Elric, The Stealer of Souls, Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melnibone, Volume I has just hit the streets here in the US!
If you are unfamiliar with the influence of Michael Moorcock on the genre of fantasy, catch up with the Planet Stories reissues of his work. If you are unfamiliar with the influence of Michael Moorcock on D&D, RPGs, and the tropes of swords and sorcery, you need to buy this collection of his early works involving Elric of Melnibone.
Elric is among the most significance characters in the world of modern fantasy and a refreshing departure from the archetypal hero of formula fantasy. A paleblooded slayer of kinsmen, cursed with a demonblade and doomed to bring ruin to his empire and the world itself, Michael Moorcock's Elric helped to resculpt the expectation and potential of the genre.
Do yourself a favor and buy this book!
Just posted this over at www.multiverse.org
"My copy has been in the back of my bookseller since Thursday, when I called to check on the availability of my special order. With the streetdate of Tuesday, February 19th, the independent was unable to complete the sale and I had to respect their decision to wait until the official date. That is not to say that I did not try to influence them with gold and charm, adding that the material that they were retaining with such secrecy had actually been available since the 1960s, LOL!
Regardless, I picked up my copy this morning and I am thrilled. I have been a fan of the blade blade since I was a wee lad and have since felt an inexplicable kinship with the existential and conflicted anti-hero from the ruins of the Dreaming City.
A brief observation ...
The intercontextualization and surrealism of Alan Moore, recently of Simpsons fame, yet more appropriately Watchmen, in the foreword is an excellent and unexpected touch. A bit of nostalgia and wink at the multiverse of all human and demi-human experience. Moore is indisputably cool!
The introduction by Michael Moorcock is a literary journey through the genetics of the fantastic and a rewarding read for those both versed in the genre and those uninitiated. It is satisfying and validating to have Michael Moorcock chart the confluence of French Existentialists, Pulp Fiction, mythology, and the realm of Twentieth Century fantasy. Many thanks to the author for the excellent introduction!
Items of interest:
The notes on Dungeons and Dragons.
The significance of JG Ballard!
The sophisticated treatment of luminaries such as Tolkien and Lovecraft, as many of us are familiar with the history there! lol
And I haven't even started to read the actual tales!
You mean, it gets better?!
To Michael Moorcock, thanks for creating more than a fictional sequence and a fictional character. Thanks for changing the course of the fantasy genre and my own experience as a reader and sailor on the seas of fate."
