r/ElricofMelnibone • • May 19 '26

Reading Order šŸ—”ļø

59 Upvotes

Hello all! Mod here.
I’ve decided to jump on here real quick to make a long overdue post about the reading order of the series since it seems to be a common question.

As longtime fans will tell you, that is a somewhat tricky question and doesn’t really have one singular answer.

Over the decades, Michael Moorcock wrote the stories out of chronological order and then arranged them in different editions. In a fan Q&A, Moorcock was even quoted as saying that there isn’t a particular order you have to read them in because he didn’t write them in chronological order and weren’t put in order anyway until relatively recently. But he does recommend starting with Elric of MelnibonĆ© and ending with Stormbringer, and what one does between the two is entirely up to preference.
That said, many will agree that the Elric saga is one of the few series that benefits from not being read in its publication order, as you risk confusion and missing the buildup to the finale’s climax.

With that in mind, I’ll leave you with two options: the first, Option 1, being the most beginner-friendly route, or Option 2, the order very commonly recommended by longtime fans.
And for the other more experienced Moorcock readers in the crowd, if you have your own views/advice/recommendations/commentary, please chime in!

Option 1:

  1. Elric of MelnibonƩ
  2. The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
  3. The Weird of the White Wolf
  4. The Vanishing Tower
  5. The Bane of the Black Sword
  6. Stormbringer

Option 2:

  1. Elric of MelnibonƩ
  2. The Fortress of the Pearl
  3. The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
  4. The Weird of the White Wolf
  5. The Vanishing Tower
  6. (also published as The Sleeping Sorceress)
  7. The Revenge of the Rose
  8. The Bane of the Black Sword
  9. Stormbringer

Side note: you will find that there are later additions to the saga but these options provide the classic lineup.

Thanks and hope this helps!

"Farewell, friend. I was a thousand times more evil than thou!"

+==[:::::::::::::::::::::>


r/ElricofMelnibone • • Sep 19 '21

r/ElricofMelnibone Lounge

10 Upvotes

A place for members of r/ElricofMelnibone to chat with each other


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 2h ago

So about that infamous hat from the Elric Conan crossovers

Thumbnail
gallery
52 Upvotes

Moorcock was not a fan


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 20h ago

Elric riding a Phoorn, the first art is by me

Thumbnail
gallery
75 Upvotes

Did this inspired by an illustration I found last friday (the second one), I don't know the artist tbh, and would like some help in finding it, thanks in advance


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 1d ago

Elric and Arioch (2026; art by me)

Post image
140 Upvotes

From 2 months ago. Interestingly, I found an extra line in my Stormbringer copy, where after Elric encounters the Lords of Chaos, he briefly falters in his resolve, feeling compelled to fling himself to their feet to beg for forgiveness. In the new line, he mentions how his loneliness and longing seemed to have just reached a boiling point, and how all he wanted at the moment was to be protected and cared for, even by these creatures, who would surely offer protection. And I kinda like that. Shows how much familiarity can be dangerous sometimes, but he's just so done with it all and wants nothing more than to feel safe.


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 1d ago

I’ve seen Twilight for the first time recently and Michael Sheen would’ve been a great cast for Yyrkoon in an Elric movie

Thumbnail
gallery
112 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 4d ago

I just finished the first book, and Elric, left his uncle Yyrkoon of all people, in charge while he went off on a journey. Yeah, Elric, you're so smart.

77 Upvotes

Before I started reading Sword and Sorcery in general, I thought Conan was supposed to be the stupid one and Elric the smart one; I suppose it’s actually the other way around. I do like Elric for his deep reflections on morality, but he isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

I still love him though. his cousin*** my bad


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 4d ago

Elric WIP

Post image
122 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 5d ago

"The Dragon Lord." Elric poster by Rodney Matthews (1976). Later licensed by Roxcalibur for their album Lords of the NWOBHM (2011).

Thumbnail
gallery
301 Upvotes

Rodney Matthews is probably best known as a rock musician and album-cover artist who played at the first two Glastonbury festivals, so it's fitting that Elric looks like he's about to shred a mad solo on Stormbringer.


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 6d ago

Does anyone know how many volumes Glenat is planning for the Courm Graphic Novel Adaptation?

6 Upvotes

Currently there are only 2, will there be a third one? Or even more?

Thanks!


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 7d ago

Book collection

8 Upvotes

Hey guys! Sorry this isn’t explicitly Elric based but I’ve been gathering a collection of Moorcocks books and own both massive collections for Elric and Corum and wanted to expand myself more in the universe, I have the first eternal champion book with a plan to get the other (2?), that being said I want to know more about the other characters he’s written story’s about. I place an order through my favorite local bookstore when I’m home from college and am known for ordering strange books (goodnight punpun, banana fish, etc), I need to know what books to actually order because I know his works are split into different chunks so if I can get a collection rather than smaller books I’m just not sure what to ask for. I think the next character I wish to dive into/and series to collect is von bek because seems just as legendary as corum (maybe not Elric tho), if there’s any other characters you recommend looking into I’d love to hear recommendations too!


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 7d ago

Corum in (sort of) modern clothing, art by me

Post image
65 Upvotes

It is for a Pentel brand-related challenge. As for the green flame, I never used oil pastels before , they felt a bit like crayon šŸ¤”


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 8d ago

Portrait practice

Post image
28 Upvotes

Today I decided to try my hand at portraying the Emperor of the Dreaming City and while some things are a bit iff, I am generally oleased with the result :)


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 8d ago

u/apprehensivegrade113 these are for you

Thumbnail
gallery
210 Upvotes

I honestly cannot stop laughing at your s&s post so I made an assortment of phone wallpapers based on your work that I cycle through lol

really probably the funniest thing I've seen all year

(u/apprehensivegrade113 in case the tag isn't valid in a title)


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 10d ago

Moonglum having to be the responsible one with the money because Elric is a disaster.

Post image
70 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 10d ago

"A Farewell to Imrryr" or my first attempt at full color scene after 2 months of drawing. I know it is bad, I just love Elric.

Post image
210 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 10d ago

Three who are One; v2 (2026; art by me)

Post image
70 Upvotes

The 'mural' version. I like this one significantly less than the first one, but I did promise to yall I'd finish it.


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 11d ago

Before I read Stormbringer, chronological or published order?

14 Upvotes

Hey all. I'm getting into Elric, and I'm sure this comes up a lot. I am reading through the Stealer of Souls and I love it. But I'm wondering if I should hold off and pick up the Saga books.

would you recommend continuing through Stealer, or going back first?


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 12d ago

Clash of the Titans (2026; art by me)

Post image
180 Upvotes

Yeah, had to get it out of my system, even if I kinda dislike the art itself. (might do a remake soon or maybe even next year)

Do not ask about the logistics of Stormbringer against a lightsaber, please. It just looks cool, and coolness overrides all common sense lol


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 12d ago

The two Elric books I ordered from Amazon have arrived. I’m finishing the first book soon, and then I’m excited to start them.

Post image
121 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 12d ago

Is there a place which collects the various visual interpretations of the appearance of Stormbringer? I am looking for an illustration that adheres to Moorcock's as closely as possible. This would used as prop in an RPG adventure I intend to run.

10 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 14d ago

Corum by Luca Merli

Post image
142 Upvotes

They kinda fumbled a bit with the story, but the art is undeniably great.


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 14d ago

ā€œThe Rabbit Wonder Meets the Barbarian Bunny,ā€ an Elric parody featuring Newton the Rabbit Wonder, from Quack! #3 (April 1977). Back cover art by Steve Leialoha. Interior script, layouts, and lettering by Leialoha; pencils and inks by Alex NiƱo.

Thumbnail
gallery
88 Upvotes

r/ElricofMelnibone • • 14d ago

Which swords did Stormbringer primarily influence?

Post image
506 Upvotes

I can't recall many swords off the top of my head, aside from a few from the world of Game of Thrones, the Dragonslayer from Berserk, and Stormbringer.

Which is strange, because I'm really into fantasy.

I would expect myself to remember more swords.


r/ElricofMelnibone • • 15d ago

The Vanishing Tower/The King of the Swords (2026; art by me)

Thumbnail
gallery
125 Upvotes

Don't worry, I'll finish the other variant as well, since you guys liked it. I added text from both stories and combined them to flow together through the scene.