Publication History |
"The Sailor on the Seas of Fate" is the second in Michael Moorcock's
incomparable "Elric Saga," one of the great classics of high fantasy, dark
fantasy, and sword & sorcery. Originally written as pulp serials, "The Sailor on
the Seas of Fate" is divided into three sections. These stories are less connected
and less devoted to the evolution of Elric's character.
"Sailing to the Future" examines Moorcock's multiverse theory, one of the
hallmarks of his fiction. Here, Elric learns that he is but one incarnation of the
Eternal Champion, although he is given only a taste of what that means. He
joins three incarnations from other worlds (Corum, Hawkmoon, and Erekosë,
all of whom appear repeatedly in Moorcock's works, including having their
own novels), in a bizarre and psychedelic battle against two alien sorcerers.
In "Sailing to the Present," misadventure leads ELric to Count Smiorgan
Baldhead of the Purple Towns, whose ship was attacked and looted by pirates.
His passenger, found hiding in the wreckage, is hunted by an ancient relative of
Elric. This is an inventive fairytale of ghosts, the living dead and reincarnation;
love and cruelty; betrayals and vengeance.
"Sailing to the Past," Elric goes on an archeological quest with a famous
adventurer who has discovered an ancient map revealing the location of the
semi-mythical jungle city from which Melniboneans came. Retracing the steps
of the Melniboneans’ origination causes Elric to wonder how they changed
from the simple people of R'lin K'ren A'a into the complex and malicious
people of the Dragon Isle. "Sailing to the Past" also returns to some of the
larger themes of the saga: Will Elric become one of "the wickedest of
Melnibone's many wicked rulers" by wielding Stormbringer? Will the sentient
sword be his master? Or will Elric be, as he says, the master of the sword? Does
Elric have any free will, or is his every action pre-ordained by Fate or pre-
orchestrated by the gods? To what end?
The book is not without it faults: Moorcock glosses over some of the more
interesting features of his world, some fights are given short shrift while others
linger over-long, Elric too often relies on others (whether his vampiric
runesword, supernatural allies, or gods) to extricate him from danger, and the
multiverse theory leads to unnecessary complications. Still, for its importance
in the genre, creativity, and pace, I rate it an 8 out of 10.
incomparable "Elric Saga," one of the great classics of high fantasy, dark
fantasy, and sword & sorcery. Originally written as pulp serials, "The Sailor on
the Seas of Fate" is divided into three sections. These stories are less connected
and less devoted to the evolution of Elric's character.
"Sailing to the Future" examines Moorcock's multiverse theory, one of the
hallmarks of his fiction. Here, Elric learns that he is but one incarnation of the
Eternal Champion, although he is given only a taste of what that means. He
joins three incarnations from other worlds (Corum, Hawkmoon, and Erekosë,
all of whom appear repeatedly in Moorcock's works, including having their
own novels), in a bizarre and psychedelic battle against two alien sorcerers.
In "Sailing to the Present," misadventure leads ELric to Count Smiorgan
Baldhead of the Purple Towns, whose ship was attacked and looted by pirates.
His passenger, found hiding in the wreckage, is hunted by an ancient relative of
Elric. This is an inventive fairytale of ghosts, the living dead and reincarnation;
love and cruelty; betrayals and vengeance.
"Sailing to the Past," Elric goes on an archeological quest with a famous
adventurer who has discovered an ancient map revealing the location of the
semi-mythical jungle city from which Melniboneans came. Retracing the steps
of the Melniboneans’ origination causes Elric to wonder how they changed
from the simple people of R'lin K'ren A'a into the complex and malicious
people of the Dragon Isle. "Sailing to the Past" also returns to some of the
larger themes of the saga: Will Elric become one of "the wickedest of
Melnibone's many wicked rulers" by wielding Stormbringer? Will the sentient
sword be his master? Or will Elric be, as he says, the master of the sword? Does
Elric have any free will, or is his every action pre-ordained by Fate or pre-
orchestrated by the gods? To what end?
The book is not without it faults: Moorcock glosses over some of the more
interesting features of his world, some fights are given short shrift while others
linger over-long, Elric too often relies on others (whether his vampiric
runesword, supernatural allies, or gods) to extricate him from danger, and the
multiverse theory leads to unnecessary complications. Still, for its importance
in the genre, creativity, and pace, I rate it an 8 out of 10.
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| Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Michael Moorcock) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
SFReader.com (Nov. 23, 2005).
SFReader.com (Nov. 23, 2005).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
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