The Jewel in the Skull

The Jewel in the Skull

Infobox Book
name = The Jewel in the Skull
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First Edition
author = Michael Moorcock
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The History of the Runestaff
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Lancer Books
release_date = 1967
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 175 pp
isbn = NA
preceded_by =
followed_by = The Mad God's Amulet

"The Jewel in the Skull" is a fantasy novel by Michael Moorcock, first published in 1967. The novel is the first in the four volume The History of the Runestaff.

Plot summary

The novel is set at some indeterminate time in a post-nuclear holocaust future, where science and sorcery co-exist and the Dark Empire of Granbretan (Great Britain) is expanding across Europe.

Book one

Count Brass, Lord Guardian of the Kamarg (a territory that had once been a part of a nation called France), inspects his territories. On his return journey to his castle at Aigues-Mortes he is attacked by a 'baragoon' - a swamp monster created from transformed slaves by the previous Lord Guardian - and kills it.

Count Brass arrives at Castle Brass in Aigues-Mortes and is welcomed by his daughter Yisselda and philosopher-poet friend Bowgentle. Bowgentle argues that the evil of Granbretan should be fought, but Count Brass believes that a united Europe will ultimately know peace.

Brass, Yisselda, Bowgentle and the Count's chief lieutenant von Villach attend the opening of the Great Festival, where Count Brass enters the bullring to save the life of the injured bullfighter Mahtan Just. Back at the castle Count Brass receives an emissary from Granbretan - Baron Meliadus - who attempts in vain to persuade him to give up his knowledge of the various courts of Europe.

Baron Meliadus begins to court Yisselda, but she refuses to elope with him knowing that her father would not agree to their marriage. Meliadus attempts to kidnap her, wounding Bowgentle in the attempt, but is defeated by Count Brass and expelled from Kamarg. Meliadus swears an oath on the legendary Runestaff to gain power over Count Brass, gain Yisselda and destroy the Kamarg.

Book two

In the German province of Köln a rebellion against the Dark Empire led by Duke Dorian Hawkmoon is put down, and the captured Hawkmoon is brought to the Granbretan capital Londra as a prisoner.

Hawkmoon is kept in luxurious captivity and offered a bargain for his life and freedom by Baron Meliadus. First to judge his suitability he is tested on the mentality machine by Baron Kalan, and judged sane. Meliadus offers him freedom for himself and Köln if he travels to Kamarg and kidnaps Yisselda from Count Brass: Hawkmoon agrees to the bargain.

To ensure Hawkmoon's loyalty a Black Jewel is inserted in his forehead: this jewel will relay Hawkmoon's sight back to Londra, and will eat his brain should Hawkmoon attempt treachery. Before he departs Hawkmoon is granted an audience with the immortal King-Emperor of Granbretan.

The plan is that Hawkmoon shall journey to Kamarg dressed as Meliadus, with the story that he drugged him and thus secured passage undetected. Thus Hawkmoon travels from Granbretan across the Silver Bridge to the Crystal City of Parye, Lyon, Valence and finally arrives at Castle Brass. Along the way he catches a glimpse of a mysterious warrior in jet and gold.

Count Brass realizes the nature of the Black Jewel and by physical and sorcerous means manages to capture the life force of the jewel, rendering it safe. The reprieve is only temporary, but Brass informs Hawkmoon that a sorcerer from the East called Malagigi of Hamadan may possess the power to remove the jewel if Hawkmoon can find him in time.

Led by Baron Meliadus the army of Granbretan advances on the Kamarg, harried by sniping attacks led by Hawkmoon. At the battle of the Kamarg the Granbretan army is defeated by the exotic war towers of Count Brass and Meliadus flees. Following the battle Yisselda pledges her love to Hawkmoon and persuades him to seek the sorcerer Malagigi to free himself from the Black Jewel.

Book three

Hawkmoon rides one of Count Brass's giant flamingos towards the East, but is accidentally shot down by a furry midget crossbreed of a human/mountain giant pairing named Oladahn. Hawkmoon and Oladahn are attacked by a band of brigands but manage to steal two of their goats and ride off.

A month later Hawkmoon and Oladahn come upon the freak-show caravan of 900 year old sorcerer Agonosvos. As an ex-inhabitant of Köln Hawkmoon expects Agonosvos to show loyalty to his duke, but instead Agonsovos kidnaps Hawkmoon to sell him to Baron Meliadus. Hawkmoon is rescued by Oladahn and the pair flee from Agonosvos, who swears vengeance upon them.

Hawkmoon and Oladahn take a ship to Turkia, narrowly avoiding ships from the Dark Empire's warfleet, before heading further into Persia. A month later the pair are attacked by a group of 20 Granbretan warriors but are rescued by the mysterious Warrior in Jet and Gold, who accompanies them towards Hamadan.

Arriving in Hamadan they find that ruler Queen Frawbra has been ousted by her brother Nahak in league with the forces of the Dark Empire. Hawkmoon finds sorcerer Malagigi but he refuses to help him and, spotting his enemy Baron Meliadus, Hawkmoon flees the city. Hawkmoon persuades Queen Frawbra and her follows to lead an assault to re-take the city, and together with Oladahn and the Warrior in Jet and Gold they attack Hamadan.

During the battle Hawkmoon finds himself pitched against Baron Meliadus, and the two fight till they both collapse. Meliadus is later presumed dead, though his body is nowhere to be found. Queen Frawbra's forces succeed in recapturing the city with Frawbra killing her brother Nahak. Malagigi is finally persuaded to help Hawkmoon and succeeds in drawing out the life in the Black Jewel, though Hawkmoon elects to continue to wear the inactive jewel in his forehead as a symbol of hatred. The Warrior in Jet and Gold informs Hawkmoon that he is a servant of the Runestaff, though Hawkmoon dismisses this as a legend. Queen Frawbra offers marriage to Hawkmoon but he refuses and, accompanied by Oladahn, begins the return journey to Kamarg and Yisselda.

References

*cite book | last=Tuck | first=Donald H. | authorlink=Donald H. Tuck | title=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy | location=Chicago | publisher=Advent | pages=316-317 | date=1978|id=ISBN 0-911682-22-8


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Bloody Banquet — [Samuel Schoenbaum, ed., The Bloody Banquet, Malone Society Reprints, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1961, 1962.] is an early 17th century play, a revenge tragedy of uncertain date and authorship, attributed on its title page only to T.D. It… …   Wikipedia

  • The History of the Runestaff —   …   Wikipedia

  • The Mad God's Amulet — Infobox Book name = The Mad God s Amulet title orig = Sorcerer s Amulet translator = image caption = First Edition, published as Sorcerer s Amulet author = Michael Moorcock illustrator = cover artist = country = United States language = English… …   Wikipedia

  • The Secret of Sinharat — infobox Book | name = The Secret of Sinharat title orig = translator = image caption = Cover of first edition. author = Leigh Brackett illustrator = cover artist = country = United States language = English series = genre = Science fiction novel… …   Wikipedia

  • The Disappearing Floor —   …   Wikipedia

  • The Phantom of Venice — Developer(s) Her Interactive Publisher(s) Her Interactive …   Wikipedia

  • The Master (TV series) — The Master Genre Action adventure Created by Michael Sloan Written by Tom Sawyer Michael Sloan Susan Woollen Directed by Ray Austin Ray Aystub Michael Caffee Peter Cran …   Wikipedia

  • The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion —   …   Wikipedia

  • The Nancy Drew Files — The Cover Art for Secrets Can Kill, the first book in the Nancy Drew Files series The Nancy Drew Files, or the Nancy Drew Case Files, is a detective fiction series started in 1986 and released by Simon Schuster, New York. It is a spin off of the… …   Wikipedia

  • The Bandora Gang — which was on the Moon. Though their intent was making Earth a wasteland, they also caused mischief for the Zyurangers until they were sealed again in the finale.Principal VillainsBandora are made out of clay by Pleprechuan and processed by the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”