Elric of Melniboné

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Elric as depicted in "Weird of the White Wolf" (Berkeley Books, 1983)
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Elric as depicted in "Weird of the White Wolf" (Berkeley Books, 1983)

Elric of Melniboné (pronounced mel-NIH-boh-nay) is a fictional character created by Michael Moorcock. He first appeared in print in 1961 in Michael Moorcock’s novelette, "The Dreaming City" (Science Fantasy #47 June 1961); his first appearance in a novel was in Stormbringer (1965). His official name is Elric VIII, 428th Emperor of Melniboné.

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[edit] Elric, a counterstereotype

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Elric presents an excellent example of a counterstereotype, because he was written specifically as the polar opposite of Robert E. Howard's Conan and similar fantasy heroes. Instead of a mighty-thewed barbarian warrior who fights his way from obscurity to achieve fame and power, Elric is a frail, sickly albino, a highly-educated and cultured (often downright decadent) emperor who abandons his throne. Whereas the conventional fantasy hero rescues fair maidens from evil wizards and defends his country from invaders, Elric (inadvertently) slays his true love, is himself a powerful wizard, in league with the Chaos lord Arioch, and leads a successful invasion against his homeland of Melniboné.

Elric's tragic hero character is also insprired by the character of Monsieur Zenith created by pulp author Anthony Skene and Kullervo from the Finnish epic Kalevala.

Elric is also one of the few sympathetic albino characters in Western fantasy literature, where characters with albinism are usually villains (see Evil albino). His image is generally idealized, his albinism treated as a thing of beauty – the stories are replete with descriptions of his "long flowing locks of white hair", "flawless bone-white skin" and "delicate, almost female features."

Moorcock's characterisation of Elric is that of a doomed hero based heavily upon Scandinavian mythology, a person whose actions lead to ruin, and ultimately death. Moorcock dwells as much upon Elric's paleness as Snorri Sturluson does upon Balder's similar legendary pallor (which, however, is not said to be a function of albinism as in Elric's case) in the Younger Edda – compare:


“ He is best, and all praise him; he is so fair of feature, and so bright, that light shines from him. A certain herb is so white that it is likened to Baldr's brow; of all grasses it is whitest, and by it thou mayest judge his fairness, both in hair and in body. „

—Snorri Sturluson
“ It is the color of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from the loose sleeves of his yellow gown emerge two slender hands, also the color of bone. „

—Michael Moorcock, Elric of Melniboné

He is a complex character, prone to self-loathing, brooding and despair, compelled to adventure by his own dark fate rather than a desire for riches or glory.

Being Emperor of Melniboné, he is a servant of the Lords of Chaos. Unlike his fellow Melnibonéans, who are decadent, cruel, and mostly devoid of sentiment and the gentler passions, Elric is plagued by his conscience, has modern sensibilities and is very curious about the outside world. Melnibonéans are somewhat like elves – but more like the amoral fairies in Jack Vance's Lyonesse books than J. R. R. Tolkien's majestic peoples – and "Elric" is a form of the Norse Ælfric which means elf ruler. In this way, Elric breaks the mold of the stereotypical Albino depicted in stories as a heartless monster.

Elric is the (often unwilling) tool of his evil, sentient sword Stormbringer, which is itself a parody of the normal sword-and-sorcery hero's weapon. In Stormbringer, the sickly Elric finds the energy he needs, but at a terrible price – Stormbringer feeds on the souls of those it slays and gives part of their life force to sustain Elric. Stormbringer is willful, and by no means under Elric's control:

“ This sword here at my side...

Keeps calling me its master, but I feel like its slave.

 „

—Blue Öyster Cult, "Black Blade" (lyrics by Michael Moorcock)

As an embodiment of the Eternal Champion, which mainly takes the form of a champion of Law, Elric is torn between his ancestry and his destiny. Consequently, as the saga progresses Elric's allegiance turns from Chaos towards Law. He eventually comes to represent a balance between these forces as he develops a hatred for all gods, both of Law and Chaos, for their manipulation of mortals. At the end, Elric's hopes for a world without gods who make a misery of human lives, results in his death while attempting to bring such a world into being.

[edit] Related characters

See also: Deities in the Elric series

Arioch, Lord of the Seven Darks, Lord of the Higher Hell, The Knight of Swords: One of the mightiest Dukes of Hell and a Chaos Lord. He is the perennial patron of the Melnibonéan emperors and is responsible for much of their sorcerous power and long rule. He finds Elric to be one of his sweetest servants, as Elric's moral dilemmas provide him with much sport.

Chardros, the Reaper (sometimes spelled 'Chardhros'): One of the most powerful Chaos Lords, similar to the Grim Reaper. He appears in the battle between Law and Chaos at the end of the saga.

Cymoril: A Melnibonéan, Elric's cousin and consort. He hopes to one day make her his wife and Empress. She tries to understand and help Elric, but like his subjects, she has difficulty in understanding Elric's motivations and would have him rule as the emperors of old, with no concern for any but himself.

Donblas, the Justice Maker: A Lord of Law, the only one named in the saga. He aids Elric in his ultimate struggles against Chaos.

Dyvim Slorm: A Melnibonéan, Elric's cousin, son of Dyvim Tvar. He fights alongside Elric in the final war against chaos, wielding the black sword Mournblade.

Dyvim Tvar: A Melnibonéan, Lord of the Dragon Caves. He is Elric's main ally and advisor. A true Melnibonéan, he lends no weight to any thought of deposing Elric, as it is the emperor's prerogative to act and do as he pleases. His main responsibility and personal love is the care of Melniboné's most destructive weapon, the dragons. It was on the backs of these beasts that Melniboné carved out its empire and they are the most feared and respected weapons on earth.

King Grome: King of the earth elementals. He is very selfish with both his aid and what he considers his ship. He helped create one of the most legendary of artifacts, The Ship which Sails over Land and Sea, and is responsible for the magics that allow the ship to move over land as if it were in water. He viciously disputes King Straasha over ownership of the ship and has vowed to take possession of it, if it ever were to be used in his realm of the land.

Jagreen Lern: The Theocrat of Pan Tang. He is the leader and mighty sorcerer of Pan Tang and is chosen by Chaos to lead their armies in conquering Elric's plane. He is ultimately given all of the Chaos Lords' powers in his fight against Elric and the minions of Law and Balance.

Kakatal, the Fire Lord: A powerful fire elemental. (Described as the ruler of the fire elementals in third-party role-playing game material; this is neither directly supported nor contradicted by the original stories.)

Mabelode, the King of Swords (sometimes spelled 'Mabelrode'): A Lord of Chaos, Mabelode is described as being "faceless". He appears in the great battle at the end of the saga.

Misha and Graoll, the Lasshaar (Wind Giants, Lords of the Winds, Kings of the Winds): Powerful air elementals. They aid Elric in his final revenge on the troublesome sorcerer Theleb K'aarna. (Some third-party role-playing game material claims that Misha and Graoll are the sons of an elemental Queen Lassa, but there is no support for this in the original stories.)

Moonglum of Elwher: A short, red-haired human with a cheerfully ugly face, adventuring companion to Elric. He and Elric share many dangers and rewards together. The most steadfast and loyal companion of all the Young Kingdom humans Elric encounters. His final deed allows Elric to complete his fated purpose.

Myshella, The Dark Lady: A great sorceress. She fulfills the task set to her by the Lords of Law, which is to tend the Castle Kaneloon as its mistress. She must also find heroes strong enough to withstand the forces of Chaos and thus create new lands on Elric's plane. She plays a part in several of Elric's adventures using her mighty sorcery and mechanical flying steed.

Rackhir, the Red Archer: A human, once a Warrior Priest of Phum but cast out of his order. He and Elric travel and adventure together several times throughout the series.

Sepiriz: Captain of the Fates. He and his nine brothers are representatives of Fate (servants of the Cosmic Balance) and are tasked with bringing about the will of the Fates in preparation for the end of an age.

King Straasha: King of the sea elementals and bound by age old pacts of service to the Emperors of Melniboné. His aid is sought and given on several occasions to Elric. He helped create The Ship which Sails over Land and Sea, providing the necessary magics for ocean travel, and disputes its ownership with King Grome.

Terarn Gashtek, Flame Bringer: An eastern barbarian ruler. His sudden attack upon the west from across the Weeping Wastes takes them completely by surprise. He vows to rule the whole world but ends up settling for far less.

Theleb K'aarna: A human sorcerer of the Pan Tang isles. After being displaced as Queen Yishana's advisor and chief sorcerer by Elric, he seeks revenge and uses sorcery to hinder several of Elric's plans. However, in the end he reaps the whirlwind of Elric's wrath.

Vezhan: The King with Wings. A Lord of Chaos, once served by Rackhir.

Queen Yishana: A human, ruler of Jharkor. She presents Elric with several problems/adventures and openly covets his company and power. Her selfish desires are the root of several of Elric's problems, but she also aids him from time to time and ultimately becomes an important ally in his fight against Chaos.

Yyrkoon: Prince of Melniboné, Elric's cousin. He is next in line for the throne, as Elric has no male heir. He is greatly concerned at Elric's behavior and takes all of Elric's brooding and philosophical talk as a sign of weakness. He yearns for a return to more traditional emperors and secretly plots Elric's demise. Yyrkoon is considered a great sorcerer and has made many pacts with unholy forces to obtain his sorcerous strength. As further evidence of his decadent ways, he openly desires his sister Cymoril and intends to make her his wife and Empress if his plans for Elric ever reach fruition.

Zarozinia: A human of the Young Kingdoms. She falls in love with Elric and for a time allows him to experience true love and companionship. Elric also gives up his blade Stormbringer and reverts to taking sorcerous herbs to sustain his life, all for the sake of his love of Zarozinia.

[edit] Elric's saga

Elric's saga is told over many books and a number of comics.

[edit] Books

The main sequence, according to the saga's internal chronology, comprises the following books (in those cases where a book is comprised of several titled sub-stories, these are listed):

  • (I) Elric of Melniboné (novel, Hutchinson 1972, cut vt The Dreaming City 1972 US)
  • The Fortress of the Pearl (novel, Gollancz 1989)
  • (II) The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (collection, Quartet 1976)
  • (III) The Weird of the White Wolf (collection, DAW 1977)
    • The Dream of Earl Aubec
    • The Dreaming City
    • While the Gods Laugh
    • The Singing Citadel
  • (IV) The Sleeping Sorceress (novel, NEL 1971; Ace 1971 as The Vanishing Tower)
  • The Revenge of the Rose (novel, Grafton 1991 as The Revenge of the Rose: A Tale of the Albino Prince in the Years of his Wandering)
  • (V) The Bane of the Black Sword (collection, DAW 1977)
    • The Stealer of Souls
    • Kings in Darkness
    • The Flamebringers (aka The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams)
    • To Rescue Tanelorn
  • (VI) Stormbringer (novel, fix-up, cut, Herbet Jenkins 1965; restored, DAW 1977)
    • Dead God's Homecoming
    • Black Sword's Brothers
    • Sad Giant's Shield
    • Doomed Lord's Passing

Elric first appeared in print in 1961 in Michael Moorcock’s novelette "The Dreaming City" (Science Fantasy #47 June 1961). This was Moorcock's first sale of fiction, published when he was just 22 years old. A further four novelettes ("While the Gods Laugh", "The Stealer of Souls", "Kings in Darkness", "The Flamebringers") and four novellas ("Dead God's Homecoming", "Black Sword's Brothers", "Sad Giant's Shield", "Doomed Lord's Passing") followed, the last of these terminating the sequence with the close of Elric’s angst-ridden life. The five novelettes were collected in The Stealer of Souls (collection, Neville Spearman 1963) and the four novellas were first published as a novel in Stormbringer (op. cit.). (This early version of Elric’s saga, ie., these nine short stories – with the full text of Stormbringer, as it appeared in Science Fantasy – has recently been republished in a single volume as Elric (Orion/Gollancz 2001), Volume 17 in the Fantasy Masterworks series.)

Moorcock wrote further Elric tales throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1977 DAW published what’s widely regarded as the canonical version of Elric’s saga: six books that collected the tales according to their internal chronology (and with the text of Stormbringer restored and revised). (These are indicated by Roman numerals in the list above.) These DAW paperbacks all featured cover art work by the same young artist, Michael Whelan, and helped to define the look of both Elric and his sword Stormbringer. Whelan has subsequently done the cover art for other Elric novels, as have many other artists.

A few oddments were collected in Elric at the End of Time (coll. NEL 1984). The novelette "Elric at the End of Time" fits into the saga between The Sailor on the Seas of Fate and The Weird of the White Wolf.

In 1989 and 1991 two further novels were written by Michael Moorcock but quite clearly, Moorcock's views on heroic fantasy had changed in the thirty years since he first wrote about Elric and as a result these two novels had a very different feel from the earlier stories. This change is not surprising given that the first Elric story was published at the very beginning of Moorcock's career.

This new set of eight novels was the basis of two omnibus editions published in the UK by Millennium within its The Tale of the Eternal Champion series (and later in the US by White Wolf):

  • Elric of Melniboné (1993; vt Elric: Song of the Black Sword 1997 US);
    • Elric of Melniboné
    • The Fortress of the Pearl
    • The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
    • The Dreaming City
    • While the Gods Laugh
    • The Singing Citadel
  • Stormbringer (1993; vt Elric: The Stealer of Souls 1998 US).
    • The Sleeping Sorceress (aka The Vanishing Tower)
    • The Revenge of the Rose
    • The Stealer of Souls
    • Kings in Darkness
    • The Flamebringers (aka The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams)
    • Stormbringer

White Wolf published an anthology of new Elric stories, Michael Moorcock’s Elric: Tales of the White Wolf, ed. Edward E. Kramer, in the US in 1994, and an anthology of new Eternal Champion stories, Pawns of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion, ed. Edward E. Kramer, which includes four new Elric stories, in the US in 1996.

Starting in 2001, Michael Moorcock began publishing a new set of Elric novels, which was completed in 2005. The new trilogy consists of:

  • The Dreamthief's Daughter (2001) – ISBN 0446611204
  • The Skrayling Tree (2003) (previously announced as [The] Silverskin) – ISBN 0446613401
  • The White Wolf's Son (2005) (previously announced as Mournblade and Swordsman of Mirenburg) – ISBN 0446577022

These latest novels stand somewhat apart from the main Elric sequence and they overlap with his Ulrich von Bek stories.

[edit] Original comics

Elric's first original tale in a comic was a two-part Conan the Barbarian adventure "A Sword Called Stormbringer!" and “The Green Empress of Melniboné”. These were written by Roy Thomas from a story plotted by Michael Moorcock and James Cawthorn, and appeared in Conan the Barbarian #14 and #15 (Marvel Comics, March 1972; artist: Barry Windsor-Smith; embellisher: Sal Buscema; letterer: John Costanza; editor: Stan Lee).

Moorcock wrote a 12-issue series of comics, Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse, that weaves together stories featuring Elric and (at least) two other avatars of the Eternal Champion. Each story was illustrated by a different artist: Walter Simonson, Mark Reeve, and John Ridgway.

Most recently, Moorcock has written a 4-issue comic series, Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer, again with Simonson. This is a direct prequel to Elric of Melniboné, so fits neatly into the chronology of Elric’s saga.

[edit] Music

  • Hawkwind (British rock band), detailed Elric's story on their album Chronicle of the Black Sword (1985). Moorcock appears with Hawkwind on the double live version of the Live Chronicles album where he narrates the tale and provides poetic interludes to move the plot along.
  • Blue Öyster Cult's song "Black Blade" on their album Cultosaurus Erectus (1980) was co-written by Moorcock, using Elric's point-of-view.
  • 3 Inches of Blood (Canadian metal band) have a song influenced by Elric and other Michael Moorcock characters. This track is titled "Sailor on the Seas of Fate". They have also recorded a trilogy of songs known as the "Upon The Boiling Sea" trilogy. While "The Boiling Sea" is an area of the ocean described in several of the Elric novels, the songs themselves do not refer to Elric or any other of Moorcock's characters, and appear to have nothing to do with Elric or any other of Moorcock's works.
  • Blind Guardian (German power metal band) have two songs based on or referencing Elric. These songs are "Damned For All Time" and "Fast to Madness" (both found on their Follow the Blind album). They have also performed songs referencing Hawkmoon and Corum.
  • Domine (Italian metal band) have a number of songs based on the Elric saga. These songs are "The Eternal Champion" and "The Chronicles of the Black Sword" (from the Champion Eternal album), followed by "Last of the Dragonlords (Lord Elric's Imperial March)" and "Dragonlord (The Grand Master of the Mightiest Beasts)" (from the Dragonlord (Tales of the Noble Steel) album), followed by "Horn of Fate", "The Bearer of the Black Sword", "For Evermore", and "Dawn of a New Age (A Celtic Requiem)" (found on the Stormbringer Ruler album), and finally, "Arioch, the Chaos Star" and "The Song of the Swords" (from the Emperor of the Black Runes album). Additionally, Elric (and Stormbringer) are featured on the cover art for all four albums. Michael Moorcock himself is also specifically thanked and noted as an influence in the liner notes for each of their albums.
  • Apollo Ra (American metal band) have a song, "Bane of the Black Sword", on their Ra Pariah album, which deals with Elric's adventures.
  • Cirith Ungol (American metal band) have a song, "Nadsokor", on their One Foot In Hell album, referencing Elric and the city of beggars found in the Elric saga. The song "Master of the Pit" on the previous album, King of the Dead, also seems to be about Elric slaying Arioch as it mentions a "doom-driven blade drinking the soul of the master". [1] Michael Whelan's paintings of Elric are also featured on the cover art of all 4 Cirith Ungol albums, effectively making him the band's mascot the same way Iron Maiden has Eddie the Head and Megadeth has Vic Rattlehead.
  • Battleroar (Greek metal band) have the song "Mourning Sword" on their self-titled album, which deals with Elric and his sword. On their album Age of Chaos they also have the song "Dyvim Tvar" about this minor character.
  • Doomsword (Italian metal band) features the Elric-based song "Return to Imryyr" on their self-titled debut album. This album also features the band covering the Elric related song "Nadsokor" originally performed by Cirith Ungol.
  • Dark Moor (Spanish metal band) features an Elric related song titled "The Fall of Melnibone" as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of their album Hall of the Olden Dreams. The song was later made available to the American and European markets on the album Between Light and Darkness.
  • Diamond Head (NWOBHM band) has the song "Borrowed Time" on their Borrowed Time album, dealing with Elric and told from his point of view. He is also featured on the album's cover artwork.
  • Agnes Vein (Greek metal band) has the song "Sailor on the Seas of Fate" on their Of Chaos And Law album, dealing with Elric and his sword. The album title is also a reference to Michael Moorcock's writings.
  • UK hard rock band Magnum mention Elric and his sword in the song "Stormbringer" off the reissue of their Kingdom of Madness album. It was one of the very first songs they recorded, and was not commercially available until this reissue.
  • Panacea (German drum n bass artist) has a song titled "Stormbringer" on the album "Low Profile Darkness".
  • Deep Purple (Uk Hard Rock band)The song "Perfect Strangers" is about Elric, and they have an album named "Stormbringer".
  • Dream Theater (American Metal band) has covered the song "Perfect Strangers" as well.
  • Yyrkoon (French thrash metal band) is named after Elric's cousin.

[edit] Adaptations

Elric and Stormbringer have been detailed in the Stormbringer role-playing game by the publisher Chaosium and their licensees. Hawkmoon has also been so treated, as has Corum.

Stormbringer (along with creatures and artifacts from many other sources) appears as an artifact in the roguelike computer game NetHack. Other roguelikes, particularly those in the Zangband branch of the Angband family also feature Stormbringer, among other Eternal Champion references. The Zangband variant called Gumband is more explicitly themed around Moorcock's writings, even including Elric as an enemy unique (to the dismay of many who consider fighting any of the aspects of the Champion (several of whom are in the game) to be sacrilege).

P. Craig Russell has drawn comics adaptations taken from three Moorcock novels: Elric of Melnibone(with Roy Thomas and Michael T. Gilbert; Pacific Comics), The Dreaming City and While the Gods Laugh (representing the first two-thirds of Weird of the White Wolf; Marvel/Epic Comics), and Stormbringer(Dark Horse). The character has also been separately adapted by Walter Simonson and Frank Brunner, and by George Freeman and others on the long-running Elric series at Pacific which Russell had co-created. (Reportedly tensions between himself and Thomas were the reason for his departure)

Wendy Pini published a book documenting her attempt to make an animated film project of the Stormbringer series. Law and Chaos: The "Stormbringer" Animated Film Project was published by Father Tree Press of Poughkeepsie, New York in 1987. The book contains original artwork, information on the characters, an overview of the plot, and her personal investment in the project. The film, however, never reached completion.

[edit] References to Elric/Trivia

  • In the Babylon 5 episode "The Geometry of Shadows", the leader of the techo-mages is named Elric in homage to Michael Moorcock's Elric novels.
  • One of the recurring antagonists in the 2000AD comic strip Sláine is named Elfric. He is depicted as pale-skinned with glowing red eyes.
  • Karl Edward Wagner wrote a short story, "The Gothic Touch", in which his immortal antihero Kane enlists the aid of Elric and Moonglum which can be found in Michael Moorcock’s Elric: Tales of the White Wolf.
  • Some crossover has occurred where imagery of Elric has influenced how Vampires are portrayed, for example, in the popular video game series CastleVania, with characters such as Alucard.
  • Although Elric was nearly unknown as a given name before the advent of the Moorcockian hero, it has been known to be chosen by a number of fantasy fans for their children to bear.
  • The Soul Reaver, the sword that appears throughout the Legacy of Kain videogame series (Crystal Dynamics) is also a devourer of souls, granting its frail master's body nourishment. Also in Soul Reaver 2, Raziel's sword turns on him and drains his soul. Raziel realises that the essence of the blade had always been himself. Elric experienced an extremely similar moment after the final defeat of Chaos.
  • Ironically, while Elric was conceived as a counterstereotype, he might be the origin of the fantasy genre cliché of characters with albinism usually being sorcerers, psychics or otherwise "supernatural". (examples – Skywise from Elfquest, the title character of Powder, Kaworu Nagisa from Neon Genesis Evangelion, all the demons in InuYasha and the female necromancer who is the mascot of Guild Wars)
  • The character of Drizzt Do'Urden from the Dungeons & Dragons line of games and novels resembles Elric in described appearance, angst-ridden introspective personality, and in being a warrior from an evil society who has rejected the dark nature of his own people and come to serve the cause of good.
  • Elric shares some similarities with J. R. R. Tolkien's Túrin Turambar, who appears in various versions of what would be printed as The Silmarillion. Both are anti-heroes, both are based on Kullervo, both wield sentient black swords (both one of a pair — though this specific detail is not yet present in the earliest version of Túrin's story, found in The Book of Lost Tales, written in the 1920s), both unwittingly kill friends or lovers with them, and both are killed by them. The first Elric stories were published before The Silmarillion, so the detail of the black sword(s) may have been conceived independently by both writers. Incidentally, Moorcock happens to dislike Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and compared it to Winnie-the-Pooh in an essay, "Epic Pooh".
  • The elf Belphanior, one of the main heroes in Tomas Miller's saga The Adventurers, resembles Elric in his adventurers' skills, having eyes that glow red, and possessing a soul-eating black sword that lends strength to its wielder. The powerful sorcerer and wanted criminal Belphanior has a personality quite different from the personality of Elric, however. Though harsh and stern, Belphanior is just and energetic, praises personal and general freedom, and refuses to be the servant of any powerful supernatural entity.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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