- Paperback
- Publisher: Grafton (28 Mar 1990)
- ISBN-10: 0586211721
- ISBN-13: 978-0586211724
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.4 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,679,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
About the Author
Born in London in 1939, Michael Moorcock now lives in Texas. A prolific and award-winning writer with more than eighty works of fiction and non-fiction to his name, he is the creator of Elric, Jerry Cornelius and Colonel Pyat, amongst many other memorable characters.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Another Eternal Champion incarnation, this time Dorian Hawkmoon. The Hawkmoon books are supposedly rather straighter heroic fantasy than the bulk of Moorcock's work, an assessment that I would agree with on the basis of this first novel.
It might be straight heroic fantasy, but the setting is at least slightly unusual - Earth in the far future after a 'tragic millennium' has devastated Europe. The dominant power is the evil empire of Granbretan. Hawkmoon is the defeated Duke of Koln who vows vengeance against the oppressors.
Different enough to be interesting, and exciting enough to be a page-turner, but just not as memorable as the author's best work.
It might be straight heroic fantasy, but the setting is at least slightly unusual - Earth in the far future after a 'tragic millennium' has devastated Europe. The dominant power is the evil empire of Granbretan. Hawkmoon is the defeated Duke of Koln who vows vengeance against the oppressors.
Different enough to be interesting, and exciting enough to be a page-turner, but just not as memorable as the author's best work.
Format:Paperback
This first in the 4 book `History of the Runestaff' series follows the adventures of Dorian Hawkmoon as he battles against the forces of the Dark Empire of Granbretan and struggles to free himself from a malevolent Black Jewel that has been implanted in his brain. This is a fairly basic straightforward sword and sorcery fantasy romp from Moorcock, though it moves along with a tremendous pace, and the central conceit of reversing the standard World War 2 drama by having Great Britain (Granbritan) the expansionist empire marauding through a post holocaust Europe is inspired.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Not as strong as the Elric saga, but a good read
6 Aug 2004
Format:Paperback
Michael Moorcock, The Jewel in The Skull (DAW 1977)
Moorcock's Jewel In The Skull is the first book in the runestaff series of novels. Unlike most fantasy tales this story takes place thousands of years in Earth's future. For some reason not described in the book, western civilization collapsed during a period known as the Tragic Millennium. During this time modern civilization was replaced by a new feudalism very similar to the system that dominated Europe during the Middle Ages. Magic is in use and plays an important role in society and the landscape is populated by many strange, monstrous creatures.The continent of Europe is now divided into many micro kingdoms. Modern advanced technology has disappeared and has been replaced by Iron Age technology and weapons.
The one exception to this rule is the evil empire of Granbretan which is a totalitarian state located on the island of Great Britain. Granbretan's technology is slightly more advanced than that which is in use on the continent. For example the Granbretans have flying machines. The Granbretans have used this tech advantage to conquer the very fractionalized nations of Europe and place them under their harsh yoke. One of Granbretan's leaders, Baron Meliadus attempts to use the book's hero, Dorian Hawkmoon in an attempt to avenge the insult dealt to him by another of the books main characters, Count Brass. Hawkmoon is another of Moorcock's Eternal Champions, the metaphysically related heroes who populate many of Moorcock's novels.
Throughout this book Hawkmoon leads an army in battle, fights monsters and duels against mighty foes. The Hawkmoon character is very different as compared to Elric. Hawkmoon isn't as dark a character as Elric. He fights to liberate is country and free his people. In this sense Hawkmoon is more of a traditional Fantasy hero. This book is a sample of Moorcock's earlier work and as such lacks some of the literary subtleness that I have come to love in his later works. The characters seem to be more standard in nature and somewhat predictable in behavior. Despite this however Moorcock demonstrates once again his mastery of the English language and as a result one finds it difficult to put the book down.
I must admit that I am not very comfortable with the idea of a futuristic iron age. I guess it's just my 21st century mind refusing to accept the idea of a society without electric lights and super highways. If one needs to write a tale of medieval fantasy then why not place it in the middle ages where it belongs ? Never the less, The Jewel in The Skull is a wonderful book and I look forward to reading the other books in this saga.
Moorcock's Jewel In The Skull is the first book in the runestaff series of novels. Unlike most fantasy tales this story takes place thousands of years in Earth's future. For some reason not described in the book, western civilization collapsed during a period known as the Tragic Millennium. During this time modern civilization was replaced by a new feudalism very similar to the system that dominated Europe during the Middle Ages. Magic is in use and plays an important role in society and the landscape is populated by many strange, monstrous creatures.The continent of Europe is now divided into many micro kingdoms. Modern advanced technology has disappeared and has been replaced by Iron Age technology and weapons.
The one exception to this rule is the evil empire of Granbretan which is a totalitarian state located on the island of Great Britain. Granbretan's technology is slightly more advanced than that which is in use on the continent. For example the Granbretans have flying machines. The Granbretans have used this tech advantage to conquer the very fractionalized nations of Europe and place them under their harsh yoke. One of Granbretan's leaders, Baron Meliadus attempts to use the book's hero, Dorian Hawkmoon in an attempt to avenge the insult dealt to him by another of the books main characters, Count Brass. Hawkmoon is another of Moorcock's Eternal Champions, the metaphysically related heroes who populate many of Moorcock's novels.
Throughout this book Hawkmoon leads an army in battle, fights monsters and duels against mighty foes. The Hawkmoon character is very different as compared to Elric. Hawkmoon isn't as dark a character as Elric. He fights to liberate is country and free his people. In this sense Hawkmoon is more of a traditional Fantasy hero. This book is a sample of Moorcock's earlier work and as such lacks some of the literary subtleness that I have come to love in his later works. The characters seem to be more standard in nature and somewhat predictable in behavior. Despite this however Moorcock demonstrates once again his mastery of the English language and as a result one finds it difficult to put the book down.
I must admit that I am not very comfortable with the idea of a futuristic iron age. I guess it's just my 21st century mind refusing to accept the idea of a society without electric lights and super highways. If one needs to write a tale of medieval fantasy then why not place it in the middle ages where it belongs ? Never the less, The Jewel in The Skull is a wonderful book and I look forward to reading the other books in this saga.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The Jewel in the Skull
1 Sep 2006
Format:Paperback
_Then the Earth grew old, its landscapes mellowing and showing signs of age, its ways becoming whimsical and strange in the manner of a man in his last years_
So begins the first of Michael Moorcock's four-part series, History of the Runestaff, a pulp adventure set in a far-flung future Europe, where high technology is all but a memory and fedalistic empires wage bloody wars across the lands. The greatest, most blood-mad of these empires, Granbretan, has by the start of the book nearly overrun all the western nations; only the Kamarg, home province of the mighty Count Brass, holds out. Baron Meliadus, Granbretan's most successful general, rather than choosing to attack the province directly, devises a plot to wheedle his way into Castle Brass in order to abduct Brass's daughter, Yisselda, and hold her to ransom. Learning of the plot, the Count drives Meliadus from his lands with a strict warning never to return. Meliadus (not a chap to take things lying down) vows upon the sacred Runestaff that by hook or by crook he will... get... his... revenge...
By this time of course we're well into the meat of the tale. There's already an encounter with a slime-monster, mutant flamingos, laser towers and beast-masked freakos before we even _get_ to the main hero of the tale. And that's not the end of it. Brain-sucking jewels, giant midgets, thousand year old fetuses in jars -- there's no denying Moorcock's imagination is in full flight here. He writes with a furious energy, flinging off ideas left right and center. Shame then that the hero in question, Duke Dorian Hawkmoon of Koln, is somewhat bland. It's not that he's boring. Rather, he's just not unique enough to stand out amidst such weird settings with any degree of authority. Supporting characters aren't much better, being in most instances mere sword-arms with amusing quips to bring up as required. But not to matter. This is pulp, and it ticks all the right boxes. There are noble heroes, winsome beauties and fiendish villains. Events move thick and fast. Battles occur almost every other chapter. Plenty of exotic locales too -- from the marshlands of southern France to the steppes of Russia to the deserts of Persia -- in which to involve our heroes as they battle to save the day. Excitement we're promised and excitement we get.
Of course as with most of Moorcock's work there's a little more going on behind the scenes. The Runestaff itself, with its imparting of a fixed destiny upon those who invoke it, is an interesting concept (though one which isn't really expanded upon in this or any of the subsequent books). Likewise, the Warrior in Jet and Gold, with his enigmatic spoutings of chaos and law, of champions maintaining the balance of the Universe, echoes themes that recur throughout much of his later work. It's not terribly deep stuff, mind, but it does serve to provide a bit of philosophical fluff to what are, essentially, boy's own adventures.
Anyway, check this out. It's short, clocking in at a little over 150 pages, and a lot of fun. Also, unlike many fantasy series today, all four of these books can be more or less read apart; so if they're not your cup of tea you can stop here without feeling like you've wasted your time on yet another neverending story.
So begins the first of Michael Moorcock's four-part series, History of the Runestaff, a pulp adventure set in a far-flung future Europe, where high technology is all but a memory and fedalistic empires wage bloody wars across the lands. The greatest, most blood-mad of these empires, Granbretan, has by the start of the book nearly overrun all the western nations; only the Kamarg, home province of the mighty Count Brass, holds out. Baron Meliadus, Granbretan's most successful general, rather than choosing to attack the province directly, devises a plot to wheedle his way into Castle Brass in order to abduct Brass's daughter, Yisselda, and hold her to ransom. Learning of the plot, the Count drives Meliadus from his lands with a strict warning never to return. Meliadus (not a chap to take things lying down) vows upon the sacred Runestaff that by hook or by crook he will... get... his... revenge...
By this time of course we're well into the meat of the tale. There's already an encounter with a slime-monster, mutant flamingos, laser towers and beast-masked freakos before we even _get_ to the main hero of the tale. And that's not the end of it. Brain-sucking jewels, giant midgets, thousand year old fetuses in jars -- there's no denying Moorcock's imagination is in full flight here. He writes with a furious energy, flinging off ideas left right and center. Shame then that the hero in question, Duke Dorian Hawkmoon of Koln, is somewhat bland. It's not that he's boring. Rather, he's just not unique enough to stand out amidst such weird settings with any degree of authority. Supporting characters aren't much better, being in most instances mere sword-arms with amusing quips to bring up as required. But not to matter. This is pulp, and it ticks all the right boxes. There are noble heroes, winsome beauties and fiendish villains. Events move thick and fast. Battles occur almost every other chapter. Plenty of exotic locales too -- from the marshlands of southern France to the steppes of Russia to the deserts of Persia -- in which to involve our heroes as they battle to save the day. Excitement we're promised and excitement we get.
Of course as with most of Moorcock's work there's a little more going on behind the scenes. The Runestaff itself, with its imparting of a fixed destiny upon those who invoke it, is an interesting concept (though one which isn't really expanded upon in this or any of the subsequent books). Likewise, the Warrior in Jet and Gold, with his enigmatic spoutings of chaos and law, of champions maintaining the balance of the Universe, echoes themes that recur throughout much of his later work. It's not terribly deep stuff, mind, but it does serve to provide a bit of philosophical fluff to what are, essentially, boy's own adventures.
Anyway, check this out. It's short, clocking in at a little over 150 pages, and a lot of fun. Also, unlike many fantasy series today, all four of these books can be more or less read apart; so if they're not your cup of tea you can stop here without feeling like you've wasted your time on yet another neverending story.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Somewhat darker Leiberish swords and sorcery OK pulp
10 Dec 2004
Format:Paperback
I've had very mixed feelings about Moorcock. I remember enjoying the Runestaff series as a young teen, but being really turned off by the ugly prurience of some later book of his I read. I was actually expecting to find nothing but tripe upon rereading this book, but have to admit it wasn't too bad. Sure the characters are stereotypical, but this is quite conscious and deliberate. The world is hardly as richly and deeply painted as the Middle Earth, but then again, which other world is? It's a workable distant future, and the feel of the settings isn't too far from that of Leiber's Swords series (a comparison Moorcock would be happy with), as is the sense that there are whimsically enigmatic and powerful forces tooling about with our protagonist.
He also rights some classic annoying conventions of fantasy - a bit like having someone re-shoot a roadrunner/coyote cartoon when the insufferable bird finally gets what's coming to him. One is that when the hero has a virtual spy camera planted in his forehead, the supposedly intelligent goodies who are being spied on don't just fall for it or wring their hands at the problem. Rather they do what the reader has done - establish that it only does vision, not sound, and have some good conversations in the dark in working out how to deal with it. Another is that a thousand year old character manages to lose his life relatively easily - something that happens far too often in fantasy - yet Moorcock at least has the consistency have him mystically return to life: how else has he survived this long unless he's got the hang of resurrection or got better survival techniques? And finally he sets up the standard mutually attracted hero and heroine who just can't seem to speak their feelings - and rather than spin this out for a book (or several) with increasingly implausible reasoning, the girl has the sense to make her feelings abundantly clear the night before the hero is liable to head off on a doomed quest. Ahhh. The way Hawkmoon meets his offsider is also nice - ironic, humorous, realistic, anti-climactic.
Sure, it's pulp, but pulp without a lot of annoying gritty bits you often have to suffer (pulp without the pulp if you like).
Maybe I've been nicer than it deserves because my expectations were so low.
Maybe not (I'll give Volume 2 another look anyway).
He also rights some classic annoying conventions of fantasy - a bit like having someone re-shoot a roadrunner/coyote cartoon when the insufferable bird finally gets what's coming to him. One is that when the hero has a virtual spy camera planted in his forehead, the supposedly intelligent goodies who are being spied on don't just fall for it or wring their hands at the problem. Rather they do what the reader has done - establish that it only does vision, not sound, and have some good conversations in the dark in working out how to deal with it. Another is that a thousand year old character manages to lose his life relatively easily - something that happens far too often in fantasy - yet Moorcock at least has the consistency have him mystically return to life: how else has he survived this long unless he's got the hang of resurrection or got better survival techniques? And finally he sets up the standard mutually attracted hero and heroine who just can't seem to speak their feelings - and rather than spin this out for a book (or several) with increasingly implausible reasoning, the girl has the sense to make her feelings abundantly clear the night before the hero is liable to head off on a doomed quest. Ahhh. The way Hawkmoon meets his offsider is also nice - ironic, humorous, realistic, anti-climactic.
Sure, it's pulp, but pulp without a lot of annoying gritty bits you often have to suffer (pulp without the pulp if you like).
Maybe I've been nicer than it deserves because my expectations were so low.
Maybe not (I'll give Volume 2 another look anyway).
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