This 64-Year-Old Fantasy Book Series That Inspired D&D, Game Of Thrones & More Epic Sagas Is Still A Must Read

Contemporary fantasy, in books, film, and television, has been defined by epic sagas like A Song of Ice and Fire, The Witcher, and works based on Dungeons & Dragons. While these are the stories and worlds that modern writers and filmmakers are in conversation with, it’s important to remember that the earliest contributions to the genre still exert a lot of influence on present-day projects. Though it’s easy to remember some of the most famous additions to the fantasy landscape, plenty of forgotten works have a significant hold on cultural interpretations of otherworldly stories and heroes.

Many recent fantasy books that will be classics someday wouldn’t exist without the work of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and others like him. While The Lord of the Rings has been well-documented for shaping the trajectory of modern fantasy, it’s not the only work that has sparked the imaginations of generations of creatives. Fantasy can take on many forms, and high fantasy novels are only one source of inspiration. Many protagonists who audiences fall in love with typically share many traits and familiar characteristics with the archetypal heroes seen across the genre today.

How Elric of Melniboné Inspired Multiple Fantasy Series

This series sparked the creation of many fantasy worlds

Michael Moorcock’s underrated fantasy book series, Elric of Melniboné​​​​, is an iconic addition to the genre and is much more influential than many fantasy lovers realize. The character of Elric has blossomed into an archetypal fantasy role on its own, but this is far from the only way that Moorcock’s work has transcended time and genre to influence literature for generations. Though there aren’t as many readers who recognize Moorcock’s name or The Elric Saga in general, this doesn’t change the fact that it led to the creation of many modern works.

The works within The Elric Saga all follow Elric, the ruler of Melniboné, who ascends to the throne of this magical country when its power and influence are waning. Elric is an interesting protagonist and the core of Moorcock’s stories as he grapples with his talent for sorcery, complex relationships with his subjects, and the dangerous sword Stormbringer, which plays a key role in his development and downfall. The discussions of a failing empire and a reluctant hero are now popular facets of fantasy, and few early works better represent this than The Elric Saga.

If You Like Fantasy Heroes, You’ll Like Elric of Melniboné

Elric is the inspiration for many recent heroes seen in TV, film, and literature

The physical descriptions of Elric immediately call to mind characters like Geralt of Rivia, while the heroism that resides beneath his gruff exterior is part of almost every fantasy hero. While Tolkien’s Aragorn was an unflappable and eternally stout hero, it’s more common to write a more morally ambiguous and dark fantasy hero. It’s clear that George R.R. Martin took a page out of Moorcock’s book when writing A Song of Ice and Fire, as Martin’s protagonists are just as willing to commit themselves to violent and terrible acts. Elric is far from perfect and immune to failure.

However, this is what makes him so fun to read about, as most fantasy books have villains just as compelling as the heroes, and Elric fulfills both niches at times. As intimidating with his mystical sword, Stormbringer, as he is when wielding magic, Elric is an interesting combination of the wizard and fighter archetypes, giving readers plenty of reasons to fall in love with his story. The complexities and uncertainty that Elric demonstrates throughout the story helped open up the fantasy genre and encouraged writers and readers to question their heroes’ motivations.

How To Read The Elric of Melniboné Stories In Order

Whether it’s chronologically or in order of publication, there are many ways to approach the books

Moorcock’s world in The Elric Saga took the characters in many directions, and there’s significant debate about the best way to engage with the material. For a long time, many sprawling works of fantasy, like The Elric Saga, appeared in different magazines and publications, and the authors didn’t publish their stories in chronological order. Much like the series order of Discworld, there are many ways to dive into The Elric Saga, and like most fantastical narratives, there’s no wrong way to begin enjoying Moorcock’s works. However, there are some ways that align better with modern sensibilities.

Though the fantasy world of The Elric Saga eventually came to include a litany of graphic novels, novellas, stand-alone stories, and more, there are certain installments that are critical to the central continuation of Elric’s journey. One of the few almost universally agreed-upon decisions about how to read the books is to end with Stormbringer, which was one of the first novels in the series, published in 1965. Other than that, and potentially beginning with Elric of Melniboné, being fully immersed in the story is easy no matter what novel is being read.

Chronology via Reactor Mag.