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outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
Employers use sorcerous surveillance to control their minions, and the surveillance technology is itself a deadly weapon. The copy I read (edition pictured) had an ex-libris stamp from a Viennese who wrote on the first page that he finished it in 1968. Nearly fifty years later, fantasy with clearly defined baddies is refreshing in a world where so many people seem to think that all sides are somehow equivalent. This book would have improved with more scenes of swordsmen riding giant flamingos.
jackdoud's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bibliomike's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Fairly straightforward D&D style episodic fantasy, with flat characters and out-of-nowhere exposition and resolution. Some intriguing world building elements never explored. Still, it held my interest and was a fast read. Best summed up by the sentence, "And, butchering, he went on his way."
mikepalumbo's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jayisthebird's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Morecock is playing with some fun ideas here in a sort of weird fantasy mileu. The book is at its most fun with the jewel itself, the odd masked enemies, and freaky creatures like the giant flamingoes.
cookiedoof's review
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
merrysociopath's review against another edition
3.0
Recensione completa qui: http://ilsociopatico.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/recensione-il-gioiello-della-morte-la-grande-storia-della-bacchetta-magica-1-di-michael-moorcock/
È noto che non sono un grande fan di Michael Moorcock. In questo romanzo ho riscontrato la stessa scrittura pigra che mi aveva negativamente impressionato quando lessi Elric. Tuttavia, la storia un po' pulp di un'Europa futura in cui, dopo un millennio di guerra totale (a base di testate nucleari, sembra intendersi tra le righe)la civiltà è regredita a un medioevo fantasy con lanciafiamme (che di per sé è awesome), ha solleticato la mia immaginazione. Come in Elric la trama è telegrafata, i personaggi sono piatti e privi di personalità ben definite, e i cliché sono all'ordine del giorno, ma qui, per lo meno, ho avuto l'impressione che qualcosa di salvabile ci fosse. Come faccia Elric a essere un cult e Moorckck un pilastro della narrativa di genere continua a sfuggirmi, ma per lo meno non ho chiuso a metà questo libro con una sbuffata e un'alzata di spalle (figurativamente, visto che ne ho letta una copia digitale).
È noto che non sono un grande fan di Michael Moorcock. In questo romanzo ho riscontrato la stessa scrittura pigra che mi aveva negativamente impressionato quando lessi Elric. Tuttavia, la storia un po' pulp di un'Europa futura in cui, dopo un millennio di guerra totale (a base di testate nucleari, sembra intendersi tra le righe)la civiltà è regredita a un medioevo fantasy con lanciafiamme (che di per sé è awesome), ha solleticato la mia immaginazione. Come in Elric la trama è telegrafata, i personaggi sono piatti e privi di personalità ben definite, e i cliché sono all'ordine del giorno, ma qui, per lo meno, ho avuto l'impressione che qualcosa di salvabile ci fosse. Come faccia Elric a essere un cult e Moorckck un pilastro della narrativa di genere continua a sfuggirmi, ma per lo meno non ho chiuso a metà questo libro con una sbuffata e un'alzata di spalle (figurativamente, visto che ne ho letta una copia digitale).
jeffkevlar's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun book. I’m a big fan of Moorcock’s stories. I find them imaginative and exciting reads that pull you along. This is my first read through of the runestaff stories and I’m looking forward to the next instalments.
weng's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent start to the Hawkmoon cycle. Short, action packed and well written. Not as dark as Elric but none the worse for it.
will_cherico's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moorcock's vision of a post-apocalyptic world where science and magic blends together and Europe is under threat of an imperial Britain (now Granbretan) is so creative, and it's an awesome way to combine pulp fantasy with old sci-fi. Each character is so weird and unique, and I could really imagine characters like Dorian Hawkmoon, Count Brass, or Bowgentle's lives outside of their roles in the story. The atmosphere of desperation is incredibly strong, everyone's just trying to figure out how to conduct themselves and handle their responsibilities in such a cruel world. I'll admit I preferred the first two books far more than the third, as I found Count Brass' attempts to balance the peace of the Kamarg with the evil of Granbretan far more compelling than Dorian Hawkmoon's personal feud with Baron Meliadus. Despite the much weaker third act, this is a fantastic book and I can't wait to read the rest of the History of the Runestaff. I need answers on who the Warrior in Jet and Gold is!