The Multiverse unfolds in this thrilling collection of pulpy detective yarns, eleven great stories with glorious titles, such as "The Case Of The Nazi Canary" and The Pleasure Garden Of Felipe Sagitatarius". They might be short stories but they bulge with a creative heft. More of a Moorcockverse than a multiverse, a much overused description in the current shared cultural zeitgeist. There are familiar situations and pulp tropes that lean in a swarthier direction than might first appear, more British pulp than American. I do not suggest that in an adversorial fashion, merely pointing out the tonal differences. Its all good after all, the observation is not intended as a qualification of quality. What would I know,after all.
Genres ripple with Overton Windows, the unspoken and the outspoken, the obvious brushing shoulders with the not so obvious. With the unfathomably talented Michael Moorcock setting the tone rather than following someone elses.
His avatar Seaton Begg, crosses into worlds where scientific progress has taken different paths, and proceeded at different rates, creating societies that mirror each other in cracked actor stylee. In some there are electric cars, Oh how sci-fi, (as if that could ever happen in the real world."It will never happen, they will never catch on-" Coppernicus Magillicutty, 1666) in others there are airships filling the sky in retro steampunk fashion. The Court Of The Faerie Queene persists, illuminating and alchemically enriching. Empires that gloriously fell in our world, remain stubbornly intact. There are familiar faces from his own extended multiverse, as much as our own pantheon of riches. Elric of Melnibone reappears in the dastardly form Count Zenith. As does Una Persson and Lady Rose of Von Bek ( A character I am not too familiar with. But that will come in time. )The adventures in this book ripple out in kalidiscopic waves. Resulting in a colourful collection of densely formed tales which feel just perfect for these dark months. The dark months which can feel endless in this part of Northern Ireland. Life on the slow path, eh? Might as well make it as artistically fulfilled as it is possible for ape descendants to enjoy.
I'm felling pretty Metatemporal myself tonight.
