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| Art: Robert Gould, Print from artwork for Elric of Melniboné, Berkley 1983 |
The 1972 installment of Michael Moorcock's Elric sequence, Elric of Melniboné, was the first Elric book written directly for the novel market, whereas most of the earlier books were assembled from linked short stories published as installments in science-fiction/fantasy magazines. In the early days of sci-fi, magazines paid better than novels, although this eventually changed once better deals began to be worked out for novel writers. In any case, the two previous Elric books (The Singing Citadel and The Sleeping Sorceress) had filled in the remaining narrative story gaps from the two "original" Elric novels, The Stealer of Souls and Stormbringer. This left open only Elric's history before "The Dreaming City" (the first episode in The Stealer of Souls). Elric of Melniboné and its sequel, The Sailor On the Seas of Fate, therefore exist as a true prequel sequence to the Elric saga, at least as it stood up to that time.
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| Hutchinson 1972, Laurence Cutting |
Moorcock had already begun musing upon life in twilight-era Melniboné after completing the 1967 short "The Singing Citadel", and by the early 1970s a full-blown Melnibonéan culture had been developed in his imagination. Usually more interested in character and allegory than alien "world-building", this novel nonetheless skillfully sketches out the "inhuman" air of a still-thriving Melniboné, and lays the groundwork for future explorations of this period (most notably found in the 2004/2007 comic series "Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer"). Some characteristics of Melniboné in decline were explored in "The Dreaming City", but here Moorcock spends a bit more time on the Bright Empire's island stronghold, and describes a more hopeful period when Elric still sat on the throne.
In fact, this is the only time in the entire Elric saga where the reader can encounter a relatively "happy" Elric, as opposed to the bitterly depressed, self-pitying kin-slayer who surfaces in "The Dreaming City". Here, Elric is blissfully in love with his cousin Cymoril, and has yet to become dependent on (and damned by) a certain Black Blade. Although his nature as a physically-weak, drug dependent albino still assures that his character will never follow in the brawny footsteps of Robert E. Howard's "King Conan", he begins the novel with the potential to be a fair leader, who might yet form a dialogue between the feared "old guard" of ancient Melniboné and the emerging Young Kingdoms of humanity. In fact, the novel opens with Elric having just ascended to the throne in the last year, and mythically-speaking he seems poised to take a Campbell-ian "hero's journey" towards a fall and then a triumphant victory against fearful adversity. Of course, by the time "The Dreaming City" arrives, Elric's progressive (un-Melnibonéan) policies have turned his own people against him, laying the seeds for the Bright Empire's downfall. Come to think of it, there's actually no shortage of allegory in this novel, either.
This early setting also gives Moorcock the opportunity to explore Melnibonéan court intrigue, which contrasts somewhat with the "open-warfare" flavor of back-stabbing found in the Dark Empire courts of the Hawkmoon books, or the more psycho-sexual conflicts found in the more literate-minded fantasy novel Gloriana. Although the conflicts here are generally held in reign by throne-room etiquette (aside from Yyrkoon's more impulsive overtures) the degenerate and bloodthirsty rituals of Melnibonéan tradition (implied human sacrifice, rape festivals and cannibalism) still cast an inhuman light on the affair.
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| Lancer 1972, Charles Moll. Inexplicably renamed The Dreaming City. |
Because Elric's first appearance in 1961's "The Dreaming City" starts "in media res" (mid-story), many of Elric's first encounters with his friends and enemies were not depicted in that story or any others leading up to the final novel, Stormbringer. As a prequel, Elric of Melniboné is able to present some of these "missing episodes". For example, Rackhir the Red Archer first appeared in the non-Elric story "To Rescue Tanelorn..." and is first introduced as Elric's friend in Stormbringer, but this novel shows how Elric first met the warrior Priest of Phum in a strange and bleak netherworld. More importantly, it also describes how Elric first came into the possession of (or perhaps "under the possession of") the runeblade Stormbringer. Other scenes describe Elric's first encounters with the Chaos Duke Arioch and the Elemental sea king Straasha, both of whom would later play key roles in Elric's greater destiny. Although Arioch's earliest appearances in "The Dreaming City" and "While the Gods Laugh" mostly depicted him as a taciturn presence exuding an alien, Lovecraftian malevolence, Moorcock eventually made him into more of a seductive, snake-tongued figure. Therefore, this later novel continues with the more recently-characterized "sardonic" depiction of the Chaos Duke.
“Oh, you are surely the sweetest of all my slaves,” said the Lord of Chaos.
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| DAW 1976, Michael Whelan |
Although written as a complete novel, Elric of Melniboné is split into three "books", each with its own distinctive genre characteristics. Book One is a relatively straightforward tale of waning imperial rule, with Emperor Elric pitted against enemy forces both at court and at sea. From a technical standpoint, this story could almost be considered an historical drama. Book Two shifts into supernatural territories, as Elric begins to call on the aid of newly-met Elemental friends and summonses the Chaos Lord Duke Arioch for the first time. Magic mirrors and "Homeric" vessels which "Travel Over Land and Sea" come into play. In other words, this middle section begins to embrace the conventions of modern mythology ("sword and sorcery"). Book Three however, begins to dabble in a bit of sci-fi surrealism, as Elric visits an alternate plane of the multiverse and encounters Chaos creatures uttering Brechtian dialogue as well as geometrically-diverse architecture somewhat reminiscent of the kind found in German Expressionist cinema (the climax takes place after Elric makes his way through a sphincter at the end of a pulsating intestinal "flesh tunnel"). All of these elements contribute towards a more modern sense of existential horror in the final Book (although there is still a sense of innocent playfulness present as well).
It was a world which seemed to have been drained of all life, where Law and Chaos had once battled and, in their conflict, destroyed all. Were there many planes such as this one? Elric wondered.Nonetheless, the end of the book returns to the environs of Melniboné, and Moorcock leaves room for Elric to have at least one more prequel novel installment before bringing him up to the events of "The Dreaming City".
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| Arrow 1973, Chris Yates |
Brief Summaries
Book One: Elric is the albino ruler of Melniboné, an inhuman empire which has dominated the world for thousands of years from its island capitol of Imrryr. When the mainland "Young Kingdoms"(characterized as xenophobic "barbarians" cut from the same cloth as King Rigenos' people in The Eternal Champion) mount a naval attack on the island, Elric leads the Melnibonéan fleet against these upstart invaders. However, during the battle he is betrayed by his scheming cousin Yyrkoon.
Book Two: Elric's life is saved by the Elemental sea king Straasha, who knows that Elric has a greater destiny in store. When Elric returns to Imrryr and exposes Yyrkoon for his crimes, the devious would-be usurper uses sorcery to escape into the Young Kingdoms, and secretly builds his own invasion fleet at his hideout in Dhoz-Kam, a jungle realm located within the precincts of Oin and Yu (an uncivilized territory somewhat reminiscent of Cambodia). In order to locate Yyrkoon and rescue his kidnapped lover Cymoril, Elric is forced to make a fateful bargain with the Chaos Lord Duke Arioch. As Elric closes in on Yyrkoon's forces, Yyrkoon himself escapes to another plane.
Book Three: With Duke Arioch's aid, Elric follows Yyrkoon to the multiverse-connected city of Ameeron. There, he befriends Rackhir the Red Archer, and together they locate Yyrkoon in a cavern underneath a swamp (reached by a kind of "digestive pathway"). Inside this "Pulsing Cavern", Elric and Yyrkoon engage in a final duel, each now armed with the powerful runeblades Stormbringer and Mournblade, respectively.
A more detailed synopsis can be found at the end of this article.
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| Art: Frank Brunner, from his 1979 Heavy Metal magazine adaptation. |
Although Elric of Melniboné is not as rifled through with references to the Cosmic Balance and the Multiverse as Corum and Erekosë's novels are, it's worth mentioning that throughout most of the novel Elric is armed with the sword of Earl Aubec of Malador, whose drama was described in "Master of Chaos". Additionally, in the bizarre multi-dimensional city of Ameeron, Elric meets a minor sorcerer named Niun Who Knew All, who names "Orland of the Staff" as his jailer. This is likely Orland Fank, a character from the History of the Runestaff (the first Hawkmoon sequence). Additionally, the name Orland is traditionally a variation of "Roland", referring to a legendary character Elric meets in Stormbringer. Niun has been exiled for having "too much knowledge", and a similar transgression would also be made by a character in the following novel, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate. A third instance of multiversal cross-reference occurs when one of the Chaos creatures Elric defeats in Ameeron utters the name "Frank" with its last breath. This is likely intended to imply that this creature is (or was) an incarnation of Frank Cornelius, Jerry Cornelius' nemesis-brother from The Final Programme.
As an incarnation of the Eternal Champion, Elric naturally gets a Companion figure. In this particular tale, that role is essentially filled by the Melnibonéan Dragon Master Dyvim Tvar. In the following novel, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, this role is taken up by Count Smiorgan Baldhead, and a couple episodes later the cheerful Moonglum becomes Elric's primary Companion (starting from the story "While the Gods Laugh"). Of course, all three of these figures perish on the way towards Elric's final destiny...
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| AudioRealms 2003 audiobook, Dalmazio Frau |
The Elric of this "innocent" age is further explored in Moorcock's 2003 "prelude" to the audio book version of this novel, read aloud by Moorcock himself for that particular production (the prelude, not the novel). Appearing 30 years after the novel's initial publication, it opens up future story possibilities by describing the Melnibonéan "dream couches", which allow the dreamer to live out a thousand years as a virtual time-space traveler for every hour spent lying on the couch in "real time". These astral journeys explain how the sorcerers of Melniboné were able to acquire so much arcane lore even at a young age. Thus, a further contrast is drawn between Elric and other fantasy heroes of the era by reinforcing the scholarly nature of Elric's upbringing.
This aspect of Elric's life is even further explored in the DC comic series Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer, which explicitly depicts Elric's virtual journeys into the past history of Melniboné to explain not only Elric's early training, but also the beginnings of Melniboné's own history and its relationship with Chaos and the Elementals. Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer will be further described in a future chapter, but one thing I noticed upon rereading Elric of Melniboné is that one part of the spell Elric uses to summon King Straasha in this novel will be explained in that comic series.
Straasha, eternal king, eternal sea
Thine aid is sought by me;
For enemies of thine and mine
Seek to defeat our destiny, and drain away our sea.
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| Arrow 1975 |
Because DAW books repackaged and re-marketed the Elric saga into six chronologically-ordered paperback volumes in 1977 (each adorned with an eye-catching Michael Whelan cover), for many American readers in the 1970s this novel was their first introduction to Elric. For this reason, it's slightly ironic that this novel has a somewhat more mainstream sword and sorcery flavor to it than Elric's actual first appearance in the genre-subverting short story "The Dreaming City". Although Elric of Melniboné doesn't go out of its way to upend the expectations of fantasy readers like that original Science Fantasy short story did, it works amazingly well simply as a great adventure tale, and could be considered to be Moorcock's most polished fantasy novel up to that particular point in his bibliography. One could argue that Moorcock "perfected" his version of the form here, and his further entries in heroic fantasy would spend more energy pushing the genre itself into new experimental variations (for example towards more overtly humorous, allegorical, and/or post-modern arenas).
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| P. Craig Russell, Graphic Novel collection |
Although this online Moorcock project is not particularly focused on the comic adaptations of MM's works, the 1983 Pacific Comics adaptation (with artwork by P. Craig Russell and Michael T. Gilbert) has so much nostalgic value for me that I think I've included a cover gallery. Click on the images below to see them in their full glory. There is also a fine tribute to this series at this site: https://ifanboy.com/articles/20-years-later-elric-and-the-tale-of-pacific-comics/.
James Cawthorn
As one of the primary artists involved in Elric's creation, it's always enjoyable to see his interpretations of the Doomed Albino's exploits. These plates come from a late 1970s German edition of Elric of Melniboné (the captions are my own).
Frank Brunner
As seen earlier in the image from Heavy Metal, the comic artist Frank Brunner is also known for his Elric renderings. Below are two more fine examples of his work. Brunner's site can be found here.
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| Elric summonses Arioch. |
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| King Grome halts the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea. |
Piotr Jabłoński
More recently, Centipede Press has published a deluxe limited edition of Elric volumes, with the first installment containing the exquisite illustrations of Piotr Jabłoński. More of his work for this project can be seen here.
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| A Melancholy King (Yyrkoon approaches the Ruby Throne) |
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| A Battle: The King Proves His War-Skill (Elric at Sea) |
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| The Thing (Elric against "Frank" in Ameeron). |
Wikipedia
Next Chapter: Elric: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
Previous Chapter: Elric: The Sleeping Sorceress
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| P. Craig Russell, 1983, Pacific Comics |
A detailed synopsis of Elric of Melniboné follows:
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| Arrow 1983, Julek Heller |
Book One
1: A Melancholy King: A Court Strives to
Honour Him
A year after Melnibonéan
Emperor Sadric’s death, his albino son Elric sits on the ruby throne of Imrryr
as its 428th Emperor. During a court masque, Cymoril invites Elric
to a morning outing, and questions his strange curiosity about “guilt”. Prince Yyrkoon,
Elric’s power-hungry cousin (and Cymoril’s brother) arrogantly moves to confront
Elric.
2: An Upstart Prince: He Confronts His
Cousin
Despite Dragon Master Dyvim
Tvar’s concerns, Elric humors Yyrkoon, and then abruptly leaves, cutting Yyrkoon
off. Yyrkoon moves to seat himself on the Ruby Throne in an act of treason, but
is blocked by Dyvim Tvar’s soldiers, and eventually leaves.
3: Riding Through the Morning: A Moment of
Tranquility
The next morning, Elric and
Cymoril ride out to the beach outside the city proper, and have an intimate
tryst. However, during a storm-driven return flight, Cymoril has a premonition
of doom.
4: Prisoners: Their Secrets Are Taken from
Them
Elric meets Doctor Jest at
the Tower of Monshanjik to interrogate captured spies from the southern Kingdoms.
He learns of a planned raid, and orders preparations to intercept the invaders.
5: A Battle: The King Proves His War-Skill
After a war council, Elric’s
battle armor is presented to him, including the legendary sword of Earl Aubec.
Aboard the battle barge The Son of the
Pyarray, Elric and Admiral Magum Colim lead an ambush in the dark sea maze entrance
to Imrryr. During one battle exchange, Elric is taken aback by the disgust the
enemy captain has for Melniboné’s people and rule.
6: Pursuit: A Deliberate Treachery
Yyrkoon pressures Elric into
pursuing some escaped invaders, despite Elric’s pressing need to replenish his
strength with drugs. The battle barges hit the galleys with catapulted flames,
but one flaming vessel rams Elric’s flagship, allowing the other ships to board
in the confusion. After Elric is further weakened in a duel with two boarders, Yyrkoon
kicks him overboard, intending to take the throne for himself.
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| Straasha saves Elric, Art: Michael Whelan, DAW edition |
Book Two
1: The Caverns of the Sea-King
Elric sinks beneath the waves
but involuntarily invokes a spell which brings him to the plane of King Straasha
the water elemental. Straasha restores him and they discuss Elric’s hidden
destiny, after which Elric is transported back to Imrryr.
2: A New Emperor and An Emperor Renewed
As Yyrkoon commands the
battle barges back to Imrryr, Dyvim Tvar (on the ship Terhali’s Particular Satisfaction) thinks about the week-long Wild
Dance of Melniboné (and Misery) to follow the death of Elric. Upon landing,
Cymoril commands a soldier to kill Yyrkoon but the soldier’s own captain cuts
him down. Yyrkoon parades to the Tower of D’a’rputna to ascend the Ruby Throne,
but when he gets there he finds a sardonic Elric waiting there for him.
3: A Traditional Justice
Elric declares a cruel
punishment for Yyrkoon and the Captain, despite his own disgust for the Melnibonéan
tradition. He has mixed emotions about giving in to the expected cruelty of Melnibonéan
tradition. That night, a bloodied Dyvim Tvar arrives with news of Yyrkoon’s
escape and kidnapping of Cymoril. Yyrkoon’s sorcerous “groaning mist” brings
Elric to his knees.
4: To Call the Chaos Lord
With Cymoril and Yyrkoon nowhere
to be found among the Young Kingdoms, Elric strengthens himself physically and
mystically. With a great effort, he makes contact with Arioch, a Duke of Hell,
and pledges his service to the Chaos Lord (and giving the Chaos Lords a footing
on Elric’s plane once again). Arioch informs Elric that Yyrkoon has hidden in
the southern kingdoms of Oin and Yu, with the help of the Mirror of Memory.
5: The Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea
Elric summons aid from King Straasha
once again, who promises to deliver the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea,
which will aid Elric in pursuing Yyrkoon. Dyvim Tvar feels a sense of
foreboding in the sequence of events. The Ship eventually arrives in the morning.
6: What The Earth God Desired
Elric and Dyvim Tvar assemble
a crew for the Ship and they launch (with a false start or two). Grome of the Earth
seems to resent the passage of the Ship over land.
7: King Grome
Stopping at the coast of
Lormyr, they gather information about Oin and Yu. They spy the Mirror of Memory
at the joint capital of the two regions, Dhoz-Kam, mounted and ready to be used
to steal the memories of any who come into its range. They decide to sail over
land in order to make a surprise rear-attack, but are stopped by Grome. Grome
forbids further sailing over land, and so the rear-attack plan is abandoned.
8: The City And the Mirror
As Yyrkoon gloats before a
drugged Cymoril, he is interrupted by news of elemental fire creatures
attacking his men in the streets. When Yyrkoon directs the memory-sapping
Mirror at the Elric’s invading warriors, Elric deploys blind warriors. Yyrkoon
has his Captain smash the Mirror of Memory, which causes seizures among Elric’s
force and kills most of his men. Finding Cymoril under Yyrkoon’s spell of sleep,
Elric accepts help from Arioch to pursue Yyrkoon into the Shade Gate (and take
possession of the legendary runeblades, Stormbringer and Mournblade).
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| Arrow 1979, Art: Peter Andrew Jones |
Book Three
1: Through The Shade Gate
Elric enters the Shade Gate
and arrives in a stark, shadowy world with a cavernous sky. He meets Rackhir
the Red Archer, Warrior Priest of Phum, exiled by Chaos for turning his back on
them.
2: In The City of Ameeron
Arriving in the morose city
of Ameeron, the pair are attacked by animal-men and a shapeshifting “thing”
(later crying out “Frank”). The ancient and smallish sorcerer Niun Who Knew All
helps them defeat their attackers and points out where they must go to find the
runeblades.
3: The Tunnel Under The Marsh
Crossing a hazardous black
march, they enter a moist, fleshy tunnel. Elric eventually passes through a
sphincter into the Pulsing Cavern, where he finds Yyrkoon and the two
runeswords.
4: Two Black Swords
The two swords fly into the
grips of the Melnibonéan Princes and they duel. Elric manages to assume a kind
of domination over Stormbringer, and prevents the sword from outright killing Yyrkoon.
With Yyrkoon disarmed, Mournblade vanishes (as well as Aubec’s sword which
Elric had arrived with). In order to escape from the Pulsing Cavern, Elric is
forced to summon and challenge Arioch’s will, and wins. They are transported
back to Imrryr.
5: The Pale King’s Mercy
Yyrkoon awakens Cymoril from
his spell. During a celebration ball, Elric asks Cymoril to accompany him on a
year-long tour of the Young Kingdoms. She refuses, but Elric feels he must
continue anyways. Naively (and perversely), he decides to put Yyrkoon on the
throne while he is away. Later, on the Isle of the Purple Towns, he parts from
Rackhir, who heads for Tanelorn.
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| Art: Rodney Matthews |
