| Article: 346
From: dani@netcom.com (Dani Zweig)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.reviews
Subject: REPOST: Belated Reviews #19: E. R. Eddison
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: 30 Aug 93 23:27:40 GMT
Belated Reviews #19: E. R. Eddison
For most purposes, two of Eddison's works matter, "The Worm Ouroboros",
published in 1926 (I've seen 1922 listed), and the Zimiamvian trilogy,
written over the two decades that followed.
"The Worm Ouroboros" (***+) is an epic fantasy told for its own sake.
Eddison was drunk on the English language, and produced a florid, elaborate,
somewhat archaic prose, with many long passages and (he hated to see one
of his sentences come to an end) relatively few periods. But it works. At
first the style is in the way, then it stops irritating, and at some point
you realize that it's drawn you in. Eddison was also drunk on fantasy, in
the tradition of bygone centuries, with larger-than-life heroic characters
climbing the unclimbable, slaying the unslayable, and generally being more
concerned with glory than with whether or not next year's crops were planted.
Again, it works.
It works despite the first twenty pages or so, which set a standard for
inauspicious beginnings. How inauspiciously can a fantasy begin? Well, to
start with, the action takes place on the planet Mercury, for no apparent
reason. Worse, the author heavy-handedly introduces the story as one which a
character is dreaming. And, for no apparent reason, the warring nations of
the story are named "Demons", "Witches", "Goblins", Pixies", etc., though
they have no relationship to the supernatural beings who usually bear those
names. (The Demons actually do have horns, but...) I make special note of
the flaws in the opening so that if you pick the book up, you'll know to grit
your teeth and keep reading: After the first couple of chapters the dreamer
is forgotten, the pretense that the story takes place on Mercury is ignored,
and the names...well...you really do get used to them.
(Introducing a story as a dream is an old convention, and one that used to
be in more common use. It dates back to a time when a dream was thought of
as something that one could be granted, rather than purely as the product of
the unconscious mind. As such, calling a story a dream could reinforce the
suspension of disbelief, rather than undercut it.)
Somewhere between the second and third chapter you can start forgetting the
opening artificialities and be drawn into the tale: The long-standing rivalry
between Witchland and Demonland, the insulting Witch embassy, the failed
attempt to settle the enmity, the war, the quest, the heroism of Lord Juss,
the treachery of Lord Gro (who is the most engaging character in the story,
despite his little flaws), the conjurations of Gorice XII...
Do I seem to be dealing out left-handed compliments? The book has it's
flaws -- the more from the perspective of the modern reader, who is used
to more rounded characters and less ornate language -- but it is still a
stylistic triumph. There are echoes of Shakespeare and echoes of Homer
(not to mention some out-and-out purloining), but mostly it is E.R. Eddison
having a wonderful time and inviting the reader to join him. Some readers
won't like it and some readers will love it. There are enough of the latter
that, if you think you might be one of them, the book is worth trying.
The Zimiamvian Trilogy is Eddison's lesser work. Try it if you read and
enjoyed "The Worm Ouroboros". It takes place in a land that is less
fantastic and more medievalish, but is still a land of heroes and armies
and plots and intrigues. The language is more modern and less convoluted,
but still busier than we've come to expect in our novels. The main hero of
the trilogy is Lessingham -- who appears briefly in "The Worm Ouroboros" as
the dreamer. (As in Worm, female characters, even the strong ones, tend to
have peripheral or supporting roles.) The trilogy was published as three
separate books, and has recently been reissued in one volume. One of the
quirks of the trilogy is that the books appear (and should be read) in
reverse chronological order.
"Mistress of Mistresses" (***) is the first and best of the three -- the
story of the intrigues and conflicts which follows the death of King
Mezentius of Zimiamvia. The chief villain of the piece is Horius Parry,
the Vicar of Rerek. And what truly complicates matters is that Lessingham,
although a good and true hero, is also Parry's active and sworn supporter.
(Good news: The prose, although not as magical as it is in Worm, is
easier to read. Bad news: There's still one of Those first chapters to
get through, in this case the 'Overture'.)
"A Fish Dinner in Memison" (**) is self-indulgent. Zimiamvia is under the
firm rule of King Mezentius, and the characters who war and intrigue in
"Mistress of Mistresses" are more circumspect. ('Circumspect' is an
appropriate word. Eddison's characters are often noble and glorious, but
a certain amorality accompanies those characteristics.) There is some
fighting, but there is more flirting. There is, eventually, the dinner
party of the title. Meanwhile, and in parallel, we have the story of
Lessingham's courtship, on our own world. (An odd symmetry is at work.
In "Mistress of Mistresses", Zimiamvia is revealed as a world created
by the Goddess for Lessingham's benefit. In "A Fish Dinner in Memison",
Earth is revealed as a world created at the behest of Her Zimiamvian avatar.)
Eddison died before finishing "The Mezentian Gate" (**?), but we have
Eddison's outline of the missing pieces, so the whole tale of Mezentius's
life holds together tolerably well.
I'm ambivalent about the Zimiamvian trilogy. The characters are admirable,
but rarely likable; the writing is masterful, but self-indulgent. I'd guess
that if you enjoy "The Worm Ouroboros", you'll find the trilogy to be weaker,
but still worth reading. If you don't enjoy "The Worm Ouroboros", don't try
the trilogy.
%A Eddison, E.R.
%T The Worm Ouroboros
%S The Zimiamvian Trilogy
%T Mistress of Mistresses
%T A Fish Dinner in Memison
%T The Mezentian Gate
Standard introduction and disclaimer for Belated Reviews follows.
Belated Reviews cover science fiction and fantasy of earlier decades.
They're for newer readers who have wondered about the older titles on the
shelves, or who are interested in what sf/f was like in its younger days.
The emphasis is on helping interested readers identify books to try first,
not on discussing the books in depth.
A general caveat is in order: Most of the classics of yesteryear have not
aged well. If you didn't encounter them back when, or in your early teens,
they will probably not give you the unforced pleasure they gave their
original audiences. You may find yourself having to make allowances for
writing you consider shallow or politics you consider regressive. When I
name specific titles, I'll often rate them using the following scale:
**** Recommended.
*** An old favorite that hasn't aged well, and wouldn't get a good
reception if it were written today. Enjoyable on its own terms.
** A solid book, worth reading if you like the author's works.
* Nothing special.
Additional disclaimers: Authors are not chosen for review in any particular
order. The reviews don't attempt to be comprehensive. No distinction is
made between books which are still in print and books which are not.
-----
Dani Zweig
dani@netcom.com
Roses red and violets blew
and all the sweetest flowres that in the forrest grew -- Edmund Spenser
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