Elric of Melniboné

Book One of The Elric Saga The Elric Saga, #01

by Michael Moorcock

Mass Market Paperback, 192 pages

English language

Published Sept. 13, 1996 by ACE Charter.

ISBN:: 978-0-441-20398-7
OCLC Number:: 17985685

(53 reviews)

Elric of Melniboné is a requisite title in the hard fantasy canon, a book no fantasy fan should leave unread. Author Michael Moorcock, already a major player in science fiction, cemented his position in the fantasy pantheon with the five-book Elric saga, of which Elric of Melniboné is the first installment. The book's namesake, the brooding albino emperor of the dying nation of Melniboné, is a sort of Superman for Goths, truly an archetype of the genre.

The youthful Elric is a cynical and melancholy king, heir to a nation whose 100,000-year rule of the world ended less than 500 years hence. More interested in brooding contemplation than holding the throne, Elric is a reluctant ruler, but he also realizes that no other worthy successor exists and the survival of his once-powerful, decadent nation depends on him alone. Elric's nefarious, brutish cousin Yrkoon has no patience for his physically weak kinsman, and he plots constantly to seize Elric's throne, usually over his dead body. Elric of Melniboné follows Yrkoon's scheming, reaching its climax in a battle between Elric and Yrkoon with the demonic runeblades Stormbringer and Mournblade. In this battle, Elric gains control of the soul-stealing Stormbringer, an event that proves pivotal to the Elric saga. —Paul Hughes

11 editions

Author & Reader reviewed Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock (The Elric Saga, #01)

Review of 'Elric of Melniboné' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Reading this book was more about the size of the paperback and the fact that I read it as a teen. I wanted a Conan style adventure with my favorite merciful, questioning, conscience anti-hero. I got that, but I also felt the thrill of recalling Moorcock's multiverse, and Eternal Champion stuff -- like when the demon mutant beast cries out its name as Elric slays him, "Frank." Now I know Frank Cornelius's fate. Frank was the brother and enemy of Jerry Cornelius. Moorcock's multiverse may be one of the best marketing strategies in the genre.

I'm looking forward to continuing the saga.

JDlafontaine reviewed Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock (The Elric Saga, #01)

Review of 'Elric of Melniboné' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Great introduction, can't wait to read the sequels

B. Zelkovich reviewed Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock (The Elric Saga, #01)

Review of 'Elric of Melniboné' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I know this is the unpopular opinion, but this book was awful. For such a short book it just seemed to drag on and on. Elric was melodramatic and dismissive of his two closest friends. He was supposed to be the enlightened of the Melnibonéans and yet he could hardly conceive a scenario in which he might be wrong. I spent the majority of this book wondering why I kept reading. I won't be back for the sequels.