The Bull and the Spear [Dramatized Adaptation]

Corum, Book 4

By: Michael Moorcock

Narrated by: full cast, Nanette Savard, Chris Genebach, Nora Achrati, Christopher Graybill, Andy Clemence, Bradley Smith, Tim Getman, KenYatta Rogers, Matthew Keenan, Andy Brownstein, Tracy Olivera

In the ancient Castle Erorn, Corum of the Scarlet Robe dwells in isolation and sorrow. He has outlived his great love, Rhalina, and is tormented by voices in his dreams - a crowd of shadowy figures chanting his name. Unable to ignore their calls for help any longer, he will travel through eons of time to an age of tragedy, where the people of Tuha-na-Cremm Croich, descendants of Rhalina, are persecuted by the giant gods of the Cold Folk.

A great black bull has the power needed to defeat the monsters of a new age. But to tame the bull, the Eternal Champion must travel to the fatally beautiful island of Hy-Breasail to find the invincible and magical Spear Bryionak....

Performed by Nanette Savard, Chris Genebach, Nora Achrati, Christopher Graybill, Andy Clemence, Bradley Smith, Tim Getman, KenYatta Rogers, Matthew Keenan, Andy Brownstein, Tracy Olivera, Colleen Delany, Lawrence Redmond.

©1973 Michael and Linda Moorcock (P)2016 Graphic Audio, LLC

exciting

this is an exciting continuation to the Corum series. Great series, really, quite above much of fantasy.

Must listen for Moorcock readers

Having just finished reading the initial 3 Corum books I decided to give this a try due to Moorcocks naming conventions andy inability to properly read them. This turned out to be one of the best audio dramas I've listened to and completely reshaped how I feel about Michael Moorcocks work.

Start fo a new adventure for Corum

Michael Moorcock’s The Bull and the Spear is the start of a new trilogy for Corum. This takes place many years after his prior adventures. While immortal himself, his wife and other companions have passed away. He has fashioned a silver hand to replace his lost left hand. He responds to a call from humans on another plane which is the future. This plane is plagued by monsters, including demonic dogs that create a constant winter. Corum meets a non-human who can make weapons. He obtains a spear and calls on a bull to defeat one of the seven monsters to earn some respite.

Moorcock introduces a number of prophecies that will play out in later installments. Corum, ever the reluctant hero, nevertheless always attempts to do right by the humans he allies himself with. As with the first trilogy, another love interest begins.

The narration is of a dramatized type with lots of background sounds (horses clomping, music, and lots of grunting), as well as a clear theatrical style sometimes bordering on histrionic.