Publication History |
Michael Moorcock's hero, Dorian Hawkmoon, continues his adventures in
"The Chronicles of Castle Brass." This second series, however, has a very
different tone from "The History of the Runestaff." The first Dorian
Hawkmoon series was focused on straight-forward, worldly adventures. The
second series deals far more with time-traveling, battles between Law and
Chaos, the multiverse, the Eternal Champion, and other ideas standard in
Moorcock's sword and sorcery tales. Indeed, the series is arguably less about
Hawkmoon and his friends than it is about these themes, mythos, and artifacts.
Much of the fast, pulpy action of the first series is removed from the second.
Hawkmoon becomes less distinctive a character in the second series than he is
in the first. (This is particularly true after Count Brass, the first book in "The
Chronicles of Castle Brass.") Hawkmoon is more than less distinctive; he is
different. Caught up in these inter-dimensional and cosmic events, Hawkmoon
loses much of his practicality, rebelliousness, and decisiveness. He no longer
takes the initiative; stories advance as he reacts. He is little more than a pawn
of the Runestaff, its servants, and other forces.
The world is also different. The intriguing mix of sword and science-sorcery
that characterized Hawkmoon's world is gone (in large part because little of the
second series is spent in that world), replaced by more standard sword-and-
sorcery fare. The unique culture of the Dark Empire is gone, also replaced by
less imaginative fare. 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—nor does he seem to care enough. Again, Hawkmoon's only goal is
to be a peaceful family man, leaving the rule of both his homeland and adopted
land to others.
Because of these differences, readers who enjoyed the adventures of "The
History of the Runestaff" will not necessarily enjoy "The Chronicles of Castle
Brass," and vice versa. In fact, the series are so different it is not even
necessary for a reader to read both. Much of the backstory of "The History of
the Runestaff" is unnecessary to read the second series; knowledge of
Moorcock's mythos will certainly increase enjoyment...
"The Chronicles of Castle Brass." This second series, however, has a very
different tone from "The History of the Runestaff." The first Dorian
Hawkmoon series was focused on straight-forward, worldly adventures. The
second series deals far more with time-traveling, battles between Law and
Chaos, the multiverse, the Eternal Champion, and other ideas standard in
Moorcock's sword and sorcery tales. Indeed, the series is arguably less about
Hawkmoon and his friends than it is about these themes, mythos, and artifacts.
Much of the fast, pulpy action of the first series is removed from the second.
Hawkmoon becomes less distinctive a character in the second series than he is
in the first. (This is particularly true after Count Brass, the first book in "The
Chronicles of Castle Brass.") Hawkmoon is more than less distinctive; he is
different. Caught up in these inter-dimensional and cosmic events, Hawkmoon
loses much of his practicality, rebelliousness, and decisiveness. He no longer
takes the initiative; stories advance as he reacts. He is little more than a pawn
of the Runestaff, its servants, and other forces.
The world is also different. The intriguing mix of sword and science-sorcery
that characterized Hawkmoon's world is gone (in large part because little of the
second series is spent in that world), replaced by more standard sword-and-
sorcery fare. The unique culture of the Dark Empire is gone, also replaced by
less imaginative fare. 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—nor does he seem to care enough. Again, Hawkmoon's only goal is
to be a peaceful family man, leaving the rule of both his homeland and adopted
land to others.
Because of these differences, readers who enjoyed the adventures of "The
History of the Runestaff" will not necessarily enjoy "The Chronicles of Castle
Brass," and vice versa. In fact, the series are so different it is not even
necessary for a reader to read both. Much of the backstory of "The History of
the Runestaff" is unnecessary to read the second series; knowledge of
Moorcock's mythos will certainly increase enjoyment...
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| Dorian Hawkmoon, Part 2: The Chronicles of Castle Brass By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
SwordandSorcery.org, Howard
Andrew Jones, ed. (Mar. 19, 2006),
at www.SwordandSorcery.org.
SwordandSorcery.org, Howard
Andrew Jones, ed. (Mar. 19, 2006),
at www.SwordandSorcery.org.
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