After turning back the invasion of Lywm-an-Esh with the help of Vadhagh from another plane, Corum and Rhalina returned to Castle Erorn. His family castle was rebuilt and the pair lived contentedly for a time. Then, the madness came. Everyone in the castle began to have short tempers which soon turned violent and then murderous. This madness had infected the whole plane. When a delegation of Vadhagh arrived at Erorn, it turned into a fight to the death.
Taking one of the flying ships of the Vadhagh, Corum, Rhalina, and Jhary-a-Conel set out for Lywm-an-Esh to consult with Lord Arkyn. Finding no solutions there, they were instead pursued by the man who took Corum's hand and eye. The only hope of escape was to leap to another plane, but the pursuit followed them! When at last they lost the soldiers of chaos, their craft shattered and they were stranded on some plane beyond the 15 planes. Only by finding Tanelorn, the eternal city, could they return to their home and hope to counter the madness. During his plane-hopping adventure, Corum meets his alternate selves: Elric of Melnibone and Lord Erekose. It will take all three to defeat the creature of the Black Tower and find their way to Tanelorn.
The story hops from setting to setting, using the near omniscient and immortal Jhary to explain the oddities of the current plane. As with previous books in the series, there is a deus ex machina feel to the story. That the Lost Gods, whose hand and eye had been grafted to Corum in the first book, appear as saviors in this book shows that it was all foreordained. Corum and his friends are mere pawns with no ability to determine their fate.
Compared to Elric, Corum is a bland hero. Of course, he is from a sedate race of people who gladly spend decades composing a melody. Just okay. This series is only for the diehard Moorcock fan.
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