Dorian Hawkmoon, a less dark champion than Elric, still fascinating - Rated 
The coruscating, decadent world of the runestaff and of Dorian Hawkmoon is a triumph of the imagination. More positive than Elric, less haunted than Corum, Dorian Hawkmoon is a very convincing and sympathetic Eternal Champion. The alternate reality Moorcock depicts is also original and intriguing, as are the martian fantasies of Leigh brackett and c.l. moore.
An incredible work of fiction - Rated
In a collection of books that put Lord of the Rings and many other fantasy writers to shame, Moorcock weaves a story of fantasy and chaos, of hope and desperation.
The four books project you into a very dark and bloody past, through which tales of pure excitement, adventure, and moments of nail-biting fear, will force you to turn pages frantically, to discover the plight of the characters. There are no moments of boredom, and the writing style and plots are both of the highest calibre. They culminate into a ending of spectacular genius, of which the four books are worth reading in order just to see.
The world feels extremely real, and the author writes in a way that makes it feel three-dimensional; that it extends far and wide, and beyond the scope of where the story leads you. The characters in it are superbly handled, as befitting of a fantasy story, without unbearable clichés but with descriptive vigour that defines them clearly and attaches their well-being (or in the case of the wickedly evil characters, their misfortune) to your emotions, making each page turn more exciting.
These books are old, and have been republished so many times it should quell any doubt as to whether they are worthy of reading. If you love fantasy, you will love these books.
A major influence - Rated
A major influence on writers like M.John Harrison, China Mieville, David Gemmell and dozens of others, this book is made up of four more or less independent novels, each following on from the other. This is a future world dominated by the Dark Empire of Granbretan whose neurotic warrior castes wear heavy masks to which they are deeply attached. They are slowly conquering Europe and those who resist them are ruthlessly extinguished. Dorian Hawkmoon, Prince of Koln (Cologne) is dragged back to Granbretan in chains and there they plan to use him to betray Count Brass of the Kamarg, one of the few independent kingdoms holding out against them. They imbet a black jewel in his skull by which they will be able to trace his movements and see what he sees. Unfortunately they don't allow for the power of love. Hawkmoon falls in love with Ysselda of Brass, the Count's daughter, and then begins a series of action-packed tales which don't slacken until the very last page, full of colour, brooding Gothic landscapes,
battles and blood. It's easy to see how this book was a seminal work, as Moorcock's Elric stories were, on the generations which came after it. It's also very easy to enjoy wholeheartedly for what it is and what it was always intended to be. It's a rattling good tale of demons, heroes, magic and corrupted science which makes it the forerunner of all the 'new wave' science fantasy (magic and science mixed, frequently against the background of almost Dickensian London) being published today. And it's still better than everything which
came after it!
|
