This month’s review is of a book that, to us, was the quintessential work, back in the day. To say it touched us, and changed our lives, well, it sounds cliché, but it’s true. To this day, the work of this author is still the top of the heap of our favorites, matched only by one other writer and the first name we think of when we think of the fantasy genre. Read on, dear patron, and we hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

Elric of Melniboné
by
Michael Moorcock

Elric is the brooding Emperor of the decadent country of Melniboné. Born different, an albino whose birth killed his mother, who needs drugs to survive, he is a sorcerer, he’s gentle, and contemplative and would serve justice above all else, all of which serves to set him apart from his fellow Melniboneans, and make him seem weak, in the eyes of many. Where they would rule with an iron fist, he would negotiate; where they would rape and pillage, he would prefer to win the love of his beloved Cymoril, and their friends and even their enemies. Elric’s detractors—specifically his haughty cousin Yyrkoon—see no use for Elric’s brand of morals and mercy, and so sets out to destroy Elric and his legacy. Yyrkoon’s opening volleys consist of no more than snide remarks and jibes, but when raiders from the Young Kingdoms attack Melniboné, he seizes his chance, leaves Elric to a watery grave, tries to take his sister, Cymoril, as his queen, and usurps the throne.

But Elric has friends not even Yyrkoon knows of, Elementals of land, and sea, and it is to one--the Sea King--that Elric turns for help when Yyrkoon tosses him overboard. Having had his attempt at usurpation thwarted, Yyrkoon strikes again. Summoning demons to his aid, he takes Cymoril hostage and runs for the Young Kingdoms. And while he’s at it, he sets out to prove whether or not the legends of the Black Sword are true, for what’s a little jaunt into the netherworlds of Chaos when Yyrkoon’s so powerful? Or at least, thinks himself so!

Elric is beside himself. What will he do? What will happen when Yyrkoon steps through the Shade Gate, into that netherworld? How will Elric defeat Yyrkoon and his demonic allies? How can he save Cymoril? Can he really leave the powerful Black Sword, Stormbringer, in Yyrkoon’s hands? How can he do any of this, without sacrificing his own personal sense of honor? You’ll have to read to find out!

Granted many years have passed since I first read this book, and finally set down to re-read it, and the picture I had of Elric in my head was completely different, (many, many things surprised me, some antiquated, some not) but still I adore this book. Still, Moorcock is god! Fangirl gushing aside this is a richly textured book, for all its small size, a fast-paced adventure-nightmare full of social commentary and subtext, more than worthy of the fantasy genre that it almost single-handedly resuscitated. And yet, I have to warn you, this is no warm and fuzzy tale of happy endings, and it is anything but typical Sword and Sorcery fantasy (Stormbringer, and the dragons aside). Elric is the anti-hero, Lestat, before Lestat was even conceived, and without the blood drinking (unless, of course, you count Stormbringer’s lust for blood). It and its brothers (the entire Eternal Champion series, and its rich Multiverse) are not like anything else currently on the fantasy shelves; those that came into the field of Sword and Sorcery after the Mighty Moorcock (the Goodkinds and Martins et al) for all that they are good, can only stand and curse themselves for their failings beside Moorcock. Erm … *pushes fangirl halo back under hair* At any rate, if you have not read any of the Eternal Champion titles, you are missing out. Give Elric of Melniboné a try. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

~Webmistress

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