This is either the 2nd or 1st in the series of omnibuses, depending on the
country, but I read it towards the end due to out-of-print issues. And
actually, I feel I got a lot more out of it reading it after all the
Elrics
and Corums.
It wasn't quite what I expected, from seeing Erekose in the Vani****ng
Tower
arc. He wasn't nearly as loopy. Also, for someone constantly pining for
Ermizhad, she really didn't appear a lot (not that this is unusual with
Moorcock, who really didn't write strong positive women till about 1972
and
Una Persson).
In the first book, we see Erekose doing INCREDIBLY DUMB THINGS over the
course of the entire book. It's made especially amusing by him saying "I
wonder if I'm being punsihed for doing something bad?" and then deciding
to
do it 5 minutes later. You want to smack him.
Book 2 is better, in that he's not as aggravating, but it's probably the
weakest of the series. Most of the interesting bits are with the Black
Sword, which works better with Elric, IMO.
The 3rd book is easily the best, and adds a Von Bek to the mix. It's a
standard 'run around, get captured, escape, learn vital bits of the plot'
book, but done with style, and the writing quality is far better too. It
also has a nicely satisfying ending.
So overall, not bad. Certainly a good 'title' volume to the series,
though
I still like Jerry and Elric better.
Next I try to read more of Byzantium Endures, and wait for Count Brass to
arrive.
--SG
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