| Re: Moorcock's "Great Themes"
Some very good posts here... thanks; this is what I had in mind... getting a genuine discussion of such things going, batting ideas on them back and forth....
Sephiroth... Moorcock is so prolific, and so variable, that it's hard to know where to begin; so I'd either go with your particular interest in type of story, or start with what is often called the "first" book in the series, The Eternal Champion, which sets forth (in somewhat simpler, though not necessarily simplistic, terms) many of the ideas, themes, and metaphors Moorcock deals with throughout his fiction. (Not to mention that it has a somewhat uncharacteristic action taken by a hero, if you will....)
G.C.: Have you read Moorcock's early essay on the cosmology and underpinnings of the Elric series? Though heavily influenced by Zoroastrianism, he also blended in other things as well; and he's stated (both in essays and in the fiction itself) that the idea of pure evil is -- to use his phrasing -- like pure madness... it tends to be inane, even stupid; hence he seldom has a character who is simply evil, or even turns to evil, without them also being quite deficient and corrupted both mentally and physically....
Urlik... I'd tend to agree, in a sense, that it's an ideal... in the almost strict sense of that word. But even there, I think, from my reading, he'd be cautious about applying it too strongly, as it is the variety and complexity that allows for dynamic growth, and even establishing an "ideal" equilibrium is likely to stultify that to some degree.... Would you agree with that, or do you read it otherwise?
At any rate... glad to have some really good, thoughtful responses here. Thanks.... |