So I got around to reading the Elric novels because of recommendations that it was the Anti-Tolkien, Anti-Conan. Having read the full Chronicles of thSo I got around to reading the Elric novels because of recommendations that it was the Anti-Tolkien, Anti-Conan. Having read the full Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melnibone series basically this review is for them all.
Wow these are fun books! I had a blast reading them! Moorcock isn't the greatest at developing things and letting you sit still and savoring the sights and sounds, very much, except in the first book where we see Melnibone and the character of Elric, his love and his rival. The city is interesting as they basically dream on couches and transport themselves to other places realms in the Multiverse (if i'm correct) or even in their own world.
The character of Elric is definitely unique from your typical hero, he's not physically strong, actually weak in need of potions/drugs/herbs? to maintain, often useless in a fight, "Arioch I need you!" basically every time lol. He kind of broods about contemplating existence, his people, what once was. And his sword Stormbringer is unique also as it can steal the souls of its slain.
The Multiverse. And how Chaos has hold of many things. This was a brilliant idea that allows the surrealism to shine forth. Anything and everything can happen. Moorcock throws it all and the kitchen sink. Again, his writing style is very fast paced, one scene Elric and co. are wondering an ice landscape, the next he comes across a mysterious tower, does battle with deformed kind of demon, transforms into a combination of six incarnations of himself from different times, then he makes a pact with a Duke of Hell, fights a Lord of Chaos...
I'm exaggerating slightly, but it feels like that, one adventure after another. They are fun books where fantasy isn't constrained by the mundane world or a medieval setting but can go in wild unpredictable directions. ...more
I remember reading Luna New Moon and liking it, the families vying for control of the Moon I guess or maybe it was the Helium-3? The book dYa lost me.
I remember reading Luna New Moon and liking it, the families vying for control of the Moon I guess or maybe it was the Helium-3? The book definitely gave me a Godfather vibe, especially Rafa Corta I think or one of the Cortas the one who has the assassination attempt on him by the poison insect drone thing reminded me of Sonny Carleone. I like the idea how people who live in this moon society can't go back on Earth for risk of their body being too weak from the difference in gravity, how Adriana Corta worked her way from a poor favilla in Brazil to the head of the mining company and her vision for her family. The knife combats were reminsecent of Dune except in low gravity. But this book, wow, I remember nothing.
I remember something about there being a werewolf and one of the kids, Lucas, Lucansio? Corta joining up with them. I remember a character makes a return trip back to Earth and back to the moon where he regains power, over...? Compared to the first book, this one was just either too confusing, or not memorable. I don't really have any interest in reading the final book....more
Overall I liked it, some funny stuff ie the cop getting bloated from eating excess of carbs in his diet, (a lot of Indian cuisine is loaded with carbsOverall I liked it, some funny stuff ie the cop getting bloated from eating excess of carbs in his diet, (a lot of Indian cuisine is loaded with carbs). I liked Tal and thought (yee/ or yet if I remember?) had an interesting plotline. The physicist zero gravity plot line went over my head, (I'm not a math/sciency person). Shiv I think it was story kind of ended abruptly felt real and brutal, as did some of the other characters. The third act is kind was kind of depressing but I suppose everything sort of lead up to it dealing with what everyone had to deal with. Again, I'm bad at remembering details long after I read something, but I do remember enjoying the way I similarly enjoyed the story to the original Deus Ex game. I don't really know whats going on all the time, its overwhelming, but the scope and scale of it is fun. Also its a cyberpunk story set in India which is refreshing for the genre....more
I have no idea what the theme/themes of this book are about, what any of it means but I was MESMERIZED the whole way through. Is it sci fi? Is it romaI have no idea what the theme/themes of this book are about, what any of it means but I was MESMERIZED the whole way through. Is it sci fi? Is it romance? Is it speculative fiction? Is it weird fiction? I mean WHAT IS THIS? Its so strange and bizarre. You have a world with multiple moons, a cult, a hitwoman/assassin type, an editor a girl who relays her story, these weird tiny people that come out of build chrysalis? A dying father. I couldn't wait to turn the next page to find out where Murakami was going with this.
That is a skill of a great writer. Also that something I never usually read or am interest in reading, ie romances, he managed to actually kept me in suspense, and I generally cared for the characters/romance. A lot of reading this I felt a kind of peacefulness, serenity of the landscape, the trains, the nursing home, the way Murakami chooses to describe certain things. Even the murder that happens, (one of the I think several?) feels like its in a dream, while another seems particularly brutal.
Minimalist style? I'm not sure what you'd call it.
The only gripe I had was with the ending, but even then I'm not sure what happens. Did he leave certain threads for secondary characters open? Did it end the way I think it did?
This story was unlike anything I've read before yet memorable and its characters will stick with me for a long time....more
I really enjoyed it. I like King's take on the vampire being more of the classical vampires before vampires were absolutely ruined in current fiction I really enjoyed it. I like King's take on the vampire being more of the classical vampires before vampires were absolutely ruined in current fiction and YA. For someone looking for when vampires were menacing, evil, merciless beings this will not disappoint. Father Callahan, Barlow being the most memorable of the characters, but minor characters in small town situations such as the wife's affair made it seem grounded and more realistic of a small town and what goes on its peoples lives. Not my absolute favorite version of the vampire mythos, that would probably be Fever Dream, but a solid read....more
Terrible final book to a trilogy. BOTCHED (to use a non offensive term) the ending royally which is why the low rating. One cool thing about it was a Terrible final book to a trilogy. BOTCHED (to use a non offensive term) the ending royally which is why the low rating. One cool thing about it was a modern machine is introduced that uses the daemon technology. That was cool. The battles were cool. Fisk and Shoe are interesting protagonists as well as the rest of the cast. But without spoiling anything, boy that final act was a hastily written trash fire, and the final sacrifice of a character, plus the final line was awful.
NOTE TO FANTASY AUTHORS: Your story does NOT need dragons. Please just don't just throw them in there, especially on your final act, for the sake of having them. ...more
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