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The History of the Runestaff #3
The Sword of the Dawn
In Earth's dim future the Dark Empire had grown more powerful - so powerful that it threatened to destroy even the well-protected province of the Kamarg. Only the ancient crystal machine of the wraith folk could save the Kamarg's people by warping them into another dimension. But Dorian Hawkmoon knew that such a sanctuary was but an illusion. Though his destiny was still ruled by the Runestaff, he was fated to don sword and armor once again...to find himself in a strange, unfriendly land, battling new and powerful enemies. This, the third in the Runestaff fantasy novels, is complete in itself and has been newly revised and specially authorized by Michael Moorcock.
173 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
26 people are currently reading
828 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 2, 2020
This is the third book in the History of the Runestaff, which was itself the first of two series that Moorcock wrote featuring Dorian Hawkmoon, an aspect of The Eternal Champion in his interlocked Multiverse tapestry. After getting the absolute best in covers for the Elric books (Michael Whelan!), these four Runestaff books were not so blessed, and this one is the worst of the lot. Hawkmoon once again encounters The Warrior in Jet and Gold in this one as he continues his struggle against the evil dark empire, Granbretan. This one is partially set in Londra, and we get a better idea of the evil and power they command, and Narleen, as we get a better picture of the scope of Hawkmoon's world. It's a very rich blend of science fiction and high fantasy, with colorful characters, an engaging plot, and (in my opinion) some of Moorcock's best writing. The book is very fittingly dedicated to Ed and Leigh Brackett Hamilton.
October 6, 2014
The third in the Hawkmoon saga.... I read these years ago and they stand up well.
These are the classics for a reason.
I've mentioned before that Hawkmoon was the first "incarnation" of the Eternal Champion I ran across. I still have a "soft spot" for those particular books. All that aside, they are excellent reads and I recommend them wholeheartedly.
I am not particularly a Michael Moorcock fan and he has written some books I even dislike, but "these" are wonderful books. Enjoy.
These are the classics for a reason.
I've mentioned before that Hawkmoon was the first "incarnation" of the Eternal Champion I ran across. I still have a "soft spot" for those particular books. All that aside, they are excellent reads and I recommend them wholeheartedly.
I am not particularly a Michael Moorcock fan and he has written some books I even dislike, but "these" are wonderful books. Enjoy.
April 30, 2023
Another fast paced read in the Runestaff series. Hawkmoon once again battles many foes across continents and dimensions as he yearns to return to his wife at Castle Brass. What else does the Runestaff have in store for Dorian Hawkmoon? Fun ride.
May 10, 2018
In the first half, we get more detail about the depravity of Granbretan aka the Dark Empire, and that is a lot of fun. Yeah, these bad guys are just pure bad, 'lawful evil,' but Moorcock is having a lot of fun describing their city, rituals, culture, and monarchical intrigues. The plot twist about the ambassadors was glaringly obvious, though. Most of the second half is just a hack, slash 'dungeon crawl,' followed by a cliche pirate thing. And I am really getting sick of the deus-ex-machina Warrior in Jet and Gold.
March 15, 2021
Although I read Elric when younger, and more sci-fi stuff from Moorcock when older, I skipped the Hawkmoon stuff.
It's great to read it. There's no frills to his style, Moorcock tells a solid story that modern fantasy authors could learn a lot from. Hawkmoon has a fallibility that endears one to him, and his supporting characters are just as good.
Looking forward to book 4.
It's great to read it. There's no frills to his style, Moorcock tells a solid story that modern fantasy authors could learn a lot from. Hawkmoon has a fallibility that endears one to him, and his supporting characters are just as good.
Looking forward to book 4.
February 5, 2019
Another Eternal Champion incarnation from Moorcock. After Elric and Corum Hawkmoon is great. Good read and story. Very recommended.
April 27, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in May 1999.
The third volume of the Runestaff series begins in a strange shadow world; to escape from enslavement at the hands of the Dark Empire of Granbretan, the Kamarg region has been shifted into another, uninhabited, parallel world. After a welcome period of peace, Dorian Hawkmoon becomes bored; he is unable to discover what is going on in the real world, and there is little to do in the world where they now are.
So when he comes across a stranger in the marshes, who turns out to have discovered a method of transporting himself between the dimensions, he is almost pleased; if this man could find them, so too could the Empire. Thus, he can justify doing something about it. He and his close companion, Guillam d'Averc, disguise themselves in outrageously alien costumes, and use the stranger's knowledge to travel to Londra, capital of the Empire. There they pass themselves off as emissaries from the semi-mythical Asiacommunista; no one knows what people from that land might look like, and they wear ceremonial masks so that no one will know who they really are.
Like The Mad God's Amulet, The Sword of the Dawn plays a minor part in the development of the series as a whole. It gives a further portrayal of the decadent and evil Empire of Granbretan; it introduces the final important character; it provides the occasion for further episodes of derring-do to enhance Hawkmoon's heroic stature. The role of the two central novels in the sequence is really like the literary methods frequently found in the medieval poetry which is the eventual source material of the fantasy genre. In many of the quests in such literature, the hero has to show himself worthy to attain the main object of the quest through the successful completion of a series of subsidiary quests, usually three in number. Often connected to the main quest (in much the same way that in computer games objects must be collected in a particular order to reach the final goal), they could also have an allegorical significance related to the hero's personal development. In later Moorcock novels, particularly as his ideas about the Eternal Champion developed, this would tend to be the purpose of such subsidiary quests. Here, however, they do seem to indicate nothing more than the collection of objects as in a computer game.
The third volume of the Runestaff series begins in a strange shadow world; to escape from enslavement at the hands of the Dark Empire of Granbretan, the Kamarg region has been shifted into another, uninhabited, parallel world. After a welcome period of peace, Dorian Hawkmoon becomes bored; he is unable to discover what is going on in the real world, and there is little to do in the world where they now are.
So when he comes across a stranger in the marshes, who turns out to have discovered a method of transporting himself between the dimensions, he is almost pleased; if this man could find them, so too could the Empire. Thus, he can justify doing something about it. He and his close companion, Guillam d'Averc, disguise themselves in outrageously alien costumes, and use the stranger's knowledge to travel to Londra, capital of the Empire. There they pass themselves off as emissaries from the semi-mythical Asiacommunista; no one knows what people from that land might look like, and they wear ceremonial masks so that no one will know who they really are.
Like The Mad God's Amulet, The Sword of the Dawn plays a minor part in the development of the series as a whole. It gives a further portrayal of the decadent and evil Empire of Granbretan; it introduces the final important character; it provides the occasion for further episodes of derring-do to enhance Hawkmoon's heroic stature. The role of the two central novels in the sequence is really like the literary methods frequently found in the medieval poetry which is the eventual source material of the fantasy genre. In many of the quests in such literature, the hero has to show himself worthy to attain the main object of the quest through the successful completion of a series of subsidiary quests, usually three in number. Often connected to the main quest (in much the same way that in computer games objects must be collected in a particular order to reach the final goal), they could also have an allegorical significance related to the hero's personal development. In later Moorcock novels, particularly as his ideas about the Eternal Champion developed, this would tend to be the purpose of such subsidiary quests. Here, however, they do seem to indicate nothing more than the collection of objects as in a computer game.
September 2, 2021
In the last volume Hawkmoon and the others get a break. In this one, they're immediately out of the break. That was a little disappointing for me for some reason - something about the scene did not quite gel. But once it picked up again, it was good going. Good plans, good bit of trickery... could've used more at the ending what it had at the start, thinking about it. Pull off the disguise stuff again, a sort of a brick joke on the pirates.
Man, now I have to dock a half-star for the missed opportunity. Sorry Mike.
Man, now I have to dock a half-star for the missed opportunity. Sorry Mike.
March 4, 2019
There is a sameness about the plots of the books in this series - Hawkmoon ends up on a quest (against his will), he gets into trouble, things look to be finished for our hero, he is rescued at the last moment by the Warrior in Jet and Gold (a character who recurs in many volumes of Moorcock's Eternal Champion books).
Not having to spend much effort on the plot allows Moorcock to expend his energies in other areas - not characterization - the main characters are all well established by this point in the story, and there aren't any significant changes. In fact, Hawkmoon's refusal to accept the truth about the Runestaff, despite constant evidence to the contrary, begins to grate slightly.
So, what makes the Hawkmoon series some of Moorcock's most engrossing (to me at least)? It's his world-building skills, one thing that Moorcock has often excelled at. With each volume he introduces a new part of the far-future world he has created - initially it was Europe, then the Middle East, and now America (or the east coast anyway). No great detail is gone into, but enough is included to pique one's interest and create a desire to discover more about this world.
Not having to spend much effort on the plot allows Moorcock to expend his energies in other areas - not characterization - the main characters are all well established by this point in the story, and there aren't any significant changes. In fact, Hawkmoon's refusal to accept the truth about the Runestaff, despite constant evidence to the contrary, begins to grate slightly.
So, what makes the Hawkmoon series some of Moorcock's most engrossing (to me at least)? It's his world-building skills, one thing that Moorcock has often excelled at. With each volume he introduces a new part of the far-future world he has created - initially it was Europe, then the Middle East, and now America (or the east coast anyway). No great detail is gone into, but enough is included to pique one's interest and create a desire to discover more about this world.
August 22, 2024
When last we saw Dorien Hawkmoon all looked bleak as the evil Baron Meliadus and the armies of Granbretan threatened the destruction of the Kamarg and the death or enslavement of the people that Hawkmoon loves. Through the power of a mysterious artifact Hawkmoon and Count Brass are able to shift Castle Brass and the people of the Kamarg into another dimension, hiding them in an alternative space and time.
Hawkmoon and friends are safe for now, but Duke Meliadus has sworn the destruction of Hawkmoon on the Runestaff. He searches for a way to find his sworn enemy. Melidas obsession with Hawkmoon weighs on Hawkmoon causing him to make a desperate gamble into the very heart of Granbretan.
The Sword of the Dawn takes our hero Hawkmoon and the Frenchman Huillam D’Averc from the enemy city of Londra, to the desolate wilds of what once was western England in search of the mysterious Mygan. Pursued relentlessly by Meliadus, Hawkmoon and D’Averc are forced to escape using more dimension traveling artifacts.
Hawkmoon and D’Averc find themselves in a strange land and a new quest: find the Sword of the Dawn. The heroes have escaped Meliadus only to find themselves beset by new enemies and strange creatures. There are pirates, and human hunting lizard-octopus creatures. There is even a bloody cult to overcome. Once again, the mysterious Runestaff is drawing Hawkmoon ever closer.
This is a 4-star read for me. I love these larger-than-life hero tales. I am in for all the battles, captures, last minute escapes, truly evil bad guys, unexplained sorcery, strange creatures and the hero overcoming impossible odds. I accept that Hawkmoon will probably be captured 2-3 times per book, that he will be able to defeat enemy soldiers even when greatly outnumbered and that at some point he will face off with the evil Baron Meliadus. I know that no matter how desperate it looks for Hawkmoon, something or someone will show up to help our hero in his time of need. I love all of it and am looking forward to seeing what happens when Hawkmoon finally gets to the Runestaff!!
Hawkmoon and friends are safe for now, but Duke Meliadus has sworn the destruction of Hawkmoon on the Runestaff. He searches for a way to find his sworn enemy. Melidas obsession with Hawkmoon weighs on Hawkmoon causing him to make a desperate gamble into the very heart of Granbretan.
The Sword of the Dawn takes our hero Hawkmoon and the Frenchman Huillam D’Averc from the enemy city of Londra, to the desolate wilds of what once was western England in search of the mysterious Mygan. Pursued relentlessly by Meliadus, Hawkmoon and D’Averc are forced to escape using more dimension traveling artifacts.
Hawkmoon and D’Averc find themselves in a strange land and a new quest: find the Sword of the Dawn. The heroes have escaped Meliadus only to find themselves beset by new enemies and strange creatures. There are pirates, and human hunting lizard-octopus creatures. There is even a bloody cult to overcome. Once again, the mysterious Runestaff is drawing Hawkmoon ever closer.
This is a 4-star read for me. I love these larger-than-life hero tales. I am in for all the battles, captures, last minute escapes, truly evil bad guys, unexplained sorcery, strange creatures and the hero overcoming impossible odds. I accept that Hawkmoon will probably be captured 2-3 times per book, that he will be able to defeat enemy soldiers even when greatly outnumbered and that at some point he will face off with the evil Baron Meliadus. I know that no matter how desperate it looks for Hawkmoon, something or someone will show up to help our hero in his time of need. I love all of it and am looking forward to seeing what happens when Hawkmoon finally gets to the Runestaff!!
January 12, 2022
I was in chapter three or four and was ready to call it: start the series here. Moorcock flips the script and begins with the perspective of the Granbretan nobility. We finally see the inner workings of their demented society, the utter mental illness of the Barons, who desire conquest and destruction as a salve to their ennui. Like any good Batman material, the villains are the interesting characters, especially when allowed to ham it up. It's specific in its disturbing imagery and tightly plotted as Baron Meliadus is frustrated in his scheming and Flana Mikosevaar acts as fascinatingly vapid perspective character and the reader gets carted past a host of these weirdoes as the fuming Meliadus gives a city tour to the taciturn visitors from far east and attempts to wheedle military information from them.
But then Moorcock does his thing and pulls back from this experience and we're off on another Grand Adventure For The Next Plot Device. And it's not _bad_, just that these things tend to run together after a while.
Fascinatingly, for all that the Runestaff is invoked--particularly by the Warrior In Jet And Gold, who appears on scene at the most convenient times--there's very little explained about what it actually is, other than being a long rod with, one presumes, text-like markings upon it. The implication is that it has some level of sentience and agency based upon the subtlety of the plot conveniences that seem to surround it, but these are statements made by characters with a vested interest in believing such things. What if their entire belief structure is askew and they've assigned agency to an inanimate object, or have misattributed the wild coincidences that appear to be happening? I can see an author making a deep statement about fate and the manipulation of such versus the belief of such manipulation, but don't know if Moorcock had that in mind.
But then Moorcock does his thing and pulls back from this experience and we're off on another Grand Adventure For The Next Plot Device. And it's not _bad_, just that these things tend to run together after a while.
Fascinatingly, for all that the Runestaff is invoked--particularly by the Warrior In Jet And Gold, who appears on scene at the most convenient times--there's very little explained about what it actually is, other than being a long rod with, one presumes, text-like markings upon it. The implication is that it has some level of sentience and agency based upon the subtlety of the plot conveniences that seem to surround it, but these are statements made by characters with a vested interest in believing such things. What if their entire belief structure is askew and they've assigned agency to an inanimate object, or have misattributed the wild coincidences that appear to be happening? I can see an author making a deep statement about fate and the manipulation of such versus the belief of such manipulation, but don't know if Moorcock had that in mind.
December 24, 2021
Third in the series, this plot was more complicated than the second installment. The novel has essentially three parts. The first is the best. The cast is in their homeland of Kamarg, all of which is in another dimension. I was looking forward to further exploration of this concept when the scene abruptly shifts to Granbretania.
There we learn of the villains efforts to try to reach Kamarg even though it's no longer a part of that world. This was okay too. I enjoyed learning more of Granbretania and its characters. But then the scene suddenly shifts again, and by means unknown our heroes are suddenly in the western continent.
There, we get another entirely new cast of characters, new villains, and new goals. This was not okay. There was still more needing resolution in the earlier two situations. I also was disappointed that the heroes couldn't get out of trouble using their own resources, but needed help via a deus ex machina that has rescued them before.
I have the fourth and final book in this series waiting to be read, but it may take a while. The plot quality is going steadily downhill.
There we learn of the villains efforts to try to reach Kamarg even though it's no longer a part of that world. This was okay too. I enjoyed learning more of Granbretania and its characters. But then the scene suddenly shifts again, and by means unknown our heroes are suddenly in the western continent.
There, we get another entirely new cast of characters, new villains, and new goals. This was not okay. There was still more needing resolution in the earlier two situations. I also was disappointed that the heroes couldn't get out of trouble using their own resources, but needed help via a deus ex machina that has rescued them before.
I have the fourth and final book in this series waiting to be read, but it may take a while. The plot quality is going steadily downhill.
March 12, 2025
Loopy, baroque, brisk.
May 23, 2025
?????
June 30, 2022
After briefly catching up with our heroes, we spend time in the Dark Empire of Granbretan and learn more about the characters and events there. Then in the second half of the book we follow our heroes again as they jump from one crisis to the next.
After a wild battle at the end we’re teased with more information about the Runestaff and Hawkmoon is sent on another quest.
I liked the interaction between Hawkmoon and D’Averc, the final battle, and the decision Hawkmoon makes at the end.
Overall though the events seemed more random than in the previous volumes and I didn’t enjoy this volume as much.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the final volume though.
After a wild battle at the end we’re teased with more information about the Runestaff and Hawkmoon is sent on another quest.
I liked the interaction between Hawkmoon and D’Averc, the final battle, and the decision Hawkmoon makes at the end.
Overall though the events seemed more random than in the previous volumes and I didn’t enjoy this volume as much.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the final volume though.
March 4, 2019
Is it better than the previous two or I just got used to the style?
August 16, 2024
Excellent livre d'un écrivain classique d'adventure Fantasy. Moorcock est un incontournable du genre. J'espère pouvoir trouver les autres romans de cette série sous peu.
February 22, 2015
http://panopticonitalia.blogspot.it/2...
The sword of the dawn is the third book in the saga of Runestaff of Michael Moorcock, published on the British market in 1968 by Lancer Books, while it is high in Italy only in 1978, thanks to the publisher Longanesi.
This novel can be cataloged fantasy / sword and sorcery / fantasy science / clockpunk, though presents unique elements that make it difficult to harness it into a single genre. Commentators today would not hesitate to call grimdark fantasy.
Dorian Hawkmoon managed to transfer the castle of Count Brass (and in any case the whole Kamarg) in another dimension, which can not be achieved by the Empire Black. Despite being safe with his beloved Yisselda, our beginning to get bored and , having captured a man in the service of Britain that has managed to cross the plane of existence coming into their world, questions him and decides to leave with Guillam of Averc to find out what are the plans of Emperor Huon. Indeed this trip will bring Hawkmoon in other dimensions, where it will face the soldiers of Britain, but many other dangers. In fact learn of the existence of a civilization that lives under the ground and fighting against a host of fearsome mechanical monsters like big spiders. After will be screened in the middle of a war between the rich merchants and pirates, who breed reptiles grotesque equipped with long tentacles and which make human sacrifices. Obviously, all under the watchful eye of Rune Magic, mysterious entity that is intended to serve.
In this episode there are anachronistic technologies that give the book clockpunk contamination. Appear the well known thopters flying and flamethrowers Empire Black, viscous the globe that contains the fetal body Huon (of which you have not yet understood the nature), but also the machine crystal that allows you to transfer people and things in other dimensions and an aircraft-shaped ball that can break through the earth's crust.
As in other novels, science travels hand in hand with the magic, since considerable supernatural elements and objects play a fundamental role in the affair in question; not least the rings that allow the transfer of people in the planes of existence and the Sword of Dawn.
I must, however, that this episode is less than the previous two, because Moorcock loses some of the originality that had marked and history is less appealing and more predictable. Is overshadowed even truculent appearance of the novel, which extolled the brutality of Britain and that represented a note in innovative literary scene of the time, leading some critics today to consider the work of the forerunner grimdark fantasy. Finally, in my opinion is granted excessive space to the views of Baron Meladius, moving away from the center of Hawkmoon.
The sword of the dawn is the third book in the saga of Runestaff of Michael Moorcock, published on the British market in 1968 by Lancer Books, while it is high in Italy only in 1978, thanks to the publisher Longanesi.
This novel can be cataloged fantasy / sword and sorcery / fantasy science / clockpunk, though presents unique elements that make it difficult to harness it into a single genre. Commentators today would not hesitate to call grimdark fantasy.
Dorian Hawkmoon managed to transfer the castle of Count Brass (and in any case the whole Kamarg) in another dimension, which can not be achieved by the Empire Black. Despite being safe with his beloved Yisselda, our beginning to get bored and , having captured a man in the service of Britain that has managed to cross the plane of existence coming into their world, questions him and decides to leave with Guillam of Averc to find out what are the plans of Emperor Huon. Indeed this trip will bring Hawkmoon in other dimensions, where it will face the soldiers of Britain, but many other dangers. In fact learn of the existence of a civilization that lives under the ground and fighting against a host of fearsome mechanical monsters like big spiders. After will be screened in the middle of a war between the rich merchants and pirates, who breed reptiles grotesque equipped with long tentacles and which make human sacrifices. Obviously, all under the watchful eye of Rune Magic, mysterious entity that is intended to serve.
In this episode there are anachronistic technologies that give the book clockpunk contamination. Appear the well known thopters flying and flamethrowers Empire Black, viscous the globe that contains the fetal body Huon (of which you have not yet understood the nature), but also the machine crystal that allows you to transfer people and things in other dimensions and an aircraft-shaped ball that can break through the earth's crust.
As in other novels, science travels hand in hand with the magic, since considerable supernatural elements and objects play a fundamental role in the affair in question; not least the rings that allow the transfer of people in the planes of existence and the Sword of Dawn.
I must, however, that this episode is less than the previous two, because Moorcock loses some of the originality that had marked and history is less appealing and more predictable. Is overshadowed even truculent appearance of the novel, which extolled the brutality of Britain and that represented a note in innovative literary scene of the time, leading some critics today to consider the work of the forerunner grimdark fantasy. Finally, in my opinion is granted excessive space to the views of Baron Meladius, moving away from the center of Hawkmoon.
March 30, 2012
This series is about the spreading of the evil Empire of Granbretan, and the efforts of Hawkmoon and company to save a small nation protected by Count Brass. Hawkmoon is in love with the Count's daughter, Yissela, but she's also desired by their arch-nemesis, Baron Meliadus. But it's also about our hero's unwilling service to the mysterious Runestaff, and Hawkmoon is aided by its servant, the enigmatic Warrior in Jet and Gold. What the Runestaff is, what it wants, how far they can trust the Warrior in Jet and Gold, how a staff can have a will, and why it needs a reluctant Hawkmoon to further its causes are all ongoing questions.
In the first two books Hawkmoon, he isn't very happy about all this talk of his missions really serving the will of the Runestaff, but he basically goes along with it. In Sword of the Dawn, he actively starts to resist this supposed destiny, while still fighting to stop the mad forces of Granbretan and save Count Brass' tiny country.
This was a strong volume in the series. Hawkmoon journeys to Granbretan itself, and we get a much better look at the twisted pleasures of the nation, and the decadent madness that drives their thirst for power and pain. The resistance of his Fate is pretty standard for Moorcock, but Hawkmoon's doubt of his allies, and the sense of imminent betrayal, make this series a solid addition to the Eternal Champion saga.
In the first two books Hawkmoon, he isn't very happy about all this talk of his missions really serving the will of the Runestaff, but he basically goes along with it. In Sword of the Dawn, he actively starts to resist this supposed destiny, while still fighting to stop the mad forces of Granbretan and save Count Brass' tiny country.
This was a strong volume in the series. Hawkmoon journeys to Granbretan itself, and we get a much better look at the twisted pleasures of the nation, and the decadent madness that drives their thirst for power and pain. The resistance of his Fate is pretty standard for Moorcock, but Hawkmoon's doubt of his allies, and the sense of imminent betrayal, make this series a solid addition to the Eternal Champion saga.
July 20, 2022
This book is rather a strange beast. It simultaneously is ridiculously action packed but feels like a work of filler. By rights I should have loved it as it mostly features Hawkmoon and my favourite character, D’Averc. However, this book takes action packed to silly levels.
While the overarching story remains intriguing, the character seem to literally stumble directly from one life-threatening crisis to another. Where the previous two books give the impression of building a cohesive mythology, this one feels rather slapdash.
An entertaining read, but definitely the weak link in The History of the Runestaff.
While the overarching story remains intriguing, the character seem to literally stumble directly from one life-threatening crisis to another. Where the previous two books give the impression of building a cohesive mythology, this one feels rather slapdash.
An entertaining read, but definitely the weak link in The History of the Runestaff.
March 14, 2021
Не сдержал слово и таки перечитал. Ну... думал, будет хуже. Дориан Хокмун проникает в самое сердце Империи Зла и сражается с пиратами-культистами за океаном. Приключения бестолковые, но минимально занятные. Изложено связно, без занудства. 3.5*
July 21, 2015
At least it has the saving grace of being short. Our two heroes wander aimlessly from adventure to adventure in a series of dull vignettes.
August 31, 2020
This review is mostly a summary of the plot points, so if you’re not into spoilers, then just skip my review, or scroll down to the end where I’ll give my assessment of the tale without ruining the action. It will be pretty short and concise, helpful even, maybe.
I was interested in revisiting Hawkmoon, having read Books#5-#7 (subtitled The Chronicles of Castle Brass #1-#3), so I found myself back at the start of Hawkmoon’s adventures, at least as they are titled by Moorcock anyway!
Prologue-ing Book#3, we are reminded Kamagh is now elsewhere, and Hawkmoon, Yisselda, and their allies are cautiously relishing a brief respite from the Dark Empires forces.
But we begin the tale elsewhere, as the Army of Conquest relishes its victory over all of Europe, though Meliadus seethes thinking of the escape of Kamagh, Hawkmoon, and his allies.
Back to Kamagh, Brass is philosophizing, but Hawkmoon meets a man while riding, Elvereza Tozer, Playwright of Granbretan. Why is he here, and how? Seems he can travel across planes - by a crystal ring made by Mygan of Llandar - and was sent by Granbretan to destroy Rinal’s machine, which allowed Kamagh’s escape. Hawkmoon realizes they must find this man before the Dark Empire or they will be found, eventually. Back in Granbretan we meet Flana Mikosevaar, looking for a new husband to feed her melancholy soul. And Meliadus, Taragorm, and Kalan discuss ways to find Kamagh, but King Huon, fearful of a new threat, has Meliadus entertain the visitors from the East, to assess the threat. Nothing is learned, as they seem as cagey as Granbretan, so Meliadus pursues his other love, finding Kamagh with the help of the Taragorm, Prince of Time. Where he learns of Mygan and gives himself a new task, and a new hope. Back at Castle Brass, nothing much is happening, so we return to Granbretan… And learn, via Flana’s sexual forays, our visitors from the East are Hawkmoon and D’Averc, in disguise. As luck would have it, Flana helps them escape, enigmatic, self-driven woman that she is. To Yel, and Mygan, but Meliadus follows, as his mania directs his actions. Soon things come to a head, as Hawkmoon and D’Averc fight Meliadus’ men, are captured, then rescued by Mygan. But not back to Castle Brass! To the East, to find Narleen, the Sword of Dawn, the Runestaff, and destiny!
Before we begin part two, we are reminded of the interwoven destinies of so many who do the Runestaff’s work, knowingly or not. Meanwhile, Hawkmoon and D’Averc look to find out where (and when?) they are as they search for Narleen, whatever or whoever it may be.
As part two begins, Hawkmoon and D’Averc are found by a man called Zhenak-Teng, who takes them to his home in a strange mechanical machine..
(Aside: I never liked the machine aspects of the Eternal Champion stories I have read - I skipped the more science fiction-y tales - as they seemed shoehorned in and unnecessary.)
Hawkmoon awakes to an attack - the Charki! - and they escape in the machine, while the Teng are left to their own saving. They travel onward and we have a rather lengthy section with pirates and merchants and thus we end up at the Temple of Batach Gerandiun, but not in a good way. Seems our hero is to be sacrificed to the Sword of the Dawn, along with many others, by the Pirate Lords. Blood it needs… a lot. Enter the Warrior of Jet and Gold! Hawkmoon claims the Sword, calls on the Legion of the Dawn (with some prodding from the Warrior) and the Lords are overcome. Hawkmoon soon learns his destiny lies in Dnark, and returning to Castle Brass is not part of The Plan of the Runestaff, though he seeks a way to avert his fate for now.
Not a lot different from Book#2, critically. So I’m just copy-pasta-ing that one, mostly. Deal with it. Or, find the differences, if there are any! Hahahahaha!
A bit longer, relatively speaking, than the Castle Brass, Corum, or Elric books, but enjoyable all the same. Not as many crossover details from other Eternal Champion tales in this book, surprisingly. Moorcock does well to manage all the action and locations, keeping the tale’s pacing throughout, and never allowing too much to be revealed. Hawkmoon is ever the reluctant Champion. Not quite as good as other Champion iterations, and with only one book remaining in the Runestaff history, I am concerned.
I was interested in revisiting Hawkmoon, having read Books#5-#7 (subtitled The Chronicles of Castle Brass #1-#3), so I found myself back at the start of Hawkmoon’s adventures, at least as they are titled by Moorcock anyway!
Prologue-ing Book#3, we are reminded Kamagh is now elsewhere, and Hawkmoon, Yisselda, and their allies are cautiously relishing a brief respite from the Dark Empires forces.
But we begin the tale elsewhere, as the Army of Conquest relishes its victory over all of Europe, though Meliadus seethes thinking of the escape of Kamagh, Hawkmoon, and his allies.
Back to Kamagh, Brass is philosophizing, but Hawkmoon meets a man while riding, Elvereza Tozer, Playwright of Granbretan. Why is he here, and how? Seems he can travel across planes - by a crystal ring made by Mygan of Llandar - and was sent by Granbretan to destroy Rinal’s machine, which allowed Kamagh’s escape. Hawkmoon realizes they must find this man before the Dark Empire or they will be found, eventually. Back in Granbretan we meet Flana Mikosevaar, looking for a new husband to feed her melancholy soul. And Meliadus, Taragorm, and Kalan discuss ways to find Kamagh, but King Huon, fearful of a new threat, has Meliadus entertain the visitors from the East, to assess the threat. Nothing is learned, as they seem as cagey as Granbretan, so Meliadus pursues his other love, finding Kamagh with the help of the Taragorm, Prince of Time. Where he learns of Mygan and gives himself a new task, and a new hope. Back at Castle Brass, nothing much is happening, so we return to Granbretan… And learn, via Flana’s sexual forays, our visitors from the East are Hawkmoon and D’Averc, in disguise. As luck would have it, Flana helps them escape, enigmatic, self-driven woman that she is. To Yel, and Mygan, but Meliadus follows, as his mania directs his actions. Soon things come to a head, as Hawkmoon and D’Averc fight Meliadus’ men, are captured, then rescued by Mygan. But not back to Castle Brass! To the East, to find Narleen, the Sword of Dawn, the Runestaff, and destiny!
Before we begin part two, we are reminded of the interwoven destinies of so many who do the Runestaff’s work, knowingly or not. Meanwhile, Hawkmoon and D’Averc look to find out where (and when?) they are as they search for Narleen, whatever or whoever it may be.
As part two begins, Hawkmoon and D’Averc are found by a man called Zhenak-Teng, who takes them to his home in a strange mechanical machine..
(Aside: I never liked the machine aspects of the Eternal Champion stories I have read - I skipped the more science fiction-y tales - as they seemed shoehorned in and unnecessary.)
Hawkmoon awakes to an attack - the Charki! - and they escape in the machine, while the Teng are left to their own saving. They travel onward and we have a rather lengthy section with pirates and merchants and thus we end up at the Temple of Batach Gerandiun, but not in a good way. Seems our hero is to be sacrificed to the Sword of the Dawn, along with many others, by the Pirate Lords. Blood it needs… a lot. Enter the Warrior of Jet and Gold! Hawkmoon claims the Sword, calls on the Legion of the Dawn (with some prodding from the Warrior) and the Lords are overcome. Hawkmoon soon learns his destiny lies in Dnark, and returning to Castle Brass is not part of The Plan of the Runestaff, though he seeks a way to avert his fate for now.
Not a lot different from Book#2, critically. So I’m just copy-pasta-ing that one, mostly. Deal with it. Or, find the differences, if there are any! Hahahahaha!
A bit longer, relatively speaking, than the Castle Brass, Corum, or Elric books, but enjoyable all the same. Not as many crossover details from other Eternal Champion tales in this book, surprisingly. Moorcock does well to manage all the action and locations, keeping the tale’s pacing throughout, and never allowing too much to be revealed. Hawkmoon is ever the reluctant Champion. Not quite as good as other Champion iterations, and with only one book remaining in the Runestaff history, I am concerned.
September 24, 2022
It Ain’t Over Yet
22 September 2022
One of the things that I like about Moorcock’s books is that they tend to be rather short, though as it turns out it is basically a single story that has been split across four volumes. However, each of them is fairly self-contained, except that you do actually need to read the earlier ones to actually understand what is happening in the later ones. Sure, you could read them separately, but it does become somewhat confusing, not that I haven’t done it in the past mind you.
So, from the previous story, the Karmag has been shifted to a new place to escape the invading hordes of the Dark Empire of Gran Bretan. However, when they are out for a stroll one morning they encounter somebody who turns out to be this playwright from Granbretan. Further, it turns out that this playwright had written a play that had offended the king, and as such fled the city to attempt to redeem himself. He did so by discovering a means of travelling through the dimensions, which is how he landed up in the Karmag. The problem is that if he can do it, then they suspect the rest of the army, including Baron Meliadus, who happens to be Hawkmoon’s arch enemy, can do it as well.
Mind you, when this playwright was introduced I immediately thought of Shakespeare, though as it turns out this playwright is not a nice person. Apparently, the way that you can tell that he is lying is that his lips are moving. Then it is also interesting that there is this subtle exploration of censorship, though I do wonder whether there was a lot of self-censorship going on in Shakespeare’s plays – no doubt there was. It also makes me wonder how many great works were never written because of self-censorship (though some of them were, but the sub-text wasn’t all that obvious to the original audience)
It turns out that Meliadus has been told not to pursue Hawkmoon and his allies, but being the type of character who is obsessed with dealing with his enemies, and also desires Hawkmoon’s wife Yisselda (though I suspect this has something more to do with demonstrating his power over his enemies), he goes behinds the emperor’s back, which ends up getting him into trouble. Actually, the scene in Granbretan and Londra is actually pretty cool, because Moorcock uses a pretty cool bait and switch that turns out to be a rather interesting twist.
Look, it is rather mindless, though the more I think about it there is some subtle ideas permeating through the works, such as Meliadius’ desire for Yisselda. Anyway, Moorcock’s works are somebody better than a lot of the fantasy novels that we tend to get these days. In a way they are written in a way that does have the ability to bring us into the world, and into the adventure, but he doesn’t waste any space for things that don’t really need to be talked about. Okay, as I mentioned, this is pretty much a single story that has been split into four books, but that does help me because not only does it give me more books to review on Goodreads, it also allows me to split them up into more bite sized pieces so that I can explore other books in between.
22 September 2022
One of the things that I like about Moorcock’s books is that they tend to be rather short, though as it turns out it is basically a single story that has been split across four volumes. However, each of them is fairly self-contained, except that you do actually need to read the earlier ones to actually understand what is happening in the later ones. Sure, you could read them separately, but it does become somewhat confusing, not that I haven’t done it in the past mind you.
So, from the previous story, the Karmag has been shifted to a new place to escape the invading hordes of the Dark Empire of Gran Bretan. However, when they are out for a stroll one morning they encounter somebody who turns out to be this playwright from Granbretan. Further, it turns out that this playwright had written a play that had offended the king, and as such fled the city to attempt to redeem himself. He did so by discovering a means of travelling through the dimensions, which is how he landed up in the Karmag. The problem is that if he can do it, then they suspect the rest of the army, including Baron Meliadus, who happens to be Hawkmoon’s arch enemy, can do it as well.
Mind you, when this playwright was introduced I immediately thought of Shakespeare, though as it turns out this playwright is not a nice person. Apparently, the way that you can tell that he is lying is that his lips are moving. Then it is also interesting that there is this subtle exploration of censorship, though I do wonder whether there was a lot of self-censorship going on in Shakespeare’s plays – no doubt there was. It also makes me wonder how many great works were never written because of self-censorship (though some of them were, but the sub-text wasn’t all that obvious to the original audience)
It turns out that Meliadus has been told not to pursue Hawkmoon and his allies, but being the type of character who is obsessed with dealing with his enemies, and also desires Hawkmoon’s wife Yisselda (though I suspect this has something more to do with demonstrating his power over his enemies), he goes behinds the emperor’s back, which ends up getting him into trouble. Actually, the scene in Granbretan and Londra is actually pretty cool, because Moorcock uses a pretty cool bait and switch that turns out to be a rather interesting twist.
Look, it is rather mindless, though the more I think about it there is some subtle ideas permeating through the works, such as Meliadius’ desire for Yisselda. Anyway, Moorcock’s works are somebody better than a lot of the fantasy novels that we tend to get these days. In a way they are written in a way that does have the ability to bring us into the world, and into the adventure, but he doesn’t waste any space for things that don’t really need to be talked about. Okay, as I mentioned, this is pretty much a single story that has been split into four books, but that does help me because not only does it give me more books to review on Goodreads, it also allows me to split them up into more bite sized pieces so that I can explore other books in between.
Read
December 22, 2025Why I read it: Third in a series. Review for the first one. Review for the second one.
Thoughts: Some good bits in this one, and some not so good bits. I was very amused and entertained by Meliadus unknowingly entertaining the disguised Hawkmoon and D'Averc at the Granbretanian court, having to prance and simper and trying his damnedest to be a good host. His continued failure and his mounting frustration, because Hawkmoon and D'Averc don't enjoy the torture fests or the orgies, was hilarious. D'Averc uncorrupting (purifying?) Flana Mikosevaar by bedding her was also unexpectedly funny. Man's apparently got the sort of game that makes a jaded woman come back to life and turn good.
Then H & D hit the road to find a wizard, who conveniently kicks the bucket after teleporting H & D to Amarekh (America), where some weird unexplained shit happens, and then H & D accidentally fall in with pirates, defeat the pirates, then promptly get involved in politics in Narleen (New Orleans). Of course, the Warrior of Jet and Gold also shows up as a deus ex machina after the pirate lords who want revenge capture Hawkmoon and D'Averc and are about to sacrifice them and drain their blood into a probably disgusting pool... of blood. By the end of that encounter, Hawkmoon is in possession of the titular Sword of the Dawn, a magical item which can summon spectral warriors in service of the Runestaff and is almost always accompanied by the descriptor "rosy".
Anyway. Did I like this? I'm not sure. My eyes began to glaze towards the end. D'Averc was not as funny in this one as he was in the second one, but apparently he was three times as sexy (since he converted Flana through the power of his magic dick). The Granbretanian court machinations, while very interesting, smacked too much of Melnibone, but while the Elric stories have... you know... Elric, the worst protagonist you could want, Hawkmoon is just straight up boring. The things that made him somewhat interesting in the first book (his hyper-sanity, his lapses into catatonia when things get so dire that he loses all hope) are no longer happening, so in this book he's just... the hero. He hacks, he slashes, he hacks some more, and he has no moral dilemmas, no qualms. So it's a little boring.
Would I read more from this author: I've already read the fourth one, and unfortunately not even that will deter me from reading more Moorcock.
Would I recommend it: Only as an instalment in the Runestaff story, but by the end of the series I can only really recommend the Runestaff saga if you're an Eternal Champion completionist (like I'm turning out to be, I think).
Would I reread it: No.
Thoughts: Some good bits in this one, and some not so good bits. I was very amused and entertained by Meliadus unknowingly entertaining the disguised Hawkmoon and D'Averc at the Granbretanian court, having to prance and simper and trying his damnedest to be a good host. His continued failure and his mounting frustration, because Hawkmoon and D'Averc don't enjoy the torture fests or the orgies, was hilarious. D'Averc uncorrupting (purifying?) Flana Mikosevaar by bedding her was also unexpectedly funny. Man's apparently got the sort of game that makes a jaded woman come back to life and turn good.
Then H & D hit the road to find a wizard, who conveniently kicks the bucket after teleporting H & D to Amarekh (America), where some weird unexplained shit happens, and then H & D accidentally fall in with pirates, defeat the pirates, then promptly get involved in politics in Narleen (New Orleans). Of course, the Warrior of Jet and Gold also shows up as a deus ex machina after the pirate lords who want revenge capture Hawkmoon and D'Averc and are about to sacrifice them and drain their blood into a probably disgusting pool... of blood. By the end of that encounter, Hawkmoon is in possession of the titular Sword of the Dawn, a magical item which can summon spectral warriors in service of the Runestaff and is almost always accompanied by the descriptor "rosy".
Anyway. Did I like this? I'm not sure. My eyes began to glaze towards the end. D'Averc was not as funny in this one as he was in the second one, but apparently he was three times as sexy (since he converted Flana through the power of his magic dick). The Granbretanian court machinations, while very interesting, smacked too much of Melnibone, but while the Elric stories have... you know... Elric, the worst protagonist you could want, Hawkmoon is just straight up boring. The things that made him somewhat interesting in the first book (his hyper-sanity, his lapses into catatonia when things get so dire that he loses all hope) are no longer happening, so in this book he's just... the hero. He hacks, he slashes, he hacks some more, and he has no moral dilemmas, no qualms. So it's a little boring.
Would I read more from this author: I've already read the fourth one, and unfortunately not even that will deter me from reading more Moorcock.
Would I recommend it: Only as an instalment in the Runestaff story, but by the end of the series I can only really recommend the Runestaff saga if you're an Eternal Champion completionist (like I'm turning out to be, I think).
Would I reread it: No.
July 11, 2024
Score: 5.3;
At this point, I think Moorcock is another writer who me under hostage. I've basically accepted that fact and the first Hawkmoon series will likely see completion.
As always, much of what has been said about Sword of the Dawn has already been said in the previous two reviews for the two prior entries in the Hawkmoon series. Much of this review will hone in more on the differences and varying nuances contained specifically within The Sword of the Dawn.
Part 1 was the most fun I had reading a Moorcock story in a long time. It was refreshing to a more internal and focused introspection on the villain, Meliadus. Part 1 actually took the time to slow down a bit and open itself up more into the characters and world. This is Moorcock at his best: When his characters are allowed some space to be themselves, it opens up his storytelling in a way that frees up the characters. Furthermore, that allows the plot to develop at a more natural and gradual pace, where the events feel as if they actually matter and have relevance within the overall narrative (There was even a twist here that was obvious in retrospect, but caught me by surprise). Learning more about Meliadus was some of the best Part 1 had to offer and I wished there was more.
Part 2, however, is the standard Moorcock fare and drags down the quality of The Sword of the Dawn considerably because it runs into the same problems that plague so many of Moorcock's stories: Sparse development, neutered characters, rushed plotlines, and psychedelic events. Much of the same complaints that have been levied against the Hawkmoon series persist here, so there is little point in repeating much of the same points ad nauseam.
Ultimately, the existence of Part 1 raised the quality of The Sword of the Dawn considerably and made it a much more engaging read.
At this point, I think Moorcock is another writer who me under hostage. I've basically accepted that fact and the first Hawkmoon series will likely see completion.
As always, much of what has been said about Sword of the Dawn has already been said in the previous two reviews for the two prior entries in the Hawkmoon series. Much of this review will hone in more on the differences and varying nuances contained specifically within The Sword of the Dawn.
Part 1 was the most fun I had reading a Moorcock story in a long time. It was refreshing to a more internal and focused introspection on the villain, Meliadus. Part 1 actually took the time to slow down a bit and open itself up more into the characters and world. This is Moorcock at his best: When his characters are allowed some space to be themselves, it opens up his storytelling in a way that frees up the characters. Furthermore, that allows the plot to develop at a more natural and gradual pace, where the events feel as if they actually matter and have relevance within the overall narrative (There was even a twist here that was obvious in retrospect, but caught me by surprise). Learning more about Meliadus was some of the best Part 1 had to offer and I wished there was more.
Part 2, however, is the standard Moorcock fare and drags down the quality of The Sword of the Dawn considerably because it runs into the same problems that plague so many of Moorcock's stories: Sparse development, neutered characters, rushed plotlines, and psychedelic events. Much of the same complaints that have been levied against the Hawkmoon series persist here, so there is little point in repeating much of the same points ad nauseam.
Ultimately, the existence of Part 1 raised the quality of The Sword of the Dawn considerably and made it a much more engaging read.
September 1, 2019
I often wish that some current fantasy writers would look a the works of writers like Michael Moorcock and realize that fantasy novels don't have to be 800-page doorstops. Moorcock wrote dozens of fantasy novels, most in the 160 to 190 page range. Yet, these novels are exciting, imaginative, and contain memorable characters.
The Sword of the Dawn is the third book in the Runestaff series. At the end of the previous book, Karmang as been saved from being overwhelmed by the forces for Granbretan by being transported to another dimension. Yet Dorian Hawkmoon knows that his enemy, the Granbretan warlord Meliadus, won't give up until he has destroyed Hawkmoon, Count Brass, and all of Karamang, and captured Hawkmoon's wife, Yisselda, who he wants as his own bride. So Hawkmoon and his onetime enemy and now friend D'Averc began a dangerous cross-dimensional quest to prevent Meliadus from finding the magical technology that will allow him to find Karamang.
Along the way, they encounter several strange civilization, fight pirates and monstrous creatures, and come to a major artifact that Hawkmoon is supposed to find: the Sword of the Dawn. Hawkmoon is unsure of why he is supposed to find it -- he like the reader only knows that the Runestaff wants that to happen. Hawkmoon himself doesn't trust that, and as the book ends he has decided not to do what he is supposed to do next -- all the while with some doubt as to whether he'll be able to avoid doing so.
This is an inventive, well-told adventure story. I'll read the fourth and final volume sometime soon,
The Sword of the Dawn is the third book in the Runestaff series. At the end of the previous book, Karmang as been saved from being overwhelmed by the forces for Granbretan by being transported to another dimension. Yet Dorian Hawkmoon knows that his enemy, the Granbretan warlord Meliadus, won't give up until he has destroyed Hawkmoon, Count Brass, and all of Karamang, and captured Hawkmoon's wife, Yisselda, who he wants as his own bride. So Hawkmoon and his onetime enemy and now friend D'Averc began a dangerous cross-dimensional quest to prevent Meliadus from finding the magical technology that will allow him to find Karamang.
Along the way, they encounter several strange civilization, fight pirates and monstrous creatures, and come to a major artifact that Hawkmoon is supposed to find: the Sword of the Dawn. Hawkmoon is unsure of why he is supposed to find it -- he like the reader only knows that the Runestaff wants that to happen. Hawkmoon himself doesn't trust that, and as the book ends he has decided not to do what he is supposed to do next -- all the while with some doubt as to whether he'll be able to avoid doing so.
This is an inventive, well-told adventure story. I'll read the fourth and final volume sometime soon,
December 17, 2024
We have now reached the third volume of Hawkmoon’s saga. The story begins with the warlords of Granbretan annexing the last city on the European continent. However, Meliadus still holds a grudge for not having conquered Castle Brass or avenged its inhabitants.
Meanwhile, in the limbo where the castle resides, during one of his wanderings, Hawkmoon notices an intruder. After being interrogated and exposed by the Warrior in Jet and Gold, it is revealed that there is someone with the knowledge to perform this dimensional transposition in another plane.
Based on this information, Hawkmoon and D'Averc travel there to silence the one who possesses the secret, but as expected, they soon realize that this mission only leads to another one.
In this volume, it seems we return to the basic dynamic of two characters traveling together to fulfill a mission. There are various complications along the way, with the presence of a Deus Ex Machina figure, and the obvious quest for the sword.
Overall, it's an interesting read, but in a way, it doesn't add much compared to other works. Now, only the final volume remains to see if it will be as good as the second, or not.
Meanwhile, in the limbo where the castle resides, during one of his wanderings, Hawkmoon notices an intruder. After being interrogated and exposed by the Warrior in Jet and Gold, it is revealed that there is someone with the knowledge to perform this dimensional transposition in another plane.
Based on this information, Hawkmoon and D'Averc travel there to silence the one who possesses the secret, but as expected, they soon realize that this mission only leads to another one.
In this volume, it seems we return to the basic dynamic of two characters traveling together to fulfill a mission. There are various complications along the way, with the presence of a Deus Ex Machina figure, and the obvious quest for the sword.
Overall, it's an interesting read, but in a way, it doesn't add much compared to other works. Now, only the final volume remains to see if it will be as good as the second, or not.
March 31, 2025
Another great one by Moorcock.
I feel like this book was the most removed from the other two. Hawkmoon is getting restless, Count Brass is getting restless.
The protagonist and his companion d'Avrec set out on another journey in an attempt to aid themselves in their plight against the Dark Empire, as well as return to their home of Moorcock's dark interpretation of Europe. But, no surprise, a twist of fate (or by the Rune Staff's design) the companions find themselves enslaved on a ship and taken across the ocean to a new region called Amarehk. Here technology is advanced, but the people are plagued by terrible monsters that are breed specifically to wipe them out.
We learn of some new societies that have been on the peak of war, and Hawkmoon helps tip that scale. He ultimately tries to rescue some of his new companions, and with the help of the Warrior in Jet and Gold, completes his destiny and defeats the some creepy cultists and lays claim to the Sword of the Dawn.
Looking forward to the next one!
I feel like this book was the most removed from the other two. Hawkmoon is getting restless, Count Brass is getting restless.
The protagonist and his companion d'Avrec set out on another journey in an attempt to aid themselves in their plight against the Dark Empire, as well as return to their home of Moorcock's dark interpretation of Europe. But, no surprise, a twist of fate (or by the Rune Staff's design) the companions find themselves enslaved on a ship and taken across the ocean to a new region called Amarehk. Here technology is advanced, but the people are plagued by terrible monsters that are breed specifically to wipe them out.
We learn of some new societies that have been on the peak of war, and Hawkmoon helps tip that scale. He ultimately tries to rescue some of his new companions, and with the help of the Warrior in Jet and Gold, completes his destiny and defeats the some creepy cultists and lays claim to the Sword of the Dawn.
Looking forward to the next one!
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