This is the book that shaped the landscape of contemporary science fiction and fantasy. When The Lord of the Rings first appeared, the critics inevitably compared it to this 1922 landmark work. Tolkien himself frankly acknowledged its influence, with warm praise for its imaginative appeal. The story of a remote planet's great war between two kingdoms, it ranks as the Iliad of heroic fantasy. In the best traditions of Homeric epics, Norse sagas, and Arthurian myths, author E. R. Eddison wea...

The Worm Ouroboros is often compared with J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (which it predates by 32 years). Tolkien read The Worm Ouroboros, and praised it in print. C. S. Lewis wrote a short preface to an anthology of Eddison's works, including The Worm Ouroboros, concluding that "No writer can be said to remind us of Eddison."The Worm Ouroboros is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rucker EDDISON, first published in 1922. The book describes the protracted war between the dominee...

Demonland and Witchland wage war in this massively influential fantasy classicWith the arrival of a Witchland envoy making demands of Demonland's chief lords, peace between the two lands is irrevocably shattered. The chief lords Juss and Spitfire send their brother Goldry to defeat the witch king. Though he is initially victorious, Goldry ultimately gets captured, leaving it up to his brothers to rescue him. So begins a fantasy adventure whose influence has endured ...

A Nebula Award winner presents tales that shaped modern science fiction and fantasy—five complete novels by Mark Twain, H. G. Wells, and more.In this handpicked collection, New York Times–bestselling author Greg Bear travels back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when novelists let their imaginations soar beyond conventional boundaries of time and space and contributed to the emergence of imaginative new literary genres.In 1889, ...

The novel follows the epic adventures of several larger-than-life characters, including lords, warriors, sorcerers, and demons. They engage in epic battles, political intrigues, and quests, all set against a backdrop of fantastical landscapes and mythical creatures. The story is filled with elements of heroism, honor, magic, and grandeur, evoking a sense of mythic and heroic storytelling.One of the notable aspects of "The Worm Ouroboros" is Eddison's elaborate prose, which is often describ...

E. R. Eddison's "The Worm Ouroboros" stands as a monumental work of fantasy literature, weaving an intricate tapestry of adventure, moral complexity, and philosophical contemplation. Set in the mythical realm of Mercury, the narrative intertwines the fates of noble houses embroiled in a grand conflict, marked by its lush prose and archaic diction that evokes the epic traditions of Homer and medieval romance. The novel's structure, composed of richly developed characters and lyrical dialogu...

The Worm Ouroboros is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rücker Eddison. The book describes the protracted war between the domineering King Gorice of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland in an imaginary world that appears mainly medieval and partly reminiscent of Norse sagas.

The book that set the stage for Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings', 'The Worm Ouroboros' tells a sweeping tale of political – and mystical - battles between heroic warriors, witches on crooked mountaintops and the ocean's darkest depths. Interlaced with brewing romances and devilish trickery, The Lords of Demonland go head-to-head with the Lords of Witchland in one epic fantasy. Crafted with expert language, Eddison provides a reading experience like no other. 'The Worm Ouroboros' is ideal ...

Edward Lessingham of England is dead, the last chapter of his extraordinary life written.Edward Lessingham of Zimiamvia is alive: now Lord Lessingham, cousin to the villainous Vicar of Rerek, scourge of King Mezentius in that fabled land.But the king is dead and his passing has left a dangerous power vacuum and the fate of the three kingdoms in the balance. Lord Lessingham makes valiant attempts to bring peace to the land but is stalled by the vicar's treachery and the stra...

Comparison with Other Works: The Worm Ouroboros is often compared with J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (which it predates by 32 years). Tolkien read The Worm Ouroboros, and praised it in print. C. S. Lewis wrote a short preface to an anthology of Eddison's works, including The Worm Ouroboros, concluding that "No writer can be said to remind us of Eddison." About the Book The Worm Ouroboros is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rucker EDDISON, first published in 1922. The book des...

We rely on your support to help us keep producing beautiful, free, and unrestricted editions of literature for the digital age. Will you support our efforts with a donation ? The viking king Eric the Victorious rules his realm jointly with his brother, Olaf. Olaf's queen gives birth to their only son, Biorn, and Olaf dies soon after; thus Eric adopts Biorn, giving him the epithet "Styrbiorn" because of his quick temper and stubborn disposition. As Styrbiorn matures, he seeks to seize the c...

E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros is a monumental work of high fantasy, renowned for its rich, ornate prose, sweeping epic battles, and imaginative world-building. First published in 1922, the novel is considered a cornerstone of classic fantasy literature, predating and influencing many later legends of heroic quests and intricate imaginary realms. Set in the mythical lands of Mercury, the story chronicles the epic struggle between the proud, noble heroes of Demonland and the sinister fo...