Cosmo Digital

Author: Michael Moorcock
Page Count: 181 pages
Review originally written 6-6-2002

I have wanted to read this book for a long time. Even before I featured the author on my website, I had heard quite a bit about the Elric Saga, and how it was really good if you like Dark Fantasy and the whole Anti-Hero thing. I do like that, and so I made a vow to read the series. However, I was never able to find the first book in the series, until I picked it up at The Bookworm a few days ago.

I was not disappointed with the series, even though I had high expectations of it from hearing so much about it. The story is very character driven, focusing mainly on Elric's inner struggle with morals and how they go against traditions. He is extremely melancholy a lot of the time as he contemplates his personal problems. This introspection on his part makes for a very interesting character.

But even though Elric can sit and be moody for long periods of time, quite a bit happened in the book. It details how his cousin tries to kill him off, and later Elric goes on a quest to save his lover/cousin. Quite a bit of action to fit into 181 pages.

One part of the book I particularly enjoyed was right after Elric's cousin tried to kill him by drowning him in the ocean. After he is saved by spirits of the sea, he immediately goes back and meets his cousin in the throne room, right as Yyrkoon returns. He did not go on some random quest and take the throne later as I thought he might, he did it right then as I hoped he would. It made for a great scene.

One thing that annoyed me was that Elric did not end up killing his cousin Yyrkoon. I know it interfered with his whole moral concept, but I would have killed the bastard off a long time ago. Still, as this is the first book in a series, he might end up killing the guy off in later books. There is still hope.

As this book is the first of a series, there was no real ending. Elric ended up saving his lover and going back to Melnibone, but immediately set out on another quest for some reason. That is where the next book in the series picks up. And now that he has that black sword of his, it is sure to make the next books interesting.

Return to Book Reviews