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A review by heathengray
Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have found a new favourite fantasy series!
For a Melnibonéan, Elric is surprisingly human. This is a problem for Melnibonéan society (and you will get used to reading the word 'Melnibonéan') as he is their emperor. Like his father before him, Elric is introspective and practical rather than narcissistic and arrogant. According to some, his cousin is more suited to rule Melibonéan society. Power struggles and hijinks ensue.
Give Moorcock a chance to win you over with his prose style, and this will fly by. I rarely ready more than 80 pages a day with a full time job and kid, and I found I'd finished 150 on the first day, on a weeknight no less! He manages to cram in a whole elven-like society (but terrible elves like cruel rulers in fairy tales, think of those from Hellboy 2 - The Golden Army), gods, demons, elementals, barbarians, archipelagostic (is that a word?) human tribes and tows, magic swords and items with wonderful names and intimated histories, all in less than 200 pages. I wanted more.
You'll recognize some other inspired fantasy characters such as Drizzt Do'Urden (white hair, fighting against his own people's ways), and Geralt of Rivia (white hair, needs drugs and potions to keep him going). Elric however is the undiluted source of badassery.
For a Melnibonéan, Elric is surprisingly human. This is a problem for Melnibonéan society (and you will get used to reading the word 'Melnibonéan') as he is their emperor. Like his father before him, Elric is introspective and practical rather than narcissistic and arrogant. According to some, his cousin is more suited to rule Melibonéan society. Power struggles and hijinks ensue.
Give Moorcock a chance to win you over with his prose style, and this will fly by. I rarely ready more than 80 pages a day with a full time job and kid, and I found I'd finished 150 on the first day, on a weeknight no less! He manages to cram in a whole elven-like society (but terrible elves like cruel rulers in fairy tales, think of those from Hellboy 2 - The Golden Army), gods, demons, elementals, barbarians, archipelagostic (is that a word?) human tribes and tows, magic swords and items with wonderful names and intimated histories, all in less than 200 pages. I wanted more.
You'll recognize some other inspired fantasy characters such as Drizzt Do'Urden (white hair, fighting against his own people's ways), and Geralt of Rivia (white hair, needs drugs and potions to keep him going). Elric however is the undiluted source of badassery.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
Elric is in love with his cousin (though it is not stated if they are first or further), but this is hardly unusual for royalty. Her brother, to goad Elric, says he will take his own sister as bride, but this is not acted upon.