[j. d. worthington]

Well summed, Knivesout! Yes, virtually all of Moorcock's work is interrelated (even his polemics such as "The Retreat from Liberty"). He's a writer very much out of the 1960s sf "New Wave" school, concerned about social issues and the human condition, but even with the "cautionary tale" nature of much of his work, I'd say from both his writing and various talks he's given, that he's generally optimistic about humanity, and finds the complexities fascinating, even when frustrating. (That last is my own take on some of his comments rather than a direct quote.)

I haven't yet had a chance to read "The Skrayling Tree" or "The White Wolf's Son" or "The Vengeance of Rome" (basically, what he's published in the last 2-3 years), but I think I've read just about everything else that's been published except for some very early things he did (such as "Caribbean Crisis", written -- I think -- with James Cawthorn). Yes, he's a very prolific writer, and much of his work repays going back through occasionally. Some don't hold up all that well (the Corum books, I find, are among that number, though I still have a fondness for them), but many (like "Mother London") improve with each reading.

Hope I'm not overdoing it -- I've had a good bit to say about H. P. Lovecraft as well, now I'm nattering on about Moorcock -- but, as I said elsewhere, it's just such a relief to find some intelligent discussion and open minds on these topics.