Elric of Melniboné

[Ðanisty]

I've found a few Elric fans here! Let's dig deeper.

When did you first read Elric and which book was your first?

What are you favorite Elric moments?

Who are your favorite side characters?

Post your favorite pictures of Elric!

Be honest, did you cry in the end? :sad4:

Cymoril or Zarozinia?

Who would you cast as Elric in the movie? What about Yyrkoon, Arioch, Moonglum, etc?

What quality of Elric's draws you in the most?

Am I the only person here who would get my entire back covered in a giant Elric tattoo?

Have you ever shouted "Blood and souls for Arioch!"?

 

[rojse]

Who is this "Elric of Melnibone" (sorry I cannot get that e in properly) person, and why is he so special?

 

[Ðanisty]

Elric is a character in a fantastic series of books by Michael Moorcock which is, in turn, part of a larger series about "the eternal champion." If you like fantasy, I highly recommend it!

 

[Azakel]

I can answer in full when I finish the book, I've only read the first chapter when a friend had it, can't what.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I've found a few Elric fans here! Let's dig deeper.

Since it's been so long since I've read them, I'll probably only be able to answer a couple of questions, Leslie. *blushes*

But now that I'm done with the Harry Potter series, I have Elric at the top of my list to read. Heh heh heh......

When did you first read Elric and which book was your first?

Aaah, my very impressionable early teens. Was I 12? 13? Dunno..........all I remember is that I would hear my older brother talk about this character named Elric to his buddies, and so I'd sneak into his room and "borrow" his copy of Elric of Melnibone. I also remember reading some - not all - of Stormbringer. My brother, I think, has read the whole series.

What quality of Elric's draws you in the most?

Well, Danisty, you already know this. LOL The more I read about Elric, the more I developed this minor crush on him. He was just beautiful, hot, brave, intelligent, and the exact opposite of what a heroic figure was "supposed" to look like. I've always had this distate for convention, so because he was so different, he just grabbed my attention and never let go.

Am I the only person here who would get my entire back covered in a giant Elric tattoo?

Start a poll and find out!

That would be awesome if you did that. I've contemplated getting another tattoo on one of my shoulder blades. And, depending on how much I fall in love with Elric again when I finally get around to reading the books, I just might contemplate getting a tattoo of him over Beren and Luthien from The Silmarillion.

Have you ever shouted "Blood and souls for Arioch!"?

LOL..........not out loud. My fascination for Elric was mostly kept "in the closet" for many years until I found other women like you later on in life. I discovered I wasn't alone in my tastes for albino, frail, anti-hero characters. So, I was silent for a long time.

Until now.




Peace,
Mystic

 

[Ðanisty]

Okay, I'll answer my own questions!

When did you first read Elric and which book was your first?
It was about 12 years ago when I was in high school. The first book I actually read was a collection of short stories called Tales of the White Wolf. They weren't even written by Michel Moorcock, but it was lent to me by a friend who had already read all the books. It was a good introduction because it wasn't too much to absorb at one time.

What are you favorite Elric moments?
My absolute favorite moment is actually in the first book, Elric of Melniboné:

"Very well, Prince Yyrkoon, you may join us at the feast tonight while Captain Valharik entertains us with his dying."

Yyrkoon's face was almost as pale as Elric's. "What do you mean?"

"The little pieces of Captain Valharik's flesh which our Doctor Jest will carve from his limbs will be the meat on which you feast. You may give instructions as to how you wish the captain's flesh prepared. We should not expect you to eat it raw, cousin."

Who are your favorite side characters?
Obviously Moonglum is great ("This is Moonglum of Elwher...he has no conscience"...lol), but I would have to say my favorite was Rackhir, the Red Archer.

Post your favorite pictures of Elric!
Here are a few of my favorites:
http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/elricca.html
http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/elricya.html
http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/elrichl.html
http://homepage.mac.com/antallan/elricgb2.html


Be honest, did you cry in the end? :sad4:
OMG...that's all I can say. Thank God Moorcock kept writing!

Cymoril or Zarozinia?
Elric might have moved on, but I remained attached to Cymoril. Of course, naturally I would pick me over either of them, but I'd be willing to share with Mystic.

Who would you cast as Elric in the movie? What about Yyrkoon, Arioch, Moonglum, etc?
There's been SO much debate about this over at Moorcock's Miscellany. Personally, I would like to see Christian Bale as Elric.

What quality of Elric's draws you in the most?
Bottom line...he's emotionally unavailable. Every one of my favorite characters is. I've also always been attracted to really thin guys. In a lot of ways though, I can relate to Elric. He's a loner, he's misunderstood, he's a bit of a paradox (a humanitarian berserker?)

Am I the only person here who would get my entire back covered in a giant Elric tattoo?
This is actually a plan of mine. I've been saving my back. Serious collectors of tattoos realize how valuable the back is as a canvas...it's the largest surface you can tattoo on. I haven't yet sat down with an artist, but I've formulated several ideas already. I've even though of using my husband as the model for Elric.

Have you ever shouted "Blood and souls for Arioch!"?
I used to want a black car with red runes pained on it. I thought it would go nice with my road rage.

 

[James the Persian]

Well, as I identified myself as an Eternal Champion fan (though, did I mention that I preferred Corum?) I suppose that I need to answer.

I'm not sure when I first read Elric of Melnibone (that was the first one I read) but I was probably about 14. I started the Corum books at about 12 and had read the Hawkmoon and Erekose books before Elric. And I've since read most of the others too, I think.

As for the quality of Elric's that I like best, it'd be his being a tortured and rather self-loathing anti-hero. It was great to find a character who was heroic and yet was so despite his own frailties and problems rather than being some super man.

I agree with you about Rackhir being the best side character I think, assuming that you mean a major one. My favourite character to actually appear with Elric in the books, however is, without doubt Erekose.

I don't have any favourite pictures because I prefer the pictures that literature conjures up in my imagination to be honest and, no I didn't cry. I have no real feeling as to Cymoril or Zarozinia and I've never thought about the casting for a film. Your idea of Christian Bale would be good, but (for anyone who knows him, perhaps from the BBC drama Hustle), I picture him looking more like Marc Warren.

I've never shouted Blood and souls for Arioch and I doubt I ever would and I certainly wouldn't get a tattoo of Elric on my back. I'd be highly unlikely to get a tattoo of any kind anywhere, but if I did it would almost certainly be a cross, not Elric.

I must say, I find the female response to Elric in this thread rather surprising. I never realised Elric was some sort of sexual fantasy figure. For me, especially considering that in my early teens I was kind of depressed, bookish and frail, though I cheered up and filled out later, he was more an inspiration to better myself, but then I never was attracted to other blokes.

James

 

[Ðanisty]

Well, as I identified myself as an Eternal Champion fan (though, did I mention that I preferred Corum?) I suppose that I need to answer.

Yes, I do believe you mentioned Corum as a favorite.

I'm not sure when I first read Elric of Melnibone (that was the first one I read) but I was probably about 14. I started the Corum books at about 12 and had read the Hawkmoon and Erekose books before Elric. And I've since read most of the others too, I think.

Erekose is one of the incarnations I'm particularly interested in, actually. I haven't picked up any books, but I was immediately fascinated with him in his brief adventures in the Elric books.

As for the quality of Elric's that I like best, it'd be his being a tortured and rather self-loathing anti-hero. It was great to find a character who was heroic and yet was so despite his own frailties and problems rather than being some super man.

The self-loathing is attractive, especially considering that at times he tends to be optimistic.

I agree with you about Rackhir being the best side character I think, assuming that you mean a major one. My favourite character to actually appear with Elric in the books, however is, without doubt Erekose.

Yes, I was more referring to the major side characters.

I don't have any favourite pictures because I prefer the pictures that literature conjures up in my imagination to be honest and, no I didn't cry. I have no real feeling as to Cymoril or Zarozinia and I've never thought about the casting for a film. Your idea of Christian Bale would be good, but (for anyone who knows him, perhaps from the BBC drama Hustle), I picture him looking more like Marc Warren.

It's true that no artist's depiction of Elric compares to what I see when I read the books, especially not the art by Robert Gould. Being an artist myself, I've tried numerous times to draw Elric but I can't seem to put him on paper. Sometimes it seems like he's out of my reach. I'm not familiar with Marc Warren, but I did google him and he could definitely pull off the look.

I've never shouted Blood and souls for Arioch and I doubt I ever would and I certainly wouldn't get a tattoo of Elric on my back. I'd be highly unlikely to get a tattoo of any kind anywhere, but if I did it would almost certainly be a cross, not Elric.

Yeah, I didn't expect to it to actually be a popular choice...lol.

I must say, I find the female response to Elric in this thread rather surprising. I never realised Elric was some sort of sexual fantasy figure. For me, especially considering that in my early teens I was kind of depressed, bookish and frail, though I cheered up and filled out later, he was more an inspiration to better myself, but then I never was attracted to other blokes.

I can't speak for Mystic, but I've never been attracted to "attractive" people. For myself, I think I tend to me more attracted to people's passion and energy and when that happens, I find myself incredibly attracted to their outward appearance as well. Thin is a preference for me though, which I'll admit is unusual. I developed a bit of a crush on Sherlock Holmes as well.

 

[James the Persian]

Yes, I do believe you mentioned Corum as a favorite.

Though so, but wasn't sure.

Erekose is one of the incarnations I'm particularly interested in, actually. I haven't picked up any books, but I was immediately fascinated with him in his brief adventures in the Elric books.

Erekose's great. He embodies the depressing pointlessness of endless rounds of reincarnation being, as he is, the only one that can remember all hisincarnations.

The self-loathing is attractive, especially considering that at times he tends to be optimistic.

Particularly so for a self-loathing teenager. I'm not so sure how I'd react if I encountered Elric for the first time now.

I'm not familiar with Marc Warren, but I did google him and he could definitely pull off the look.

Yeah, pasty, thin, slightly scary and quite fine-featured. He played Dracula in a relatively recent British production and I think it's remembering him in that that made me think he could pull off Elric.

I can't speak for Mystic, but I've never been attracted to "attractive" people. For myself, I think I tend to me more attracted to people's passion and energy and when that happens, I find myself incredibly attracted to their outward appearance as well.

Well that I certainly understand. That's more the way I am myself, though nothing for me will make a person attractive if they have dead or vacant eyes.

I developed a bit of a crush on Sherlock Holmes as well.

This I find less easy to understand - do you mean the character from the novels or a particular actor who played the part? I, to be honest, can't remember ever having a crush on any character from a novel, though I certainly had my share of odd crushes from elsewhere.

James

 

[Ðanisty]

Erekose's great. He embodies the depressing pointlessness of endless rounds of reincarnation being, as he is, the only one that can remember all hisincarnations.

Is there a lot of torment and frustration?

Well that I certainly understand. That's more the way I am myself, though nothing for me will make a person attractive if they have dead or vacant eyes.

That, in it's own way, I think it is attractive, but I'm not sure I could ever connect with them. It would be more like a puzzle to solve.

This I find less easy to understand - do you mean the character from the novels or a particular actor who played the part? I, to be honest, can't remember ever having a crush on any character from a novel, though I certainly had my share of odd crushes from elsewhere.

The character. He's emotionally unavailable, mysterious, a bit awkward and, in his own way, passionate. I love how excited he gets! I've fallen for a number of fictional characters so it doesn't phase me anymore...lol.