Elric of Melniboné

Book One of The Elric Saga , #01

Mass Market Paperback, 192 pages

English language

Published Sept. 13, 1996 by ACE Charter.

ISBN:
978-0-441-20398-7
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OCLC Number:
17985685

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(4 reviews)

Elric of Melniboné is a requisite title in the hard fantasy canon, a book no fantasy fan should leave unread. Author Michael Moorcock, already a major player in science fiction, cemented his position in the fantasy pantheon with the five-book Elric saga, of which Elric of Melniboné is the first installment. The book's namesake, the brooding albino emperor of the dying nation of Melniboné, is a sort of Superman for Goths, truly an archetype of the genre.

The youthful Elric is a cynical and melancholy king, heir to a nation whose 100,000-year rule of the world ended less than 500 years hence. More interested in brooding contemplation than holding the throne, Elric is a reluctant ruler, but he also realizes that no other worthy successor exists and the survival of his once-powerful, decadent nation depends on him alone. Elric's nefarious, brutish cousin Yrkoon has no patience for his physically weak …

9 editions

Review of 'Elric of Melnibone and Other Stories' on 'Goodreads'

This edition did not do justice for Elric of Melniboné story at all. I feel like the book was made as a collectible for those already well-versed in Moorcock's fantasy, but for someone just diving in this contains plenty of uninteresting chaff. There's a whole transcript for a graphical novel without the pictures for example. It feels cheap, like the book was put together in haste, without really considering the complete experience.

The Elric of Melniboné as a story requires separate praise however, which is a solid 5/5 in my opinion, full of adventure, mystique and sorcery. It is about a third of this book and the only reason why anyone should pick this up, unless building up a whole collection of these chronological books.

All in all, the edition is poor, but the main story is fantastic.

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