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Elric, the albino sorcerer and heir to the kingdom of Melnibone, is tricked into helping an evil lord of Quarzhasaat search for the Pearl at the Heart of the World. The sequel is The Revenge of the Rose (1991). The preceding volumes in the saga are Elric of Melnibone (1972, 1986, 1992; abridged as The Dreaming Jewels, 1972); The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (1976, 1987, 1989); The Weird of the White Wolf (1977, 1983, 1989); The Vanishing Tower (1970, 1977, 1983; also titled: The Sleeping show more Sorceress, 1971); The Bane of the Black Pearl (1977, 1984); Stormbringer (1965; rev. ed. 1977, 1984); and Elric at the End of Time (1985, 1986). Two related titles are The Stealer of Souls and Other Stories (1965) and Elric, the Return to Melnibone (1973). show lessTags
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This was a very long awaited addition to the Elric Saga. Unfortunately, for me it did not live up to the original books. It didn't have the same alien feel, the same mysticism and strangeness that his earliest books had. This one is perhaps a little darker and more drawn out, less of Elric just going out and being Elric. I still enjoyed it though. Mediocre Moorcock is better than a lot of writers.
In this post I review some the themes (and frustrations) I identified when reading [b:The Fortress of the Pearl|594574|The Fortress of the Pearl (The Elric Saga, #8)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1265756984s/594574.jpg|1479741] by [a:Michael Moorcock|16939|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1222901251p2/16939.jpg].
Firstly, I was (and still am) a great fan of the Elric books having read these extensively as a teenager. This story takes place during a previously ambiguous period between [b:Elric of Melniboné|30036|Elric of Melniboné (Elric, #1)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388345555s/30036.jpg|388812] and [b:The Sailor on the Seas of show more Fate|60154|The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Elric, #2)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1352574936s/60154.jpg|1777516] and has Elric questing (as usual) following on from inadvertently swallowing some slow acting poison. He needs to retrieve the "Pearl at the Heart of the World" to receive the antidote. The journey takes him through a dream world where reality is distorted and warped. In addition to the antidote Elric will also secure the release of a young boy who has been taken hostage.
The book is split into three parts: parts I and III are more in line with the previous Elric books, in terms of thrills, composition and construction. In these sections you have the characteristic elements which you’ve come across before in terms of rich descriptions of cultures and civilizations, plus the usual strange mix of characters all underpinned with ruthless action.
The first issue I had concerned the reason for the quest itself. Here we have a mighty warrior, aided by magic and a sword which sucks your soul out of you. Why didn't Elric just beat the living daylights out of the villain and get the antidote immediately after swallowing the poison (in fact he does as much towards the end of the book anyway, practically killing everyone in the entire city)? Also, why is he so bothered about one boy? Like I've just said he practically kills everyone anyway, plus in previous books he slaughters many innocents basically because they just got in his way.
As ever the book uses the idea of the multiverse:
This idea is explored further in part II via an exploration of the nature of dreams and reality. Each of the dream worlds Elric passes through tries to entice Elric to attain unreachable desires in different ways but ultimately suggests that spiritual nourishment is an important as physical.
So in summary, not one of the best Elric stories as there was too much philosophizing which slowed down the action to a meandering snail’s pace at times and although you could read [b:The Fortress of the Pearl|594574|The Fortress of the Pearl (The Elric Saga, #8)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1265756984s/594574.jpg|1479741] as a stand-alone novel I would suggest that your read the rest of the series first to set this story into context. show less
Firstly, I was (and still am) a great fan of the Elric books having read these extensively as a teenager. This story takes place during a previously ambiguous period between [b:Elric of Melniboné|30036|Elric of Melniboné (Elric, #1)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388345555s/30036.jpg|388812] and [b:The Sailor on the Seas of show more Fate|60154|The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Elric, #2)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1352574936s/60154.jpg|1777516] and has Elric questing (as usual) following on from inadvertently swallowing some slow acting poison. He needs to retrieve the "Pearl at the Heart of the World" to receive the antidote. The journey takes him through a dream world where reality is distorted and warped. In addition to the antidote Elric will also secure the release of a young boy who has been taken hostage.
The book is split into three parts: parts I and III are more in line with the previous Elric books, in terms of thrills, composition and construction. In these sections you have the characteristic elements which you’ve come across before in terms of rich descriptions of cultures and civilizations, plus the usual strange mix of characters all underpinned with ruthless action.
The first issue I had concerned the reason for the quest itself. Here we have a mighty warrior, aided by magic and a sword which sucks your soul out of you. Why didn't Elric just beat the living daylights out of the villain and get the antidote immediately after swallowing the poison (in fact he does as much towards the end of the book anyway, practically killing everyone in the entire city)? Also, why is he so bothered about one boy? Like I've just said he practically kills everyone anyway, plus in previous books he slaughters many innocents basically because they just got in his way.
As ever the book uses the idea of the multiverse:
"There is an infinity of worlds and some are yet unborn, some so old they have grown senile, some born of dreams, some destroyed by nightmares."
This idea is explored further in part II via an exploration of the nature of dreams and reality. Each of the dream worlds Elric passes through tries to entice Elric to attain unreachable desires in different ways but ultimately suggests that spiritual nourishment is an important as physical.
So in summary, not one of the best Elric stories as there was too much philosophizing which slowed down the action to a meandering snail’s pace at times and although you could read [b:The Fortress of the Pearl|594574|The Fortress of the Pearl (The Elric Saga, #8)|Michael Moorcock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1265756984s/594574.jpg|1479741] as a stand-alone novel I would suggest that your read the rest of the series first to set this story into context. show less
Placed chronologically somewhere very early in the Elric saga (before the death of Cymoril), this is the story of Elric taking down an all-but-dead empire that once thought itself a rival for Melnibone. He does this somewhat unwillingly - as he is manipulated into seeking out a particular Pearl that can only be found by a Dreamthief - people who are able to enter another person's dreams and live in those dreams as well as make real items from the dream. Unfortunately for the orchestrater of this little plot, he leaves Elric alive and doesn't quite poison him enough to make him fear death.
With the help of an experienced Dreamthief, Elric enters the dream of a nomadic princess/wisewoman and seeks the Pearl. Throughout the dream, the two show more are assaulted by dreams. In this place, they temporarily meet up with another aspect of Moonglum who guides them for a little way. Of course, at the end of the day, Elric retrieves the Pearl, rescues the princess and returns from dreamland. He takes the Pearl to his intended murderer and proceeds to stuff it down his throat. Then, our hero draws his sword and dedicates the entire remnant of that ancient empire to Arioch. show less
With the help of an experienced Dreamthief, Elric enters the dream of a nomadic princess/wisewoman and seeks the Pearl. Throughout the dream, the two show more are assaulted by dreams. In this place, they temporarily meet up with another aspect of Moonglum who guides them for a little way. Of course, at the end of the day, Elric retrieves the Pearl, rescues the princess and returns from dreamland. He takes the Pearl to his intended murderer and proceeds to stuff it down his throat. Then, our hero draws his sword and dedicates the entire remnant of that ancient empire to Arioch. show less
A fun little stand alone Elric story. Some of the more fun stories with the character have been those that carry him to other worlds and other planes. A story that carries him into dreams is particularly interesting and inventive. This might be my favorite Elric story.
Half a Conan tale, half a Randolph Carter, and then ALL THE BLOOD AND SOULS FOR MY LORD ARIOCH 8)
Elric goes to dream world & unbeknowst begets a child
signed limited #58 of 300
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Michael Moorcock, 1939 - Writer Michael Moorcock was born December 18, 1939 in Mitcham, Surrey, England. Moorcock was the editor of the juvenile magazine Tarzan Adventures from 1956-58, an editor and writer for the Sexton Blake Library and for comic strips and children's annuals from 1959-61, an editor and pamphleteer for Liberal Party in 1962, show more and became editor and publisher for the science fiction magazine New Worlds in 1964. He has worked as a singer-guitarist, has worked with the rock bands Hawkwind and Blue Oyster Cult and is a member of the rock band Michael Moorcock and the Deep Fix. Moorcock's writing covers a wide range of science fiction and fantasy genres. "The Chronicles of Castle Brass" was a sword and sorcery novel, and "Breakfast in the Ruins: A Novel of Inhumanity" uses the character Karl Glogauer as a different person in different times. Karl participates in the political violence of the French Revolution, the Paris Commune, and a Nazi concentration camp. Moorcock also wrote books and stories that featured the character Jerry Cornelius, who had no consistent character or appearance. "The Condition of Muzak" completed the initial Jerry Cornelius tetralogy and won Guardian Literary Prize in 1977. "Byzantium Endures" and "The Laughter of Carthage" are two autobiographical novels of the Russian emigre Colonel Pyat and were the closest Moorcock came to conventional literary fiction. "Byzantium Endures" focuses on the first twenty years of Pyat's life and tells of his role in the Russian revolution. Pyat survives the revolution and the subsequent civil war by working first for one side and then another. "The Laughter of Carthage" covers Pyat's life from 1920-1924 telling of his escape from Communist Russia and his travels in Europe and America. It's a sweeping picture of the world during the 1920's because it takes the character from living in Constantinople to Hollywood. Moorcock returned to the New Wave style in "Blood: A Southern Fantasy" (1994) and combined mainstream fiction with fantasy in "The Brothel of Rosenstrasse," which is set in the imaginary city of Mirenburg. MoorCock won the 1967 Nebula Award for Behold the Man and the 1979 World Fantasy Award for his novel, Gloriana. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Elric (novel 2)
The Eternal Champion (Elric novel 2)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Fortress of the Pearl
- Original title
- The Fortress of the Pearl
- Original publication date
- 1989
- People/Characters
- Elric of Melniboné; Anigh; Raafi as-Keeme; Lord Gho Thaazi; Manag Iss; Alnac Kreb (show all 15); Raik Na Seem; Varadia; Oone; Jaspar Colinadous; Count of Magnes Doar; Lady Sough; Edif; Balis Jamon; Chamog Borm
- Important places
- Quarzhasaat; Kashbeh Moulor Ka Riiz
- Dedication
- For Shane and Leslie, Ed and Paul--the first Nomads...
To the memory of Jim Cawthorn, who helped make Elric what he is today - First words
- It was in lonely Quarzhasaat, destination of many caravans but terminus of few, that Elric, hereditary Emperor of Melniboné, last of a bloodline more than ten thousand years old, sometime conjuror of terrible resource, lay r... (show all)eady for death.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Never," she said.
- Disambiguation notice
- Don't combine this "The Fortress of the Pearl" novel with the Gollancz omnibus "Elric: The Fortress of the Pearl", please!
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