Rating: 
Summary: Moorcock does it again...
Review: ...after ten years, Elric is back, this time together with Ulric von Bek (the last Graf von Bek), in a truly amazing blend of two of the Eternal Champion series. It's interesting that he makes Ulric into Elric's twin by making albinism the family curse of the von Beks (a concept not mentioned in any of the von Bek books before), and other characters are brought back as well. Oswald Bastable, the Nomad of the Time Streams, makes a cameo appearance, as does Lord Renyard (last seen in "The City in the Autumn Stars"), and you half-expect Una Persson or Jerry Cornelius to pop up (they don't, but it's fun guessing what Moorcock's next plot twist will be). Gaynor, last seen in "The Revenge of the Rose," returns as the archnemesis of Elric and Ulric. And Oona herself is an unforgettable character. Great story, can't wait for the rest of the trilogy!
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Summary: The greatest living English fantasist
Review: Admiring American models like Cabell and Howard, knowing Lewis, Tolkien, White and Peake personally, with a broad, sophisticated reading taste by the time he was twenty, Michael Moorcock started turning out the Elric stories for fun in the late fifties. Gradually the stories attained an epic density as Moorcock used them to illustrate points he was making in his Aspects of Fantasy
series running in the same magazine which ran Elric stories, as well as J.G.Ballard, Thomas Burnett Swann and many other fine first class literary fantasy writers. And by the time he was twenty one he had created an enduring epic. What we are seeing in a way is work in progress as he adds to and fine tunes the Elric myth into what has been described as the greatest modern work of fantasy. The thing that makes me keep reading, however, is the sheer novelty and depth of each new book. This is definitely the best Elric since Stormbringer, which remains one of the five greatest fantasy books of all time!
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Summary: Two of fantasy's great characters, together--don't miss this
Review: Anyone picking up this novel hoping for a mindless fantasy romp featuring their beloved Elric should be forwarned: Elric is the featured hero in less than half of the book. The true protagonist is Count Ulric von Bek, who becomes embroiled in a chase across several planes in the multiverse in his attempt to thwart the destruction of his beloved Germany by Adolf Hitler and his minions. In this, his latest novel, Michael Moorcock continues to examine many of the same themes that have concerned him in previous novels. Moorcock has done much research on Nazi Germany, and infuses the early chapters of the book with fascinating glimpses into the ways in which otherwise rational men convinced themselves that Nazism wasn't so bad. Bringing von Bek together with Elric about halfway through the book, Moorcock proves that he is still one of the masters of fantasy writing. Various incarnations of Stormbringer fight impossible forces against fantastic backdrops, as Moorcock displays his virtuosity. As you read, you can almost feel the author's delight in creating new foes, finding new ways to describe battles, confronting his protagonists with new situations, and juxtaposing ideas in previously unimagined ways. The words seem to blast across the pages, flowing and writhing just as do the runes on Elric's sword. I can think of no other fantasy writer who can with such ease conjure whole new worlds in a mere paragraph, describe bloody battles in which the hero simultaneously kills and mourns, and make the reader care so much for his characters. If you enjoy the Elric stories, this novel is a must-read. If you like what you read here, be sure to go and get the other Von Bek novels, which are great reads, too.
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Summary: What better title than: Read this book!
Review: As has happened before with so many of Michael Moorcock's books I was gasping for air when I was done. Again and again this men surprises me with the way he can make a plot twist, and how he can make different puzzles into one that fits and makes sense! In this book, about every character from the von Bek series is mentioned or drops by in one form or the other. But it doesn't stop there, Oona, the daughter of Elric is introduced and she takes him and Ulric von Bek on a journey through the multiverse to save not only 'our' world but many other worlds and realms.. What I loved most about this book is the way Moorcock describes Elric. Where in the earlier books Elric's internal torment was usually obvious but not really explained other than 'he has feelings unknown to Melniboneans' in this book he takes it a step further and explains how Elric feels about certain things. Especially when he is paired with Von Bek we get to read why Elric does as he does.. So many little questions that were always in the back of my head were answered with this book (Gaynor!!) yet so many new questions were raised.. (a twin?!?) I hope to get these answered soon as well. Until then I will re-re-re-re-re-re-read all of Moorcock's books. Until the end of time..
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Summary: Warrior On The Edge!
Review: Elric is back with style. MM takes us back into the fantasia of his multiverse and weaves a masterful tapestry. Dreamthief is undoubtedly the maturest Elric novel thus far. The entwining of Elric's and von Bek's universes thrusts the Prince of Ruins to the edge in a monumental battle against the 20th century's worst villains. Bravo Michael...I loved it! Encore...
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Summary: Perfect introduction to the Elric series
Review: I had the pleasure of hearing Mr Moorcock read from this and it was genuinely thrilling. He's a great reader. I found this a perfect introduction to the Elric series and to the ideas behind Moorcock's 'Multiverse'. Read Jerry Cornelius and see where Watchmen and so much else came from. Read Elric and you know where the Crow and so much else came from. This is the source! Great read. I'm going around for a second time.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent
Review: I have been reading Michael Moorcock's stories since the 1960's. So, I have been through almost every incarnation of the Eternal Champion, as well as many efforts in other directions. I have admired Moorcock not just for his writing abilities, but also for the support and aid that he has given to many other writers. I've never counted money spent on one of his books as wasted, and was looking forward to my first visit with Moorcock in a long time. This time, however, I am lest satisfied with what was delivered. I'm afraid the Eternal Champion has been stretched a bit too thin. Ostensibly the story is about Ulric von Bek (the last count of Bek), or it's about Elric (the last king of Melnibone) and, maybe, Oona (the last of Elric's line). All of these are albinos, hence the book's subtitle. The first third of the book tells of Ulric and his conflict with the Nazis over a mystic black sword, and the Holy Grail that was once entrusted to his family. The conflict enlarges, and Ulric becomes the means by which Elric can be released from a comatose state. Unfortunately, we are subjected to a host of ruminations and explanations from Ulric's viewpoint. Ulric's lack of narrative skill doesn't interfere in the least with his ability to go on and on pedantically about everything from politics to scenery. But the early story frequently verges on the tedious. Elric is a moderately better storyteller, but the simple truth is that the overall narration is wooden, as if Moorcock was badly out of practice or has some preaching to do. The plot turns on the albinos' efforts to prevent Ulric's cousin Gaynor from copping all the swords and the Grail, and thus bringing the universe to a sudden and fatal halt. If this sounds a bit too much like many other Moorcock stories, the truth is that there is little to clearly differentiate this tale from those that have gone before other than a lot of material on Nazi superstition and an unusually strong female protagonist. The book is neither a success nor a failure. I thing some heavy editing could have mat it a much better story. It is, however, a poor introduction for those readers who have never had a chance to make Elric's acquaintance in the old days when the Albino destroyed his home and set out to wander the younger kingdoms. My recommendation is to go back and read the original Elric and Corum stories and let "The Dreamthief's Daughter" rest for now, hopefully to be rescued by the promised sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: A Plague of Heroes
Review: I have been reading Michael Moorcock's stories since the 1960's. So, I have been through almost every incarnation of the Eternal Champion, as well as many efforts in other directions. I have admired Moorcock not just for his writing abilities, but also for the support and aid that he has given to many other writers. I've never counted money spent on one of his books as wasted, and was looking forward to my first visit with Moorcock in a long time. This time, however, I am lest satisfied with what was delivered. I'm afraid the Eternal Champion has been stretched a bit too thin. Ostensibly the story is about Ulric von Bek (the last count of Bek), or it's about Elric (the last king of Melnibone) and, maybe, Oona (the last of Elric's line). All of these are albinos, hence the book's subtitle. The first third of the book tells of Ulric and his conflict with the Nazis over a mystic black sword, and the Holy Grail that was once entrusted to his family. The conflict enlarges, and Ulric becomes the means by which Elric can be released from a comatose state. Unfortunately, we are subjected to a host of ruminations and explanations from Ulric's viewpoint. Ulric's lack of narrative skill doesn't interfere in the least with his ability to go on and on pedantically about everything from politics to scenery. But the early story frequently verges on the tedious. Elric is a moderately better storyteller, but the simple truth is that the overall narration is wooden, as if Moorcock was badly out of practice or has some preaching to do. The plot turns on the albinos' efforts to prevent Ulric's cousin Gaynor from copping all the swords and the Grail, and thus bringing the universe to a sudden and fatal halt. If this sounds a bit too much like many other Moorcock stories, the truth is that there is little to clearly differentiate this tale from those that have gone before other than a lot of material on Nazi superstition and an unusually strong female protagonist. The book is neither a success nor a failure. I thing some heavy editing could have mat it a much better story. It is, however, a poor introduction for those readers who have never had a chance to make Elric's acquaintance in the old days when the Albino destroyed his home and set out to wander the younger kingdoms. My recommendation is to go back and read the original Elric and Corum stories and let "The Dreamthief's Daughter" rest for now, hopefully to be rescued by the promised sequel.
Rating:
Summary: First ever Moorcock! Great
Review: I received this as a gift. I don't know what I expected, but it certainly wasn't this rich, intelligent, endlessly inventive tapestry. I started it meaning to read a chapter, to get the flavor, and finished it at four in the morning!! I'm going to start reading the series. If they're all this great, I have a lot of fun in store! I didn't have to have read any of the other books to enjoy this, but if reading more books makes this series expand -- it deserves its reputation! What can I say ? I'm in love with Elric!!!
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Summary: Brilliant development
Review: I was amazed by this book. Somehow Mr Moorcock has managed to create another Elric book which comes close to having the power of what is indisputably the best of the series, Stormbringer. Unlike the previous reviewer, I found it fresh and exciting and a deepening and broadening of the Elric mythos. While the 'underground' sequences are slower than the rest of the book, I felt that this was deliberate, recreating the kind of 'classic' effect you find in writers like E.R.Eddison or even the great Professor Tolkien who is Mr Moorcock's only equal. Other reviewers have described the plot very thoroughly and anything I added would be a spoiler. But I would recommend this novel one hundred percent. Not only has Mr Moorcock lost none of his old magic, he has added to and made deeper what has gone before. Highly recommended to new and old Moorcock fans!
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