Book Review: 'The Jewel in the Skull' by Michael Moorcock
5 / 5 Stars
'The Jewel in the Skull' first was published in the US in 1967 by Lancer Books. Moorcock was unhappy with Lancer's editing of his novel, and thus, the 'preferred' edition of 'Jewel' is that issued by DAW Books in January, 1977 (176 pp., DAW Books No. 225, cover art by Richard Clifton-Dey).
This is the first volume in the so-called 'History of the Runestaff' series, with the additional volumes 'The Mad God's Amulet' (1968), 'The Sword of the Dawn' (1968), and 'The Runestaff' (1969).
'Jewel' is set thousands of years in the future, after the Europe we know has collapsed and been replaced by myriad kingdoms and principalities, all consumed with petty wars and disagreements. Ominously, the Dark Empire of Granbretan (i.e., the UK), aided by illegitimate sciences and magicks, is encroaching into the Continent. One by one, the countries of Europe are being subdued by the ruthless Empire.
The province of Kamarg, in southern France, remains aloof from the conflicts elsewhere by virtue of the formidable Count Brass, its ruler. To deter invaders, Brass has raised a line of defensive towers equipped with arcane weapons, and his infantry, although small in number, are well-trained, fierce fighters. Kamarg the strongest state in the Continent.
As 'Jewel' opens, Brass is warned about the designs of Granbretan by his advisor, the sage Bowgentle. Brass is unperturbed by this warning, leading Bowgentle to remark of the Granbretans:
"Their cruelty is without precedent. They are insane. Their souls are sick with a love for all that is evil and a hatred for all that is noble."
Speaking on the Dark Empire's recent conquest of the European province of Koln, Bowgentle has this to say:
"In Koln their sport was to crucify every girlchild in the city, make eunuchs of the boys, and have all the adults who would save their lives perform lewd displays in the streets. That is no natural cruelty, Count, and was by no means their worst. Their entertainment is to debase all humanity."
(strong stuff for a fantasy novel first published in 1967 !)
The prince of Koln, one Dorian Hawkmoon, led the futile defense of that state and has been captured by the malevolent Baron Meliadus. Hoping to subdue Kamarg without mounting an invasion, Meliadus offers Hawkmoon his life, provided Hawkmoon infiltrates Count Brass's court and kidnaps the Count's daughter, Yisselda. Dispirited by his defeat, Hawkmoon agrees. But the bargain includes a sinister rider: Hawkmoon has a black jewel embedded in his forehead, a jewel that allows the Baron and the Dark Empire the ability to see everything that Hawkmoon sees. Should Hawkmoon try any treachery, then the jewel will begin to eat away at his brain.
Will Hawkmoon carry out the Baron's plan, and subvert the last free nation in Europe ? If Hawkmoon tries to rebel, will the jewel end his life ? Questions dark and dramatic, all to be answered before the closing sentence of the 'Jewel in the Skull'.......
This is a very entertaining fantasy / science fantasy novel, with themes and characters that prefigure Moorcock's most well-known franchise, the 'Elric of Melnibone' franchise.
Despite being published almost 60 years ago, 'Jewel' has a very 'modern' sensibility, and a prose style that is considerably more sophisticated than that being deployed in sword & sorcery titles of the same era. It's also a demonstration of Moorcock's ability to create convincing characters and world-building within a 176-page limit, a favorable accomplishment when compared with 21st-century novels (where lengths of more than 500 pages are routine for the genre).
if you're a fan of sword-and-sorcery, and harder-edged fantasy novels, then 'The Jewel in the Skull' is well worth reading.
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