Elric; "Weight of the World" from The Stealer of Souls by John Picacio

You guys have heard me talk plenty of times about ERB and REH and in that same mix of reading was the Albino Prince, Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock. Man was that some Great reading but going in a little bit of the opposite direction. ERB and REH usually delt with barbarians rarely trusting and most of the time fighting sorcery but Elric would just about be the complete opposite. He was an Albino having to rely on special herbs to keep him healthy and used sorcery to summon supernatural allies but more important was his sword Stormbringer. This was not just a sword! It was an ancient sword and was called the Stealer of Souls for when it was pulled from it's scabbard, the sword demanded a soul and when it drank, it gave to Elric, health, strength and fighting prowess. Stormbringer was what kept him alive but at the same time, brought death and destruction to everything he held dear. On that note, looking at this piece that John has drawn, really sums up to me, both the inner and outer struggle that Elric had to live with. I also have to say that John's depiction of Stormbringer is one of the best that I've ever seen! That sword just looks like it's searching for it's next victim. For those that don't know John Picacio, you have to go check out his web site at johnpicacio.com. His art is Crazy and he has won multiple awards for it. I have to say thanks to a couple of good friends like Gregg Spatz for hooking me up with John and also to Sean Lackey for helping make this piece happen and oh yah, A huge thanks to John for letting this piece go!!! In looking around on CAF, there is not much out there and so I count myself as one of the lucky ones to come up with anything by him. This piece comes from the 2008 Ballantine-Del Rey edition of Elric the Stealer of Souls-Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melnibone: Volume 1 and this piece is on page 271. the size of the art is 11x14 on Crescent Illustration Board. On another last note, this year will be my 50th birthday and Elric was first published only 3 months before me in the novelette "The Dreaming City" Science Fantasy #47 June 1961.