Rating: 
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!
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Hero for Our Times
Review: In his book about heroic fantasy, Wizardy and Wild Romance, Moorcock attacks what he believes is Inkling (Tolkien, Lewis and Co) sentimentalized Christianity, yet Elric is in some ways a far more powerful extension of Christian mythology, like other Gothic hero villains before him, dying essentially for our sins or so that we might live in some kind of harmony! (See Behold the Man and even the Jerry Cornelius books if you don't believe me!). Elric is also a creature for our time because he is a man in transition between cultures, between one value system and another, at a time when we are all having to re-think our value systems and work out how to make them stay functioning in the modern world most of us experience daily. Just as Jerry Cornelius takes on various distinct roles from book to book or story to story, so does the Eternal Champion continue his own quests and struggles in different guises. But the quest is always the same -- a discovery that existing values don't quite fit the bill and that new values must be forged. If that isn't a message for our times, I don't know what is! We have to learn increasingly to hold a decent value system in spite of it not being a conventional one, the kind our grandparents relied on successfully enough -- until Hitler! Hitler changed our world. Some of the changes were ultimately for the better, in our response to try to make sure his like never gained such power again, with the Declaration of Human Rights and other worthwhile advances. Out of evil can be said to have come good. And that is also Moorcock's message -- to judge, but not to judge too quickly. Elric, like many an existentialist before him, discovers his own values, only slowly accepts the values of humanism, rather like a mediaeval man trying to come to terms with the Enlightenment! His story is both apt and universal and that is why his adventures continue to entertain us on so many levels and why Elric's encounter with the Nazi holocaust in this book isn't just a plot device. The Nazis in their corrupted version of Nietzsche believed the strong always triumphed, that it was their destiny to devour the weak. These are the values of Elric's Melnibonean people. They are not his values, but he has yet to find any he can completely accept. He has to discover his own, through his own transcendental adventurings. Moorcock has earned his authority. We know that he considers every theme in his stories and links one book with another often in quite unlikely ways. The argument found in one book is extended or countered in another. You could read The Dreamthief's Daughter straight and never have to know another Elric book, but if you're a big Elric fan -- you have a treat in store! I speak as one who finds most fantasy both unimaginative and unoriginal. This is the cream and if you read no other fantasy this year, you'll be glad you read this one!
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy blends with elements of history
Review: In the past the counts of Germany have allied with different forces, but as nazism envelopes Germany, the family legend about supernatural powers draws one Rudolf Hess, Hitler's oldest friends, to a battle which will change his life. In Michael Moorcock's Dreamthief's Daughter fantasy blends with elements of history to make for a changing, unusual setting.
Rating:
Summary: Moorcock at his best
Review: It's been a while since I picked up a Moorcock fantasy novel, having spent most of my time reading his non-fantasy novels like Mother London, King of the City and The Brothel in Rosenstrasse. I thought that I had kinda outgrown his fantasies, I will admit. But either I'm going through an early second childhood or there's no chance of my outgrowing anything by Moorcock because I found this book a wonderful change from his 'straight' novels. There are subtleties here which maybe I never noticed when I first read the fantasy books. The references to the underground world, whose entrance is in Hamlyn in Germany, make extra sense to me now and relate to 'Nazi Science' which Hitler's people were promoting at the time when this book opens. The obsession with romantic emblems was another feature of Nazism and Moorcock subtly undercuts the normal material of generic fantasy, just as he subtly undercut the material of the imperial adventure novel in his Nomads of the Time Streams stories of airship captain Oswald Bastable (who makes a guest appearance here - to underline the significance of the story). This is a rich, brilliant, beautifully paced book which offers insights into Elric's character as well as into the world of our recent history.
As with all Moorcock, it is a generous book, a book full of heart and soul -- and a thrilling read as well. If you have
blood, brain and, yes, soul, you'll love this book. There isn't a better fantasy writer living.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Two Who Are One"
Review: Many of you hardcore Moorcock fans may recognize the above paraphrase (see Elric: "Sailor on the Seas of Fate" and "The Vanishing Tower" for more information). If not, don't worry, if you're like me, reading one or just a few of Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories will lead you to read as many of the rest as you can--and you'll eventually figure it out--that and so much more. I recommend any of the collections in the 15-volume Eternal Champion series for starters, particularly the two volumes concerning Elric and the one featuring Von Bek.
This novel is connected, directly or obliquely, to all the other novels in the series, in the grand Moorcockian style. The characters Ulric Von Bek and Elric of Melniboné are literally mirror images of each other, but the book's narrator, Ulric, is a much more human and sympathetic character than the almost alien and sometimes terrifying, but always fascinating, Elric. Moorcock mixes historical fiction thoroughly with his own fantastic romances, and somehow manages to expand both genres. For fans of Von Bek, Ulric's very humanity in the face of the fantastic events surrounding him is appealing and grounding. For fans of Elric, the Last Emperor of Melnibone is re-established as the foremost sorcerer of his age, and perhaps the entire Multiverse. Where many of Elric's original stories concentrated more on his bloody battles as a warrior and the power of his Daemonic Sword, Stormbringer, this story reminds us of Elric's true heritage as the last and greatest of a race of more than human sorcerers. It's a welcome change. You need not worry, mind you, the Black Sword (and its Twin) figure prominently in this story of the Eternal Champion as well, for all the longtime fans out there. And there are bloody melees a-plenty.
I found this a welcome return to Moorcock's sword and sorcery romance fiction over the much more esoteric and stylistically challenging "Blood/Fabulous Harbors/War Amongst the Angels" trilogy, though, of course, this novel has ties and allusions to that series as well. And this novel, also, is kind of a third in a trilogy, if you include Elric: "Fortress of the Pearl," Elric: "Revenge of the Rose" and this novel--which, chronologically, seems to take place between Fortress and Revenge, but as well-informed fans know, Time defies conventional definition in Moorcock's Multiverse. I suggest picking all three of these novels up. Fortress is a rewarding fantastic romance and Revenge is closest in tone to the dark, emotional fantasy of the original Elric stories (each is included in the two collected volumes of Elric in the Eternal Champion series). This is the entertaining and enriching follow up to both of those novels. I must admit that I did find the ending a bit anti-climactic (or I'd have given this five stars), but the journey getting there was nearly as exciting and fulfilling as my original reading of the magnificent Elric series, and as we all know, the journey, not the end, is the true reward.
Elric fans-read this book! Eternal Champion fans-read this book!! The rest of you--pick up some volumes in the Eternal Champion series, particularly the Elric, Von Bek ("The Warhound and the World's Pain," perhaps Moorcock's finest single novel, is in this collection, and bears directly on "The Dreamthief's Daughter") and Corum or Nomad of the Timestream volumes, then come back to this novel. The effort will be well and richly rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: The Multiverse calls to the Albino for help again
Review: Michael Moorcock continues the saga of the Eternal Champion (here represented by Ulric Von Bek and of course Elric). The elements should be very familiar to anyone who has followed the works of Moorcock for years, but the story is also accessible to the newcomer. What more can you demand of an Elric novel, here you have the doomed sorcerer, his sword, and his enemies, but also have Von Bek and Nazi Germany thrown into the pot to spice up the story. It was also nice to have a Robert Gould cover to admire again. Old friends do have occasion to return to our spirits.
Rating:
Summary: MOORCOCK MATURES
Review: Michael Moorcock is best known for his Elric Saga, the first book being "Elric of Melnibone". Several sequels followed, including "Stormbringer", which is considered one of the hundred best fantasy novels ever written. Before you even open the first page, you know that Michael Moorcock has changed. Most obvious, is the fact that this book is so thick--considering that the previous Elric books were scarcely over a hundred pages. And by looking at the synopsis on the back, you see the Elric story has changed--dramatically. Now, OUR history is caught up in the adventures of Elric, as the Nazis are trying to capture the sword Ravenbrand. When I first picked this book up, I was very much puzzled and concerned as to how Moorcock would pull it off. Believe me, he pulls it off very nicely and it makes a lot more sense than one would think. For one thing, Michael Moorcock always mentions the Multiverse--where there is not one universe but a myriad of them, and, if you know how, you can go to any of them. The Multiverse is how Elric's universe and ours are able to come together. No matter what book I read, I have a habit of marking passages that I particularly like. I started reading this book with the intention of not finishing it anytime soon, but after a few pages, I couldn't help but notice how many passages I had marked. This was a good book! Moorcock's writing style has certainly changed. The older Elric stories had the taste of the pulp magazine in them. This book, especially the first half, tastes more of modern-day fiction. It is for that reason that I say that Michael Moorcock has matured. That is a good thing. The better authors don't let themselves get stuck in a rut, following the same boring outlines and formulas. As for the book itself, the first half takes places primarily in WWII Nazi Germany, with the focus on Ulric von Bek, our universe's equivalent of Elric. Surprisingly, although Elric is most assuredly in this book, the reader will find himself reading more about WWII Germany than ancient Melnibone. Some of my favorite passages from this book include: "A quintessentially German building. Its sweetness, however, was marred a little when you knew that its name came from the famous witch-burner, Burgermeister Rothmann. In 1667 he had burned twenty-five witches. It was his best year (pg. 97)." And " 'Every bloody town begins with an 'H' around here,' he complained. 'I get them mixed up. I think I should have taken a right at Holzminder. Or was it Hoxter? Anyway, it looks as if I overshot my turning. We seem to be halfway to Hamm (pg. 95)." As you can see, there is even some humor in this book. Most of the other passages I liked were more intellectual, more thought-provoking. But hey, when you're reading a book that deals with such heavy subjects as The Multiverse, a little humor is most welcome. I give this book 5 stars, but in reality it's more like 4.5 stars. This book does have its slow parts and is not as satisfying overall as "The Eye of the World" by Robert Jordan, or "Tigana" by Guy Gavriel Kay, but it's still an excellent work of fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Stunning
Review: Moorcock has done it again! This book is captivating to say the least. Moorcock's imagery and vivid descriptions add a life to this novel, I have never seen before. This book is simply stunning. The social and religious satire, set a cynical mood, that seems to carry on through the book. Adding to it's unparalleled brilliance. If you have ever enjoyed a Moorcock novel, you must read this book! I can't say enough about this excelent work! Thank you Michael! From the bottom of my strange and delighted soul, thank you!
Rating:
Summary: Escapist adventure, thought-provoking themes
Review: Moorcock himself has reminded us in his introductions to the White Wolf editions (themselves a fascinating story of a writer's influences and ambitions over forty years) that his real attraction in the magazines was to science fantasy, tht strange blend of science and magic Leigh Brackett and her fellow wordsmiths turned out so well and featured in Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories of Planet Stories, side by side with Ray Bradbury and Jack Vance, both of whom were also attracted to that blend of fiction. Moorcock isn't a Tolkienoid fantasy writer precisely because he was as interested in the romance of science as he was in the romance of long-ago. There is little nostalgia, nor any attempt to recreate Tolkien because Moorcock's influences, like his musical influences at the same period, were primarily American -- Cabell, Leiber and Alfred Bester were, like the other writers mentioned, influences and models. He claims to have looked to American models, after Peake and T.H.White, as offering a distinctly different tradition to that represented by the Inklings, with whom he was at odds! To criticise his fantasy for not being like Tolkien, is probably praise to him! My point is that there is always an idea, always a theme, always something to stimulate the intellect as well as the senses in Moorcock, so that his fantasies are distinct largely because he has always used them to explore moral, philosophical and creative problems, usually with a light touch. The touch is light here. I can't see you'd ever have needed to have read another Moorcock book to get straight into this -- a real advantage to Moorcock's oft-claimed 'non-linearity' is that there really isn't a beginning and a middle -- you can jump in anywhere and feel perfectly satisfied by one book -- yet every other book, whether fantasy or literary, expands the ideas and re-examines an argument. Apart from writers like Faulkner, who used the same family members, like Zola and Balzac, I can think of no writer who uses the fantasy medium who has achieved anything close to this remarkable all-encompassing version of his own world, both in reality and in his imagination. It would be great to have some Leigh Brackett and C.L.Moore, as well as Leiber and Vance, to see the tradition Moorcock emerged from and made into something entirely and vastly his own! This is a fine addition to the Eternal Champion sequence and well up to the best Moorcock fantasies.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent
Review: Moorcock returns to his Multiverse here. The story is about the stuggle of Ulric Von Bek against the Nazi's. Elric plays a significant part here, but this is only partially his story. The story moves slower than most of Moorcock's works. While some people find this a fault, to me it adds more versimultitude than his previous books. Ulric and Elric are interesting in their similarities and differences. Ulric while sharing Elric's albinoism and brooding nature, is still the production of a more civilized era. If you are looking for a simple retread of the previous Elric books, don't look here, but if you want a novel that takes the Multiverse and expands on it you will enjoy this.
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