The Revenge of the Rose

Rating:
Summary: It just didn't seem the same
Review: Elric has always been my favorite of the Champions. This book just didn't seem the same as the earlier ones, though. Of course, I've changed a lot since then, too. This one seemed overly contemplative, and Elric was too conveniently whisked through the multiverse to keep the plot together. Also lacking in action, and the final battle seemed a formality.

Rating:
Summary: Questions answered and new questions posed
Review: I really didn't have as much of a problem with the "talky" format of this book. After all, Elric tends to be a pretty contemplative guy. It filled in some background for me on Elric and his father,Sadric, which was welcome. Although we hear about Sadric in other books this is, as far as I know having read everything, but the Fortress of Pearl, the only time we see him in action. This book also provided some background on how Melnibone came to be what it was, as well as clarifying where its citizens may have come from. I liked seeing a female character, the Rose, who is quite capable of taking care of herself, who aside from Myshella Emporess of the Dawn and maybe Queen Yishana, tend to be absent from the other books. I'd like to see more stories in the future covering her other adventures.I love Wheldrake,as well, perhaps because I am a writer myself, albeit a definite amateur. He asked some of the questions I would ask and made some of the comments I would make, if I were able to talk to Elric. I also related to his poetic ramblings, being prone to them myself, and other aspects of his personality. I actually like the narrative style of this book better than the style of the earlier books, it seemed richer somehow. I would recommend reading it, but only if you've read at least the first few books, just to get an idea of the nature of Stormbringer, which is Elric's sword, the concept of the multiverse, and who, or what Elric's patron is and the relationship of the rulers of Melnibone to chaos. Chronologically, although not in order of publication, Revenge of the Rose follows book 4: Bane of the Black Sword.

As a further note, there is a mistake in the Kirkus review. The agent of chaos is named Gaynor the Damned, not Charion. Charion is a clairvoyant whom Elric and his companions meet in the Gypsy Nation.

Rating:
Summary: It just didn't seem the same
Review: I'm currently reading _Stormbringer_ so I can't say anything about that book but this is my favorite Elric book out of the other 7. It's not as pulpy because it was written as a novel, not as short episodes for a magazine and the gypsy caravan was absolutely ingenious. Rose was cool too.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Elric so far
Review: I'm currently reading _Stormbringer_ so I can't say anything about that book but this is my favorite Elric book out of the other 7. It's not as pulpy because it was written as a novel, not as short episodes for a magazine and the gypsy caravan was absolutely ingenious. Rose was cool too.

Rating:
Summary: Questions answered and new questions posed
Review: WOW! What a book. I read the Elric series when I was in junior high school (around 1976) and recently picked up and re-read the series again. Revenge of the Rose is written in a different style than the original series, which is no surprise, considering each of the 6 books are different in their own right. Revenge has some of the MOST descriptive scenes about Elric I have read yet. The scene in the Gypsy Nation whene Elric creeps down in the early morning to painfully ingest Dragon Venom gave me chills. And the final battle with Gaynor rivals even the Siege of Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings. I ONLY recomend this book to those who have read the original Elric series first. The ideas of Law, Chaos, and the Multiverse can be a tad hard to grasp for the uninitiated. But to those who know Elric and his world as I do, Revenge of the Rose is a richly descriptive read that further fleshes out the world of Elric and gives so much valuable insight into the mad albino's psyche. My ONE complaint about the book is Moorcock's habit of shifting from past-tense to present-tense and back again for no concievable reason whatsoever. But this is really just nitpicking on my part. If you are a fan of Elric, DO NOT miss this book. It's like visiting an old friend I thought was long gone.