More to fantasy than Tolkien and George RR Martin

I started Michael Moorcock's 'Hawkmoon: The History of the Runestaff' a few days ago, and have been utterly enthralled by it ever since. It's such a shame that for so many people fantasy begins and ends with Tolkien, or perhaps since the HBO TV show Game of Thrones, George RR Martin.

There really is so much more in the fantasy genre that is just as good, and, dare I say it, perhaps even better.

'Hawkmoon: The History of the Runestaff' compiles three novels featuring Dorian Hawkmoon, a fabulously realised  character full of interesting contradictions; brave and loyal, a passionate lover and ferocious fighter who is at times also murderously ruthless and cold. The whole landscape is incredibly imaginative and filled with strange and wonderful beasts, beauteous maidens, psychopathic warlords, enigmatic sorcerers and strange cities.

In keeping with a lot of Moorcock's work, there is some social commentary here. The world that Hawkmoon roams is clearly our distant future, at some point after the breakdown of 'ancient civilisation' due to the 'Tragic Millenium', and many of the cities and countries names are bastardised versions of real places. The heart of evil lies in Granbretan, a nation of brutal savages that aim to conquer the world, creating one huge empire. Reminiscent of the imperialism of Great Britain and her Empire? Certainly.

So far, I've only read the first book in this collection, 'The Jewel in the Skull', but I am eagerly anticipating the rest of the Hawkmoon novels in this volume.

Just to make Hawkmoon's adventures even more perfect, the first volume is dedicated to the one and only Dave Brock, frontman of the legendary psychedelic space rockers Hawkwind, who Moorcock had a long association with.

Far fucking out, man.