The real (as opposed to chronological) start of the Elric saga. Excessively melodramatic at times, with Elric's mood swinging from remorseless warrior to angst-ridden teenager in the space of a few paragraphs. There are good ideas in all the stories but it's hampered by the general clunkiness of a young writer starting out. ( )

I couldn't even get this book started. ( )

http://speculiction.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-of-stealer-of-souls-by-michael.h... ( )

Although I think one of the Runestaff volumes was in fact the first Moorcock I read, this is the first that really took me. I still think the first Elric story may even be the best.