Sojan Shieldbearer is Michael Moorcock’s (one of the grandmasters of fantasy
fiction) first fantasy character. His stories were written in the 1950s, when
Moorcock was a teenager, and were originally published in Tarzan Adventures.
In fact, the first few Sojan stories led to Moorcock becoming the editor of that
pulp. As editor, Moorcock continued the Sojan stories.
Sojan is a swashbuckling, sword-and-planet hero. Although human, he lives on
the twin-sunned planet of Zylor, which was settled by humans fleeing (what
they thought was) the dying Earth generations before. Sojan’s people have lost
much of its technology, but they have retained technology of sorts: they have
dirigibles, air guns, and steel. They divide themselves among civilized and
barbarian nations, dodge air pirates, and untangle political intrigue. Still, their
culture is dependent upon the sword and the steed (in this case, the reptilian
myat). There is no magic or any tangible presence of deities in Zylor.
The dozen Sojan stories show much of the promise of action and creativity of
Moorcock’s later works, but here his execution has yet to be perfected. Not
surprisingly, the stories lack the sophistication that even good young adult
fantasy has. Fight sequences and plot lines suffer from logical leaps, an excess
of convenience or “luck,” and abrupt endings. Some of the tales read more like
sketches; for example, in one story, Sojan learns of and averts a civil war in just
a few pages. Characterization is thin. Dialogue is infested with clichés and
Moorcock’s voice sometimes slips into narrative “info-dumps.” Still, some of
the stories are complicated and ambitious (particularly given Moorcock’s age
at the time they were penned), and a few of the themes and ideas reappear in
Moorcock’s later works.
As “portraits of the artist as a young man,” the Sojan stories remain of interest.
The distinctions between Moorcock’s initial forays into fantasy and his
masterpieces are lessons for aspiring fantasy writers. Summaries of each story
are including here. The full stories were reprinted in "Elric at the End of
Time"...
fiction) first fantasy character. His stories were written in the 1950s, when
Moorcock was a teenager, and were originally published in Tarzan Adventures.
In fact, the first few Sojan stories led to Moorcock becoming the editor of that
pulp. As editor, Moorcock continued the Sojan stories.
Sojan is a swashbuckling, sword-and-planet hero. Although human, he lives on
the twin-sunned planet of Zylor, which was settled by humans fleeing (what
they thought was) the dying Earth generations before. Sojan’s people have lost
much of its technology, but they have retained technology of sorts: they have
dirigibles, air guns, and steel. They divide themselves among civilized and
barbarian nations, dodge air pirates, and untangle political intrigue. Still, their
culture is dependent upon the sword and the steed (in this case, the reptilian
myat). There is no magic or any tangible presence of deities in Zylor.
The dozen Sojan stories show much of the promise of action and creativity of
Moorcock’s later works, but here his execution has yet to be perfected. Not
surprisingly, the stories lack the sophistication that even good young adult
fantasy has. Fight sequences and plot lines suffer from logical leaps, an excess
of convenience or “luck,” and abrupt endings. Some of the tales read more like
sketches; for example, in one story, Sojan learns of and averts a civil war in just
a few pages. Characterization is thin. Dialogue is infested with clichés and
Moorcock’s voice sometimes slips into narrative “info-dumps.” Still, some of
the stories are complicated and ambitious (particularly given Moorcock’s age
at the time they were penned), and a few of the themes and ideas reappear in
Moorcock’s later works.
As “portraits of the artist as a young man,” the Sojan stories remain of interest.
The distinctions between Moorcock’s initial forays into fantasy and his
masterpieces are lessons for aspiring fantasy writers. Summaries of each story
are including here. The full stories were reprinted in "Elric at the End of
Time"...
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| Sojan Shieldbearer By SC Bryce |
Publication History |
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First Printing:
SwordandSorcery.org, Howard
Andrew Jones, ed. (Sept. 3, 2005), at
www.SwordandSorcery.org.
SwordandSorcery.org, Howard
Andrew Jones, ed. (Sept. 3, 2005), at
www.SwordandSorcery.org.