/lit/ - Literature

This was decent entertainment from Moorcock and Elric, the second novel chronologically, but published nearly two decades after Elric Of Melnibone. Compared to the first book this is a more conventional adventure plot, a macguffin to be retrieved from dangerous lands, and a damsel in distress. Elric's grim demeanor is softened by a romantic interest side character, whereby he appears less aloof and more human. This is also largely a travelogue through seven dream realms so there is a lot of surreal and images and whimsy, and considerable crossover with wider Moorcock stories (which I detected without having read Jerry Cornelius) The tone overall is more oriental, adventurous, and less grimdark than previously, and Moorcock's interest remains in proud and fading empires, justice, fate, willpower, chaos and law. For all of this there is still a lot of entertaining action sequences and escapism but nothing unique. It's a 3/5 book, quickly readable over a weekend.