Publication History |
"The Fortress of the Pearl" supplements Michael Moorcock's classic Elric Saga,
which tells the tales of Elric of Melniboné. This volume takes place during the
previously undescribed gap between "Elric of Melniboné" and "The Sailor on
the Seas of Fate."
Exercising questionable judgment, Elric has left his betrothed, Cymoril, and
left the Ruby Throne of Melniboné in the ambitious hands of his cousin
Yyrkoon while he explores the human lands of the Young Kingdoms and
beyond. Elric wanders into the depths of the Sighing Desert searching for the
fabled city Tanelorn, but instead finds the desert city Quarzhasaat – renown
for its riches, self-absorption, haughtiness, and self-imposed ignorance of the
outside world. In short, Quarzhasaat is much like Melniboné. Elric becomes
embroiled in the convoluted, cruel, and self-important politics of Quarthassat,
including a quest to obtain the legendary Pearl at the Heart of the World.
As a longer work, "The Fortress of the Pearl" gives Moorcock plenty of space
for discussion on such topics as dreamthieving (a new concept for the Elric
books) and the nature of reality. For my taste, this discussion was both
excessive because it did not add much to the understanding or enjoyment of
the work. Too often, even the characters engaged in such discussion confessed
to less than full understanding of it. However, much of this is limited to Part II,
which was particularly "atypical Elric." In contrast, Parts I and III are far more
similar to the old serials that form the core of "The Elric Saga" in tone,
excitement, writing, and structure and so contain all his trademark elements of
detailed societies, a unique assortment of characters, and fast action.
Although "The Fortress of the Pearl" is chronologically "Book 1 and ½" of
"The Elric Saga," it contains numerous references and foreshadowings that are
likely be more appreciated by a reader who has completed the core series than
one who has simply read "Elric of Melniboné." The import of characters such
as Jaspar Colinadous (an incarnation of the Companion to Champions, a
multiverse standard) and his magical cat, Whiskers, might well be lost on the
uninitiated. Further, "The Fortress of the Pearl" does not contain the intense
character and plot development that the core books do, nor does it much
explore many of the issues that come to obsess Elric, such as his place in the
world or his relationship with his vampiric runesword Stormbringer and the
gods of Chaos. Yet, it is not filled with the philosophical musings that consume
the most recent Elric novels like "The Skrayling Tree." As such, "The Fortress
of the Pearl" is a transitional work somewhere between the old serial style and
the new metaphysical one, successfully completing the balancing act and
delivering a good tale.
I rate it 7 out of 10.
which tells the tales of Elric of Melniboné. This volume takes place during the
previously undescribed gap between "Elric of Melniboné" and "The Sailor on
the Seas of Fate."
Exercising questionable judgment, Elric has left his betrothed, Cymoril, and
left the Ruby Throne of Melniboné in the ambitious hands of his cousin
Yyrkoon while he explores the human lands of the Young Kingdoms and
beyond. Elric wanders into the depths of the Sighing Desert searching for the
fabled city Tanelorn, but instead finds the desert city Quarzhasaat – renown
for its riches, self-absorption, haughtiness, and self-imposed ignorance of the
outside world. In short, Quarzhasaat is much like Melniboné. Elric becomes
embroiled in the convoluted, cruel, and self-important politics of Quarthassat,
including a quest to obtain the legendary Pearl at the Heart of the World.
As a longer work, "The Fortress of the Pearl" gives Moorcock plenty of space
for discussion on such topics as dreamthieving (a new concept for the Elric
books) and the nature of reality. For my taste, this discussion was both
excessive because it did not add much to the understanding or enjoyment of
the work. Too often, even the characters engaged in such discussion confessed
to less than full understanding of it. However, much of this is limited to Part II,
which was particularly "atypical Elric." In contrast, Parts I and III are far more
similar to the old serials that form the core of "The Elric Saga" in tone,
excitement, writing, and structure and so contain all his trademark elements of
detailed societies, a unique assortment of characters, and fast action.
Although "The Fortress of the Pearl" is chronologically "Book 1 and ½" of
"The Elric Saga," it contains numerous references and foreshadowings that are
likely be more appreciated by a reader who has completed the core series than
one who has simply read "Elric of Melniboné." The import of characters such
as Jaspar Colinadous (an incarnation of the Companion to Champions, a
multiverse standard) and his magical cat, Whiskers, might well be lost on the
uninitiated. Further, "The Fortress of the Pearl" does not contain the intense
character and plot development that the core books do, nor does it much
explore many of the issues that come to obsess Elric, such as his place in the
world or his relationship with his vampiric runesword Stormbringer and the
gods of Chaos. Yet, it is not filled with the philosophical musings that consume
the most recent Elric novels like "The Skrayling Tree." As such, "The Fortress
of the Pearl" is a transitional work somewhere between the old serial style and
the new metaphysical one, successfully completing the balancing act and
delivering a good tale.
I rate it 7 out of 10.
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| The Fortress of the Pearl (Michael Moorcock) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
FantasyBookSpot.com (Sept. 18, 2005).
FantasyBookSpot.com (Sept. 18, 2005).
Third Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
Second Printing:
SFReader.com (Sept. 20, 2005).
SFReader.com (Sept. 20, 2005).
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