Publication History |
Michael Moorcock's hero, Dorian Hawkmoon, continues his adventures in The
Champion of Garathorm, book 2 of "The Chronicles of Castle Brass."
What is reality? Hawkmoon has fallen into madness, convinced that his (and
others') actions in "The History of the Runestaff" and "Count Brass" have
changed time and disordered the multiverse. Did Yisselda die at the Battle of
Londra along with so many other heroes? Or did she survive, eventually giving
birth to two children? Hawkmoon is convinced that the latter is true, although
all evidence points to the former. Why is his memory of the last five years
different from all others'? Why does no one remember his children? Despite
efforts to cure him of his madness, Hawkmoon persists in his beliefs and falls
into self-destruction.
Then renowned commander Katinka van Bak appears at Castle Brass with tales
of a ravenous army on the other side of the Bulgar Mountains. Her story
intrigues Hawkmoon and he rouses from his contemplations long enough to
follow her through the countryside. Along the way, they encounter Jhary-a-
Conel (a familiar incarnation of the Companion of Champions) and his winged
cat, who join their group.
Katinka leads them through a twisting cave that leads between dimensions.
There, Hawkmoon comes face to face with the reality that he is but one
manifestation of the Eternal Champion. There in the cave, lies another—Ilian
of Garathorm, whose soul was driven from her body. Have Katinka and Jhary
tricked Hawkmoon here in order to put his soul in Ilian's empty body? Yet
Hawkmoon will be rewarded with evidence that proves his fears about
Yisselda's fate were well-founded.
Readers looking for another Hawkmoon adventure like those in his first series,
"The History of the Runestaff," may well be disappointed. Hawkmoon is a
distinctive character. Caught up in these inter-dimensional and cosmic events,
Hawkmoon loses much of his practicality, rebelliousness, and decisiveness. He
no longer takes the initiative; the story advances as he reacts. Hawkmoon
quickly descends into the category of heroes trapped going from one
adventure to the next, most of which have little to do with him directly. He is
used by first one power than the next, never certain of why or how.
Moreover, fully half this book is spent with Hawkmoon-as-Ilian who, with
Katinka and Jhary's help, seeks to save her land from the hordes of Chaos led
by the brutal Ymryl of the Yellow Horn (an avatar of Elric's Horn of Fate in
"Doomed Lord’s Passing," in "Stormbringer," Book 6 of "The Elric Saga").
Thus, the intriguing mix of sword and science-sorcery and the unique culture
of the Dark Empire that characterized Hawkmoon's world are replaced by
more standard sword-and-sorcery fare. The Ilian story-line, however, is
crafted in true Moorcock fashion, with sword-swinging mixing with
philosophy. Because of its limited appeal, I rate this a 6.
Champion of Garathorm, book 2 of "The Chronicles of Castle Brass."
What is reality? Hawkmoon has fallen into madness, convinced that his (and
others') actions in "The History of the Runestaff" and "Count Brass" have
changed time and disordered the multiverse. Did Yisselda die at the Battle of
Londra along with so many other heroes? Or did she survive, eventually giving
birth to two children? Hawkmoon is convinced that the latter is true, although
all evidence points to the former. Why is his memory of the last five years
different from all others'? Why does no one remember his children? Despite
efforts to cure him of his madness, Hawkmoon persists in his beliefs and falls
into self-destruction.
Then renowned commander Katinka van Bak appears at Castle Brass with tales
of a ravenous army on the other side of the Bulgar Mountains. Her story
intrigues Hawkmoon and he rouses from his contemplations long enough to
follow her through the countryside. Along the way, they encounter Jhary-a-
Conel (a familiar incarnation of the Companion of Champions) and his winged
cat, who join their group.
Katinka leads them through a twisting cave that leads between dimensions.
There, Hawkmoon comes face to face with the reality that he is but one
manifestation of the Eternal Champion. There in the cave, lies another—Ilian
of Garathorm, whose soul was driven from her body. Have Katinka and Jhary
tricked Hawkmoon here in order to put his soul in Ilian's empty body? Yet
Hawkmoon will be rewarded with evidence that proves his fears about
Yisselda's fate were well-founded.
Readers looking for another Hawkmoon adventure like those in his first series,
"The History of the Runestaff," may well be disappointed. Hawkmoon is a
distinctive character. Caught up in these inter-dimensional and cosmic events,
Hawkmoon loses much of his practicality, rebelliousness, and decisiveness. He
no longer takes the initiative; the story advances as he reacts. Hawkmoon
quickly descends into the category of heroes trapped going from one
adventure to the next, most of which have little to do with him directly. He is
used by first one power than the next, never certain of why or how.
Moreover, fully half this book is spent with Hawkmoon-as-Ilian who, with
Katinka and Jhary's help, seeks to save her land from the hordes of Chaos led
by the brutal Ymryl of the Yellow Horn (an avatar of Elric's Horn of Fate in
"Doomed Lord’s Passing," in "Stormbringer," Book 6 of "The Elric Saga").
Thus, the intriguing mix of sword and science-sorcery and the unique culture
of the Dark Empire that characterized Hawkmoon's world are replaced by
more standard sword-and-sorcery fare. The Ilian story-line, however, is
crafted in true Moorcock fashion, with sword-swinging mixing with
philosophy. Because of its limited appeal, I rate this a 6.
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| The Champion of Garathorm (Michael Moorcock) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
SFReader.com (Dec. 6, 2007).
SFReader.com (Dec. 6, 2007).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 10, 2007).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 10, 2007).
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