Michael John Moorcock (1939 – ) is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published literary novels. He is also a successful musician. He is best known for his novels about the character Elric of Melniboné, a seminal influence on the field of fantasy since the 1960s and ’70s.
As editor of the British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction “New Wave” in the UK and indirectly in the United States, leading to the advent of cyberpunk. His publication of Bug Jack Barron (1969) by Norman Spinrad as a serial novel was notorious; in Parliament, some British MPs condemned the Arts Council for funding the magazine. He is also a recording musician, contributing to the bands Hawkwind, Blue Öyster Cult, Spirits Burning, and his own project, Michael Moorcock & The Deep Fix.
Michael Moorcock’s best-selling works have been the “Elric of Melniboné” stories. In these, Elric is a deliberate reversal of clichés found in fantasy adventure novels inspired by the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Central to many of his fantasy novels, including his Elric books, is the concept of an “Eternal Champion”, who has multiple identities across alternate universes. This cosmology is called the “Multiverse” within his novels. The Multiverse deals with primal polarities such as good and evil, law and chaos, and order and entropy.
Elric’s success has overshadowed his other works, though he has worked the Elric stories’ themes into his other works (the “Hawkmoon” and “Corum” novels, for example). And Elric appears in the Jerry Cornelius and Dancers at the End of Time cycles. His Eternal Champion sequence has been collected in two different editions of omnibus volumes totaling 16 books (the U.S. edition was 15 volumes, while the British edition was 14 volumes, but due to various rights issues, the U.S. edition contained two volumes that were not included in the British edition, and the British edition likewise contained one volume that was not included in the U.S. edition) containing several books per volume, by Victor Gollancz in the UK and by White Wolf Publishing in the US.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame inducted Moorcock in 2002, its seventh class of two deceased and two living writers. He also received life achievement awards at the World Fantasy Convention in 2000 (World Fantasy Award), at the Utopiales International Festival in 2004 (Prix Utopia), from the Horror Writers Association in 2005 (Bram Stoker Award), and from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2008 (named its 25th Grand Master)
In 2008, The Times named Michael Moorcock in its list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”
Michael Moorcock – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | THE ADVENTURES OF UNA PERSSON AND CATHERINE CORNELIUS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY | London: Quartet Books, [1976] | Boards. First published... 1976 on © page. Note: A remainder issue was released circa Spring (?) 1979 comprising first printing sheets perfect bound, with dust jacket folded over unprinted stiff white wrappers. |
| 1972 | AN ALIEN HEAT | London: MacGibbon & Kee, [1972] | Boards. First published in Great Britain 1972 on © page. |
| 1977 | THE BANE OF THE BLACK SWORD | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977] | Wrappers. First DAW printing, August 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 254 UY 1316 ($1.25). Publisher's note: "Part of this book originally appeared in a volume entitled The Stealer of Souls published in the U.S. by Lancer Books in 1967. This revised version contains a section never previously published in chronological sequence but which appeared out of context in a collection The Singing Citadel published in the U.S. by Berkley Medallion Books in 1970. This is the first time this revised edition has been published in any country." |
| 1965 | THE BARBARIANS OF MARS | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F291 (3/6). EdwardP Bradbury, pseudonym. Reissued as THE MASTERS OF THE PIT. |
| 1969 | BEHOLD THE MAN | London: Allison & Busby, [1969] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1969 | THE BLACK CORRIDOR | [London]: A Mayflower Paperback, [1969] | Wrappers. Mayflower Original 1969 on © page. Mayflower 583 11640 x (25p). ALSO: New York: An Ace Book, [1969]. Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Science Fiction Special 06530 (75¢). Minor textual differences; slightly cut. ALSO: New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1970]. Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Code 16 L at base of page 181. First hardcover edition. Note: Issued by the Science Fiction Book Club with, according to Moorcock, "a slightly, but crucially edited text. |
| 1965 | BLADES OF MARS | London: Compact Books, [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F279 (3/6). Edward P Bradbury, pseudonym. Reissued as THE LORD OF THE SPIDERS. |
| 1970 | THE BLOOD RED GAME | London: Sphere Books Limited, [1970] | Wrappers. First Sphere Books Edition 1970 on © page. Sphere Science Fiction 62154 (5/-). Reissue of THE SUNDERED WORLDS. |
| 1972 | BREAKFAST IN THE RUINS | [London]? New English Library, [1972] | Boards. First NEL hardback edition 1972 on © page. |
| 1973 | THE BULL AND THE SPEAR | [London]: Allison & Busby, [1973] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1962 | CARIBBEAN CRISIS | London: Sexton Blake Library Fleetway Publications Ltd., [1962] | Wrappers, First Printing, June 1962 on © page. Sexton Blake Library No. 501 (1'). Desmond Reid, pseudonym. Note: Desmond Reid is a house pseudonym and this is the only time it was used by Moorcock. Written in collaboration with Jim Cawthorn. |
| 1973 | THE CHAMPION OF GARATHORM | [London]; Mayflower, [1973] | Wrappers. First published in 1973 ... on © page. Mayflower 583 121993 (30p). |
| 1970 | THE CHINESE AGENT | [New York]: The Macmillan Company, [1970] | Boards. First printing so stated on © page. Note: Extensively rewritten version of SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT. |
| 1970 | THE CITY OF THE BEAST | New York: Lancer Books, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Lancer Books 74668-075 (75¢). Published earlier in Great Britain and in the U.S. (Lancer, 1966) as WARRIORS OF MARS under the pseudonym Edward P Bradbury. Note: The 1970 Lancer edition is the first to acknowledge Moorcock's authorship and the first to carry the title THE CITY OF THE BEAST. |
| 1977 | THE CONDITION OF MUZAK | London: Allison & Busby, [1977] | Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1977 | THE CORNELIUS CHRONICLES | [New York]: Avon, [1977] | Wrappers. First Avon Printing, August, 1977 on © page. A von 31468 ($2.95). Reprint. Collects THE FINAL PROGRAMME, A CURE FOR CANCER, THE ENGLISH ASSASSIN, and THE CONDITION OF MUZAK. The four novels have minor textual revisions by Moorcock for this edition. |
| 1973 | COUNT BRASS | [London]: Mayflower, [1973] | Wrappers. First published in 1973 ... on © page. Mayflower Science Fantasy 583 121198 5 (30p). |
| 1971 | A CURE FOR CANCER | London: Allison & Busby, [1971] | Two bindings, priority as listed:
|
| 1966 | THE DEEP FIX | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F305 (3/6). James Colvin, pseudonym. |
| 1975 | THE DISTANT SUNS | [Nant Gwilw, Llanfynydd, Carmarthen, Dyfed: Unicorn, 1975] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Caption title. Unicorn SF (75p). With PHILIP JAMES (pseudonym of James Cawthorn). |
| 1972 | THE DREAMING CITY | New York: Lancer Books, [1972] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Lancer Books 75376-095 (95¢). An edited version of ELRIC OF MELNIBONE with changes not authorized by Moorcock. |
| 1972 | ELRIC OF MELNIBONE | London: Hutchinson, [1972] | Boards. First published 1972 on © page. Issued later in the U.S. with unauthorized changes as THE DREAMING CITY. |
| 1973 | ELRIC THE RETURN TO MELNIBONE | [Brighton: Unicorn Bookshop, 1973] | Wrappers. No statement of printing. Cover title. Pictorial format with graphics by Philippe Druillet. |
| 1976 | THE END OF ALL SONOS | New York, Hagerstown San Francisco London: Harper & Row, Pub., [1976] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First edition so stated on © page. Note: Author's name misspelled Moorock on spine. |
| 1972 | THE ENGLISH ASS ASSIN | London: Allison & Busby, [1972] | Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1972 on © page. Later collected with some textual changes in THE CORNELIUS CHRONICLES. |
| 1970 | THE ETERNAL CHAMPION | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1970] | Wrappers. First printing-April 1970 on © page. Dell 2383 (60¢). |
| 1965 | THE FINAL PROGRAMME | [New York]: An Avon Book, [1965] | Wrappers. First Avon Printing, March. 1968 on © page. Avon Original S351 (60¢). Contains many unauthorized textual changes. ALSO: [London]:Allison & Busby, [1969]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1969 on © page. First hardcover edition. Text follows the original manuscript. Later collected with some textual changes in THE CORNELIUS CHRONICLES. |
| 1965 | THE FIRECLOWN | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F281 (3/6). Reissued as THE WIN DS OF LIMBO . |
| 1974 | THE HOLLOW LANDS | New York, Evanston, San Francisco, London: Harper & Row, Pub., [1974] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1969 | THE ICE SCHOONER | London: Sphere Books Limited, [1969] | Wrappers. First published in Great Britain in 1969 ... on © page. Sphere Science Fiction 62162 (5/0). ALSO: New York, Hagerstown, San Francisco, London: Harper & Row, Pub., [1977]. Boards. Code 77 78 79 80 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on © page. First hardcover edition. Includes textual revisions by the author. |
| 1973 | THE JADE MAN'S EYES | Bright on-Seattle: Unicorn Bookshop, [1973] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1967 | THE JEWEL IN THE SKULL | New York: Lancer Books, [1967] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book *1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-688 (60¢). ALSO: London and New York: White Lion Publishers, [1975]. Boards. This White Lion edition, 1973 on © page. First hardcover edition. ALSO: New York: , Inc., [1977]. Wrappers. First DAW printing, January 1977/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 2.25 UY1276 ($1.25). Revised text. |
| 1971 | THE KING OF THE SWORDS | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1971] | Wrappers. October, 1971 on © page. A Berkley Medallion Book S2070 (75¢). |
| 1971 | THE KNIGHT OF THE SWORDS | [London]: Mayflower, [1971] | Wrappers. First published in 1971 on © page. Mayflower 583 11860 7 (25p). ALSO: London: Allison & Busby, [1977],Boards. Published in Great Britain 1977 ... on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1974 | THE LAND LEVIATHAN | London: Quartet Books, [1974] | Two issues, no priority: (A) Boards; (B) Wrappers. [Midway 7043 3013 X (£1.25).] First published ... 1974 on © page. |
| 1976 | LEGENDS FROM THE END OF TIME | New York, Evanston, San Francisco, London: Harper Row. Pub., [1976] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1976 | THE LIVES AND TIMES OF JERRY CORNELIUS | London: Allison and Busby, [1976] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1970 | THE LORD OF THE SPIDERS | New York: Lancer Books, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Two printings, probable priority as listed:
|
| 1966 | THE LSD DOSSIER | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact F 303 (3/6). Note: This novel, written by and credited to Roger Harris, was anonymously rewritten by Moorcock. |
| 1969 | THE MAD GOD'S AMULET | [London]: A Mayflower Paperback, [1969] | Wrappers. First published in Great Britain ... 1969 on © page. Mayflower 113850 (3/6). Issued earlier in the U.S. as SORCERER'S AMULET. ALSO: London and New York: White Lion Publishers, [1973]. Boards. This White Lion edition, 1973 on © page. First hardcover edition. ALSO: New York: DAW Books, Inc. [1977]. Wrappers. First DAW printing, April 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 238 UY1289 ($1.25). Revised text. |
| 1970 | THE MASTERS OF THE PIT | New York: Lancer Books, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Lancer Books 75199-095 (95¢). Issued earlier in Great Britain and the U.S. (Lancer, 1966) as THE BARBARIANS OF MARS under the pseudonym Edward P Bradbury. Note: 1970 Lancer edition is the first to acknowledge Moorcock's authorship and the first to carry the title THE MASTERS OF THE PIT. |
| 1976 | MOORCOCK'S BOOK OF MARTYRS | London: Quartet Books, [1976] | Wrappers. First published... 1976 on © page. A Quartet Book 0 704 31265 4 (65p). |
| 1973 | THE OAK AND THE RAM | [London]; Allison & Busby, [1973] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1970 | PHOENIX IN OBSIDIAN | [London]: A Mayflower Paperback, [1970] | Wrappers. First published... 1970 on © page. Mayflower 583 11800 3 (5/-). Issued later in the U.S. as THE SILVER WARRIORS. |
| 1966 | PRINTER'S DEVIL | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd., [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact F322 (3/6). Bill Barclay, pseudonym. |
| 1971 | THE QUEEN OF THE SWORDS | [New York] Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1971] | Wrappers, August, 1971 on © page, A Berkley Medallion Books l 999 (75¢). |
| 1975 | THE QUEST FOR TANELORN | Frogmore]. Mayflower, [1975] | Wrappers. First published, in 1975 ... on © page. Mayflower 583 12200 0 (35p). |
| 1971 | THE RITUALS OF INFINITY | [London]: Arrow Books, [1971] | Wrappers. First published in book form by Arrow Books Ltd 1971 on © page. SF 488 (25p). Note: Follows text of the original serial version in New Worlds, November 1965-January 1966, with minor revisions. Issued earlier in the U.S. with textual differences as THE WRECKS OF TIME. |
| 1969 | THE RUNESTAFF | [London]: A Mayflower Paperback, [1969] | Wrappers. A Mayflower Original 1969 on © page. Mayflower 114997 (5/-). Issued earlier in the U.S. as THE SECRET OF THE RUNESTAFF. ALSO: London and New York: White Lion Publishers, [1974], Boards. First British Hard Cover Edition ... 1974 on © page. First hardcover edition. ALSO: New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977]. Wrappers. First DAW printing, September 1977/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 257 UY1324 ($1.25). Revised text. |
| 1976 | THE SAILOR ON THE SEAS OF FATE | London; Quartet Books, [1976] | Boards. First published... 1976 on © page. Note: Originally announced as VOYAGE ON A DARK SHIP. |
| 1969 | THE SECRET OF THE RUNESTAFF | New York: Lancer Books, [1969] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book * 1969 on © page. Lancer Books 73-824 (60¢). Issued later in Great Britain as THE RUNESTAFF. |
| 1970 | THE SHORES OF DEATH | London: Sphere Books Limited, [1970] | Wrappers. First Sphere Books edition, 1970 on © page. Sphere Science Fiction 62146 (25p.) Reissue of THE TWILIGHT MAN. |
| 1973 | THE SILVER WARRIORS | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1973] | Wrappers. First printing-September, 1973 on © page. Dell 7994 (95¢). Issued earlier in Great Britain as PHOENIX IN OBSIDIAN. |
| 1970 | THE SINGING CITADEL | [London]: A Mayflower Paperback, [1970] | Wrappers. Published ... 1970 on © page. Mayflower Science Fiction 583 116701 (25p). |
| 1971 | THE SLEEPING SORCERESS | [London]? New English Library, [1971] | Boards. First published 1971 on © page. Reissued in the U.S. as THE VANISHING TOWER. ALSO: New York: Lancer Books, [1972]. Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Lancer Books 75375-095 (95¢). Unauthorized text, reedited without the author's consent. ALSO: [Manchester]: Savoy, [1977]. Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1966 | SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact F 309 (3/6). Bill Barclay, pseudonym. Later rewritten as THE CHINESE AGENT. |
| 1965 | SORCERER'S AMULET | New York: Lancer Books, [1965] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book * 1968 on © page. Lancer Books 73-707 (60¢). Issued later in Great Britain as THE MAD GOD'S AMULET. |
| 1963 | THE STEALER OF SOULS | London: Neville Spearman Ltd, 1963 | Two bindings, priority as listed: (A) Orange boards, spine lettered in black; (B) Green boards, spine lettered in black. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1965 | STORMBRINGER | London: Herbert Jenkins, [1965] | Boards. First published ... 1965 on © page. ALSO: New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977]. Wrappers. First DAW printing, November 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 264 UW 1335 ($1.50). First printing of the complete text. |
| 1965 | THE SUNDERED WORLDS | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd., [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F266 (3/6). Reissued as THE BLOOD RED GAME. |
| 1974 | THE SWORD AND THE STALLION | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1974] | Wrappers. Apri1, 1974 on © page. A Berkley Medallion Book 425-02548-075 (75¢). ALSO: [London]: Allison & Busby, [1974]. Boards. No statement of printing on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1965 | SWORD OF THE DAWN | New York: Lancer Books, [196S] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book * 1968 on © page. Lancer Books 73-761 (60¢). ALSO: London and New York: White Lion Publishers, [1973]. Boards. First British Hard-Cover Edition ... 1973 on © page. First hardcover edition. ALSO: New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977]. Wrappers. First DAW printing, July 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 249 UY1310 ($1.25). Revised text. |
| 1977 | THE SWORDS TRILOGY | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1977] | Wrappers. August, 1977 on © page. A Berkley Medallion Book 0-425-03468-2 ($ 1.95). Reprint. Collects THE KNIGHT OF THE SWORDS, THE QUEEN OF THE SWORDS, and THE KING OF THE SWORDS. |
| 1969 | THE TIME DWELLER | London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1969 | Boards. First published 1969 on © page. |
| 1977 | THE TRANSFORMATION OF MISS MAVIS MING | London: W. H. Allen, 1977. | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1966 | THE TWILIGHT MAN | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd., [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F313 (3/6). Reissued as THE SHORES OF DEATH. |
| 1977 | THE VANISHING TOWER | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977] | Wrappers. First DAW printing, June 197711 23456789 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 245 UY1304 ($1.25). Text of the 1970 New English Library edition published as THE SLEEPING SORCERESS. |
| 1971 | THE WARLORD OF THE AIR | New York: Ace Books, [1971] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book Science Fiction 87060 (75¢). Text follows the author's manuscript. ALSO: [London: New English Library, [1971]. Boards. First published 1971 on © page. First hardcover edition. Text edited by the publisher. |
| 1965 | WARRIORS OF MARS | London: Published by Roberts & Vinter Ltd, [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Compact SF F275 (3/6). Edward P Bradbury, pseudonym. Reissued as THE CITY OF THE BEAST. |
| 1977 | THE WEIRD OF THE WHITE WOLF | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977] | Wrappers. First DAW printing, March 197711 23456789 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 233 UY1286 ($1.25). Publisher's note: "Part of this book originally appeared in a volume entitled The Stealer of Souls, published in the U.S.A, by Lancer Books in 1967. This revised version contains two sections never previously published in chronological sequence but which appeared out of context in a collection entitled The Singing Citadel published in the U.S. A. by Berkley Medallion Books in 1970. This is the first time this revised edition has been published in any country." |
| 1969 | THE WINDS OF LIMBO | New York: Paperback Library, [1969] | Wrappers. Second Printing: July, 1969 on © page. Paperback Library 63-149 (60¢). Reissue of THE FIRE CLOWN. Note: First printing with this unauthorized title change. |
| 1967 | THE WRECKS OF TIME | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1967] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double H-36 (60$). Bound with TRAMONTANE by Emil Petaja. Note: A copy-edited version of the original New Worlds text. Issued later with original text as THE RITUALS OF INFINITY. |
Michael Moorcock – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
First state Dust Jackets of Elric of Melniboné.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- L. W. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction and Selected Nonfiction.
