bllklly@uwmacc.UUCP (Bill Kelly) (05/20/85)
I just finished reading Michael Moorcock's "Elric at the End of Time".
I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a Moorcock/Elric completist.
Although it's billed as 'the seventh book of Elric of Melnibone,' it
actually contains just two Elric short stories, which I would not rank
among the best of the series. These occur during some of the earlier
books, with (weak) plot devices to keep them from contradicting what was
already written. ("...you will recall every incident that occurred...but
only in your dreams.) If you're a fan of Moorcock's other series(es?), you
may enjoy the title story, which brings together Elric with Una Persson et
al. Otherwise, the story is pretty inconsequential.
There is an interesting essay by Moorcock on the symbolism and
philosophy behind the Elric stories. Again, for completists.
The rest is pretty much filler. There are several sword and sorcery
stories about Sojan Shieldbearer, which Moorcock wrote at 17. To tell the
truth, they're not very good. There's also a history of New Worlds
magazine, and an amusing, unrelated short story.
I was disappointed by this book, because it's not what I expected --
another volume in the Elric series. That's what the front and back cover
and inside page implied to me. That'll teach me to look for a table of
contents! Don't be fooled.
P.S. Another great Michael Whelan cover -- almost worth the price of
the book. Now if only he could get it through his head that Elric's
strength comes from sorcery and drugs, not from bulging muscles!
--
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(Not many people live by a code these days.)goldman@umn-cs.UUCP (Matthew D. Goldman ) (05/22/85)
I liked it. It gave an interesting insite to yet another aspect of MM's
universe.
--
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Matthew Goldman
Computer Science Department
University of Minnesota
...ihnp4{!stolaf}!umn-cs!goldman
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