Books like The Chronicles of Corum

The Chronicles of Corum combines the novels from the second trilogy about the “Eternal Warrior” known as Corum. The one common factor that seems present in the variety of characters presented as eternal warriors by Michael Moorcock seems to be a reluctance, a sense that they are being drawn into cosmic struggles against their wills. Corum has always seemed to me rather phlegmatic in nature—content in indolent leisure, but potent in skill (whether leadership, inspiration, or fighting) when dragged into the fray.Each of these novels is built on the discovery and collection of two artifacts, usually paired. In all of the trilogy, Corum is trying to stave off the end of the Mabden (ordinary humans), the race of his deceased beloved, against the demonic Fhoi Myore, beings of chaos who have brought darkness, cold, and death. In The Bull and the Spear, Corum is told that the only possible way to defeat the Fhoi Myore before they conquer the last Mabden fortress in the region is to find a cosmic bull, and the only way to tame said bull is with a special spear. In The Oak and the Ram, the pair of artifacts can only be recovered through a method and in a venue that is rather frightening to Corum. Obviously, since the story moves to The Sword and the Stallion, Corum overcomes his reservations and brings about an amazing climax. The Sword and the Stallion features two fantasy tropes that always resonate with me. The first trope is that of a sword with a name that lives up to its billing. Corum’s new sword isn’t quite as fascinating as “Stormbringer” of Elric fame, but it has an interesting twist that really made the whole trilogy work for me. The second is the class trope where the protagonist doesn’t recognize the importance of the artifact until it is revealed at the critical time. This trilogy doesn’t contain the finest prose I’ve been privileged to read, but it is some of the type of fun that had me reading fantasy in the first place.