Coolest weapon from literature?

[Furn_Darkside]

Well, Ice was made of Valarian Steel, so it is certainly masterwork - Perhaps a +1 with Keen on it. But with Martin's world being so low magic, it is hard to tell.

The world is not low magic- it is low magic at the moment. The sword was made when magic was alive and well.. as it looks like it will be soon enough.

FD

 

[Utrecht]

Regarding the Tolkien Vs. Moorcock debate, I have to agree with ForceUser in that Moorcock "feels" more pulpy than Tolkien.

Does this make Tolkien better than Moorcock - not necessarily (I think that there are other reasons - primarily subjective that do that) but pulp is certainlly not bad - after all I read most of Turtledoves books and they are written like crap, but I still enjoy the read.

 

[ForceUser]

Regarding the Tolkien Vs. Moorcock debate, I have to agree with ForceUser in that Moorcock "feels" more pulpy than Tolkien.

Does this make Tolkien better than Moorcock - not necessarily (I think that there are other reasons - primarily subjective that do that) but pulp is certainlly not bad - after all I read most of Turtledoves books and they are written like crap, but I still enjoy the read.

I love pulp! I just don't take it seriously as literature. If we were to draw an ENWorld Story Hour analogy....my Story Hour is pulp, and Sepulchrave's is literature (listen to Sagiro, Sep, get that story published! ).

 

[Zander]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out. Just out of curiosity, how long is the list exactly? And also, I always assumed the graphic novels were adaptations of the novels. Is that not true?

You're welcome.

66 novels, 12 collections, 3 graphic novels, 4 non-fiction and 11 as editor.

I don't think the graphic novels are just adaptations. One of them is Elric: Return to Melnibone'. It doesn't seem like it's been published before in a different format. The other two are The Swords of Heaven: The Flowers of Hell and Michael Moorcock's Multiverse.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

For someone who commented on the Sword of the Rivan King from Eddings, th sword was really just a big hunk of metal without the Orb of Aldur, so I'm not sure it counts. Of course, the Orb's tendency to maim gods it doesn't like and annihilate unworthy people who touch it might make it a weapon in and of itself...

Arkham, isn't amusing how everyone acts like Fantasy didn't exist until "The Hobbit" was published? Rather limiting notion, that.

It seems that a great many here are big fans of Elric's sword. This is making me curious, as I've never been able to get into Moorcock's books. They always struck me as the spiritual grandfather of Drizzt: Angst for the sake of angst. (I can't believe I just typed that... Excuse me whilst I get my flame-retardant computer cover...) That aside, it seems that Elric's sword must have been impressive. Having never managed to read much about it, what exactly did it do that has everyone so impressed?

 

[Mobius]

Gah, everybody check to see if the planets are aligned...

ColonelHardisson and I agree!!!

Terminus Est has got to be the coolest sword in literature, period. Flat-tipped executioner's sword with a male and a female edge and mercury running through the spine.

Light to raise, heavy in the descent.

 

[ForceUser]

That aside, it seems that Elric's sword must have been impressive. Having never managed to read much about it, what exactly did it do that has everyone so impressed?

It kept him healthy. Elric was anemic, and the sword drank blood and fed on mortal souls. Whenever it did so, he gained some of that vitality. Of course, the sword was cursed, so from time to time he HAD to kill to slake its thirst for murder. Thus the angst.

 

[Wolvorine]

Terminus Est, the executioner's sword from Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series. It's the sword that mercurial greatswords were probably based upon.

Whoah, freaky-cool. I have one of those books (had no idea it was part of a series). In allthese years, I have never seen anyone else (me aside) reference Terminus Est, or even have a clue when *I* referenced it.
If nothing else, I always thought that was a great name.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It kept him healthy. Elric was anemic, and the sword drank blood and fed on mortal souls. Whenever it did so, he gained some of that vitality. Of course, the sword was cursed, so from time to time he HAD to kill to slake its thirst for murder. Thus the angst.

The sword was also Elric's addiction, it kepted him powerful and full of life but took away everything that was important to him. It drank souls and feed the energy to him.

 

[jester47]

I voted stormbringer. I find it interesting that there is another blade out there that is supposed to be the twin and just as powerful, mournblade.

On the Pulp/Literature debate I think it is a moot point. Pulp is literature. Especially if it is remembered pulp. Elric was not in reaction to Conan, but rather an extension of a character concept, the anti-hero. Many in the litereary community actually consider moorecock's work the next step in fantasy.

One of the most interesting things I have ever read was one about Tolkein. It was a quote where he said that he thought that Howard fellow was quite talented. In fact, there are certain parts of Return of the King and the Two Towers where Tolkien actually imitates Howard's writing style. The best place to see this is in a comaparison of The Black Gate Opens and A Witch Shall Be Born.

Also, about the rant. I noticed that most of the books the ranter was speaking of had to have been translations. So we are not really understanding the english language, but rather some translators command of it. Lots of times it really blows.

Ok all done.

Aaron.