of Time
Elric of Melniboné
The New Nature of the Catastrophe
The Prince with the Silver Hand
Legends from the End of Time
Stormbringer
Earl Aubec
Count Brass

#7 McLovin

Cutlery Enthusiast

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 2,828
Joined: 19-March 04
Location:Dallas, Texas, USA
Interests:Knives. Stabbing. Stabbing with knives.

Posted 22 February 2006 - 06:33 PM

A few years before they came out with the omnibus Eternal Champion books, they reprinted the first six Elric books. Those are the editions I read and I thought they were just ok, not great. I didn't find Elric to be a particularly interesting character, though he does have an ambivalence and darkness which is suited to today's fantasy. And certainly the idea that he is facing the beginning of the world (as opposed to the end) is kind of a neat twist...

#8 Werthead

Ascendant

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 3,880
Joined: 14-November 05

Posted 22 February 2006 - 06:47 PM

Elric is also kind of blatantly the blueprint for Anomander Rake. They even have the same taste in swords!

Visit The Wertzone for reviews of SF&F books, DVDs and computer games!

#9 Valgard

Bored Microbiologist (not a good combination)

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 386
Joined: 14-May 03
Location:Uk

Posted 22 February 2006 - 11:17 PM

I will repeat do not read Von bek it is terrible Book 2 is good as is book 3 and four. The two Elrics were good and the Pronce with the silver hand was also good but not the best, Von Bek I finished but felt dirty for having to read just crap.

#10 Murrin

First Sword

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 560
Joined: 17-April 04

Posted 23 February 2006 - 01:12 AM

What, exactly, did you not like about Von Bek? I have heard that as an introduction to the Eternal Champion it can be less accessible than others, but I've not heard much bad about any of the books. I am without question going to read Von Bek, but I'd like to know why you have such strong feelings about it.

#11 Loof

Sergeant

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 67
Joined: 19-March 04

Posted 23 February 2006 - 01:39 AM

Doesn't have anything to do with The Eternal Champion theme as far as I can tell (I'm no expert mind) but I found "Silverheart" a book he wrote together with Storm Constantine to be very good.
Oh and I agree Rake remains a blatant ripoff of Elric.

#12 Guest_Kayasmus_*

Group: Unregistered / Not Logged In

Posted 23 February 2006 - 09:38 AM

Its funny that I'm not the only one who thought of Elric when reading of Rake!

The first books your should start off with is not Von Bek, but The Eternal Champion, the story of John Dakker/Ereköse and then you could pick up any other one really, but that book kinda strikes at how his later books are. I read them out of order and had as much fun piecing what happened at what time on alternate worlds as reading them.

For big Moorcock fans I recommend Michael Moorcocks Multiverse, a graphic novel set in several of his worlds. It follows the storyline of Blood a bit and has Elric of course.

#13 Guest_Jay Tomio_*

Group: Unregistered / Not Logged In

Posted 23 February 2006 - 12:45 PM

While I enjoy Elric, I think Moorcock's genius (and he is IMHO the simgle most influential writer alive in regards to relevant SF/F) in his works like Mother London, King of the City, London Bone, and The Brothel in Rossenstrasse his more literay works, that make Moorcock not onll a god od SF/F, but as the late, legendary Angela Cater called him, ' the master story-teller of our time'. It is almost impossible to gauge the the scope of the impact on Moorcockian thought on Fantasy and Science Fiction.

I also enjoy Moorcock's nod to Mervyn Peake, Glorianna, and his compelling novella Behold the Man - which is classic Moorcock, touching on themes many genre writers yhought above them.

Very much looking forward to two Moorcock releases this year, The Vengeance of Rome, the conclusion of his wonderful Pyatt quartet, and his memoir to Speculative fiction god, Mervyn Peake.

#14 Brys

Fist

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 218
Joined: 02-August 05

Posted 23 February 2006 - 06:20 PM

Just for everyone who's complaining that Rake is a rip-off of Elric and Dragnipur of Stormbringer - Moorcock got the idea of Elric and Stormbringer from Poul Anderson, who came up with a very similar idea in 1954 with the Broken Sword.

#15 Guest_Fool_*

Group: Unregistered / Not Logged In

Posted 23 February 2006 - 07:06 PM

I dont think anyone is complaining. Its just recognising an influence.

#16 Valgard

Bored Microbiologist (not a good combination)

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 386
Joined: 14-May 03
Location:Uk

Posted 24 February 2006 - 04:54 PM

I don't know really I just hated didn't like any of the characters, none of them appealed to me. It seemed to have nothing to do with any of the other books. The first story was good, but it is only a few pages long the main story is so huge 500-700 pages and it held no excitment it was just dull and I thought it was badly written and devoid of interest. Others may like it but I wouldn't recommend it he has many better books to read.