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 Reviewed by: Ee Lin 15th Jan 2001 
 


The War Hound and the World's Pain

Michael Moorcock
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I have read some of Michael Moorcock's books before and although I found them to be enjoyable, I didn't feel the need to seek out the rest of his work. However, Ian Davey urged me to try this one by providing an enticing piece of information, that this story was about a soldier destined for Hell and that it was set in 17th century Europe. How could I resist?

This is the story of Ulrich von Bek, a cynical mercenary who sells his skills as a soldier in the wars taking place all over Europe. After a particularly horrific destruction of a city in which he played a role, von Bek decides to desert the military company he was working for and travel alone for awhile before seeking further employment. On his solo journe, he happens upon a castle where he takes refuge and then falls in love with the keeper of the castle, the beautiful Sabrina. It is in this castle that he meets Lucifer, the master of Hell, and finds out that his soul is already destined for Hell. And so, in exchange for his soul, von Bek agrees to go on a quest for Lucifer, namely to find the Cure for the World's Pain. This quest is also known as the Search for the Holy Grail. And the quest is the driving force of the story.

What I found really interesting about this story is the inventiveness of the ideas. Moorcock's concept is very different from our traditional ideas of hellfire and brimstone. Similarly, his concepts of Heaven, God and Lucifer are all equally refreshing. Many times Moorcock throws up interesting questions about humans' relationship with Heaven and Hell, about free will, about our human responsibilities. However I felt that Moorcock in some ways was more of a tell-not-show writer. His characterizations and his answers to the questions were usually stated in a few lines instead of fully developed. The story unfolded in an episodic fashion which I think tended to be the style of fantasy writing in the times when this story first came out. And to me, this minimalism in development made it less wonderful than it could have been. That said, this is a good story because of its refreshing ideas and it raises some interesting questions that are worth pondering.



See also
Count Brass by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
Firing the Cathedral by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Ian D.
Kane of Old Mars by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
King of the City by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Ian D.
London Bone by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Ian D.
Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Bane of the Black Sword by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Blood Red Game by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Champion of Garathorm by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Chronicles of Corum by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Dreamthief's Daughter by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Ian D.
The Ice Schooner by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Jewel in the Skull by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Mad God's Amulet by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Quest for Tanelorn by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Runestaff by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Skrayling Tree by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Ian D.
The Swords Trilogy by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Vanishing Tower by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
The Weird of the White Wolf by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev
Wizardry and Wild Romance by Michael Moorcock reviewed by The Rev