Clint Jones's Reviews > The Roads Between the Worlds

The Roads Between the Worlds collects three of Moorcock's early works. The stories have minor retouches and introductions that link them to the latest model of his Multiverse appearing in the Second Ether: a series influenced by discoveries in Chaos Theory (not coincidentally published by White Wolf alongside these omnibus editions!).

In The Wrecks of Time (aka The Rituals of Infinity), humans are the subjects of experiments by greater entities trying to make humanity a more successful race. An interesting aspect of this story is that Dr Faustus is able to reason with these godlike entities.

All three novels have scenes of violence, but it is refreshing to find that ultimately they end with nonviolent resolution.

The Winds of Limbo (aka The Fireclown) and Shores of Death (aka The Twilight Man) are primarily political. They illustrate peaceful societies under attack by schemers whose initial motives are noble, but the nature of their will to control others tends toward corruption. The individual willing to submit to their own personal ambitions rather than the more common welfare risks following a similar path.

In The Winds of Limbo Alain is an apolitical member of the political Von Bek family which has held power for generations. The longer Alain tries to be neutral the more he becomes the tool of political schemers. Yet his neutrality helps him remain skeptical of the enigmatic, Buddha-like Fireclown, an inexplicable creature whose equally enigmatic jargon touches the populace on a near-messianic level. He is vaguely similar to Chauncey from Kosinski's Being There.

As the Fireclown's popularity grows, he earns political enemies who frame him for acts of terrorism. The Fireclown's only ambition is to remove the source of aberration in the universe: human intelligence. Alain learns the truth of the Fireclown's innocence, but at the same time discovers his insane vision for mankind. After all of the plots are exposed and the threats have been driven out, society returns to normal... a narrow miss:

The Vs also said that order had been completely restored. Alain wondered. On the surface, perhaps, it was true. But what of the disorder that must still exist in the hearts and minds of most members of the public?

Becker, the hero of the Shores of Death, has been tricked. Although he is famous for his wisdom and intelligence, his growing wish for immortality is a subtle step toward the vigilante Almer's overt political tyranny.

When the unearthly genius Sharvis' offers Becker his wish, Becker is unclear about Sharvis' motives. He can't be certain whether Sharvis' intent is benevolent, malign or truly neutral as he claims. Becker lives to regret that he failed to take Mr Take's warnings seriously about Sharvis':

"... [Sharvis] is wiser than any man has ever been. He knows how to trick someone of your intelligence. He means you nothing but harm. If he gives you immortality as he gave it to me, you will feel nothing except despair--eternally. Don't you realize that?"

The price is Becker's loss of feelings and desire. Becker discovers Sharvis' motives only after being consigned to the same numb neutrality; an intelligent, curious disinterest.

The political statements are strong, serving to warn about giving over freedoms, and how quickly a free society can slip into dictatorship.

The plots of these early stories disintegrate near the ending. They tend to begin with good flash and intrigue, but the theme outpaces the plot which tends toward open-endedness. There are several chapters of repetition, and when he presents the most important ideas, he wraps them up quickly in irony.