Elric

Michael Moorcock

2001

This book is a fixup of some of the Elric stories that Mr Moorcock wrote in the 60s and 70s. They are:

• The Dreaming City
• While the Gods Laugh
• The Stealer of Souls
• King in Darkness
• The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams
• Stormbringer

which chart the history of Elric, last King of Melniborne to which he leads a barbarian horde in revenge for the land's acceptance of his cousin. He guides a massive fleet of ships against the previously unbreached gates of the ancient city, with only a single command; to make sure that no stone is left standing on another.

In the stories, Elric develops from an amoral creature who would not care who he slaughtered with his ensorcerelled sword, to one who becomes horrified at the power that his sword has over his well-being. The former king is forced to become a mercenary to survive in the Younger Kingdoms but those who would hire the albino mercenary know that they are as much at risk as those they would pay him to kill.

Gradually, it becomes clear that Elric has a Fate; to destroy the very Lords of Chaos that power his sorcery and as those Lords of Chaos turn the very Earth to the form of chaos, Elric is forced to take up command of those who would fight their destruction.

The stories are filled with blood and gore as Elric and his sword sweep through his enemies. The sword, Stormbringer is Elric's very life - take it from him and he is reduced to a mewling weakling, but let it drink souls and Elric is all but invulnerable!

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This is part of the Fantasy Masterworks series.

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