Rating: Summary: I'm at the end of time on this one. Review: A most unusual work of Mr. Moorcock. Funny, devious, but definitely an essential for those who want to understand the most of Michael Moorcock. Probably his attitude toward life. I like the situation that the story is cast in: decadent world where the last humans of Earth have powers like gods, but use them solely for petty domestic pleasure. Jherek is the only one of them who wishes to explore other worlds, and ends up the progenitor of a new plan of creation. And the contrast between Victorian prudishness and End of Time innocent decadence is hilariously portrayed here. Very good, Mr. Moorcock. You're not miserable in this one (I mean about what happens to the hero). Hats off to Jherek, too. Hope he learns how to read, though.
Rating: Summary: A Magnificent Après vie Review: All it lacks is The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. But here is a baroque run of the imagination, whit the most luxuriant and colourful fin du cosme you can find. Here you can find all your favorite permutations of reality, indeed an Otherland open to all,when any one of a collection of incredible characters builds his own little universe.Magic Moorcock at his best.
Rating: Summary: It's the bible Review: An excellent book which exposes the conventions of today for what they are. Given the ability to do whatever you wish, what do you actually want to do. Without constraints of any kind, which of your behaviour patterns would survive?
Rating: Summary: Who says decadence is bad? Review: Definitely the most ornate of the many Eternal Champion books, the Dancers book literally drip with the times of Oscar Wilde and company, every sentence is flowering and flowing, wrapping around themselves several times, almost wallowing in their lyrical flavor before leading directly into the next one. For once, Moorcock manages to deliver this high minded language without sounding pretentious, not many people could pull that off. And his world here is as far from the blood drenched sword and sorcery conflicts that make up the Elric, Corum, Hawkmoon books, like the Jerry Cornelius books (who both the characters and the plots mostly resemble) nothing seems to happen even as the action is spiraling around, philosophy that most writers would spend entire books on is tossed off in careless comments, the Law/Chaos arugments are brought up again but you don't even notice. The best part is the character interaction, for all their decadence and carelessness, the Dancers are a bit of a lovable bunch because of their innocence and you can't help cheering on the burgoning romance of Amelia and Jherek, both savoring the long drawn out tension and cursing that she doesn't ditch that loser of a husband and go with Jherek. The romance is at the center of the book and Moorcock knows it, he aptly illustrates the passions that just burn underneath the surface of the two lovers and makes you sympathize with their conflicts. Deep down inside you know they're going to be together but since this is a Moorcock book you wonder what form. The happy ending is nice for once as well, one can only stomach Elric's seemingly endless self pity for so long, entertaining and thought provoking as it is. This series basically rewrites the Jerry Cornelius books, takes out the stuff that made it nearly incomprehensible (if you've read them you know exactly what I mean) and layers the plot on thick, some people complain they had trouble following it, coming off some of his more complicated stuff, this couldn't be easier, heck I guessed a lot of the twists before they happened, but I missed nearly as many as well. All in all, one of the more entertaining and well rounded Eternal Champion books, it even has some great guest appearance by other characters from the other series (and what Moorcock book would be incomplete without that?), it offers adventure, romance and some philosophy in a nice package that leaves you with a good feeling when you've finished. Doesn't get better than this.
Rating: Summary: Good, but strange! Review: Even though he has written some really strange tales with Elric and the rest of the Eternal Champions Series. This one is perhaps the strangest of them all. While it begins rather slow and the plot is somewhat difficult to picture it is still a well done portriat of choas and good.However, my suggestion is to quickly get through without question to finish and go to volume 11. This volume may be better reading twice. But that's my view!
Rating: Summary: Classic Moorcock Review: For years I had put off reading Moorcock... I read plenty of other Science Fiction and Fantasy, from Neil Stephenson to Robert Jordan, but never got around to reading this giant of the genres. I'm glad I finally did. "The Dancers At the End of Time" is quite possibly the wittiest and most amusing time travel scenario I have ever encountered. Moorcock wrote this exciting little trilogy (originally published as several smaller hardcover volumes) with a wit rarely encountered in the often overly-serious sci-fa genres. His satire drips with the delightful flavor of the turn of the century fin-de-siecle, delightful parodies of H.G. Wells, and a delicate, romantic heart that matches the author's humor. I laughed at Jerekh's bumbling attempts at romance. I cried at the almost tragic occurences near the end of the novel, and I cheered at the resolution. Having just finished reading Mary Doria Russell's depressing "The Sparrow" (although also an excellent book), I needed something a bit more uplifting. This did the trick. If you're looking for a good intelligent satire, you can do no wrong by taking a look at this classic Moorcock masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: Classic Moorcock Review: For years I had put off reading Moorcock... I read plenty of other Science Fiction and Fantasy, from Neil Stephenson to Robert Jordan, but never got around to reading this giant of the genres. I'm glad I finally did. "The Dancers At the End of Time" is quite possibly the wittiest and most amusing time travel scenario I have ever encountered. Moorcock wrote this exciting little trilogy (originally published as several smaller hardcover volumes) with a wit rarely encountered in the often overly-serious sci-fa genres. His satire drips with the delightful flavor of the turn of the century fin-de-siecle, delightful parodies of H.G. Wells, and a delicate, romantic heart that matches the author's humor. I laughed at Jerekh's bumbling attempts at romance. I cried at the almost tragic occurences near the end of the novel, and I cheered at the resolution. Having just finished reading Mary Doria Russell's depressing "The Sparrow" (although also an excellent book), I needed something a bit more uplifting. This did the trick. If you're looking for a good intelligent satire, you can do no wrong by taking a look at this classic Moorcock masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: Outrageous and fun Review: From the moment the Iron Orchid makes her entrance on a seat of crushed bone, to outlandish adventures in Victorian England, a robot-run nursery and a primeval planet, this trilogy never flags. Moorcock creates consistent, believable characters, places them in enchanting and amusing settings and lets all hell break loose. Truly masterful writing and an ability to move and delight place Moorcock in the ranks of great sci-fi writers who transcend the genre, like Neal Stephenson and Orson Scott Card. His wicked and subtle sense of humor puts him in company with Wodehouse and Dickens. Now if only I could meet a man like Jherek...
Rating: Summary: Intense, Innocent, and Furious. Moorcock at his best. Review: I have been a fan of Michael Moorcock since Tales of the White Wolf came out. He surpasses the morbidity of the Elric stories (which I love) by coming out with this book. This book is of the innocenc of the future age and the complications of falling in love. Jharek Carnelian is an innocent, never has he dealt with any true feeling save art fo art's sake. Now, with the sight of Amelia Underwood, he is thoroughly entranced. This book is awesome.
Rating: Summary: The Decadent Apocalypse Review: I have the original paperback trilogy, which is here presented as one book. You need not have read Moorcock's other works to enjoy this, and it doesn't have the dark and brooding atmosphere of some of his Eternal Champion stuff (though a few of the individual characters do enjoy that sort of thing). Since the playful and jaded people at the End of Time have the power to do anything they want, with no danger (if they happen to die, they can always resurrect, for instance), there are no logical limits or dangers requiring the development of taboos. They don't even have a clear concept of what is pleasant and what is not; their most damning description for an experience is "dull". The most interesting parts of the books, IMHO, deal with the violently clashing sensibilities of the End of Time people and time-and-space travellers who happen upon them, such as Mrs. Amelia Underwood of Victorian England. That and the preposterous visual imagery and terrible historical malapropisms. I find these books hysterically funny. If you're familiar with Moorcock's Elric books, read the End of Time trilogy...and then read Elric at the End of Time, if you can find it. Moorcock mocking himself is truly at his peak.
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