While only the second of the books written, if its the penultimate in the internal chronology of the series.

Here’s my ranking of his adventures, with mini-reviews, as my own offering to push the pale warrior back into the spotlight. Yet poor Elric himself seems to have been forgotten. So does every talking sword and mention of chaos as a corrupting, antagonistic force. The Witcher owes a huge and obvious debt to the series. There’s no question that Elric has been a huge influence in the development of the fantasy genre. Despite carrying names like Kinslayer and Prince of Ruins, he acts and thinks like a traditional hero much of the time.Īnother surprise is that there’s little out there on the internet by way of fan service. Even his much-vaunted status as an antihero feels in doubt. But after decades of grimdark and cyberpunk and Game of Thrones, it feels tame in comparison.

Perhaps he did in the early sixties when he was first written. What I found most surprising about the whole journey is that to the modern, adult eye, Elric doesn’t feel that transgressive. And with Elric, at least, there was enough pleasure to last me to the end of the series. Then I tried Elric, a series that bowled me over with its transgressive antihero the first time I read it. David Eddings tired me with his empty repetition of stock fantasy motifs. But teenage me is not adult me, and I was surprised and dismayed by my reactions.Ĭonan revolted me with its cheap racism. I combined both by re-reading some of the pulp fantasy classics I encountered as a teenage nerd. While confined to our homes, in a time of crisis, introspection and nostalgia are an understandable, comforting response.

Elric of melnibone