Publication History |
"Stormbringer" is the final (and longest) installment of Michael Moorcock's
classic saga. Although broken into sections, "Stormbringer" reads much more
like a novel than the other books because the serials are far more tightly
connected.
After years of self-pitying violence and emotional instability, Elric has found
true happiness with his wife, Zarozinia. But she is kidnapped, and Elric must
resort to his old ways of sorcery and the sword in order to find her. Zarozinia's
capture, of course, is part of a larger scheme. The Cosmic Balance has turned;
Chaos gains ground on the earth through the aid of the sorcerer Jagreen Lern.
Elric must decide whether to save Zarozinia (by aiding the kidnappers to
destroy the world), or to forsake Zarozinia and save the world. The state of
affairs rapidly deteriorates from here. Through "Dead God's Homecoming,"
“Black Sword’s Brothers,” “Sad Giant’s Shield,” and “Doomed Lord’s Passing,”
Elric hacks his way through adventures and finally learns his destiny.
"Stormbringer" also more thoroughly returns Elric to the philosophical themes
of the series. What does it mean to be true to one’s nature? Can Elric be true to
his twin natures of his Melnibonéan heritage (along with its allegiance to Chaos)
and still be a tool and ally of good and Law? Can Elric take the best of both
natures, or must he accept the difficulties along with the benefits? Is the
natural evil of the Melnibonéans somehow less evil because of its purity and
innocence than the corrupted evil of humans like Jagreen Lern, who had the
possibility of good within themselves but rejected it? Is evil the only means to
destroy evil? Can good spring from evil?
What is the relationship between good and evil, Chaos and Law? Can either
exist without the other? In "The Elric Saga," their pure forms are equally
deadly to life, for neither the warping of pure Chaos or the sterility of pure Law
can support life. Is Elric, after all, nothing more than a tool of Fate? Can Fate be
altered or subverted? Can the ultimate good that Elric and Stormbringer have
the power to achieve erase or excuse all their malicious and evil deeds? Is the
value of any good thus achieved lessened because of the manner of its birth?
At the heart of all these questions is Elric’s intense desire to be free of them. In
"Stormbringer," Elric shows the worst of his betrayals and Elric shows the best
of his self-sacrifice, cleverness, and loyalty -- traits for the most part lost in his
adventures since leaving Imrryr. In a many ways, Elric becomes the great hero
that the reader always sensed he could be. And, ironically, causes the greatest
destruction in so doing. One of the many characteristics that makes "The Elric
Saga" so memorable is its bold and poignant ending. For the well-deserved
magnitude of its influence, "Stormbringer" is a must-read for fantasy fans. I
rate it a 10 out of 10.
classic saga. Although broken into sections, "Stormbringer" reads much more
like a novel than the other books because the serials are far more tightly
connected.
After years of self-pitying violence and emotional instability, Elric has found
true happiness with his wife, Zarozinia. But she is kidnapped, and Elric must
resort to his old ways of sorcery and the sword in order to find her. Zarozinia's
capture, of course, is part of a larger scheme. The Cosmic Balance has turned;
Chaos gains ground on the earth through the aid of the sorcerer Jagreen Lern.
Elric must decide whether to save Zarozinia (by aiding the kidnappers to
destroy the world), or to forsake Zarozinia and save the world. The state of
affairs rapidly deteriorates from here. Through "Dead God's Homecoming,"
“Black Sword’s Brothers,” “Sad Giant’s Shield,” and “Doomed Lord’s Passing,”
Elric hacks his way through adventures and finally learns his destiny.
"Stormbringer" also more thoroughly returns Elric to the philosophical themes
of the series. What does it mean to be true to one’s nature? Can Elric be true to
his twin natures of his Melnibonéan heritage (along with its allegiance to Chaos)
and still be a tool and ally of good and Law? Can Elric take the best of both
natures, or must he accept the difficulties along with the benefits? Is the
natural evil of the Melnibonéans somehow less evil because of its purity and
innocence than the corrupted evil of humans like Jagreen Lern, who had the
possibility of good within themselves but rejected it? Is evil the only means to
destroy evil? Can good spring from evil?
What is the relationship between good and evil, Chaos and Law? Can either
exist without the other? In "The Elric Saga," their pure forms are equally
deadly to life, for neither the warping of pure Chaos or the sterility of pure Law
can support life. Is Elric, after all, nothing more than a tool of Fate? Can Fate be
altered or subverted? Can the ultimate good that Elric and Stormbringer have
the power to achieve erase or excuse all their malicious and evil deeds? Is the
value of any good thus achieved lessened because of the manner of its birth?
At the heart of all these questions is Elric’s intense desire to be free of them. In
"Stormbringer," Elric shows the worst of his betrayals and Elric shows the best
of his self-sacrifice, cleverness, and loyalty -- traits for the most part lost in his
adventures since leaving Imrryr. In a many ways, Elric becomes the great hero
that the reader always sensed he could be. And, ironically, causes the greatest
destruction in so doing. One of the many characteristics that makes "The Elric
Saga" so memorable is its bold and poignant ending. For the well-deserved
magnitude of its influence, "Stormbringer" is a must-read for fantasy fans. I
rate it a 10 out of 10.
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| Stormbringer (Michael Moorcock) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
SFReader.com (Jan. 13, 2006).
SFReader.com (Jan. 13, 2006).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
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