Η κατάρα του μαύρου σπαθιού

Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melniboné #3

by Michael Moorcock, Θωμάς Π. Μαστακούρης (Translator)

Aναζητώντας τη λησμονιά μέσα στη μάχη και το πάθος για εκδίκηση, ο Έλρικ του Μελνιμπονέ, ο περήφανος Πρίγκιπας των Ερειπίων, περιπλανιέται στα Nεαρά Bασίλεια φτάνοντας μέχρι το ίδιο το Xείλος του Kόσμου, πέρα από το οποίο χάσκει μονάχα η Άβυσσος του Xάους. O περιπέτειές του θα τον φέρουν στο παγωμένο δάσος του Tρόος, τους Eρημότοπους των Στεναγμών και σε άλλες ακόμη διαστάσεις. Θα αντιμετωπίσει τις φοβερές Xίμαιρες, τις Kελμενικές Oρδές, τον Φλεγόμενο Θεό, τον βασιλιά Oύρις, τους απέθαντους βασιλιάδες του Oργκ, τις στρατιές του Φλογοδότη. Θα πάρει επιτέλους εκδικήση από το Θελέμπ Kαάρνα, θα φέρει ξανά το θάνατο σε αγαπημένα πρόσωπα, θα γνωρίσει και πάλι τον έρωτα και θα έρθει αντιμέτωπος ακόμη μια φορά με το τρομερό του πεπρωμένο.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Short Stories

343 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Michael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.

Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.

During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.

Reviews

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked all three essays at the end of the book, illustrations are gorgeous, the sleeping Sorceress story was great.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction:

Elric of Melniboné – The name and the character standout in my memory in ways that so many others do not. I’m quite certain that I read the Elric stories before any of Michael Moorcock’s other “Eternal Champion” tales. Originally in used paperbacks that bore the “Lancer” imprint. Later on, I’m sure I re-read them in the DAW issues. Because the two series of books have different issue order/numbering I was always a bit confused about the “correct sequencing” of the stories.

Even then, I realized that the author had worked quickly – just like some of the more memorable pulp fiction dating back to the 20s and 30s. There were echoes of “space opera” (before the term was rehabilitated), H.P Lovecraft, and others, but the chronological inconsistencies were not specifically from rapid creation. As I later learned, the character was created and then, almost immediately destroyed along with his world. Since then, the author has had to “invent” stories that fall before the original tale, occur in the “gaps” between published stories, or yank him out of his world to another time and place in the multiverse.

These reviews are intended for both the latest re-read (the Del Rey series) and for the older versions. I’ll keep the same “introduction” for all and add the appropriate “body” to each.


Elric

I don’t read tons of Sword and Sorcery fiction, but over the years I have enjoyed several versions of this sub-genre. I readily admit to liking all of Tolkien’s tales, the “Farfhd and the Grey Mouser” stories by Fritz Leiber, “The Eyes of the Overworld” by Jack Vance, everything “Amber” by Roger Zelazny, Poul Anderson’s “The Broken Sword”, the “Book of Swords” series by Fred Saberhagen, and so on (I’ve left many out). And as good as all of these authors (and others) are only a handful remain clear even when recalled decades later:

     The Amber Series
     Middle-Earth
     Elric

And each does so because they are so different in so many ways from each other and all of their forerunners, contemporaries, and followers.



I had the good fortune to read the first ever Elric story (the novelette, “The Dreaming City”), first. In rapid succession we learn of the Bright Empire that lasted for ten thousand years ages before our own history began, that the people of Melniboné used dark and powerful sorcery that none since have learned, and that they were brought down by pride, by arrogance, and powers that were greater than any mortals. They themselves were not true men, but some type of elder race that could channel and use dark powers in a way that men cannot.

Then, we meet Elric himself: Last Emperor of Melniboné and wanderer among the human lands. He bears his Ring of Kings and the black runesword Stormbringer and burns with vengeance for his cousin Yrkoon who has usurped his throne and lover. And if all of that is not enough to capture and hold the mind, Elric is an albino, a “silver Emperor”, whose skin is bone-white, his hair the color of milk, his eyes crimson, and whose deficient blood would produce a lassitude so profound he could barely rise from his couch. But he has an ally that counteracts this and indeed gives him energy and strength beyond normal. For when one is cut by Stormbringer, you do not merely die, your life-essence, your soul is sucked into the blade and in turn a portion is given to Elric.



2013 Re-Read: Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melniboné: Volume 3 “The Sleeping Sorceress”

This excellent series reprints the Elric stories in the order of composition (mostly) and interspersed with them are several ancillary stories as well as informative introductions by Michael Moorcock. It is an understatement that this edition has helped to clarify the chronological issues that I recall from so long ago.

Note:     In my review of the second volume in this series (“To Rescue Tanelorn”), I noted that I was unable to continue to “align” the stories contained in this series of books with those of the earlier Lancer and DAW Editions. Again, as pointed out, this is mostly because of the wealth of new material (new to those books) that has been included in this newest series. Well that, plus the fact that my mostly-reliable local Public Library system hasn’t seen fit to cough up the older books and mine are snoozing in storage. Here, as in my prior two reviews, I am going to include a synopsis of the two novels in the “classic” editions. Finally I list the material in this volume.


The Bane of The Black Sword



This is a collection of four stories.

In “The Stealer of Souls” Elric is once again on the trail of the troublesome Theleb K’aarna. He in turn is captured and humiliated by the sorcerer. He is given his freedom but only on the condition that Stormbringer remains behind. Without it he is less than half a man, so he plots to regain it (it is Queen Yishanna – if memory is correct – who returns it to him.) With the help of his unnatural and dragon allies he finally defeats Theleb K’aarna, but at the cost of his own kinsman. As always, Stormbringer is a most treacherous friend.

In “Kings In Darkness” Elric and Moonglum cross into the Forest of Troos and rescue a young woman, Zarozinia. Once there he gathers various medicinal herbs and remembers that they are near the people of Org. He creates a potion to give them temporary invulnerability so that they can impersonate messengers of the gods and deceive the Orgs. Like most of his plans, it goes wrong. He is captured and placed underground. There he awakens the third brother King who takes his foretold vengeance on the two that were aboveground. In the confusion Elric and party escape.

In “The Flame Bringers” (aka “The Cavern of Forgotten Dreams”) we find Elric living at peace in Zarozinia’s homeland. He has locked Stormbringer in the armory and uses the plants he gathered in the Forest of Troos to brew strength-giving potions. But all is changed when Moonglum comes bringing tidings of the Flamebringer’s Army and the destruction in the East. What makes him so formidable is his “pet” sorcerer. This man’s soul is inside a cat being held under close guard by the warlord. Elric eventually locates the crucial feline by the aid of the Cat-god. Once he is reunited with the animal the sorcerer’s soul is transferred back and he joins Elric in defeating the army. (Reminder: never piss-off a powerful mage.)

In the last story, “To Rescue Tanelorn” Rackhir the Red Archer and others journey to find magical weapons to defend their beloved city from the beggar horde of Nadsokor. This is the ‘counterpart” to the fourth novel’s stories that Elric participates in when he must wake the sleeping sorceress, Myshella. Its original title is “The Sleeping Sorceress”, but it was also named “The Vanishing Tower” in the DAW editions.



Although the final “DAW edition book” is the four-part novel, Stormbringer, I have already included this in the review of volume 1, “The Stealer of Souls”. What remains are the stories collected in “The Sailor On the Seas of Fate” (DAW Edition Volume 2).

The Sailor On the Seas of Fate



This is a collection of three stories set before the destruction of Imrryr with Cousin Yrkoon not the Usurper, but instead a Regent placed upon the Ruby Throne by Elric himself.

In “Sailing to The Future” Elric is lost on an unknown shore. A boat arrives and he boards it at the invitation of its blind Captain. There he finds three other manifestations of the Eternal Champion: Erekose, Dorian Hawkmoon, and Prince Corum. Only Corum has recollection of a prior meeting (“Three Heroes With A Single Arm”). The four and four companions are sent to battle two powerful mages who destroy worlds in the multiverse. As the battle continues, only by linking up into an eight-armed super being can the sorcerers be defeated. Once the battle is over, Elric is dropped at a shore chosen by the Captain. Almost instantly his memory fades so that it seems only to be a dream.

This is followed by “Sailing to The Present”. Elric finds himself in the middle of an odd love triangle. A famous Melnibonéan nobleman has found the reincarnation (? Doppelganger ?) of a human princess he loved & killed and a half-Melnibonéan who has crossed into Elric’s plane for the same one woman and her killer. Elric also meets Count Smiorgan the Baldheaded who later joins in the sack of Imrryr.

The final story is “Sailing to The Past”. Originally written as a standalone story with Moonglum, it was re-written to swap in Count Smiorgan and make other important changes. At the start, Elric and Count Smiorgan are befriended (rescued at sea) by Duke Avram Astram who wishes to find R’lin K’ren A’a the ancient, ancestral home of the Melnibonéan race. He seeks a pair of jewels said to be the eyes of a giant jade statue. Like most of Elric’s adventures things go very badly and even Stormbringer cannot help much. Even though it was tens of thousands of years ago, The Creature Doomed to Live still walks the city. He alone spied on the meeting held by the Lords of Law and Chaos and life was his punishment. To remove the curse, Elric must command his patron Duke of Hell, Arioch, making his aid even less reliable and ending with a blood price.

(This is an “origin story” of sorts for the Melnibonéans. It explains why they were favored by the gods of Chaos and given deep, dark knowledge of sorcery and magic. Essentially it was a business transaction between the proto-Melnibonéans and the gods.)




This third volume incorporates two complete novels and one short piece about Elric’s early days as Emperor. So, although it is not as “mixed up” as the second volume, it runs a half-counter to the 1970’s DAW chronology, making it hard to keep things tidy as was my first intention.

This volume includes:
     The Sleeping Sorceress (the complete novel)
     And So The Great Emperor Received His Education
     Elric of Melniboné
     Aspects of Fantasy (musings on heroic fantasy)
     Elric of Melniboné: Introduction to the Graphic Adaptation
     El Cid And Elric: Under the Influence (comparisons)
     Origins (book covers, maps, etc.)


Thoughts and Ranking:

Thus ends the next two paperbacks in written (and published) order. Since Elric and his world had already been killed off, using escapes into other “planes”, sharing adventures with himself (jn other guises) and exploring his youth were the only options available. How would things have differed if the series had started early in Elric’s life and then built towards the finale in Stormbringer? None can know for certain: the exercise might be interesting, but it is futile. I, for one an content to read these as they are.

Another Four and One-Half (4.5) stars, but Four (4) for Goodreads.

[Ömer · Rating 4 out of 5]

İlk kitaptan başlayarak seriye devam ederken zaten büyük bir merak içerisindeydim ve kitap bu merak'ımı hala korumamı sağlıyor.İlk kitapta Elric'in yaşadığı olayların neden yaşandığını "FırtınaYaratan'a" nasıl sahip olduğunu merak ediyordum ve öğrenmek beni mutlu etti.Yaşanacak olayları ilk kitapta görmüş olup geçmişte onu tekrar anlatması o ana kadar olan olayları sana tekrar anlatması seni sıkmıyor(daha doğrusu beni hiç sıkmadı). Çünkü o anı tekrar okurken ben sanki gelecek tekrar şekillenecek gibi bir hisse kapılarak okudum.Bu bana göre büyük bir ustalıktır ilk kitapta olayları anlatıp daha sonra geçmişi anlatarak okuyucuyu sıkmaması o yüzden Michael Moorcock'a Teşekkürler gerçekten seri muhteşem şekilde ilerliyor ilk 3 kitabını sipariş etmiştim diğer 3 kitabını da bir an önce okumak isterim.(bildiğim kadarıyla daha hepsi çevrilmedi)Okuduğunuz için teşekkürler hala okumakta kararsız iseniz bir an önce başlamanızı öneririm.

[Ettelwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Óda na marnost hrdinství a nekonečný vnitřní boj.

Sbírka, která se pro mě stala jakousi křižovatkou. Křižovatkou na cestě k motivu Věčného bojovníka a jeho mnoha inkarnacím.

Nakonec je to mnohem větší, než jsem čekala :)

[Prankster · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on Moorcock's Elric tales, and what I mostly feel is...frustration. As has been repeatedly quoted, Moorcock describes himself as "a bad writer with big ideas" and that really does summarize the Elric stories to date. I've read all the earlier stories--earlier in terms of publication date, I mean; the chronology of these books is highly confusing, as Moorcock wrote a whole series of stories in the 60s starting with "The Dreaming City" which tell the story of Elric all the way to his death (in "Stormbringer"), then returned to the character many times over the years to tell stories set at different points in the chronology. This book represents the first few of these later "fill-in" stories, and the first ones where Moorcock ties Elric in with his other characters via his "eternal champion" idea (so it's possibly the first appearance of this idea, period).

The early Elric stories were the work of a very young writer, literally a teenager if I'm not mistaken, and as such they brim with passion while falling somewhat short in the "polish" and "technical craft" departments. These later stories showcase a more mature writer with a better handle on his prose and storytelling, but they're still the work of a hungry pulp writer who's being paid by the word. Moorcock is famously profligate--he claims to have once written a novel in three days--but that level of "churn" inevitably shows itself in his writing where the stories might have been better served by more care. In particular, the stories tend to adhere to a matinee-serial cliffhanger structure, where the plot is constantly being moved forwards by new elements Moorcock simply throws in with little foreshadowing. Whenever things look bleak for Elric or the other characters, either a mysterious stranger will ride over the hill and save them, or he'll suddenly remember some magical spell or artifact that just happens to be what they need--and once it's been used there'll suddenly be a new set of rules to explain why Elric can't just keep using it.

(OK, this might more properly describe those earlier Elric stories, and the tendency to write this way is a little more subdued here. But not much.)

It's frustrating because Moorcock really does have some terrific imagery and atmosphere married to often intriguingly original ideas--Elric's world certainly doesn't feel like other fantasy worlds (or if it does it's because others copied it). But those same ideas are often rather undeveloped as well, and as I say the plots are often quite weak, which can make it hard to be particularly drawn in to what's happening. Unlike, say, Robert E. Howard, Moorcock's command of the language isn't strong enough to keep you enraptured with his ramshackle stories. Basically you'll read an Elric story for the cool imagery and world-building, then watch the plot mostly sputter along to the end. Moorcock's a little like Lord Dunsany in this regard, except that Dunsany rarely tried to force an action plot onto his dreamlike visions.

I get the definite sense that, despite being his best-known work, Elric is Moorcock's "rough draft" as a writer--appropriate, as these often feel like first drafts. *Strong* first drafts, to be sure, but you wonder what Moorcock could do if he planned his narratives a little more thoroughly, or rewrote the stories to be more compelling and convincing. I've heard it said that some of his later books are masterpieces, and it's possible that Elric was something of a warm-up act for him. I'd certainly be willing to read some of them--Moorcock's definitely an interesting enough writer to deserve a closer look. But the Elric stories are more disposable, compelling but half-formed bits of cultural detritus. Any fantasy fan should read Elric simply because it's such a crucial text for the genre, but its cultural significance overshadows its actual quality, it seems...

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered Elric back in high school -- borrowing a friend's paperbacks (DAW editions with the Michael Whelan covers), then later acquiring my own set (the Berkleys with the Robert Gould covers). At the time, he blew my mind, man, he blew! my! mind!

I revisited Elric and his other incarnations many times over the years -- I was very happy when White Wolf started publishing the "complete" Eternal Champion series in hardcover. And now I'm revisiting the Doomed Albino Prince through the 6-volume series Del Rey issued five or six years ago.

Happily, I'm finding that the stories still hold up, although they're not without their imperfections.

The Del Rey series arranges the Elric stories in (mostly) order of publication rather than internal chronology. This volume essentially comprises the fourth (The Vanishing Tower) and first Elric of Melniboné) installments of the series I remember from back in the day. It's interesting to read them in order of publication because you can really see Moorcock's development as a writer; particularly in Elric of Melniboné, the story in which we learn exactly how & why Elric pledged himself to Arioch and acquired Stormbringer. (SPOILER: It's all Yrkhoon's fault.) We also get our first real glimpse of Melnibonéan life before the fall of Imrryr -- it's suitably beautiful and decadent and grotesque, from the slave choirs (each member surgically altered to sing one perfect note) to Doctor Jest, the royal um, acquirer of information from reluctant sources.

The Sleeping Sorceress proper continues Elric's conflict with the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna of Pan Tang, and includes one of the two "crossover" events in the Eternal Champion cycle -- when Elric and one or more of his other incarnations (Corum and Erekosë, in this case) are brought together by cosmic forces.

The writing is in all cases colorful and fast paced and economical -- these novels, as originally published, hovered around the 200 page mark each. Elric is a bit Gothic and a bit melodramatic, but really, that's part of his charm ...

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Elric of Melniboné. Traitor. Savior. Lover. Thief. Last king of a fallen empire whose cruelty was surpassed only by its beauty. Sustained by drugs and the vampiric powers of his black sword, Stormbringer, haunted by visions of a tragic past and a doomed future, Elric wanders the world in quest of oblivion."

I know that a lot of folk adore Elric. I've read 4 or 5 of these novels now, and I am finding them rather repetitive. There is only so much moody brooding that I can handle from a main character.

Written in the days before political correctness, Elric is an albino ruler of a mythical kingdom. He is naturally weak and has to use herbs and eventually a magical/demonic sword to perform the feats of heroism required of him. And of course, he is also a powerful sorcerer in his own right. However, it seems whenever anything untoward gets started, he needs another dose of herb, has misplaced his sword or has a sudden memory loss regarding useful spells. But he digs deep and finds what he needs in order to triumph. Over and over again.

The Sleeping Sorceress does not deviate from this pattern. In fact, she joins in, just managing to regain enough consciousness to tell Elric what he needs to do to free her, before sinking back into the sleeping spell again.

I was interested to read in the author's afterword that Elric is based on El Cid. It has been long years since I read that classic tale, so I hope to revisit it before tackling another Elric novel.

I keep thinking that I'm missing something--why don't I adore this series as so many fans do? I appreciate the dreamy, other-worldly atmosphere of Elric's world to some extent, I could enjoy the plot formula for a book or two, but I can't understand the demand for more of the same. Any one have any insights into Moorcock's work to help me appreciate it more?

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Message of the Elric Saga, Presented in Three Lines

Elric: I have Great Expectations and with Stormbringer I shall Overcome All Obstacles!

Destiny: Fuck. You.

Stormbringer: Yeah. Fuck you.

curtain falls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxL3-...

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diese Bücher sind (für mich) für das mehrmalige Lesen gedacht. Es gibt so viele Details, Figuren und auch Zusammenhänge, die mir teilweise entgehen oder die ich nicht sofort verstehe.
 
Was mir auffällt, während ich versuche die Rezension schreibe, ist, dass mir diese Geschichte etwas „entwischt“ und ich mich gar nicht mehr an so viele Details erinnern kann. Dies spricht nicht unbedingt gegen die Geschichte, ist für mich jedoch ein Zeichen, dass Elrics Abenteuer unterschiedlich stark auf mich wirken. Dies ist wahrscheinlich normal bei solch einer Sammlung.
 
Der Titel erinnert ein wenig an Dornröschen. Ich sag mal, es geht tatsächlich um eine schlafende Dame, es ist jedoch deutlich blutiger und mit mehr Kämpfen verbunden. Wobei, das Dornröschen-Märchen, das meistens erzählt wird, die entschärfte Version ist. Charles Perraults Geschichte ist deutlich brutaler, ich werfe nur einmal das Wort Kannibalismus in den Raum. Und böse Schwiegermütter. (weiter im Kommentar)
 
Elric leidet immer noch unter dem Verlust geliebter Menschen und sinnt auf Rache. Und er projiziert durchaus eine Gefühle auch auf andere Figuren. Wir treffen auf einige bekannte Gesichter, aber auch neue Personen/Wesen. Doch hier zieht Elric erneut nicht wie der typische Held relativ unbeschadet durch seine Schlachten, sondern gerät an seine Grenzen und muss auf die Hilfe anderer zurückgreifen. Elric gelingt dabei nicht alles. Dies ist ganz typisch für Moorcock. Oftmals zahlt der Protagonist einen Preis, um weiter- oder mit seinem Leben davonzukommen. Und tatsächlich hadert Elric regelmäßig mit seiner Schuld oder den Umständen.
 
Moorcock liebt es, mit  Zeit und Ort zu spielen, sodass es sich teilweise fast ein wenig wie Science Fiction anfühlt und ein bisschen verwirrend ist. Das liegt daran, dass die Götter in ihrer eigenen „Dimension“ leben, manchmal zu Besuch kommen oder von Elric besucht werden.
 
Nach wie vor genieße ich dieses dicke Buch und kann bereits verraten, dass ich die nächste Geschichte bzw. das nächste Buch sehr interessant finde, weil es dort fast schon politisch wird.

[Jonathan Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting set of classic Moorcock tales. With this one I’m really beginning to see the million piece four dimensional jigsaw start to come together. From Aubec to Hitler this one has a great range. Onto the next and more nostalgia

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that the Elric series was seminal and highly influenced the genre, but I really can't get on with it - the serial nature and repetitive, quite bland storytelling is just not for me.

[Christopher Tennant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the series, though by this point in the story alot of Moorcocks tropes are feeling overused. Still great reading to finish the White Wolf arc of Elric's story.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find The Sleeping Sorceress to be one of the weaker Elric novels, and this nouveau collection is even weaker because it's such a haphazard collection of stuff, most of it not actually core to the Elric saga.

The volume begins with some scattered fantasies from the '60s.

The Eternal Champion This is the novella version of the classic story, and in contrast it seems bizarrely speeded up. Despite that — and despite the fact that it doesn't connect to the rest of Moorcock's mythos like the novel does — it's still an enthralling story [7/10].

The Greater Conquerer. Seeing Moorcock write a historical fantasy in the early '60s is interesting, and I would have loved to see more of his take on Zoroastrian myths. However, this story has too many flaws for me to truly love it — including an incomplete take on the theme of belief, too much time spent without the hero having much agency, and a bit too much muddled philosophy. Only the historical setting really carries the story. [6/10]

Earl Aubec of Malador. This is just an outline of an intended series. It's a bit overwhelming. Though it suggests the series could have been great as a link to the Elric books, the outline isn't much of anything [5/10].

Then we come to Elric himself. As a whole, The Sleeping Sorceress "novel" is one of the weaker Elric volumes. I don't find the hunt for Theleb, which can not be completed, to be very interesting, and I think it holds back the stories from being great. Overall, it's a bit repetitive.

The Sleeping Sorceress: The Torment of the Last Lord. A fair Theleb K'aarna story. I love the connections to Earl Aubec, but think that Myshella is actually used quite poorly. She's more of a Cymoril stand-in than the mystical sorceress of the original. Still's is an entirely OK swords & sorcery story [5+/10].

The Sleeping Sorceress: To Snare the Pale Prince. Theleb K'aarna flees and Elric follows. This one nicely connects to Moorcock's older stores of Rackhir and Tanelorn and nicely foreshadows the end of the saga, but is otherwise just a fair story [5/10].

The Sleeping Sorceress: Three Heroes with a Single Aim. I adore the meeting of the three Champions, but unfortunately the Elric story that surrounds it ends with a couple of deus ex machinas (as Jhary gives Elric all he needs to solve the problems [6/10].

The volume ends with some other scattered stories.

The Stone Thing. This is hilarious satire of Elric & Corum alike [8/10].

The Roaming Forest. This is a nice swords & sorcery novel of Rackhir.

Finally, I find the inclusion of the two Second Ether stories pretty suspect for an Elric book that doesn't focus on his DreamQuests, but Moorcock has seemed to think a few of these stories are important enough to include in the recent incarnations of the Elric series.

"Sir Milk-and-Blood". Great to see the real-world politics, but this is just a vignette [5/10].

"The Flaneur des Arcades de l'Opera". Though this story reuses the same 'ole tropes and characters from the Metatemporal series, it brings everything up to a cosmic level, providing a different take on the characters in their final outing [7/10].

[Luana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we finally catch up with Actual Elric again (about 25ish % into this collection), he is hot on the trail of Theleb Kaarna, a sorcerer he developed a beef with in Sailor on the Seas of Fate. Why? I had forgotten, but throughout the story my memories were vaguely kindled that the dude felt cucked by Elric as they both served the same queen for some dealie-o. Okay sure, whatever, I get the general gist.

The futility of this feud is (perhaps unintentionally?) illustrated by the larger context of the stories presented in this collection: the Eternal Champion exists in many different realities, and has many different preoccupations, many of them slightly more pressing than Kaarna's masculinity.

Indeed, one might be a bit thrown off by the rather large amount of technically-not-quite-Elric stories in this volume: we start off with a novella version of The Eternal Champion, later expanded into a full-blown trilogy. Then we get a... historical fantasy adventure? About... demon-possessed Alexander The Great...??? I think Arimahn, the demon who has the king under his influence is likely this world's version of Arioch, which was the rather tenuous connection to Elric, but I later found out that this story was included in the 70s collection "The Singing Citadel," making it a case of "Well, we threw it under the Elric banner once..."

"The Sleeping Sorceress" (at one point also "The Vanishing Tower") itself is a fine enough Elric adventure book, seemingly cobbled together from three different novellas, not unlike "Sailor." The friendship between Elric and Moonglum is getting to be a rather touching one, and I like how Moorcock gives zero fucks about anthropomorphizing animals, like the well-spoken mechanical bird our heroes use as a flying mount.

The most exciting tease of things to come, however, was "The Flaneur des Arcades de l'Opera," a novelette revealed to be one of Elric's dream couch sessions by the end, a true opening up of the Multiverse beyond other versions of the Champions appearing in the Young Kingdoms (speaking of which, they are getting to be funny, whenever they occur, as they are always a variation on "bro... you're me bro..."). The dieselpunk atmosphere Moorcock conjures here is most pleasing to me, and I can't help but simp for Una as I make the connection that I'd already met her as Oone in "Fortress of the Pearl."

Let us take a nap now and see... what other adventures await...

[Richard Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about these collections from Gollancz—which aim to organize Moorcock’s Elric tales in chronological order—is their sheer diversity. That said, in this case, the editors probably could’ve dialed back on that diversity just a bit.

The problem, I suppose, is that in this particular collection, much of the work begins to lean heavily on Moorcock’s concept of the “eternal champion”. That, paired with his notion of the “moonbeam roads” and the multiverse, means that many of the stories included here don’t feature Elric per se but another hero, another champion who is his stand-in, his echo.

Sometimes these echoes are compelling, but they are almost never as compelling as Elric himself, with all his Melnibonean complexities, misgivings, and ennui.

The title novella is a great example of what I mean: “The Sleeping Sorceress” is a galloping tale of Elric, Moonglum, with Rakhir along for part of the ride. It’s spread across the Young Kingdoms and is full of sorcery, treachery, and clever maneuvering by the heroes.

Several of the other stories, particularly the ones that take place in our world, seem less breathtaking, less inspiring, less majestic. Specifically, “Sir Milk-and-Blood” and “The Flaneur des Arcades de l’Opera” seem like Moorcock’s attempts to undo the Troubles of Ireland and World War II by letting Elric wander Planet Earth and punch Nazis and IRA members. Which is fine, but they’re clearly less high fantasy and more fantasy fulfillment.

That said, The Roaming Forest offers an interesting real-world version of Rakhir that’s fun and weird, giving a rarely seen supporting character some time in the spotlight.

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite patchy, this volume, taking in a number of incarnations of the Eternal Champion in mostly unrelated tales. The story featuring Red Rackhir is certainly not outstanding; nor is the short novella version of The Eternal Champion itself. Lords of Chaos infect Alexander of Macedon in a passable swords'n'sandals story. The main feature, The Sleeping Sorceress, takes on a whole couple of chapters that also appear (though not from Elric's POV) in the first trilogy of the Corum saga, giving that part of the story a slightly photocopied feel. The Stone Thing riffs off Corum and turns him into a dirty joke. The final, more recent story in the collection, hails from The Metatemporal Detective and brings in an analogue of Elric in a parallel 20th Century Europe where Hitler is a failed dictator grubbing in the vaults of Paris. It feels almost as archaic as the earlier Elric stories, despite being more recently written. Hopefully there's better to come.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I approach Michael Moorcock's Elric novels with eager anticipation, and invariably finish them with a feeling of disappointment. I acknowledge that they inspired some of my favorite things in life (Dungeons & Dragons first and foremost), but although I appreciate some of the ideas Moorcock explores in these books (the multiverse, the idea of the eternal champion, the opposition of Chaos and Law as the primary moral barometer instead of Good and Evil, intelligent swords, ships that sail upon sea and land, etc.), I nonetheless find Moorcock's prose--and even the world in which Elric travels--a bit thin. I suspect this might have something to do with my own imaginative failings, and I wonder if Melniboné would feel more alive to me if I'd read these books as a teenager. But I can't go back in time (unlike Elric himself), and so I'm stuck with my opinion of these books as a dude in his late 40s.

"The Sleeping Sorceress" was marginally more interesting than "Elric of Melniboné," largely because the latter is a sort of immediate prequel to "The Dreaming City," Moorcock's first Elric story in which the shit hits the fan, i.e., where Elric's life becomes more more tragic and interesting. (There's a reason Moorcock started where he started the story.) Much in the way that George Lucas's Star Wars prequels are not interesting because they take place before the drama of Star Wars itself (in which all the cool, dramatic stuff happens), "Elric of Melniboné" is all about Elric refusing to believe that his cousin, Prince Yyrkoon, is going to ruin his life and indirectly bring about the downfall of the entire Melnibonéan civilization. As readers, we see the irony in this, but the irony is not particularly interesting. On the contrary, I found Elric to be more infuriating than usual, because Yyrkoon is so obviously loathsome and beyond redemption that Elric's refusal to deal with him is kind of unbelievable.

"The Sleeping Sorceress," on the other hand, doesn't rely on our knowledge of future events for its drama. Even so, it suffered from the issue I had with some of the early Elric stories, which is that they're just fantasy stories. Nothing special. Here, Elric pals around with his buddy Moonglum, pursuing his archenemy Theleb K'aarna, whom I have to admit I don't even remember from the other stories (though it's possible this is my first encounter with his character). Anyway, the highlight of this novel are all the battle scenes, I guess, and I didn't find them to be that compelling. So that's that.

Ultimately, Elric just isn't for me (with the exception of "Stormbringer," which I still consider to be a pretty great novel). I owe a great debt to Moorcock for providing many of the seeds that blossomed into my favorite roleplaying game, but the source material is not something that I enjoy reading all that much.

[Ivan Lanìa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siamo al quarto volume della saga integrale di Elric di Melniboné e a questo giro la presentazione editoriale Gollancz ha raggiunto un nuovo picco di indecenza: i curatori avevano finito i saggi critici paccottiglia da ammucchiare in prefazione o in appendice, quindi hanno collocato al centro del volume il romanzo The Sleeping Sorceress, che è effettivamente parte della saga di Elric, e vi hanno posto attorno una mezza dozzina di racconti eterogenei, senza indicare né in copertina né in quarta di copertina che si tratta di un volume antologico — lo scopriamo solo dal frontespizio, che recita The Sleeping Sorceress and Other Stories ! Questa cialtroneria sarebbe valsa 1 misera stella su 5, ma alla prima lettura nel maggio 2020 mi sono controllato, ho letto unicamente il romanzo di Elric e ho valutato solo quello; poi nel giugno 2021, a mente fredda, mi sono dedicato ai racconti e ho aggiornato di conseguenza la recensione.

Iniziamo quindi con The Sleeping Sorceress, che è davvero davvero appassionante: come già The Sailor on the Seas of Fate consiste di tre novelle autonome cucite assieme da una trama di fondo molto semplice, ma è superiore all'altro romanzo per coesione della trama di fondo, per attenzione alla psicologia dei personaggi e per ritmo e prosa dei singoli racconti: tutto l'intreccio poggia sulla "triangolazione" relazionale fra Elric, Theleb K'aarna e Myshella (la maga addormentata del titolo), Myshella stessa è una coprotagonista carismatica, Elric finalmente dimostra una certa coerenza di carattere anziché farsi portare come un burattino là dove serve a Moorcock, la cosmologia del Multiverso Moorcockiano viene esposta in modo più chiaro che nei romanzi precedenti (va bene essere criptici ma tutto ha un limite) e l'armamentario di mostri e sortilegi portato in campo ha carattere; tutto l'insieme eguaglia senza fatica il primo romanzo della serie, Elric of Melniboné, che sino ad ora era stato il mio testo preferito.

Veniamo ora ai famigerati racconti non collegati alla saga di Elric, che sono stati una piacevole sorpresa: indubbiamente è stato improprio antologizzarli in quella che doveva essere (appunto) la saga di Elric in ordine cronologico e la selezione manca un po' di coesione, ma quantomeno sono testi piuttosto validi! Nello specifico:
1. "The Eternal Champion" è la prima avventura di John Daker, un altro dei personaggi più noti di Moorcock, ed è stato successivamente espanso nel romanzo omonimo The Eternal Champion; è, detto sinceramente, un piccolo capolavoro che condensa in poche pagine worldbuilding altamente suggestivo e valido scavo psicologico, raggiungendo i livelli del miglior Robert Howard. 4,5/5
2. "The Greater Conqueror" è una novella di fantasy storico in cui Alessandro Magno è posseduto dalle forze del Caos e un mercenario ateo si incarica di esorcizzarlo. Sembra una poracciata? Lo è. Contiene abbondanti imprecisioni? Abbastanza ma pensavo peggio. Si lascia leggere? Massì. 2/5
3. "Earl Aubec of Malador" è al contempo il testo più adatto e quello meno adatto a essere inserito in un volume teoricamente su Elric. Meno adatto perché si tratta di una bozza incompiuta, non di un racconto. Più adatto perché la bozza era di un romanzo prequel al ciclo di Elric, con protagonista il Conte Aubec già visto nel racconto "Master of Chaos" (entro Elric of Melniboné and Other Stories) e menzionato pure in The Sleeping Sorceress. Una bella finestra sull'officina del Moorcock giovane, che avrebbe meritato una presentazione editoriale migliore.
4. "The Stone Thing" è un racconto comico di parodia sconcia e mangiloquente del fantasy epico medio, non ha ragione di star qui (in teoria allude al ciclo del Principe Corum) ma chissene perché è bello. 3/5.
5. "Sir Milk-and-Blood" appartiene allo ciclo di racconti gialli-thriller fantastici con protagonisti Seaton Begg e Monsiuer Zenith, cui pertiene anche il "London Flesh" incluso in Breakfast in the Ruins and other stories – ma mentre "London Flesh" è tutto un affastellarsi di riferimenti alla saga del Second Ether, di cui quei racconti sono uno spin-off, questo "Sir Milk-and-Blood" è un testo autocomprensibile in cui viene descritta, in forma di racconto del mistero un po' alla Poe, la vera natura di Zenith entro la cosmologia di Moorcock. Molto stilloso. 4/5.
6. "The Roaming Forest" è il secondo racconto più attinente al ciclo di Elric: si tratta di un'avventura in solitaria di Rackhir l'Arciere Rosso, il comprimario di Elric già apparso in Elric of Melniboné e The Sleeping Sorceress, ambientata prima del suo incontro con Elric. Non eccelso, ma di lascia leggere. 3/5
7. "The Flaneur des Arcades de l'Opera" è un'altra avventura di Seaton Begg e Monsieur Zenith, tanto elaborata quanto fuori posto in questo volume: metà della trama fa riferimento alla dilogia dei Von Bek (The Warhound and the World's Pain e The City in the Autumn Stars), il finale si lega all'ultimo volume del ciclo di Elric (Elric: Stormbringer!) e ci sono allusioni al Second Ether e alla saga di Jerry Cornelius; se lo avessi letto nel 2020 assieme a The Sleeping Sorceress non avrei capito nulla, già adesso sono riuscito a seguire e apprezzare. 3,5/5.

Tirando le somme, i singoli testi di quest'antologia meriterrebero anche un 4/5 complessivo, ma la mancanza di cura editoriale abbassa a 3/5.

[Görkem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu kadar yazım hatasını ithaki yayınlarından beklemezdim ama bunu kitabın eski olmasına yoruyorum. Bu yazım hatalarına rağmen bayıla bayıla okuduğum süper bir kitaptı. Elric serisinde en sevdiğim kitap olarak yerini almış durumda. Keşke insanlar günümüzde bu serinin daha da farkına varsa.

Bölümler:

Uyuyan Büyücü 5/5

Elric, Leydi Myshella, Ayhüznü vs Thaleb Ka'arna

Ve Büyük İmparator Eğitimini Böyle Aldı 4/5

Melniboneli Elric 5/5

Elric, Cymoril, Dyvim Tvar vs Yyrkoon
Elric'in bildiğimiz anti-kahraman Elric olmadan önce, kalbindeki iyiliğin dışa vurduğu zamanları anlatıyor. Cymoril hâlâ yanında, Yyrkoon başarısız ihanet girişimlerine rağmen affediliyor.
Arioch ile Elric'in anlaşmasının başladığı hikâye.
Elric Gölge kapısından girip Rackhir ile tanışıyor. Yyrkoon'un izini sürüp Fırtınayaratan'ın sahibi oluyor.

Fantezi Suretleri 5/5

Lisede klasik oku diye baskı yapan herkesin gözüne sokmak istediğim, Moorcock'un fantezi yazılarının popülerleşmesinden aldığı keyfi ve insanların neden fantezi okumak istiyor olabileceğine dair fikirlerini paylaştığı kısa yazı.

[Connie Fogg-Bouchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

the uncommon valor

Elric and Moonglum struggle to stop the sorcerer before he destroys the Young Kingdoms. his love for a Queen who Elric left long ago has bereft him of sensibility and he calls on demons and Chaos to complete his plans. but the fates throw their own hats into the ring and Elric is not as alone as he thinks

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. The stories I had read before. His books have had a profound influence in/on my life. What I really like about these editions is the art, and, the hard to find supplemental material. This is a book anyone can pick up because even though it was one of the last books, chronologically, it is the first Elric story.

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μη με παρεξηγείτε... καταλαβαίνω ότι ο Έλρικ έχει κερδίσει μεγάλο μέρος του αναγνωστικού κοινού και είναι μια αξιέπαινη προσπάθεια του Μούρκοκ, η οποία έχει αποδώσει με μερικά χαριτωμένα νουβελάκια... Αλλά μέχρι εκεί. Δε λέω ότι δεν έχει βάθος, ή ότι έχει χτίσει άσχημο κόσμο... Απλώς... δεν.

[Corbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the chapters are aranged and the title of them tell you what is going to be going on in the chapter. I like the book because it is about war and stuff and it has some drama in it. But I wish they would of gave more at the end of the story. So that is why I gave it four stars.

[Can · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tarihçelerin ilk ikisi hakkındaki görüşlerimle paralel bir devam olmuş. Yine de orijin hikayesi okumak keyifliydi.

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my review of Elric: Stealer of Souls.

[Amelia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

*read for school

I went into this expecting to hate it, but it was actually pretty good. I'd definitely read more of Elric in the future if I found myself in possession of a copy.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elric meets a new lady who falls head over heels in love with him and GUESS WHAT HAPPENS?

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesing but getting old.

[Peter Carrier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains two stories of note: "The Sleeping Sorceress" and "Elric of Melnibone". The former is a more conventional tale of Elric (if the term 'convention' can be used in reference to that haunted character), while the latter is a look at Elric before he became the bearer of the Black Sword, Stormbringer.

"The Sleeping Sorceress" has its share of poetic, dare I say 'enchanting' passages readers have come to expect in these narratives, such as: "At dawn the clouds had cleared and the sun’s red rays spread over the snow like blood over damask. Everywhere stretched the steppe—a vast field of snow from horizon to horizon, while above it the sky was nothing but a blue sheet of ice in which sat the red pool of the sun." This description is absolutely stunning.

The same story also offers the fatalistic observations Moorcock tends to make through Elric and other characters in his world. For example, "[I]t is a dilemma known to all men, perhaps,” Rackhir said. “At least to some degree.”
“Aye—to wonder what purpose there is to one’s existence and what point there is to purpose, even if it should be discovered.”
Another, more melodramatic but not necessarily less poignant: "Come,” Elric said impatiently, beginning to strike off to the north-east. “For all your talk of time, there is precious little left for me.”

For all of those moments, however, "Elric of Melnibone" was the more intriguing story. The glimpse of Elric during his nascent rule, before he made such prolific use of his magic, before he had Stormbringer to bolster his strength (and eventually become his crutch), when his actions were still motivated by his ideals and not his mood... The events of the story not only paint a better picture of Elric's world, but offer a more distinct sense of how bittersweet the destruction of that same world must have been. That end is even alluded to in the story's final words: "And now, Elric had told three lies. The first concerned his cousin Yyrkoon. The second concerned the Black Sword. The third concerned Cymoril. And upon those three lies was Elric’s destiny to be built, for it is only about things which concern us most profoundly that we lie clearly and with profound conviction."

TLDR: a well-paced book that contains many elements already familiar to readers of Moorcock's signature character, while continuing to build on that character in meaningful, interesting ways.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog here in March 2003.

Much of Moorcock's output consists of series, some written close together (the Runestaff, for example) others very stretched out (the John Daker / Erekose novels). The Elric series, his longest, are in both categories, most novels appearing in the early sixties, this novel in 1971 and The Revenge of the Rose twenty years later. The unusual aspect of the Elric chronology is that the internal order is sometimes different, with the two final novels coming at the beginning of this omnibus (the second of two Elric collections in the current set of Eternal Champion editions).

The Sleeping Sorceress is really a series in itself, consisting of a trilogy of novellas in which Elric seeks revenge on the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna, chasing him across the world on which his dead kingdom of Melniboné lies. The sleeping sorceress of the title, a victim of Theleb K'aarna's enchantments, plays quite a small part in the plot; her significance is mainly due to the feelings she arouses in Elric through her resemblance to his long dead lover.

Elric has probably always been the best known of the various incarnations of the Eternal Champion, and the only Moorcock character who rivals his popularity is Jerry Cornelius (who has rather ambiguous connections with the concept). However, the reasons for this are not really apparent in The Sleeping Sorceress, which is one of Moorcock's less individual novels. (Even the relationship between Elric and his companion Moonglum reminds me of that between Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, the central characters in Fritz Leiber's Swords of Lankhmar series.