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The Vanishing Tower

The Vanishing Tower

Dark FantasyEpic Fantasy
Pages
175
Published
1971
Language
English

Synopsis

Elric of Melniboné, the albino prince and wielder of the soul-drinking sword Stormbringer, wanders a world that fears and hates him. As he seeks the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna, he finds himself drawn into a cosmic struggle between the forces of Law and Chaos. This classic sword-and-sorcery tale follows a doomed hero who must pay a terrible price for the power he wields.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkAtmosphericAdventurousPhilosophical
Anti-HeroMorally GreyQuestSacrificeBetrayal

Genres

Dark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Fantasy High Fantasy

About the author

M
Michael Moorcock

Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published literary novels. He is best known for his novels about the character Elric of Melniboné, a seminal influence on the field of fantasy in the 1960s and 1970s. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirect...

Characters

Elric of MelnibonéProtagonist
All characters in The Vanishing Tower

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Vanishing Tower need to be read in order?

    While part of a larger saga, The Vanishing Tower can be enjoyed as a standalone adventure. It introduces new elements and challenges for Elric that do not strictly rely on prior knowledge of every preceding story.

  • How does this book connect to Michael Moorcock's other works?

    The Vanishing Tower is a key entry in Moorcock's Eternal Champion cycle, featuring Elric of Melnibon as one of many incarnations of the Champion. Readers will find thematic and sometimes direct links to characters and concepts from other series like Corum and Hawkmoon.