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The Elric Saga #5
The Bane Of The Black Sword
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157 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1977
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3468 people want to read
About the author
Michael Moorcock
1,209 books3,750 followersMichael 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.
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.
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August 25, 2019
This slim fifth volume of the Elric saga contains four separate novellas, the first three starring our princely albino hero and the fourth featuring one of his old companions, Rachir the Red Archer, now Defender of Tanelorn.
The three Elric tales are all fine adventures, and rather sunny by Elric standards (which of course are more than usually dark): “Stealer of Souls” features Elric’s final battle with the evil wizard Theleb Ka’arna, in which Elric is assisted by a few Melniboneon dragons under the command of his old comrade Dyvim Tvar; in “Kings in Darkness,” Elric falls in love with the young and resourceful Zarozinia and encounters some particularly sinister dead: and in “The Flame Bringers” he battles warlord Terarn Gashtek and his horde (after first rescuing a wizard’s soul from inside a cat).
As always, though, the shadow of the sword Stormbringer darkens all three tales: Stormbringer his companion and addiction; Stormbringer, his destiny and death.
December 16, 2015
[7/10]
Michael Whelan is as usual amazing when it comes to cover art
The Bane of the Black Sword is the fifth out of six original installments in the saga of Elric, the albino sorcerer who acts like an agent of Chaos and wields a terrible, soul-eating magical sword. Like it's predecessors, the book is actually a collection of novellas that are ordered chronologically in the continuing struggle of Elric against predestination and malevolent, indifferent deities. As such, it makes sense for the reader to be familiar with what went on before, but it is not a stringent requirement for enjoying these sword & sorcery adventures as stand-alone episodes.
Elric, at least in the beginning of his epic quest, is unique among the usual brawny Conan clones or nimble rogues that populate sword & sorcery worlds by being physically impaired, requirring either drugs, magic or the tainted power of his doom sword in order to function as a fighter. He is also plagued by existential angst and moral relativism as he tries to cope with the often catastrophic results of his actions. I was surprised to notice in this fifth volume that the author all but abandoned these loftier ideas that define his character and penned a trio of classic sword & sorcery tales that show little originality and depth compared with previous episodes. Admittedly, they are very well written in the concise yet colourful language that I have come to expect from Moorcock, and they are great fun for the reader who enjoys the works of Robert E Howard and Fritz Leiber, but still a step down compared with my expectations. Only the epilogue, in which Elric is conspicuously absent, marks a return to the vivid imagination and existential debates that attracted me to the series in the first place.
1. The Stealer of Souls concludes a long story arc that spawns over three volumes, reintroducing an old flame of Elric (Queen Yishana of Jharkor) and an old enemy (sorcerer Theleb K'aarna of Pan Tang). Elric and his usual sidekick Moonglum the Outlander are currently out of work mercenaries, looking for a way to fatten their purses.
In a city called Bakshaan, which was rich enough to make all other cities of the North East seem poor, in a tall-towered tavern one night, Elric, Lord of the smoking ruins of Melnibone, smiled like a shark and drily jested with four powerful merchant princes whom, in a day or so, he intended to pauperize.
The final confrontation with Thelb K'aarna is spectacular and combines a castle siege, magic fireworks and another friend of Elric slayed by his out-of-control sword Stormbringer. Dragons from the island of Melnibone add a welcome exotic flavour to the proceedings.
2. Kings in Darkness reminds me in some of its elements of the adventures of Frodo Baggins in the Barrows and of Conan mishaps in his tomb raiding quests. Undead and unsavoury thinks lurk in the darkness of these ancient mausoleums.
Three Kings in Darkness lie,
Gutheran of Org, and I,
Under a bleak and sunless sky -
The third Beneath the Hill.
Elric and Moonglum are running for their lives after a misunderstanding in Nadsokor, the City of Thieves, and end up in a place of ill repute - the hell-spawned Forest of Troos (Mirkwood?). Here they meet not only danger, but also a beautiful, nubile girl of seventeen who promptly falls in love with the albino demonic prince.
Moonglum sighed. "Elric - this once, let us not court the danger.
Elric smiled icily. His scarlet eyes blazed out of his dead white skin with peculiar intensity. "Danger? It can bring only death."
3. The Flamebringers
The Stormbringer confronts Terrarn Gashtek, both plague and locust of the Eastern dominions, Lord of the Mounted Hordes, sunken-faced carrier of destruction; Terarn Gashtek, insane blood-drawer, the shrieking flame bringer. Just as we thought that Elric is due some quality time with his new lady love Zarozinia in the city of Jade Towers, Karlaak, Moonglum barges in with dire news: Genghis Khan is coming at the head of a million strong force of nomads, burning and pillaging as they advance across the land.
Bloody-beaked hawks soared on the frigid wind. They soared high above a mounted horde inexorably moving across the Weeping Waste.
Elric has promised himself and his new wife that he will not lay his hand again on his doom bringing sword, but Fate knows his number and is paging him back to battle. The novella has an interesting angle on magic as Elric tries to help Drinji Bara, a fellow sorcerer, who has misplaced his soul in the body of a black cat.
Epilogue: To Rescue Tanelorn is the shortest but also the best episode in the current collection, even without Elric. His place is taken by an old acquaintance - Rackhir the Red Archer, who has retired from his life of adventure to the fabled city of Tanelorn:
Beyond the tall and ominous glass-green forest of Troos, well to the North and unheard of in Bakshaan, Elwher or any other city of the Young Kingdoms, on the shifting shores of the Sighing Desert lay Tanelorn, a lonely, long-ago city, loved by those it sheltered.
Tanelorn is an oasis of peace for the batle weary mercenary, a neutral ground in the eternal battle between the Lords of Chaos and Order, but it is currently threatened by a crusade of beggars from Nadsokor, led by a powerful magician. Rackhir sets out on a quest to gain the help of the Grey Lords, sometimes arbiters of disputes across the multiverse. With the assistance of a shaman named Lamsar, the Red Archer has to pass through five gates, each guarded by a Sphinx-like creature whose questions must be answered. The structure is highly reminiscent of the style used by Jack Vance in Lyonesse or the Tales of the Dying Earth, with the added benefit of some of Moorcock's metaphysical musings.
We are human. You spend your life chasing that which is within you and that which you can find in any other human being - but you will not look for it there - you must follow more glamorous paths - to waste your time in order to discover that you have wasted your time.
---
... what is Law without something to decide between? Here is Law - bereft of justice. in describing the barren wasteland of Absolute Law.
---
The denouement is a return to the pulpy adventure rules of sword & sorcery, with yet another of the author high intensity battles described in only a couple of pages. I am now only one book away from completing my Elric Saga self-challenge, and it's been for most of the time a rewarding trip, but nevertheless I am not in a rush to explore the other incarnations of his Eternal Champion.
Tanelorn will always exist while men exist. It was not a city you defended today. It was an ideal. That is Tanelorn.
Michael Whelan is as usual amazing when it comes to cover art
The Bane of the Black Sword is the fifth out of six original installments in the saga of Elric, the albino sorcerer who acts like an agent of Chaos and wields a terrible, soul-eating magical sword. Like it's predecessors, the book is actually a collection of novellas that are ordered chronologically in the continuing struggle of Elric against predestination and malevolent, indifferent deities. As such, it makes sense for the reader to be familiar with what went on before, but it is not a stringent requirement for enjoying these sword & sorcery adventures as stand-alone episodes.
Elric, at least in the beginning of his epic quest, is unique among the usual brawny Conan clones or nimble rogues that populate sword & sorcery worlds by being physically impaired, requirring either drugs, magic or the tainted power of his doom sword in order to function as a fighter. He is also plagued by existential angst and moral relativism as he tries to cope with the often catastrophic results of his actions. I was surprised to notice in this fifth volume that the author all but abandoned these loftier ideas that define his character and penned a trio of classic sword & sorcery tales that show little originality and depth compared with previous episodes. Admittedly, they are very well written in the concise yet colourful language that I have come to expect from Moorcock, and they are great fun for the reader who enjoys the works of Robert E Howard and Fritz Leiber, but still a step down compared with my expectations. Only the epilogue, in which Elric is conspicuously absent, marks a return to the vivid imagination and existential debates that attracted me to the series in the first place.
1. The Stealer of Souls concludes a long story arc that spawns over three volumes, reintroducing an old flame of Elric (Queen Yishana of Jharkor) and an old enemy (sorcerer Theleb K'aarna of Pan Tang). Elric and his usual sidekick Moonglum the Outlander are currently out of work mercenaries, looking for a way to fatten their purses.
In a city called Bakshaan, which was rich enough to make all other cities of the North East seem poor, in a tall-towered tavern one night, Elric, Lord of the smoking ruins of Melnibone, smiled like a shark and drily jested with four powerful merchant princes whom, in a day or so, he intended to pauperize.
The final confrontation with Thelb K'aarna is spectacular and combines a castle siege, magic fireworks and another friend of Elric slayed by his out-of-control sword Stormbringer. Dragons from the island of Melnibone add a welcome exotic flavour to the proceedings.
2. Kings in Darkness reminds me in some of its elements of the adventures of Frodo Baggins in the Barrows and of Conan mishaps in his tomb raiding quests. Undead and unsavoury thinks lurk in the darkness of these ancient mausoleums.
Three Kings in Darkness lie,
Gutheran of Org, and I,
Under a bleak and sunless sky -
The third Beneath the Hill.
Elric and Moonglum are running for their lives after a misunderstanding in Nadsokor, the City of Thieves, and end up in a place of ill repute - the hell-spawned Forest of Troos (Mirkwood?). Here they meet not only danger, but also a beautiful, nubile girl of seventeen who promptly falls in love with the albino demonic prince.
Moonglum sighed. "Elric - this once, let us not court the danger.
Elric smiled icily. His scarlet eyes blazed out of his dead white skin with peculiar intensity. "Danger? It can bring only death."
3. The Flamebringers
The Stormbringer confronts Terrarn Gashtek, both plague and locust of the Eastern dominions, Lord of the Mounted Hordes, sunken-faced carrier of destruction; Terarn Gashtek, insane blood-drawer, the shrieking flame bringer. Just as we thought that Elric is due some quality time with his new lady love Zarozinia in the city of Jade Towers, Karlaak, Moonglum barges in with dire news: Genghis Khan is coming at the head of a million strong force of nomads, burning and pillaging as they advance across the land.
Bloody-beaked hawks soared on the frigid wind. They soared high above a mounted horde inexorably moving across the Weeping Waste.
Elric has promised himself and his new wife that he will not lay his hand again on his doom bringing sword, but Fate knows his number and is paging him back to battle. The novella has an interesting angle on magic as Elric tries to help Drinji Bara, a fellow sorcerer, who has misplaced his soul in the body of a black cat.
Epilogue: To Rescue Tanelorn is the shortest but also the best episode in the current collection, even without Elric. His place is taken by an old acquaintance - Rackhir the Red Archer, who has retired from his life of adventure to the fabled city of Tanelorn:
Beyond the tall and ominous glass-green forest of Troos, well to the North and unheard of in Bakshaan, Elwher or any other city of the Young Kingdoms, on the shifting shores of the Sighing Desert lay Tanelorn, a lonely, long-ago city, loved by those it sheltered.
Tanelorn is an oasis of peace for the batle weary mercenary, a neutral ground in the eternal battle between the Lords of Chaos and Order, but it is currently threatened by a crusade of beggars from Nadsokor, led by a powerful magician. Rackhir sets out on a quest to gain the help of the Grey Lords, sometimes arbiters of disputes across the multiverse. With the assistance of a shaman named Lamsar, the Red Archer has to pass through five gates, each guarded by a Sphinx-like creature whose questions must be answered. The structure is highly reminiscent of the style used by Jack Vance in Lyonesse or the Tales of the Dying Earth, with the added benefit of some of Moorcock's metaphysical musings.
We are human. You spend your life chasing that which is within you and that which you can find in any other human being - but you will not look for it there - you must follow more glamorous paths - to waste your time in order to discover that you have wasted your time.
---
... what is Law without something to decide between? Here is Law - bereft of justice. in describing the barren wasteland of Absolute Law.
---
The denouement is a return to the pulpy adventure rules of sword & sorcery, with yet another of the author high intensity battles described in only a couple of pages. I am now only one book away from completing my Elric Saga self-challenge, and it's been for most of the time a rewarding trip, but nevertheless I am not in a rush to explore the other incarnations of his Eternal Champion.
Tanelorn will always exist while men exist. It was not a city you defended today. It was an ideal. That is Tanelorn.
January 17, 2012
There is an unusual tonal conflict central to almost all of the Elric series between the complex, metaphysical, magical world and the rather straightforward, formulaic characters. Elric, himself shows some complexity and nuanced introspection in the very first story, but then the focus changes and we embark upon a sequence of adventures where a recognizable pattern emerges.
Again and again we see Elric battling against difficult odds, his terrible sword at first ably defending him, but soon its strength fails, and he is compelled to call upon pacts with spirits for aid, never certain whether they will obey or abandon him. Sometimes this is done well, and the summoned creature gives us an insight into how Moorcock's world works--and while it may temporarily solve Elric's problem, another conflict often develops from that solution.
When it is not done as well, it becomes predictable, a standard way to resolve story conflicts. Yet, I am reluctant to entirely condemn it, even then, since it is really no more repetitive than the fantasy hero who fights his way out of everything, or who calls upon some inner magical strength to inevitably overcome.
In addition, there is something mythic in the formulaic way that Moorcock constructs his stories and characters. It reminds me of how Howard always refers to Conan as 'panther-like', sometimes several times a story. At first this just looks redundant and sloppy, until one begins to think in terms of Homer or other classic epics, where the repetition of certain elements, particularly descriptions, becomes a character motif, like the epithet of a king.
Moorcock's stylistic formula extends beyond this convention, however. After the first book, I kept waiting for Elric's character to catch up with the complex metaphysics of his world, but he never does. It never quite extends down to the characters, because they are not created with the same philosophical outlook.
They are not, fundamentally, characters of existential realism and modern psychology, but mythic, archetypal figures, who develop friendships or rivalry insouciantly, who bear loves and hates that are ultimately facile. Like Beowulf or Roland, they are beholden to the plot, and their motivations, more often than not, are not willful, but received.
Which is why it is all the more unusual that the world, the cosmology, the many dimensions and realities, the magic, the gods, and the spirits tend to be so strikingly modern, owing more to quantum theories than to the great traditions. The characters cast their eyes back, while the world is halfway into an unknown future, which produces a rather strange effect. It is not that the characters are never existential, it is rather that, if they do have existential thoughts, they approach them like mythic archetypes would.
So, to some degree, I have stopped waiting for Elric to become a fully-fleshed, modern character, realizing that I only expected it because of the modern philosophy which underpins Moorcock's world. However, I am wary about declaring this experiment of his a total success. It is certainly interesting, unusual, and thought-provoking, but I am not sure that these two parts ever find a real common ground.
One definition of genius is 'the ability to take disparate ideas and synthesize them into a single, new idea', and while Moorcock sometimes approaches this, he never quite succeeds so fully that it satisfies, and so the core of the world and the characters are always strangely at odds.
More than this, the stories sometimes lack focus. They do not always have a central tone or idea that ties them together, even if there is a progression of plot, it can be somewhat arbitrary. Yet in this book, we get some of the most vibrant, cohesive tales in the entire series, reminiscent of the sort of focused excitement that make the Conan and Lankhmar stories so delightful.
These stories were almost enough to pull out a four-star rating, but it still felt rather patchwork, with some stories running too long, others feeling rushed, and rarely a strong enough central tone to tie them together into a larger arc. I have one more story to read before I try one of the much later Elric stories, and I am very curious to see whether Moorcock is able to tighten his ideas into a more streamlined conceptual whole, as he did in Gloriana.
My List of Suggested Fantasy Books
Again and again we see Elric battling against difficult odds, his terrible sword at first ably defending him, but soon its strength fails, and he is compelled to call upon pacts with spirits for aid, never certain whether they will obey or abandon him. Sometimes this is done well, and the summoned creature gives us an insight into how Moorcock's world works--and while it may temporarily solve Elric's problem, another conflict often develops from that solution.
When it is not done as well, it becomes predictable, a standard way to resolve story conflicts. Yet, I am reluctant to entirely condemn it, even then, since it is really no more repetitive than the fantasy hero who fights his way out of everything, or who calls upon some inner magical strength to inevitably overcome.
In addition, there is something mythic in the formulaic way that Moorcock constructs his stories and characters. It reminds me of how Howard always refers to Conan as 'panther-like', sometimes several times a story. At first this just looks redundant and sloppy, until one begins to think in terms of Homer or other classic epics, where the repetition of certain elements, particularly descriptions, becomes a character motif, like the epithet of a king.
Moorcock's stylistic formula extends beyond this convention, however. After the first book, I kept waiting for Elric's character to catch up with the complex metaphysics of his world, but he never does. It never quite extends down to the characters, because they are not created with the same philosophical outlook.
They are not, fundamentally, characters of existential realism and modern psychology, but mythic, archetypal figures, who develop friendships or rivalry insouciantly, who bear loves and hates that are ultimately facile. Like Beowulf or Roland, they are beholden to the plot, and their motivations, more often than not, are not willful, but received.
Which is why it is all the more unusual that the world, the cosmology, the many dimensions and realities, the magic, the gods, and the spirits tend to be so strikingly modern, owing more to quantum theories than to the great traditions. The characters cast their eyes back, while the world is halfway into an unknown future, which produces a rather strange effect. It is not that the characters are never existential, it is rather that, if they do have existential thoughts, they approach them like mythic archetypes would.
So, to some degree, I have stopped waiting for Elric to become a fully-fleshed, modern character, realizing that I only expected it because of the modern philosophy which underpins Moorcock's world. However, I am wary about declaring this experiment of his a total success. It is certainly interesting, unusual, and thought-provoking, but I am not sure that these two parts ever find a real common ground.
One definition of genius is 'the ability to take disparate ideas and synthesize them into a single, new idea', and while Moorcock sometimes approaches this, he never quite succeeds so fully that it satisfies, and so the core of the world and the characters are always strangely at odds.
More than this, the stories sometimes lack focus. They do not always have a central tone or idea that ties them together, even if there is a progression of plot, it can be somewhat arbitrary. Yet in this book, we get some of the most vibrant, cohesive tales in the entire series, reminiscent of the sort of focused excitement that make the Conan and Lankhmar stories so delightful.
These stories were almost enough to pull out a four-star rating, but it still felt rather patchwork, with some stories running too long, others feeling rushed, and rarely a strong enough central tone to tie them together into a larger arc. I have one more story to read before I try one of the much later Elric stories, and I am very curious to see whether Moorcock is able to tighten his ideas into a more streamlined conceptual whole, as he did in Gloriana.
My List of Suggested Fantasy Books
October 9, 2018
Definitely the pinnacle of Sword and Sworcery. Elric, the mage of legend, is a transformed warrior descending from lofty ideals into the realm of chaos and back again, casting off his allegiance to the goddess of chaos itself to battle... um... just about everything. :)
I can say this is less strange and less idealistic and mysterious and archetypal than the previous volumes, focusing more on the quest and the battle and retaining a core of his idealism, as corrupted as that has become.
Mister anti-hero Elric. :)
It isn't so challenging anymore. It IS pretty wonderful, however. Epic, even, for being so short. :)
I can say this is less strange and less idealistic and mysterious and archetypal than the previous volumes, focusing more on the quest and the battle and retaining a core of his idealism, as corrupted as that has become.
Mister anti-hero Elric. :)
It isn't so challenging anymore. It IS pretty wonderful, however. Epic, even, for being so short. :)
October 28, 2025
My quest to reread the Elric books has been paused for far too long. Time to get back to it.
As with the previous books, I take issue with the line on the cover, “The Fifth Novel of Elric of Melniboné.” This is not a novel, but a collection of separate stories. Yes, they all (except the last one) tell of Elric's adventures, and do so in chronological order. But they don't directly lead into each other. Each is self-contained. I'm hazy on what exact lengths differentiate a short story, a novella, and a novelette. I couldn't even tell you for sure which of those last two is longer without looking up the terms. Whatever these stories are, though, they're not a novel.
So we have three adventures of Elric, plus one tale of Rackhir's defense of Tanelorn. As with most Elric stories, there is a sense of looming tragedy. While he may achieve happiness now and again, it is always temporary. Although it's been a good thirty years since I last read any of these books, I do recall well enough how the saga ends.
What keeps things interesting are the sights along the way: the various stages of Rackhir's journey to find the Grey Lords, for instance–the realm of Law in particular. Or the description of Quaolnargn that kicks off chapter three of “The Stealer of Souls.” Michael Moorcock does a bang up job of describing the indescribable and coming up with evocative and poetic names.
Elric is doomed. We readers have been constantly reminded of that since the first page of the first book. Might as well enjoy the ride.
As with the previous books, I take issue with the line on the cover, “The Fifth Novel of Elric of Melniboné.” This is not a novel, but a collection of separate stories. Yes, they all (except the last one) tell of Elric's adventures, and do so in chronological order. But they don't directly lead into each other. Each is self-contained. I'm hazy on what exact lengths differentiate a short story, a novella, and a novelette. I couldn't even tell you for sure which of those last two is longer without looking up the terms. Whatever these stories are, though, they're not a novel.
So we have three adventures of Elric, plus one tale of Rackhir's defense of Tanelorn. As with most Elric stories, there is a sense of looming tragedy. While he may achieve happiness now and again, it is always temporary. Although it's been a good thirty years since I last read any of these books, I do recall well enough how the saga ends.
What keeps things interesting are the sights along the way: the various stages of Rackhir's journey to find the Grey Lords, for instance–the realm of Law in particular. Or the description of Quaolnargn that kicks off chapter three of “The Stealer of Souls.” Michael Moorcock does a bang up job of describing the indescribable and coming up with evocative and poetic names.
Elric is doomed. We readers have been constantly reminded of that since the first page of the first book. Might as well enjoy the ride.
September 13, 2022
Synopsis: Stormbringer is brought home. Elric has learned to love once more in spite of his cruel destiny, returning home to Yishana where he miraculously finds peace, however brief that peace may be. Meanwhile, at the world's rim, dragging red horror in its wake, a horde unimaginable moves on the fabled, gentle, impossible city Tanelorn. Amidst all of this, the gods of chaos are at odds and carnage blooms behind the scenes.
Review: Events are being set up for the final climactic battle in Stormbringer. Elric has suffered from his fate as a tool of destiny for too long. I hear the final book is the best in the series, so I'm eager to see what manner of madness befalls Elric in his final chapter.
Review: Events are being set up for the final climactic battle in Stormbringer. Elric has suffered from his fate as a tool of destiny for too long. I hear the final book is the best in the series, so I'm eager to see what manner of madness befalls Elric in his final chapter.
March 24, 2011
The 5th and penultimate in the Elric series, like the previous books it's divided into 3 short stories.
In the first The stealer of souls, Elric has another run in with the sorceror Theleba K'aarna, who is still insanely mad at Elric for 'making' Yishana fall in love with him. But of course it's not Elric's fault, he's just naturally good with the ladies, and he doesn't even want Yishana.
Then Kings in Darkness, where Elric finds and falls in love with Zarozinia. It must be love this time, as Elric decides to give up his sword Stormbringer, and go back to supporting his life with drugs instead of the stolen life-force that his sword shares with him.
In The flame bringers, Elrics companion Moonglum warns Elric of a Warband who are laying waste to various cities and on their way to the city where Elric lives with Zarozinia. The warband have a captured their own sorceror, by subduing the cat in which he attempted to hide his soul..
Then we have an Epilogue To Rescue Tanelorn, which is a short story, not about Elric, but about one of his previous companions Rackhir the Red Archer, who lives now in the eternal city of Tanelorn. Tanelorn is about to come under attack by forces of Chaos, and so Rackhir goes in search of the Grey Lords, who server neither Law nor Chaos, but may be willing to aid Tanelorn.
These Elric novels are always so hard to review, because so much happens in such a short space of time. To me, Moorcocks style of writing, is like the opposite of a politicians.. where a politician will try to say as little as possible in as many words as possible, Moorcock has a very good go at writing as much as possible in as few words as possible. And yet his writing is still so creative and descriptive. It's hard to see how he manages to cram so much in without messing up the story, but he does. At the end of this book I was quite knackered really!
See my other reviews of the Elric series:
← #4 The Vanishing Tower | #6 (Review coming soon!) →
In the first The stealer of souls, Elric has another run in with the sorceror Theleba K'aarna, who is still insanely mad at Elric for 'making' Yishana fall in love with him. But of course it's not Elric's fault, he's just naturally good with the ladies, and he doesn't even want Yishana.
Then Kings in Darkness, where Elric finds and falls in love with Zarozinia. It must be love this time, as Elric decides to give up his sword Stormbringer, and go back to supporting his life with drugs instead of the stolen life-force that his sword shares with him.
In The flame bringers, Elrics companion Moonglum warns Elric of a Warband who are laying waste to various cities and on their way to the city where Elric lives with Zarozinia. The warband have a captured their own sorceror, by subduing the cat in which he attempted to hide his soul..
Then we have an Epilogue To Rescue Tanelorn, which is a short story, not about Elric, but about one of his previous companions Rackhir the Red Archer, who lives now in the eternal city of Tanelorn. Tanelorn is about to come under attack by forces of Chaos, and so Rackhir goes in search of the Grey Lords, who server neither Law nor Chaos, but may be willing to aid Tanelorn.
These Elric novels are always so hard to review, because so much happens in such a short space of time. To me, Moorcocks style of writing, is like the opposite of a politicians.. where a politician will try to say as little as possible in as many words as possible, Moorcock has a very good go at writing as much as possible in as few words as possible. And yet his writing is still so creative and descriptive. It's hard to see how he manages to cram so much in without messing up the story, but he does. At the end of this book I was quite knackered really!
See my other reviews of the Elric series:
← #4 The Vanishing Tower | #6 (Review coming soon!) →
November 9, 2012
1) Elric abandons friends and/or lovers, due to his lame cultural background, seeking trouble.
2) Elric slaughters everyone: return to number one. If not:
3) Elric calls upon an angry god to resolve the problem: return to number one. If not:
4) Elric is rendered unconscious but will wake up with sword neglectfully placed by the enemy very nearby: return to number one...
I have decided to read only the first six books, as opposed to the cagillion out there. This whole Elric saga is starting to take its toll. In one paragraph, a blind character 'gropes' his way down the corridor of a castle. Later that same paragraph, the guy is running full tilt, because the character, Moorcock writes, knows every hall like the back of his hand. Then there's the passage where Elric is nearly dead but 'somehow' he gets the energy from 'somewhere'.
I'm just about done.
2) Elric slaughters everyone: return to number one. If not:
3) Elric calls upon an angry god to resolve the problem: return to number one. If not:
4) Elric is rendered unconscious but will wake up with sword neglectfully placed by the enemy very nearby: return to number one...
I have decided to read only the first six books, as opposed to the cagillion out there. This whole Elric saga is starting to take its toll. In one paragraph, a blind character 'gropes' his way down the corridor of a castle. Later that same paragraph, the guy is running full tilt, because the character, Moorcock writes, knows every hall like the back of his hand. Then there's the passage where Elric is nearly dead but 'somehow' he gets the energy from 'somewhere'.
I'm just about done.
January 23, 2008
Michael Moorcock, The Bane of the Black Sword (DAW, 1977)
The fifth of the six classic Elric novels picks up, as is usual with these books, where the fourth leaves off. Moorcock sets the last pieces of the puzzle into place (and here, we get a chance to see how everything that has come before is building to the climactic novel, Stormbringer), introducing us to Zarozinia, the love of Elric's life (and most of his motivation for continuing on the path upon which he was set in The Vanishing Tower). Much of this is setup for Stormbringer, but that's in no way to say this isn't good stuff. Once again, Moorcock takes his already intriguing concepts that he's built up throughout the series (unique hero, solid motivation, the excellent concept of the Eternal Champion, et al) and adds a few more twists and turns, to make them even more intriguing than they already were. Unfortunately, the series' main problem-its penchant for not going into detail on some of the truly fun stuff mentioned (e.g., the Forest of Troos, in the barren land of Org, where Elric and Zarozinia meet, both trying like mad to avoid the denizens of the forest)-is here in spades. But there's enough detail for the reader to get the general gist of what's going on and eventually hope Moorcock will write some stories set in Elric's world that have to do with these ancillary details. This would not be unprecedented; a story with Elric's friend Rackhir as its main character is included as an epilogue to one of the books, for example.
There is one other annoying thing about the series I haven't yet touched on. It's ultimately annoying that Elric, no matter what he's faced with, has some form of supernatural ally who can help him with it. (You're attacked by lizardmen who are unaffected by normal weapons? Call on the god of the insects and get the help of millions of mosquitoes!) Never fails. This particular convention pops up in a number of places in the series, not just here.
Still, overall, the book is good, it's readable, and the payoff, in Stormbringer, is astounding. ****
The fifth of the six classic Elric novels picks up, as is usual with these books, where the fourth leaves off. Moorcock sets the last pieces of the puzzle into place (and here, we get a chance to see how everything that has come before is building to the climactic novel, Stormbringer), introducing us to Zarozinia, the love of Elric's life (and most of his motivation for continuing on the path upon which he was set in The Vanishing Tower). Much of this is setup for Stormbringer, but that's in no way to say this isn't good stuff. Once again, Moorcock takes his already intriguing concepts that he's built up throughout the series (unique hero, solid motivation, the excellent concept of the Eternal Champion, et al) and adds a few more twists and turns, to make them even more intriguing than they already were. Unfortunately, the series' main problem-its penchant for not going into detail on some of the truly fun stuff mentioned (e.g., the Forest of Troos, in the barren land of Org, where Elric and Zarozinia meet, both trying like mad to avoid the denizens of the forest)-is here in spades. But there's enough detail for the reader to get the general gist of what's going on and eventually hope Moorcock will write some stories set in Elric's world that have to do with these ancillary details. This would not be unprecedented; a story with Elric's friend Rackhir as its main character is included as an epilogue to one of the books, for example.
There is one other annoying thing about the series I haven't yet touched on. It's ultimately annoying that Elric, no matter what he's faced with, has some form of supernatural ally who can help him with it. (You're attacked by lizardmen who are unaffected by normal weapons? Call on the god of the insects and get the help of millions of mosquitoes!) Never fails. This particular convention pops up in a number of places in the series, not just here.
Still, overall, the book is good, it's readable, and the payoff, in Stormbringer, is astounding. ****
April 15, 2023
I’m still having fun re-reading these DAWs. Another 5 star cover by Whelan. This volume includes 3 good Elric stories, and one Red Archer Tanelorn tale. It’s humorous to read some of the lower star reviews for these books. People don’t seem to understand Moorcock was a huge Burroughs fan cutting his teeth in Burroughs and fledgling science fiction fanzines. Howard was an influence, but not many teen age/young twenties, or any age, can write like Howard. I personally enjoy the Elric 60’s stories. You can see Moorcock evolving as a writer, especially as he ties in characters into the multiverse and eternal champion stuff. Yes the writing seems all over the place, but Elric is a tortured soul (all over the place.) I wouldn’t have it any other way. Plenty of good stuff in here. Elric even finds a new love, and had a moment of peace. Some of my favorite memories have always been Elric laughing like a hyena when no one would. That’s in here a couple of times. The Tanelorn story gives glimpses of gateways into worlds of Chaos, Law, Grey Lords etc. Fun stuff if you want it to be. Or, if you want to waste your life on 1200 page books of endless fantasy with every blade of grass analyzed 50 different ways, have fun with that too.
July 7, 2020
This is the penultimate volume of the six core Elric chronicles. It contains three stories from the 1960s that had appeared in earlier non-chronological collections The Stealer of Souls and The Singing Citadel, and a fourth piece that features Rackhir the Red Archer and the mystical city of Tanelorn in which Elric is barely mentioned. The Elric stories are an integral part of Moorcock's Eternal Champion multiverse tapestry, and he is one of the most beloved characters in it... as well as in the modern heroic fantasy field in general. Moorcock's writing is at times rushed, but is always lyrical and lushly descriptive with exotic and imaginative and rich characters and settings. This DAW edition has a terrific Michael Whelan cover, as did all of the DAW Elric books.
November 23, 2015
Here we are. Back to ass-kicking Elric with Hellsword in hand: "The Eastern warriors spread out in a half circle as they rode down on the companions, yelling wild war-shouts. Elric reared his mount to a savage standstill and met the first rider with Stormbringer's point full in the man's throat. There was a stink like brimstone as it pierced flesh and the warrior drew a ghastly choking breath as he died, his eyes staring out in full realization of his terrible fate - that Stormbringer drank souls as well as blood." - Michael Moorcock, The Bane of the Black Sword.
This is why I read these books. That is all.
This is why I read these books. That is all.
April 11, 2021
Three more Elric stories, and one non-Elric story called an Epilogue. I'm afraid I have come to the conclusion that there is no overall story arc to this series, it is a sequence of stories in which Moorcock repeatedly attempts to surpass his previous one, in degree of doom and nihilism.
The characters are little more than props in the expression of that mood. In one story, Elric meets a previously unmentioned young woman and they fall in love and they are married, all in the space of about two pages. How absurd. I'm pretty sure it is no spoiler if I reveal to you that Elric does not remain settled long before he is called back to battle.
The characters are little more than props in the expression of that mood. In one story, Elric meets a previously unmentioned young woman and they fall in love and they are married, all in the space of about two pages. How absurd. I'm pretty sure it is no spoiler if I reveal to you that Elric does not remain settled long before he is called back to battle.
April 12, 2025
Some of these feel like generic sword+sorcery, D and D stories. Not sure if that's Moorcock's fault or his influence.
August 24, 2016
Arc I: Elric seeks the help of a few remaining fellow Melniboneans led by his old friend and cousin Dyvim Tvar. Despite Elric's successful attempt at destroying the Dreaming City a few years back, Melniboneans agree to help their former emperor. it's interesting that even though Elric says that it is in the Melnibonean nature to pursue self-interest and give no regard to petty human feelings such as grudge when it is in the way of some form of profit or pleasure, Dyvim Tvar acts in a way that refutes Elric's statement; he perceives his death, but he follows Elric. What is there for him to gain? the pleasure of battle? He is far too sophisticated to relish an unimportant assault on a merchant's castle. I say unimportant, because it seems to me that it is not for loooting the castle that the Dragon Master agrees to aid Elric. he decides not to retaliate the misery Elric brought upon Melnibone and her people so he may be driven by something other than pure self-interest.
Melniboneans are not entirely human, that has been said in the books. but their code of behavior remains a bit unclear for me. They are inclined to be cruel and hedonistic and mercy and guilt are not present in them (save Elric - and he was regarded as unnatural-) Dyvim Tvar has always been Elric's trusted companion and there were instances in the series where we were shown that, to his own surprise, he sympathised with Elric's feelings and found that he may not altogether be alien towards such human sentiments.
Melniboneans are a remarkable race to say the least, and I wish I could get to read more into them but alas, they are no more save a few wandering mercenaries.
This is the fifth Installment and sadly, it suffers from the same ill as the previous book (and the one before that) it still does not offer anything grand. More Elric facing trouble and getting out of it. No development and no interesting new characters.
In the first Arc, He manages to (finally) kill Theleb K'aarna *gasp* and meet again with Yishana who is (or rather could be) the only worthwhile female character. They seemingly ride off together by the end of the episode but we read no more of Yishana. she just disappears.
Second Arc is interesting setting-wise and has an eerie and dread ambience that a wee bit reminds me of Skyrim Barrow searching quests, We get to see zombies too.
The final arc is equally nonparticipating in the vaster scale of things. Half a million barbarian horde (dangerously similar to the Dothraki) attack and tear down the eastern lands and are moving for a world conquest. Elric stops them: SURPRISE!!
There is an Epilogue though. Chaos finally make an appearance and they are bent on destroying Tanelorn. at this point we hear that Chaos have been wreaking havoc in more parts and are finally on the move for the big cosmic struggle. We travel to other planes in search of help, we are shown one plane of Law and given insight into its nature for the first time I think. Each plane, though visited briefly, are well portrayed, peculiar and alien enough to invoke the sense of otherworldliness.
by the end of the epilogue, I decided a 3 would suffice. it is a weak 3, but Elric has already earned a very special place in my heart and I'm willing to overlook certain weak spots in his stories.
Melniboneans are not entirely human, that has been said in the books. but their code of behavior remains a bit unclear for me. They are inclined to be cruel and hedonistic and mercy and guilt are not present in them (save Elric - and he was regarded as unnatural-) Dyvim Tvar has always been Elric's trusted companion and there were instances in the series where we were shown that, to his own surprise, he sympathised with Elric's feelings and found that he may not altogether be alien towards such human sentiments.
Melniboneans are a remarkable race to say the least, and I wish I could get to read more into them but alas, they are no more save a few wandering mercenaries.
This is the fifth Installment and sadly, it suffers from the same ill as the previous book (and the one before that) it still does not offer anything grand. More Elric facing trouble and getting out of it. No development and no interesting new characters.
In the first Arc, He manages to (finally) kill Theleb K'aarna *gasp* and meet again with Yishana who is (or rather could be) the only worthwhile female character. They seemingly ride off together by the end of the episode but we read no more of Yishana. she just disappears.
Second Arc is interesting setting-wise and has an eerie and dread ambience that a wee bit reminds me of Skyrim Barrow searching quests, We get to see zombies too.
The final arc is equally nonparticipating in the vaster scale of things. Half a million barbarian horde (dangerously similar to the Dothraki) attack and tear down the eastern lands and are moving for a world conquest. Elric stops them: SURPRISE!!
There is an Epilogue though. Chaos finally make an appearance and they are bent on destroying Tanelorn. at this point we hear that Chaos have been wreaking havoc in more parts and are finally on the move for the big cosmic struggle. We travel to other planes in search of help, we are shown one plane of Law and given insight into its nature for the first time I think. Each plane, though visited briefly, are well portrayed, peculiar and alien enough to invoke the sense of otherworldliness.
by the end of the epilogue, I decided a 3 would suffice. it is a weak 3, but Elric has already earned a very special place in my heart and I'm willing to overlook certain weak spots in his stories.
then-again-maybe-not
June 4, 2020· Book 1: Elric of Melnilboné ★★★★★
· Book 2: The Fortress of the Pearl ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate ★★★★★
· Book 4: The Weird of the White Wolf ★★★
· Book 5: The Vanishing Tower (aka “The Sleeping Sorceress”) - to be read.
· Book 6: The Revenge of the Black Rose - to be read.
· Book 7: The Bane of the Black Sword - to be read.
· Book 8: Stormbringer - to be read.
· Book 9: Elric at the End of Time - to be read.
· Book 10: Daughter of Dreams - to be read.
· Book 11: Destiny’s Brother - to be read.
· Book 12: Son of the Wolf - to be read.
(Following the Tor reading order)
· Book 2: The Fortress of the Pearl ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate ★★★★★
· Book 4: The Weird of the White Wolf ★★★
· Book 5: The Vanishing Tower (aka “The Sleeping Sorceress”) - to be read.
· Book 6: The Revenge of the Black Rose - to be read.
· Book 7: The Bane of the Black Sword - to be read.
· Book 8: Stormbringer - to be read.
· Book 9: Elric at the End of Time - to be read.
· Book 10: Daughter of Dreams - to be read.
· Book 11: Destiny’s Brother - to be read.
· Book 12: Son of the Wolf - to be read.
(Following the Tor reading order)
June 5, 2024
If you’ve read the other books in the series this is more of the same. four stories featuring Elric oozing existential dread and a guilt complex.
in this volume Elric falls in love and tries to kick his addiction to the soul drinking hell sword and source of his strength: STORMBRINGER!!!
It’s all good, cheesy fun with evil jerks, gods of chaos and other gods of other stuff, dragons, battles, buxom wenches and albino sexy time.
The fourth story is about tanilorn and some characters I think were in earlier Elric tales but no Elric at all.
Now, I summon thee: Stormbringer!
in this volume Elric falls in love and tries to kick his addiction to the soul drinking hell sword and source of his strength: STORMBRINGER!!!
It’s all good, cheesy fun with evil jerks, gods of chaos and other gods of other stuff, dragons, battles, buxom wenches and albino sexy time.
The fourth story is about tanilorn and some characters I think were in earlier Elric tales but no Elric at all.
Now, I summon thee: Stormbringer!
October 12, 2019
Barring the Flamebringers, which I'm quite fond of, the stories in this collection are among my least favourite Elric stories - still good, just not the best they could be.
July 12, 2022
More like The Weird of the White Wolf and The Vanishing Tower in quality, which is to say it is better than Revenge of the Rose but The Sailor on the Seas of Fate still hasn’t been outdone.
December 12, 2024
I'm getting tired of this series by now. It's the same thing over and over, the formula is getting annoying. But first and third part were actually enjoyable. Second part was boring and the "epilogue" was the worst. I had Chronicles of Amber flashbacks because most of it is travelling through weird countries.
March 6, 2016
I enjoyed some of the language in this installment, especially descriptions of sound. Elric is trying a bit harder to break his addiction to Stormbringer and this makes for some great moments when he relapses and experiences "an awful ecstasy." There's a new girlfriend, too, and he does the whole addict "I'm bad news, baby" warning thing except it comes out something like this: "My destiny is no destiny at all. It is doom." I guess it is all the gloom and doom that really attracts me to these. Generally the writing is still brisk with more action and dialogue than description or character development.
The middle episode, seemingly inspired by a poem from Moorcock's illustrator friend James Cawthorn, is the best bit here and the one pictured on the cover of the DAW Paperback.
At the end is a short Tanelorn episode with no Elric but featuring old pal Rackhir the Red Archer and lots of parallel worlds, very "Doctor Strange." I wonder what that was about. Looking forward to the next volume.
The middle episode, seemingly inspired by a poem from Moorcock's illustrator friend James Cawthorn, is the best bit here and the one pictured on the cover of the DAW Paperback.
At the end is a short Tanelorn episode with no Elric but featuring old pal Rackhir the Red Archer and lots of parallel worlds, very "Doctor Strange." I wonder what that was about. Looking forward to the next volume.
June 12, 2018
l'on se perd dans cet univers et je ne m'en lasse pas
December 8, 2017
Notice: I have made a review for every book of this series and they need to be read in order since they are supposed to feel like an on-going impression. So if you read the second without reading the first will feel rather off.
I am mostly focusing on the style of storytelling and a lot less on if it reads well or something sophisticated like that. For the same reason I tend to have lots of SPOILERS which means that if you read this text you will know THE OVERALL PLOT and how much I DIDN’T like it. So be warned that this is a mostly negative opinion for the whole trilogy which tends to reveal in detail why I didn’t like it. Better be read after you have read the books or if you want to avoid a not-so-smart series. YOU HAVE NOW BEEN WARNED and I can now initiate the slaughter.
--- The Bane of the Black Sword ---
Elric dumps Tanelorn as that would make him happy and the story would end, thus Moorcock wouldn’t be able to keep writing his crap. So he goes to a bar and is hired by some merchants to go kill a rival of theirs. He originally doesn’t care but when they tell him the bodyguard of the enemy merchant is conveniently the sorcerer he keeps bumping into, he immediately accepts. Since his target is inside a heavy guarded castle and he doesn’t summon a god to just kill everybody right away because this way the story would end too soon and Moorcock won’t have shit to sell, he decides to hire an army to help him. And since he doesn’t have enough money for that, he goes to hire the survivors of his race that are living close by. He goes in their crummy camp, where they are now living in poverty and misery and tells them the following: “Hey guys, it’s me, your traitor emperor who helped barbarians to loot our island, kill most of you, rape the rest, and now has you all living as dogs in this shithole, all because I dumped my throne and didn’t kill my cousin when I could have yet came back to have sex with a chick I like. I command you to attack a heavily guarded castle where most of you will be killed, because you see there is a guy inside I really want to kill. Ok?”
As you can imagine they agree, instead of tearing him to tiny pieces for all the terrible things he did to them. So he goes first to spy on the castle and is immediately captured by the sorcerer’s magic (again). So here is his nemesis having at his mercy the guy that has foiled his masterplans for world domination a dozen times. You would think he would by now have been fed up with this pointless chase and would just kill Elric on the spot. I mean, that is what he wants more than anything else in the world, right? To kill the one that stole his woman and foiled his plans a dozen times? Well no, once again he doesn’t as the merchant inside brainlessly says: “Oh come on, it’s just a guy who has killed tens of millions and can summon gods to destroy entire civilizations. Why would he be dangerous?” Elric plays along and says: “Don’t worry, I am not going to harm you, I give you my word.” So the merchant agrees and the sorcerer doesn’t seem to care and thus Elric immediately orders his idiots to invade the castle. The merchant surprised yells: “But you promised!” and Elric replies: “I won’t harm you. They will.” So as his idiotic Melniboneans die for his petty glory the sorcerer summons a god to aid him. Elric predictably summons one of his own to counter that. As things look grim and the sorcerer is now cornered you would think he would just teleport to safety like he always does, right? Well no, Moorcock got tired of this guy so as a plot hole he stands idle for several minutes as Elric hacks with ease through all his magic protections and kills him. Then the merchant says: “Well at least I will not be harmed.” But no, Elric’s supersword flies off his hand and kills him as well. Oh well, it wasn’t Elric, it was his sword…
So after Elric has finally managed to kill the teleporting sorcerer with the only way possible (him not teleporting because Moorcock is a terrible storyteller) and has destroyed yet another culture, including the remains of his own race, he goes back to the city where he was hired and loots the place because everybody is not afraid of him. What, he wasn’t scary before? The guy has travelled through alternative dimensions, time, reality, has fused with other warriors and has killed aliens, gods, armies and destroyed his own race. You guys have no idea what you are doing.
After that, Elric decides to go for a walk inside the most dangerous forest in the world. I guess this would be the only way he wouldn’t be bored with all the powers he possesses. In there, he meets a princess who is chased by forest natives. Upon hearing he is Elric, she immediately spreads her legs and they have sex all night… because that is what a woman wants from a man. This way the forest natives find them while they are exhausted and capture them. Serves you right for not waiting to get out of the forest first. In their village, they decide to sacrifice them to their gods, so their undead army will rise. And just as a thousand zombies and a lich king start eating everybody alive, Elric simply summons his sword to his hand, frees himself and the chick, set fire to everybody in there and leave. And for some reason, Elric did not dump this chick like he did with all the rest of them. I guess he liked how she is a horny slut who wanted to have sex with him the moment he heard his name.
What is interesting here is that Elric found some special herbs in this forest that help him live without the need of his cursed sword killing people and drinking souls anymore. In theory, this would be the perfect ending; he got himself another chick he likes as replacement for his cousin, and he is no longer in need of his cursed sword. How nice, I guess the curtains fall and we can all go home now… Oh no, there is more!
After that, a barbarian horde invades (again) and Elric has the mission to send them away before they reach the city his slut lives in. He takes his cursed sword again, thus proving he just likes killing people and not because he is a prisoner of his power. He goes to the horde and pretends he is their friend. Being the idiotic barbarians they are, they are easily fooled and accept him. He finds out that they are so powerful because they have a wizard, who is aiding them out of fear. His soul is trapped inside a cat and the cat is trapped under a cage with a huge blade so he must obey them or they will kill him. Elric easily replaces the cat with a dead rabbit and everybody is too stupid to tell the difference. Some of them even want to start a fight with him and don’t even notice he is holding the cat. So during the fight the cat escapes and the barbarian leader can finally tell the difference between a living cat and a dead rabbit. He even has an epiphany and knows it was Elric who took it and imprisons him. But no worries, Elric once more summons a god to fetch him the cat. Nice strategy there Moorcock, I didn’t see it coming. With that the wizard has his soul and no reason to obey them further. They break havoc and escape, but along the way the wizard gets killed by an arrow. Well, it was all for nothing I guess… After that, Elric summons dragons who scare everybody away and thus he returns victorious to his slut. Man, there is nothing impossible for him if he can summon the whole Monster Manual, is there?
After that another horde invades Tanelorn. Jesus, is there a horde for every day of the year? And this time the hero is not Elric but the Red Archer, his companion from the first and fifth books. He goes to find aid and after some pathetically easy challenges, he finds something like the Flying Dutchman who comes to the rescue and together they defeat the horde. He even finds a chick that was supposed to be dead but Moorcock resurrected just because it would feel cool this way.
I am mostly focusing on the style of storytelling and a lot less on if it reads well or something sophisticated like that. For the same reason I tend to have lots of SPOILERS which means that if you read this text you will know THE OVERALL PLOT and how much I DIDN’T like it. So be warned that this is a mostly negative opinion for the whole trilogy which tends to reveal in detail why I didn’t like it. Better be read after you have read the books or if you want to avoid a not-so-smart series. YOU HAVE NOW BEEN WARNED and I can now initiate the slaughter.
--- The Bane of the Black Sword ---
Elric dumps Tanelorn as that would make him happy and the story would end, thus Moorcock wouldn’t be able to keep writing his crap. So he goes to a bar and is hired by some merchants to go kill a rival of theirs. He originally doesn’t care but when they tell him the bodyguard of the enemy merchant is conveniently the sorcerer he keeps bumping into, he immediately accepts. Since his target is inside a heavy guarded castle and he doesn’t summon a god to just kill everybody right away because this way the story would end too soon and Moorcock won’t have shit to sell, he decides to hire an army to help him. And since he doesn’t have enough money for that, he goes to hire the survivors of his race that are living close by. He goes in their crummy camp, where they are now living in poverty and misery and tells them the following: “Hey guys, it’s me, your traitor emperor who helped barbarians to loot our island, kill most of you, rape the rest, and now has you all living as dogs in this shithole, all because I dumped my throne and didn’t kill my cousin when I could have yet came back to have sex with a chick I like. I command you to attack a heavily guarded castle where most of you will be killed, because you see there is a guy inside I really want to kill. Ok?”
As you can imagine they agree, instead of tearing him to tiny pieces for all the terrible things he did to them. So he goes first to spy on the castle and is immediately captured by the sorcerer’s magic (again). So here is his nemesis having at his mercy the guy that has foiled his masterplans for world domination a dozen times. You would think he would by now have been fed up with this pointless chase and would just kill Elric on the spot. I mean, that is what he wants more than anything else in the world, right? To kill the one that stole his woman and foiled his plans a dozen times? Well no, once again he doesn’t as the merchant inside brainlessly says: “Oh come on, it’s just a guy who has killed tens of millions and can summon gods to destroy entire civilizations. Why would he be dangerous?” Elric plays along and says: “Don’t worry, I am not going to harm you, I give you my word.” So the merchant agrees and the sorcerer doesn’t seem to care and thus Elric immediately orders his idiots to invade the castle. The merchant surprised yells: “But you promised!” and Elric replies: “I won’t harm you. They will.” So as his idiotic Melniboneans die for his petty glory the sorcerer summons a god to aid him. Elric predictably summons one of his own to counter that. As things look grim and the sorcerer is now cornered you would think he would just teleport to safety like he always does, right? Well no, Moorcock got tired of this guy so as a plot hole he stands idle for several minutes as Elric hacks with ease through all his magic protections and kills him. Then the merchant says: “Well at least I will not be harmed.” But no, Elric’s supersword flies off his hand and kills him as well. Oh well, it wasn’t Elric, it was his sword…
So after Elric has finally managed to kill the teleporting sorcerer with the only way possible (him not teleporting because Moorcock is a terrible storyteller) and has destroyed yet another culture, including the remains of his own race, he goes back to the city where he was hired and loots the place because everybody is not afraid of him. What, he wasn’t scary before? The guy has travelled through alternative dimensions, time, reality, has fused with other warriors and has killed aliens, gods, armies and destroyed his own race. You guys have no idea what you are doing.
After that, Elric decides to go for a walk inside the most dangerous forest in the world. I guess this would be the only way he wouldn’t be bored with all the powers he possesses. In there, he meets a princess who is chased by forest natives. Upon hearing he is Elric, she immediately spreads her legs and they have sex all night… because that is what a woman wants from a man. This way the forest natives find them while they are exhausted and capture them. Serves you right for not waiting to get out of the forest first. In their village, they decide to sacrifice them to their gods, so their undead army will rise. And just as a thousand zombies and a lich king start eating everybody alive, Elric simply summons his sword to his hand, frees himself and the chick, set fire to everybody in there and leave. And for some reason, Elric did not dump this chick like he did with all the rest of them. I guess he liked how she is a horny slut who wanted to have sex with him the moment he heard his name.
What is interesting here is that Elric found some special herbs in this forest that help him live without the need of his cursed sword killing people and drinking souls anymore. In theory, this would be the perfect ending; he got himself another chick he likes as replacement for his cousin, and he is no longer in need of his cursed sword. How nice, I guess the curtains fall and we can all go home now… Oh no, there is more!
After that, a barbarian horde invades (again) and Elric has the mission to send them away before they reach the city his slut lives in. He takes his cursed sword again, thus proving he just likes killing people and not because he is a prisoner of his power. He goes to the horde and pretends he is their friend. Being the idiotic barbarians they are, they are easily fooled and accept him. He finds out that they are so powerful because they have a wizard, who is aiding them out of fear. His soul is trapped inside a cat and the cat is trapped under a cage with a huge blade so he must obey them or they will kill him. Elric easily replaces the cat with a dead rabbit and everybody is too stupid to tell the difference. Some of them even want to start a fight with him and don’t even notice he is holding the cat. So during the fight the cat escapes and the barbarian leader can finally tell the difference between a living cat and a dead rabbit. He even has an epiphany and knows it was Elric who took it and imprisons him. But no worries, Elric once more summons a god to fetch him the cat. Nice strategy there Moorcock, I didn’t see it coming. With that the wizard has his soul and no reason to obey them further. They break havoc and escape, but along the way the wizard gets killed by an arrow. Well, it was all for nothing I guess… After that, Elric summons dragons who scare everybody away and thus he returns victorious to his slut. Man, there is nothing impossible for him if he can summon the whole Monster Manual, is there?
After that another horde invades Tanelorn. Jesus, is there a horde for every day of the year? And this time the hero is not Elric but the Red Archer, his companion from the first and fifth books. He goes to find aid and after some pathetically easy challenges, he finds something like the Flying Dutchman who comes to the rescue and together they defeat the horde. He even finds a chick that was supposed to be dead but Moorcock resurrected just because it would feel cool this way.
June 7, 2025
4.25-4.5/5
Bane of the Black Sword is an excellent book! In the fashion of the original Elric books, it is essentially a bundle of older connected stories turned into a novel. There are 3 "parts" plus an "epilogue." Moorcock certainly could never be accused of lacking in imagination!
The first Part, Stealer of Souls, connects well with Revenge of the Rose. In Revenge of the Rose, Elric discovers his dead father as a soulless phantom, and is tasked with finding his stolen soul. In Stealer of Souls, Elric reconnects again with Melnibonean kin who factor into a number of the adventures in this book.
In the second Part, Kings in Darkness, Elric comes to feel there may be hope of a life without Stormbringer, and starts to believe he may not be doomed afterall. That thread continues into the third Part, The Flamebringers when Elric must defend his newfound home against an invading horde. And, finally, Rakhir must do the same for his beloved Tanelorn - travelling through dimensions to find a means of saving the paradisiacal city.
Overall, a fast-paced, imaginative book. And although it was originally written as a series of stories, I really loved the interconnecting plot. Although each part focused on a different adventure, all pieces connected well. Probably in my top 2 favourite books in the series.
Bane of the Black Sword is an excellent book! In the fashion of the original Elric books, it is essentially a bundle of older connected stories turned into a novel. There are 3 "parts" plus an "epilogue." Moorcock certainly could never be accused of lacking in imagination!
The first Part, Stealer of Souls, connects well with Revenge of the Rose. In Revenge of the Rose, Elric discovers his dead father as a soulless phantom, and is tasked with finding his stolen soul. In Stealer of Souls, Elric reconnects again with Melnibonean kin who factor into a number of the adventures in this book.
In the second Part, Kings in Darkness, Elric comes to feel there may be hope of a life without Stormbringer, and starts to believe he may not be doomed afterall. That thread continues into the third Part, The Flamebringers when Elric must defend his newfound home against an invading horde. And, finally, Rakhir must do the same for his beloved Tanelorn - travelling through dimensions to find a means of saving the paradisiacal city.
Overall, a fast-paced, imaginative book. And although it was originally written as a series of stories, I really loved the interconnecting plot. Although each part focused on a different adventure, all pieces connected well. Probably in my top 2 favourite books in the series.
August 14, 2023
Features some of the more creative battles in the series yet. Was nice seeing old friend and enemies return as well. Not a fan of the romance trope where characters fall in love after 5 pages but that's part of the old school fantasy style I suppose. The epilogue felt out of place for me and could have been it's own separate novella.
August 24, 2023
3.25/5 rounded down.
July 5, 2022
I read this book about 35 years ago. When I reread it recently, literally none it seemed familiar. I’ve never before reread a book and had all of it seem entirely unfamiliar. Despite my lack of recollection, this was pretty good. It was a little lacking in cohesion, but enjoyable nevertheless. And poor Moonglum! He always saves the day and never gets credit.
July 20, 2022
La maldición de tu bienestar, te persigue siempre.
November 20, 2023
Another great story by Moorcock.
We see Elric in a somewhat new light in this collection. The plot moves around him trying to protect those close to him and cities that are coming under attack. The last book kind of ended with the beginnings of this shift in Elric.
We also get to follow another character from previous stories that has partnered with Elirc. Rackner the Red Archer is the focus of the last section of the book. The reader is introduced to another godly power, The Grey Lords who aid neither forces of Law nor Chaos. We learn about the "gates" that take you to them, and the treacherous ways through the realms of Chaos and Law to find them!
I definitely enjoyed this one!
We see Elric in a somewhat new light in this collection. The plot moves around him trying to protect those close to him and cities that are coming under attack. The last book kind of ended with the beginnings of this shift in Elric.
We also get to follow another character from previous stories that has partnered with Elirc. Rackner the Red Archer is the focus of the last section of the book. The reader is introduced to another godly power, The Grey Lords who aid neither forces of Law nor Chaos. We learn about the "gates" that take you to them, and the treacherous ways through the realms of Chaos and Law to find them!
I definitely enjoyed this one!
May 15, 2017
While reading Bane Of The Black Sword and looking at the cover of this edition, I'm reminded of how much Moorcock has influenced and been involved in music. This cover was used by Cirith Ungol for their second album, King Of The Dead, while the cover of Sailor On The Seas Of Fate was used for their third album, One Foot In Hell and the cover of Stormbringer was used on their first album, Frost And Fire. There are two Diamond Head LPs with Elric themed art, though not by Michael Whelan. Not to mention the various images and references used by Hawkwind, who Moorcock actually collaborated with and Blue Oyster Cult's incredible "Black Blade," from Cultosaurus Erectus, which Moorcock co-wrote. I'm sure there are many, many more.
Bane Of The Black Sword seems to have been written earlier in Moorcock's career. I'm not saying it's poorly written, by any means, but it's kind of reminiscent of the very early swords and sorcery stuff where the plot moves along without too much refinement or panache. It's still awesome. I thought "Kings In Darkness" was particularly good and "The Flamebringers" foreshadows the events that take place in Stormbringer. I thought "To Rescue Tanelorn" was kind of a drag, as Elric doesn't appear in the story and it's not that thrilling, all things considered. A lot is more or less wrapped up in this volume, setting the stage for the final chapters in Elric's doomed existence. Certainly a vital chapter in the saga.
Bane Of The Black Sword seems to have been written earlier in Moorcock's career. I'm not saying it's poorly written, by any means, but it's kind of reminiscent of the very early swords and sorcery stuff where the plot moves along without too much refinement or panache. It's still awesome. I thought "Kings In Darkness" was particularly good and "The Flamebringers" foreshadows the events that take place in Stormbringer. I thought "To Rescue Tanelorn" was kind of a drag, as Elric doesn't appear in the story and it's not that thrilling, all things considered. A lot is more or less wrapped up in this volume, setting the stage for the final chapters in Elric's doomed existence. Certainly a vital chapter in the saga.
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