littlemissattitude
Super Moderator
One of the points Michael Moorcock seems to be trying to make in “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” is that a little chaos in the world is not really a bad thing. In fact, everything in the book leans toward the idea that chaos is highly preferable to too much strict and rigidly enforced law. Maybe I misread him, but I don’t think so. Not when his example of the champions of law are the Nazis under Adolf Hitler. And not when his hero is the very image of Elric of Melnibone, well-known servant of chaos.
Now, before those of you who have never heard of Elric panic, you don’t have to have read Moorcock’s series of novels featuring Elric in order to understand and enjoy “The Dreamthief’s Daughter”. I had read only a couple of those books, too long ago to really remember much beyond Elric himself, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is enough background about Elric, the conflict between law and chaos, and the workings of the multiverse Elric inhabits to allow those unfamiliar with the Elric saga to follow the story. On the other hand, there is not so much back story that those who have read and loved every installment in Elric’s story will get bored.
It is hard to know how much of the story to summarize here without giving away too much. So I won’t. I will say that Ulric von Bek, the protagonist, hasn’t a clue at the beginning of the story of his crucial role in the salvation of Earth, his little corner of the multiverse, from the forces that are fighting over it. He doesn’t know who he is, really, not completely. He doesn’t understand that the old family stories that he has written off as self-aggrandizing myth are really astonishingly accurate. I will also say that this book has something for just about everyone who loves fantasy literature. There is magic. There is swordplay - in fact the whole story revolves around a sword that has been in Ulric’s family for generations. There are flying dragons. There is romance. Even the Holy Grail is here.
There is also philosophical subtext which Moorcock has inserted into his story quite successfully, without ruining the entertainment value of the novel. He has some things to say that are, I think, quite relevant in our post 9/11 world. Surprisingly relevant, considering that “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” was published a few months before September 11, 2001. There is speculation here about people who have so much hate in them that they are willing to destroy the world, even the multiverse, rather than let there be peace. There is also the observation that dealing with such people affects others, sometimes to the point where hate and viciousness are brought out even in otherwise reasonable people. Moorcock also addresses the fine line between idealism and the willingness to commit acts of war or terrorism. On a less political note, there are some interesting observations about time and its flow.
All of this is not to say that “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” is perfect. There are a couple of things that bothered me a bit. The main problem is that the book has three or four endings. By that, I mean that as I read, I thought the story was ending at several different points. I thought it was coming to a really satisfying ending at one point. Then I noticed that there were quite a few more pages to go. I read on and, again, the story seemed to be ending. Nope. More pages left. And again. And once more. I found that a little frustrating. Then there is the fact that , despite the first-person narrative, the point of view changes part way through and then later changes back again. There is a good reason for this, but it seemed to me that the transitions were handled in a slightly awkward manner.
Despite these faults, “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” is a good book. The story is involving, the characters are well-drawn and interesting, and the story works whether you are just looking for a good read or you like something a little deeper in your fiction. Read it. You’ll have a good time. You might even think a bit.
Now, before those of you who have never heard of Elric panic, you don’t have to have read Moorcock’s series of novels featuring Elric in order to understand and enjoy “The Dreamthief’s Daughter”. I had read only a couple of those books, too long ago to really remember much beyond Elric himself, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is enough background about Elric, the conflict between law and chaos, and the workings of the multiverse Elric inhabits to allow those unfamiliar with the Elric saga to follow the story. On the other hand, there is not so much back story that those who have read and loved every installment in Elric’s story will get bored.
It is hard to know how much of the story to summarize here without giving away too much. So I won’t. I will say that Ulric von Bek, the protagonist, hasn’t a clue at the beginning of the story of his crucial role in the salvation of Earth, his little corner of the multiverse, from the forces that are fighting over it. He doesn’t know who he is, really, not completely. He doesn’t understand that the old family stories that he has written off as self-aggrandizing myth are really astonishingly accurate. I will also say that this book has something for just about everyone who loves fantasy literature. There is magic. There is swordplay - in fact the whole story revolves around a sword that has been in Ulric’s family for generations. There are flying dragons. There is romance. Even the Holy Grail is here.
There is also philosophical subtext which Moorcock has inserted into his story quite successfully, without ruining the entertainment value of the novel. He has some things to say that are, I think, quite relevant in our post 9/11 world. Surprisingly relevant, considering that “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” was published a few months before September 11, 2001. There is speculation here about people who have so much hate in them that they are willing to destroy the world, even the multiverse, rather than let there be peace. There is also the observation that dealing with such people affects others, sometimes to the point where hate and viciousness are brought out even in otherwise reasonable people. Moorcock also addresses the fine line between idealism and the willingness to commit acts of war or terrorism. On a less political note, there are some interesting observations about time and its flow.
All of this is not to say that “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” is perfect. There are a couple of things that bothered me a bit. The main problem is that the book has three or four endings. By that, I mean that as I read, I thought the story was ending at several different points. I thought it was coming to a really satisfying ending at one point. Then I noticed that there were quite a few more pages to go. I read on and, again, the story seemed to be ending. Nope. More pages left. And again. And once more. I found that a little frustrating. Then there is the fact that , despite the first-person narrative, the point of view changes part way through and then later changes back again. There is a good reason for this, but it seemed to me that the transitions were handled in a slightly awkward manner.
Despite these faults, “The Dreamthief’s Daughter” is a good book. The story is involving, the characters are well-drawn and interesting, and the story works whether you are just looking for a good read or you like something a little deeper in your fiction. Read it. You’ll have a good time. You might even think a bit.
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