Having now finished reading whatever juvenile Moorcock I have and moved onto the early sixties and the first Elric stories, I thought I'd post a few comments/queries.
Although almost all of the juvenile fiction was included in the Savoy Sojan book, there were several stories left out including a Sojan story ('Checkmate') and other stories ('Matthews and Mars' to mention one). Was there any reason for this? I've since found out that several of these stories were reprinted in the Time Centre Times, so I shall have to search for those.
Of all the Sojan stories 'Prisoners In Stone' seems to be the best written and an early glimpse of the type of stuff you would later do with the Elric stories. Some of the Sojan stories seem to have rushed or abrupt endings. I wondered if that was a case of you using up the allotted length for the stories and having to finish them quickly?
Was 'Klan The Spoiler' ever published before its appearance in the Sojan book? The story is dated as being written in 1955.
There are two Dek of Noothar stories in the Sojan book, but there is a noticeable gap between them. In 'Dek Of Noothar', Dek begins his quest for the Sword of Life, but in the second story 'The Siege of Noothar' he has the sword. Was the middle story ever written? If so, was it by someone else? Siege of Noothar was co-written with John Wisdom. Did he write any more Dek stories?
'Rens Karto of Bersnol' also features Sojan, but as a secondary character, and was another collaboration, this time with Dick Ellingsworth. Who was he? How did these collaborations work?
'The Lovebeast' was apparently written in 1957, but not published until the mid 60s. Was it submitted anywhere before that? I thought this was an interesting early story, although you are fairly dismissive of it in the intro to My Experiences In The Third World War, where it also appeared.
'Peace On Earth' (not really a juvenile, but I thought I'd include it here) was expanded by Barrington Bayley as the original was version was too short. Can you recall what he added to it?
A lot of questions there. John Davey might want to answer some of the bibliographic queries if he has the answers. I should say I haven't read some of these stories for many years and am enjoying reading them all over again.
Although almost all of the juvenile fiction was included in the Savoy Sojan book, there were several stories left out including a Sojan story ('Checkmate') and other stories ('Matthews and Mars' to mention one). Was there any reason for this? I've since found out that several of these stories were reprinted in the Time Centre Times, so I shall have to search for those.
Of all the Sojan stories 'Prisoners In Stone' seems to be the best written and an early glimpse of the type of stuff you would later do with the Elric stories. Some of the Sojan stories seem to have rushed or abrupt endings. I wondered if that was a case of you using up the allotted length for the stories and having to finish them quickly?
Was 'Klan The Spoiler' ever published before its appearance in the Sojan book? The story is dated as being written in 1955.
There are two Dek of Noothar stories in the Sojan book, but there is a noticeable gap between them. In 'Dek Of Noothar', Dek begins his quest for the Sword of Life, but in the second story 'The Siege of Noothar' he has the sword. Was the middle story ever written? If so, was it by someone else? Siege of Noothar was co-written with John Wisdom. Did he write any more Dek stories?
'Rens Karto of Bersnol' also features Sojan, but as a secondary character, and was another collaboration, this time with Dick Ellingsworth. Who was he? How did these collaborations work?
'The Lovebeast' was apparently written in 1957, but not published until the mid 60s. Was it submitted anywhere before that? I thought this was an interesting early story, although you are fairly dismissive of it in the intro to My Experiences In The Third World War, where it also appeared.
'Peace On Earth' (not really a juvenile, but I thought I'd include it here) was expanded by Barrington Bayley as the original was version was too short. Can you recall what he added to it?
A lot of questions there. John Davey might want to answer some of the bibliographic queries if he has the answers. I should say I haven't read some of these stories for many years and am enjoying reading them all over again.
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