Status Updates From The Elric Saga Part III (El...

Overall, pretty disappointing. Dreamthief stuff in the Pearl was cool, but this book had very little I enjoyed. The Phatts were interesting and the three sisters gave us a glimpse into the ancestor of ruined Melniboné. But outside of that, quite dull. Arioch is always a pleasure so it was nice seeing him. But yeah, it was pretty meh. Taking a break and reading some Warhammer now methinks.

Movement, sir, is not freedom. Couldn’t agree more. I’ll be honest it’s been pretty dull, but now we got a family of psychics so that’s intriguing. Still not keen on the Rose, she seems to be the protagonist of this Elric novel. I think the Fortress of the Pearl did this better, with Oone as a supporting protagonist.

Not keen on this one so far. The introduction with Elric’s father was cool, but so far, I’m confused? I know the multiverse is multi-layered and complex, but this is just bizarre. I’ll keep reading because I love Moorcock’s worldbuilding but I may take a detour before reading the 4th and final volume of Elric’s Saga.

Well that was a sloppy retcon. The people of R’lin K’ren A’a weren’t the Melnibonians ancestors, no, they were degenerates who bred with humans. Sure, sure. Whatever. It’s a minor thing but its the little things that matter.

I have to say now that Ive read it from start to finish, it’s quite good. The middle meandered a bit but the Dream World stuff was fantastic. And as far as female characters go, Oone is the best that Moorcock has created (at least of what I’ve read.) And the ending certainly throws a spanner in the loop. Interested to move forward. Glad this turned out to be good.

While I enjoyed the first part of the book, this whole Dreamthief business is convoluted to put it mildly. Perhaps an interesting idea: but this takes place before the sacking of Imrryr, so, it just comes off as contrived. I know he kind of wrote himself into the corner since he…ended his world in Stormbringer. I know this is setting up Multiverse related plots, so I’m looking forward to that.

There’s some powerful stuff here. ‘Justice was obtained, he believed, not by administration but by experience. One must know what it was to suffer humiliation and powerlessness, at least to some degree, before one could entirely appreciate its effects. One must give up power if one was to achieve true justice.’ So true. For this setting as well as our world.

Seeing Elric before the fall of Melniboné feels strange. He still has an idealistic point of view, hoping to change Imrryr to a realm of light and reason, over decadent willful ignorance. We know that doesn’t last but its good to see Elric in that part of his life again. Overall, enjoying it so far. Moorcock is a master worldbuilder and I admire that in him. And though he criticizes his writing, I find it great.

And again this albino prince is someone I neither recognize nor understand as Elric.

Still my least favorite of the Elric novels, but it does get better after the party leaves Capitalist Nation (no, I'm not calling it G*psy Nation; that's stupid and racist. It has nothing to do with the Romani people and everything to do with capitalism's idea of freedom).

Oh yeah... This is the one where Moorcock really focused on his hatred and racism toward the Romani people.

Not this series' finest moment.

Aw, I can't dislike an Elric Of Melniboné story. Especially when it becomes great later on, drops the repetitive exposition, and remembers Elric is a TERRIFYING ruthless and vindictive but troubled antihero, not an uwu bean.

I rate Fortress Of The Pearl 5/5 stars. There were a couple moments at the start that made me go "ehhh..." but not enough to lower it to 4/5 stars imo.

["****** Is An Elric Clone" Suspicion Intensifies] MMMMMMM!! MMMMMM!! (((;ꏿ_ꏿ;)))

Getting better.

I... might put this aside... I do (did?) like FotP, but seeing Elric THIS ooc... It physically hurts, man. Especially right after finishing the kinda terrible and equally ooc but at least excusably so DQT and knowing that FotP is the prequel of that, howbeit enjoyable, whole mess.

I might bring this and part iv down to 3 stars....

And the repetitious frivolous exposition begins....

"Are you suggesting that Alnac Kreb, by some wizardry known only to your guild, entered the world of the Holy Girl's dreams and there suffered adventures such as you or I might suffer in this material world?" - Elric, after a long discussion explicitly stating this. After multiple discussions about it. And after seeing a dreamthief at work.

*Beats head with book*

FotP Elric: "How can one traverse through dreams? That's impossible!"

DQT Elric: "Oh yeah, I traverse through dreams all the time. That's how my people learn sorcery."

Yet another reason DQT is bad fun.

Elric is painfully OOC in this story tbh? I can see why people who read Fortress Of The Pearl before Weird Of The Wolf complain about his sudden "dark turn". Nah, fam, he just wore crappy Leather Pants in FotP. WotW is the OG Elric. He's an EVIL-leaning antihero. A "hero-villain," some would say.