Elric of Melniboné : Volume 1

Elric of Melnibone, the Fortress of the Pearl, the Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and the Weird of the White Wolf

by Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Samuel Roukin

audio cd

Published March 15, 2022 by Recorded Books, Inc..

ISBN:: 978-1-6650-8563-2

(1 review)

From World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Moorcock comes the first book in his famous Elric of Melniboné series, brought to vivid new life with stunning illustrations.

In one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the 20th century, Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.

Elric of Melnibone is the first in Michael Moorcock’s incredible series, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations. The beautiful, vivid illustrations bring new life to the story and are sure to captivate fans, new and old.

1 edition

jkb reviewed Elric of Melniboné : Volume 1 by Neil Gaiman

Elric is a little meh for me.

3 stars

This was a slog to read. Maybe it's the writing, maybe it's the plot. The characters are formed and knowable but each book in the volume read differently - that is due to them being written at different times.

I do know that I read the first two books before as a teenager, and it was then that I put Elric away. I just didn't care for him. Maybe it's the way women are portrayed, maybe it is just the first book was written for a magazine. I don't know. I'll give this volume 3 stars mainly for the appendix items -meaning I found this to be two stars but gave an extra one due to the work put into the volume.

I may not return to see Elric. Who knows?