The Silver Warriors (1973)

Second volumes rarely live up to the first. Setting aside some obvious exceptions (like The Empire Strikes Back), you expect sophomore efforts to lack the originality of the first. In the first volume you build the world, in the second volume you work within it.

Fortunately, Phoenix in Obsidian bucks this trend. This second book in Moorcock's Eternal Champion series feels like a new start. While the characters still feel unidimensional, the world they inhabit is fleshed out in intriguing detail. Where the first volume focused on hack-and-slash style action, the second book is more of a metaphysical mystery.

After finishing this volume, I quickly found a second-hand copy of the third book in the series and ordered it online. Now I need to see how John Decker's story arc ends! ( )

My edition 1979 ( )

Phoenix in Obsidian

By Michael Moorcock

Publisher: White Wolf Publishing

Published In: Clarkston, Georgia, USA

Date: 1970

Pgs: 138

Summary:

The Champion awakes in another world, drawn away from his idyllic life with his Eldren princess Ermizhad. Awakes to a world of men at war with the Silver Warriors from the Moon, a Moon crashlanded on the far side of this dying Earth. Bear chariots, the Black Sword, giant sea beasts, and a city filled and fueled by debauchery greet the Champion in this next step along the multiverse in another of his guises, Ulrik Von Skarsol.

Genre:

Sword and sorcery, militaria, alien worlds, alternate worlds, alternate history, science fiction, fantasy

Main Character:

Ulrik Von Skarsol

Favorite Character:

Ulrik Von Skarsol. This aspect of the Champion is more the tortured soul than the previous aspects. He is more in line with my expectations. Love the bear chariot. The wielder of the Black Sword is still being pulled along by his odd destiny and the blood hunger of the sword that he hates.

Least Favorite Character:

Lord Shanosfane. This severely austere character in the midst of the decadence of Rowenarc, probably had more answers than he gave, but he chose his exit too easily.

Favorite Scene:

When Ulrik awakens at the reins of the bear chariot going hellbent for leather across the icy wastes of this alien Earth with it’s small red sun way up in the sky.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:

Who or what were the Silver Warriors in the greater scheme of things? Were they just silver skinned humanity who had taken up residence on the Moon before it’s crashing or were they from somewhere else? Were they Eldrenkin?

Last Page Sound:

Ah…birth pangs.

Author Assessment:

I love him. And am probably going to seek out more of the Eternal Champion series.

Disposition of Book:

Keep it ( )

The second book in the Erekose series find our reluctant hero happy on earth as a member of the Eldren community - finally at peace after he exterminated the human race. He is in love. He is content. Until the Ghost Worlds come closer, bring with them the dreams of another people calling upon the Eternal Champion. He fights it and denies his fate, but eventually is transported to another Earth - one where humanity is beset by Silver Warriors - beings from the Moon with advanced technological capabilities. Reluctantly, Urlik Skarsol (our hero's incarnation on this realm) takes up the Black Sword in defense of humanity. But the Sword exacts its price. As always. ( )

Erekose, the Eternal Champion , is pulled from a century of peaceful life with the Eldren into another world and another incarnation as Urlik Skarsol, on a far future frozen Earth. His mission is apparently to save the remnants of humanity from a race known as the Silver Warriors. To do so, he is once again tempted to use the Black Sword, and must pay the price for doing so.

This is a fairly short simple fantasy novel where the conflict is more about the hero being forced to accept who is his and what his destiny entails than it is about the external conflicts he faces. Worth reading, especially for those familiar with other of Moorcock's Eternal Champion books. ( )