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

De: Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman - Foreword

Narrado por: 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.

©2021 Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman (P)2021 Recorded Books

Sweet nostalgia at last!

Absolutely loved the Elric series when I was young. Couldn’t wait for the audiobook to finally land. First chapter is Neil Gaiman reading his graphic novel, “One Life: Furnished in Michael Moorcock” as an intro. From there it jumps right into Elric in the throne room and we’re off! So far the narrator is on point and very listenable. Got my coffee, my headphones and Elric - life is good!

The Eternal Champion once again!

Always loved Elric ever since finding him as a young teen back in the early 80’s. He’s not your typical hero, and that always appealed to me as I wasn’t your typical teen in some ways.

The narrator does well and is enjoyable to listen to, and the story is absolutely a classic. Great for those long hauls when I don’t feel like another podcast episode, buddies are all sleeping, and I don’t feel like learning something and just want to relax, drive, and listen!

WTH is up with the forward?

I was looking forward to hear Neil's thoughts on Morcock. I did not expect that much on, nvm. Disappointed I didn't get to hear how Elric influenced his own stories. I think Neil needs counseling about what happened in his youth. Also is there a statue of limitations in England?

Overall worth listening to

So let’s go ahead and get a few things out of the way. I have not heard of Elric prior to picking this up. I’m also early 30s, so I find it shocking that I’ve somehow never heard of him as a character.

That said, the book itself was very interesting. It’s easy to see all the characters popular today that have clearly taken strong inspiration from this.

In regards to the is production. Skip the forward completely, it’s extremely awkward and off putting. Also, bear with the narrator as he is a tad drony and calls Elric “Eric” constantly.

Stands the test of time

Was worried it wouldn't stand the test of time from when I originally read it decades ago. It held up, and is some of the better stuff I read for a long time as far as characters, environments, encounters.

1st and still Best

Elric laid the groundwork for many a modern Fantasy from the 8 pointed star of Chaos seen in Warhammer to the Witcher series which "borrowed" more than a few things.
Collecting so much of the Elric series together in a convenient format is an excellent way to experience the books that did it first and debatably still better than the stories that it inspired.
Even if the person reading it can't seem to keep the title character's name straight.

Fantastic stories, let down by the narration

I have loved Moorcock’s worlds since I discovered them in my teens, and maybe it was those adolescent genes that found the tortured, brooding prince so fascinating. But I also loved both Corum and Hawkmoon and their various companions. I didn’t always liked everything he wrote but these were and are superlative.

I’ve taken to listening to Audible in the car and at the gym, so falling into an Elric audio book is like donning a comfortable, favourite pair of slippers. Or so it should be.

The stories are full of the same awesomeness and high fantasy. The problem is with the narration. As some other reviewers have already said, this is about Elric. Not Eric! Stormbringer should eat his soul for that alone. His accents are the other problem as the action narration is strong and vibrant, it brings you along with it. But can someone explain to me how the admiral of the fleet of Melnibome, a scion and lord of the dragon isle, sounds like he was brought up as a farmer from Devon? He sounds like my dad! And the warriors of Melnibome, from Kent? I couldn’t work out at first if Oona was an Irish Jamaican but he seemed to settle on the Emerald Isle as her birthplace.

So in summary, amazing books, the narration is passable and specially due the action scenes but please, be warned of the wrench you’ll get in your ears when characters you know to be louche, educated, sophisticated and devious instead remind you of a bored kid on an overground train in the wilderness of south east London or that a farmer from the south west of England inadvertently wandered into the multiverse and, unbeknownst to the half humans, became one of their lords.

more moorecock!

Michael moorecock is a fantastic writer and we need more of his books on audible!

Great rendition, good stories

I enjoyed this book primarily due to the excellent reading by the narrator. Well done!

Awesome fun

so much to love about this series. Ulrich is an amazing protagonist and it's so much fun being a part of the journey as he lives A thousand lives