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absoluteturkey's review
5.0
Possibly my favourite Moorcock that I've ever read. In many ways, it's hard to explain why. The Jerry Cornelius books are chaotic, disjointed, and very often don't appear to have much of a plot. But where they succeed -- when they succeed -- is in the incredible descriptions of times and places, the intimations of alternate histories (and apocalypses), and that even in all this confusion, you are compelled to learn and read more. The quality of Moorcock's writing is absolutely superb -- an author at the height of his powers.
Give it a try. I'd suggest forgetting about the task of understanding everything. Just go along for the ride. A few days later you'll wake up with memories of things you never did and never saw, but you'll be quite convinced that you did.
Give it a try. I'd suggest forgetting about the task of understanding everything. Just go along for the ride. A few days later you'll wake up with memories of things you never did and never saw, but you'll be quite convinced that you did.
arthurbdd's review
4.0
Largely abandons linear storytelling in favour of mood and character studies, but reasonably thought-provoking for all that. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/the-hipster-on-the-seas-of-fate/
smcleish's review
5.0
Originally published on my blog here in October 1999.
The third novel in the Jerry Cornelius tetralogy explores the series themes of dissolution and anarchy in a rather different way from the earlier books. Here, protagonist and storyline fragment as well as the background.
The novel starts with the discovery of a dead body in Merlin's Cave, beneath Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. The body belongs to Cornelius, but he doesn't stay dead long. Each section of the novel sees Jerry initiating a different apocalypse set in a different version of the Earth. Moorcock establishes each background quickly, in a manner clearly learned from the best science fiction short story writers. Recurring characters (from earlier novels) crop up again and again in slightly different guises, and Mrs Cornelius, Jerry's monstrous mother, takes a more central role than she did before. Self references (and external ones) abound; characters from other Moorcock novels, ideas from [b:The Final Programme|845443|The Final Programme |Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240002173s/845443.jpg|1978586] and [b:A Cure for Cancer|715246|A Cure for Cancer|Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1239999678s/715246.jpg|701498] - particularly the idea of total destruction as a cure for the cancer eating away at society - reappear.
Realism is brought back by the use of real newspaper quotations about violent death, mainly of young children. This is an effective method of stopping the effect of each catastrophe being like Hollywood special effects - a spectacle which does not have any real consequences.
The English Assassin is one of Moorcock's best novels, admirably fulfilling its role as the penultimate volume in a series by never quite containing a satisfactory conclusion, always leaving the reader wanting a bit more.
The third novel in the Jerry Cornelius tetralogy explores the series themes of dissolution and anarchy in a rather different way from the earlier books. Here, protagonist and storyline fragment as well as the background.
The novel starts with the discovery of a dead body in Merlin's Cave, beneath Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. The body belongs to Cornelius, but he doesn't stay dead long. Each section of the novel sees Jerry initiating a different apocalypse set in a different version of the Earth. Moorcock establishes each background quickly, in a manner clearly learned from the best science fiction short story writers. Recurring characters (from earlier novels) crop up again and again in slightly different guises, and Mrs Cornelius, Jerry's monstrous mother, takes a more central role than she did before. Self references (and external ones) abound; characters from other Moorcock novels, ideas from [b:The Final Programme|845443|The Final Programme |Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240002173s/845443.jpg|1978586] and [b:A Cure for Cancer|715246|A Cure for Cancer|Michael Moorcock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1239999678s/715246.jpg|701498] - particularly the idea of total destruction as a cure for the cancer eating away at society - reappear.
Realism is brought back by the use of real newspaper quotations about violent death, mainly of young children. This is an effective method of stopping the effect of each catastrophe being like Hollywood special effects - a spectacle which does not have any real consequences.
The English Assassin is one of Moorcock's best novels, admirably fulfilling its role as the penultimate volume in a series by never quite containing a satisfactory conclusion, always leaving the reader wanting a bit more.
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