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

Written by Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman

Narrated by Samuel Roukin

From World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Moorcock comes the first volume in his Elric of Melniboné series.

It is one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the twentieth century: the story of Elric, emperor of the dying kingdom of Melniboné. For a hundred centuries the Melnibonéans have ruled from the Dragon Isle of Imrryr.

Now, after years of corruption and decadence, Elric’s amoral cousin Prince Yyrkoon, the brother of his beloved Cymoril, sets his eyes on the Ruby Throne.

Elric must face his treacherous cousin not as a warrior but as a sorcerer king once again in league with the ancient gods of Melniboné, the Chaos Lords, and thus sealing his inexorable fate.

Elric of Melniboné is the first volume in Michael Moorcock’s incredible chronicle, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations.

Volume one of the Elric Saga contains the first novels in the series: Elric of Melniboné, The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705028599

Michael Moorcock

Michael Moorcock is one of the most important and influential figures in speculative fiction and fantasy literature. Listed recently by The Times (London) as among the fifty greatest British writers since 1945, he is the author of 100 books and more than 150 shorter stories in practically every genre. He has been the recipient of several lifetime achievement awards, including the Prix Utopiales, the SFWA Grand Master, the Stoker, and the World Fantasy, and has been inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. He has been awarded the Nebula Award, the World Fantasy Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Guardian Fiction Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. He has been compared to Balzac, Dickens, Dumas, Ian Fleming, Joyce, and Robert E. Howard, to name a few.  

Reviews for Elric of Melniboné

[Miguel Salinas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredible! The forward is a bit perplexing to say the least, but the actual Elric Saga is fantastic and skilfully melds the high fantasy of Tolkien with the sword and sorcery of Howard. The narration is beyond sublime.

[Oso Isko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This collection certainly lives up to Elric's reputation. Loved it.

[Wån Son Gold · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Elric is the best lead character in Heroic Fiction. This is a great introduction.

[kavinay-677830 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It would be really easy to dismiss Elric as tropey pulp fantasy. I mean, it absolutely IS that. But this is a character that first appeared in 1961 and a book that only came together in the early 70s. If anything D&D owes more to Moorcock than even Tolkien.

This is why when Elric is doing some his most stupid emo-princelinging, it helps to remember that pretty much everyone from Drizzt to Lotar and even Kylo Ren can trace their creative lineage back to the original mopey prince of pulp.

[kevn57-163679 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I first read this book around forty years ago, I was looking for an epic fantasy like LOTR and I didn't care for this flawed and tragic hero Elric, but now I can appreciate this novel for the great work of fantasy that it is and my favorite Sword and Sorcery series.

[tobinelliott · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's probably been close to forty years since I read the Elric novels and, though I have a vague memory of kinda sorta digging them, I could remember very little of them.

But lately, I've picked up a couple of Elric graphic novels that I enjoyed, and I've been listening to a lot of Blue Öyster Cult, who has several songs inspired by Elric. So, I went searching for my paperbacks to reread them...and I obviously lent them to some asshole who never got around to returning them. Likely the reason I run a strict policy of never lending any books anymore.

Anyway, by good fortune, while on vacation, I indulged in one of my favourite pastimes, visiting little hole-in-the-wall bookshops in small towns. And there, on the top shelf of the fantasy section, were the first six novels (handy, since I still have the seventh and last one, which I'm loathe to read because I distinctly remember hating it).

I snagged them all, and I'm going through the books again.

And while the plot of the first one seemed to meander a fair amount, I have to say, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

I mean, there's a certain amount of brain-checking at the door required, and you have to accept the 1970s standards of comic book typecasting: The brooding hero, the hero's hot girlfriend who's willing to wait however long it takes to be with him, and also conveniently acts as the standard woman-who-needs-saving occasionally, and finally, the villain who's a villain just because.

So, wrap your head around that, and the rest of the stuff is gravy.

Gotta say, while almost fifty years later, the fantasy genre has a much more seen-it-all done-it-all feel, back then, I have a feeling that Elric was truly something different. Yes, there was magic and gods, sword and sorcery, but it had never been stuffed together quite this way before. It wasn't Tolkien, and it was Robert E. Howard, but it was a pretty solid mash up of the two, with some bonus stuff thrown in for good measure.

Really looking forward to book two.

[antao-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a wee lad I tended to mark passages I enjoyed in my books and so lending them could be rather embarrassing. I remember someone asking me why I'd underlined all the sex scenes in "Rosemary's Baby".... Turns out I was a monster back then. Fortunately I mended my ways. Our home office walls are layered in bookshelves, so loaded they go up to the ceiling. So many books to love, so many books to lose. Back then as I was lending books left and right, every year a few got plucked off the shelves, maybe our guests/friends likely gauging they would never be missed, however, they are still very much missed, as I only keep our favourites (is it our fault the number runs so high?). Me as “home chief librarian” knows every book, where I put it, where it should be. At one time I even though of staunching the loss by turning our library into a lending one (we used to clutch every book tightly, like a favoured child), but some still drift away. The worst thing is: Every guest is a dear friend. We were being thieved by our beloveds. No more! If you’re prone to commit acts of sacrilege like writing in book pages, lend someone a book that you care about getting back - write your name on the inside covers. They have no excuse then for "not knowing who they borrowed it from" and they can't pass it on as a gift! I'm a bit of a bibliophile, even if I only own about 5,000 physical books (don’t how how many electronic ones I’ve got). I had to make a principle decision: I don't borrow books anymore, because they never come back, but my friends can come to my place to read on appointment. Of course in this day and age where people only read food labels in the supermarket, how many ‘friends’ are round at my place, by appointment, reading books from my humble 5000 strong collection on any given decade…?Note to any fucking thief chum reading this: Bring back my beloved “Elric of Melnibone” copy from the 80s, you frigging sod! Because of this I had to make do with an electronic version for this re-read...

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

People who find Witcher somehow derivative of this are being silly. Witcher subverts tropes and has characters who act naturally and are in a way modern in their thinking. This fully embraces all the fantasy tropes and characters are clichés who act out their roles with appropriate pathos and speak in "high fantasy English".

[grimshado-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

By many of today's standards, the writing in Elric seems amateurish and unrefined. It his, however, a solid example of writing in the time it was written.

I must confess that I have been slack in my duties as a lover of Speculative Fiction. I have just read Elric for the first time in my life.

I like that Elric is not the classic, strong warrior of so many fantasy stories. He is strong in his own way, but he is certainly no Conan or Tarzan. His is a strength of will.

The story is engaging for all it's 1960's pulp conventions. A classic Heroic Quest, it is a quick read (about 3 hours for me), though not as quick as the low page count would seem to indicate. The prose is dense despite it's simplicity.

A good book that leaves me wanting to know more about Elric and his world.

[cecrow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The plot of this heroic fantasy from the 1970s is simple but Elric is well-drawn and his scenario is interesting: the virtually immortal emperor of an amoral people, he discovers morality and a conscience. Some of his courtiers take this amiss - his cousin in particular - and challenge his fitness to rule them. Elric is the antithesis of Conan: thin and pale, susceptible to physical weakness and relying on drugs, magic and allies to sustain him. The writing is serviceable and the plot unfolds quickly and engagingly, an example of a short novel that packs a lot in. I didn't get very far with it as a kid, but as an adult I've found a great throwback that I'm glad I returned to. More Elric may be in order.

[katesherrod · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have whole chunks of this book memorized from repeated teenaged readings. It's still awesome.

[wvlibrarydude · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I know this is supposed to be a classic fantasy, but it just doesn't suit me. Too melodramatic, with narration that sucks what little joy there is in the story. I was actually hoping Elric would die and end the misery of his awful life.
Fafhrd and Mouser have so much more to offer.
Conan and other Howard creations may not be as literate, but at least they entertain.
Elric just drowns in his own depression. Edward and Bella should meet their inspiration. Gag!

[danielalgara · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Moorcock is a capable writer, technically. One of the difficulties I had was trying to figure out if the dialogue was cliche because he was one of the epic fantasy forefathers, or if the language was already tired when he wrote it in the '60s. Either way the dialogue is bad and there is almost no actual adventuring, which is what I was looking forward to. We are basically given an outline of events and the reader is not allowed along for the ride. I feel like Moorcock just wrote the "important parts" and skipped all the stuff that might let is into his narrative.

I know there are zealous Moorcock fans who like his style and dig on that kind of "Aye, he'll take the lot of it, if we do nothing." kind of characters, but man. It's just bad

[ftmckinstry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Somehow this glorious gem escaped me all these years. Vintage fantasy, written in an old-world style reminiscent of Norse saga; swords-and-sorcery in a beautifully described, intriguing world. The hero, Elric, is quintessential. Strange even in his own realm of Melniboné—which to the rest of the mortal world is strange enough—he is tormented and full of insecurities. Yet he is brilliant, and through power and courage drawn from an ancient lineage, he overcomes his shortcomings in revolutionary, scandalous, and dangerous ways. While unnerving to most, he has honor and in the end, he risks all for the woman he loves. A powerful start to a cool series.

[don.a · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although it's the first book in the series, it's not the first one written, and it shows. In my opinion, the earlier stories were the more original of the lot (which I'm currently reading, collected in the 'Stormbringer' volume). This one reads more like the outline of a story, with some very good ideas, but not a lot of development of them.

[isabelx_21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When he had meditated for more than five hours Elric took a brush and a jar of ink and began to paint both walls and floor with complicated symbols, some of which were so intricate that they seemed to disappear at an angle to the surface on which they had been laid. At last this was done and Elric spreadeagled himself in the very centre of his huge rune, face down, one hand upon his grimoire, the other (with the Actorios upon it) stretched palm down. The moon was full. A shaft of its light fell directly upon Elric's head, turning the hair to silver. And then the Summoning began.The first book in the ELric series turned up at the local BookCrossing meet, and I decided to take it because although I've read "Elric at the end of Time" and a few of the short stories over the years, I have never read this one before.Elric, the young Emporor of Melnibone, the Dragon isle, faces competition at home (from his ruthless and treacherous cousin Prince Yyrkoon) and abroad (due tot he rise of the human-rules Young Kingdoms). In the past his ancestors were powerful sorcerors who called upon the demon lord Duke Arioch for help, but Elric is trying to rule in another way until his cousin forces his hand.I think I would have prefered this when I was younger; I am probably too old for sword and sorcery tales nowadays.

[helver_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Elric is the new emperor of Melnibone. He is introspective and considering - traits uncommon and unappreciated in a Melnibonean emperor. He is also an albino and afflicted with fits of exhaustion that would have killed him long ago if not for a regimen of drugs and potions that return some portion of his vigor. In short, he is viewed as weak and eccentric. His cousin, Yyrknoon, is more open and more ambitious than most. This first volume of the Elric saga tells of Yyrkoon's treachery and how Elric strives to solidify his claim to the throne without becoming something that he is not. It's a tight rope to walk and Elric does as well as can be hoped.

[alejandroalarcn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although it's the first book in the series, it's not the first one written, and it shows. In my opinion, the earlier stories were the more original of the lot (which I'm currently reading, collected in the 'Stormbringer' volume). This one reads more like the outline of a story, with some very good ideas, but not a lot of development of them.

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first of the six Elric books; the series is supposed to the be the quintessential dark fantasy and ground-breaking when published in the 60s and 70s for its anti-hero protagonist. Neil Gaiman is a fan. A blurb on the cover by Michael Chabon called the author "the greatest writer of post-Tolkien British fantasy." I can't say this book lives up to that kind of praise. The imagery is lush, the prose lyrical and the imagination prodigious no question. I'm not about to forget the description of the "Dreaming City" of Imrryr with scintillating towers of "a thousand soft colours" or their "battle-barges armoured in gold." Or the court filled with the sounds of singer-slaves "specially trained and surgically operated upon to sing but one perfect note each." Or the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea. Then there's the title character, Emperor Elric, the occupier of the Ruby Throne: a sorcerer and warrior, a sickly albino troubled by a conscience alien to his people, gloomy and brooding (and at times too stupid to live). The Melnibonéans are never called elves, but remind me of them in their beauty, power and alien feel. I like the idea of Elric's character--not exactly your typical hulking hero or orphan boy of destiny(tm). However, he and the other characters still come across as sketchy to me, the style pulp. (There is "yonder" and "thus" and "thee" and very few contractions in the dialogue.) The ending felt abrupt to me. It's a quick, light short read though--only 180 pages. I hear the Elric novels became more disturbing as they went along--based on the first I'm not inclined to seek out the others. However, they were made into graphic novels--now that I might want to look up--somehow I think that would suit this style and character.

[xicanti_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Elric, Emperor of once-great Melniboné, is a contemplative, scholarly albino, sustained by a rigorous cocktail of drugs. There are many among his court who feel that such a weak Emperor has no right to rule, and their time has come. One of Elric's greatest rivals is about to step forward to challenge him, and their conflict will forever change their world.I wasn't all that crazy about this one. I read for character, above all else, and I'm also pretty big on setting and style. I'm not sure that characterization is Moorcock's strong suit, his setting is decent but rather sketchy, and his style didn't really sway me one way or the other.But I kept on reading because I wanted to understand why Moorcock is such a big deal. I don't know enough about the state of pre-Elric fantasy to say for sure, but I wonder if perhaps it's the focus on morality that sets this series apart from its predecessors. Moorcock still utilizes many standard tropes--including damsels in distress, evil usurpers and daring rescues--but the moral element sets the story apart.Melniboné is not such a nice place. The Melniboneans do whatever makes them happy, even if it screws everyone else over. Elric, however, is different. He's spent a lot of time thinking about the way he relates to the world, and he's decided that the Melnibonean way just isn't for him.And yet, this isn't an earthshaking revelation. Elric doesn't necessarily want to turn his back on Melniboné and everyone in it. He doesn't even think that his friends ought to take more of an interest in morality and ethics. He's still one of them insofar as his moral dilemmas are his own. His preoccupations please him, and he wants to change himself, but he's none too concerned about the world. It's not about improving things. It's about his inner life. I thought that was a fairly stance for a recently-moralized character to take.(A much longer, more involved version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina. There's also some good discussion in the comments).

[endersreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Sword and Sorcery genre has been a bit neglected by me (other than Howard's Conan). Thus, this was my first encounter with either Moorcock or Elric. I must say that I will be coming back! I was delighted at how well written Elric of Melnibone was!This novel made me want to get my hands on the Finnish "Kalevala", which influenced the Elric novels, as it has many other novels. Moorcock has also got me interested in the "Monsieur Zenith" pulp fictions, which he says he drew heavily upon for the creation of Elric. I also will be keeping my eye out for Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword". There are quite a few dark themes running here, henceforth Elric as an anti-hero. It will be interesting to see how well he fares, as his own conscience has warned him of the Left-Hand path that he is on. I might point out that Arioch is a name with quite a bit of historicity to it in reality.I will say lastly that the imagery and the tale are quite rich and memorable here. I particularly was fond of the Melnibone ships. This is one of those novels that gives you that warm tingle in the gut. Good stuff!

[rodrichards_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yes, I seem to be in something of a science fiction/fantasy pattern in recent reading. Nostalgic, entertaining...Moorcock brings back the excitement of the sf/fantasy of the 60's and 70's, when it took on literary techniques and dark themes from the culture. This reminds me of how much I enjoyed the first few books in Roger Zelazny's Amber series. And there's a lot more Elric to read.

[shrike58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having avoided these books in my teens when they were fresh and new, and when I really didn't care about fantasy apart from Tolkein, I've allowed a friend to put me up to reading the series. My initial impression is positive, as the intellectual and restrained (at least by the standards of Melnibone) Elric finds himself forced to be a man of action, when he'd mostly rather be a philosopher king. Seeing as anyone with even a brief impression of the series knows that this is all going to turn out badly, this tale is also drenched in irony; the point of it all will be the journey, not the destination.

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED Elric when I was, oh, 17.

[karlstar_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The original Elric novel that started the entire saga. Different in tone, style and subject than Tolkien. it is one of fantasy's best and perhaps original 'anti-hero' novels. Unlike many of today's novels, it isn't about world-spanning wars between hosts of characters, but mostly about Elric's quest to stay alive, and master his evil blade.

[ensorceled_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The entire Elric series is done in an episodic manner; each book is really a collection of novella's where the reader accompanies Elric in his many adventures for a short period of time. The stories are coherent but inconsistent, Elric changes in subtle ways and the details of his life and memories seem to conflict in minor ways with what was revealed in previous stories.The reader must simply shrug, remember that Elric is a servant of Chaos, and continue on the journey.

[clong_818048 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Elric saga seems to hold a key place within the canon of dark fantasy, comparable to the place of Tolkien in the pantheon of the high fantasy of elves, coming of age quests, and epic battles of good against evil. In the preface to the version I read, Moorcock described his early Elric stories as a kind of reaction against Tolkien, a return to the fantasy roots of Edgar Rice Burroughs leavened with a healthy dose of the American Beats and French Existentialists. He also acknowledges the influence of Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword. This first book tells the story of how Elric was transformed from a sickly but contemplative king into an itinerant adventurer. It is a quick read, with a plot that moves from scene to scene with hardly a pause for breath. The various settings are inventive and intriguing and at times surreal, without really giving the sense of a cohesive whole that fits together in any way. The characters are rather one dimensional. Elric is a thoughtful hero in a violent, unthinking world. His cousin will do anything to take the throne that he believes should have been his. Elric's love interest seems to exist for the sole reason of needing to be rescued. The Gods deal with mortals only to further their own internecine machinations. I picked this up to check out the top rated series at iblist. And it's easy to see why readers enjoy these stories. I will definitely plan to read more.