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Michael Moorcock
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The War Hound and the World's Pain: A Fable Hardcover – 1 Oct. 1981

by Michael Moorcock (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
During the Thirty Years War, Satan, wishing to be reconciled with God, offers a ruthless mercenary salvation if he will solve the mystery of suffering in the world
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  3. Publication date
    1 Oct. 1981
  4. ISBN-10
    0671437089
  5. ISBN-13
    978-0671437084
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Oct. 1981
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0671437089
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671437084
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 454 g
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

About the author

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Michael Moorcock

Michael Moorcock

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Born in London in 1939, Michael Moorcock now lives in Texas. A prolific and award-winning writer with more than eighty works of fiction and non-fiction to his name, he is the creator of Elric, Jerry Cornelius and Colonel Pyat, amongst many other memorable characters.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
41 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ArtyParky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A dark fable. Perhaps the last of its kind. If you do not own this book your life is incomplete.
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  • Crazy horse
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just as described
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Right on time and just as described
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  • B. Walker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great science fantasy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Moorcock at his very best.
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  • Steel Pin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent condition, bargain
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  • Gerard Mackle
    4.0 out of 5 stars ... read this book when I was young and I loved it. Decided to read again and was pleased ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I read this book when I was young and I loved it. Decided to read again and was pleased to find a really cheap copy with the same cover in good condition. Thanks
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  • R. Piskorz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 December 2017
    Verified Purchase
    a nice little book
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  • Hereward
    5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Moorcock - The War-Hound and the World's Pain
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2012
    Format: Paperback
    "The forest flourished, a lush and spreading refuge from the Wars, coolly green and welcoming. Beyond its borders the land burned flame red, blood red, ghastly black. Men and women, hacked to death, choked the paths and streams as the Armies of Religion clashed and slaughtered. Carrion-hung gibbets loomed starkly through the smoke and all the land was desolate. The forest was a refuge. Yet silent, utterly silent and without life, as through it wearily rode the War Hound, Graf Ulrich von Bek. To come suddenly on a castle. Many turreted and fair, it rose up, honey-gold in the sunlight. Yet silent and still as the forest. And in the castle he found favour of the chatelaine, the Lady Sabrina, whose master was Lucifer, Prince of Darkness. And was challenged to set out upon a quest that only the Damned could undertake."

    "The best fantasy novel of the year" - Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

    This, the first of the von Bek novels, sees the protagonist flee life as a mercenary captain in the bloody Thirty Years War (17th century) only to stumble upon a mysterious castle, whose mistress he falls in madly in love with. When he discovers that Satan owns her soul he makes a deal with him: to find the Holy Grail and give it to Satan in return for the girl. From there on it is a pure quest narrative, as von Bek does the usual mixture of clue hunting, journeying, and exploring. What sets it apart from the sort of fantasy quest novels that Michael Moorcock used to churn out regularly, is that this is one of his more literary efforts and all the more enjoyable for its unusual depth. That said, working for Satan was a much fresher idea in the 1980s than it is today (I'd be more surprised with a contemporary novel if the hero undertook a quest from God) and the theology/philosophy is pretty suspect. It also compares unfavourably with a novel written at the time, "The Adventures of a Simpleton" by Simplicius Simpliccimus, which I recommend reading in conjunction with this novel. Nonetheless, this is a hugely enjoyable book, packed full of wild ideas, that shows a deep breadth of knowledge and which has both an interesting plot and unusual characters. I usually end up picking it off the shelf once every few years and reading the whole book in a day.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jule
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    OK, AS ADVERTISED
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Robert Macdougall
    5.0 out of 5 stars When I read this book I was transported to another time and place
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 June 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book was poetically written, blended with surrealism, history of the 30 year war of Europe, as you journey with Captain Von Beck, I don't have the book in front of me as I write this review, but it is a wonderful experience as the reader travels with our hero, through dangerous surroundings, fighting and killing his enemies along his journey, till he meets.....

    I know you will love this book within 50 pages!
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  • Draghidottone
    5.0 out of 5 stars MIchael Moorcock rules!
    Reviewed in Italy on 2 October 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    One of the best fantasy ever read.
    I'd end here this review if I could, because anything I'd write would be superfluous: this novel is a perfect example of imaginative fiction, and the characters break into your heart to stay there until the end.
    Really, you can't miss this.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... steps up to the plate and delivers yet another brilliant slant on Heaven and Hell
    Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Moorcock really steps up to the plate and delivers yet another brilliant slant on Heaven and Hell. One of his best and most easily accessible works.
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  • Ellen Born
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 March 2016
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is about the 6th copy and 6th read. After reading I usually pass it on to another reader
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  • Lady Nina
    4.0 out of 5 stars Esoteric book
    Reviewed in the United States on 2 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Fantasy? Otherwordly story? Theological? Does it and others by Michael Moorcock have a "cult following"?
    I read it decades ago and have purchased it again for a person who I think will appreciate it. Not everyone would or could.
    Seller is good, sent fast and packaged well.
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