The Worm Ouroboros

The Worm Ouroboros
Original Cover
Author	Eric Rücker Eddison
Illustrator	Keith Henderson
Country	UK
Language	English
Series	The Zimiamvian Series
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Jonathan Cape
Publication date	1922
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	xiv, 448 pp
ISBN	NA

The Worm Ouroboros (1922) 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.

A half-finished framing story describes this world as Mercury, though it is clearly a fantasy version of Earth, a "secondary world"; no effort was made to conform to the scientific knowledge of Mercury as it existed at the time of writing (the world even has a moon, which Mercury does not). At a number of points the characters refer to their land as Middle earth, used here in its original sense of "the known world", and the gods worshipped have the names of deities from Greek mythology. The framing device disappears a few paragraphs into the second chapter, and Eddison never refers to it again.

The work is slightly related to Eddison's later Zimiamvian Trilogy, and collectively they are sometimes referred to as the Zimiamvian series.

History of the Book

Research done by Paul Edmund Thomas (who wrote an introduction to the 1991 Dell edition) shows that Eddison started imagining the stories which would turn into the The Worm Ouroboros at a very early age. An exercise book titled The Book of Drawings dated 1892 and created by Eddison is to be found at the Bodleian Library. In this book are 59 drawings in pencil, captioned by the author, containing many of the heroes and villains of the later work. Some of the drawings, such as The murder of Gallandus by Corsus and Lord Brandoch Daha challenging Lord Corund, depict events of Ouroboros.

As might be expected, significant differences exist between the ideas of a 10-year-old boy and the work of a 40-year-old man. Perhaps the most interesting change is the change in Lord Gro's character. In the drawings Lord Gro is a hero of skill and courage, while in the book he is a conflicted character, never able to pick a side and stick to it. Another curious change is that Goldry Bluszco is the main hero of the drawings, but off-stage in an enchanted prison for most of the novel.

Many people (including Tolkien) have wondered at and criticized Eddison's curious names for his characters (e.g. La Fireez, Fax Fay Faz), places and nations. According to Thomas, the answer appears to be that these names originated in the mind of a young boy, and Eddison could not, or would not, change them thirty years later when he wrote the stories down.

The Meaning of the Worm

The title refers to Ouroboros, the snake or dragon that swallows its own tail and therefore has no terminus (in Old English, the word "worm" could mean a serpent or dragon). Like the great worm, the story as a whole is without true beginning or end.

At the end of the novel (as the reader perceives it), the heroes realize that their lives have little meaning without the great conflict and ask a boon of a supernatural Power. It is granted, and the story ends as it begins, with an embassy from Witchland demanding audience.

The theme of repetition pervades the work. King Gorice XI of Witchland dies early in the story; Gorice XII dies near the end. Gorice XII carries out two conjurings in the Iron Tower of Carcë; Carcë is attacked twice; there are two quests to find and recover Goldry Bluszco. Three armies chase each other in endless campaign until the heroes shatter the cycle on their quest.

The Plot

The novel starts with an ambassador from Witchland arriving in Demonland to demand that Lord Juss and the other Demons recognize King Gorice XI of Witchland as their overlord. Juss and his brothers reply that they and all of Demonland will submit if the king (a famous wrestler) can defeat Goldry Bluszco in a wrestling match.

The match is held in neutral territory, and Gorice is killed. His successor (or reincarnation) Gorice XII is a sorcerer and, with the help of Lord Gro, contrives the sorcerous removal of Goldry to a magical mountain prison.

Lord Juss and his cousin Brandoch Daha attempt an assault on Carcë, the capital of the Witches, where they think Goldry is held. In this attempt they are aided by King Gaslark of Goblinland. (Lord Spitfire is sent back to raise the armies of Demonland.) The rescue fails, the Goblins flee, and the Demonlords are all captured. They escape with the aid of La Fireez, the king of Pixyland, who helps them at great personal cost because he owes them a debt of honor.

Lord Juss and Brandoch Daha return home to Demonland and then start an expedition to rescue Goldry Bluszco from his terrible prison, somewhere past the mountains of Impland. Again, Lord Spitfire stays behind to lead the armies of Demonland against an expected invasion from Witchland.

The expedition's fleet is smashed and its army destroyed. Juss and Brandoch Daha meet with three strange enchanted heroes of an earlier time, and Lord Juss is nearly killed by a manticore. After a year of wandering they climb the mighty peak of Koshtra Pivrarcha - in a vividly described mountain ascent - and then attempt the even more difficult peak of Koshtra Belorn. Before reaching the summit of Koshtra Belorn they encounter Queen Sophonisba, an enchanted girl or goddess.

From Sophonisba (who has been blessed by the gods with immortality and other great powers) they learn that Goldry is held on the top of mount Zora Rach, a mountain which cannot be climbed and whose peak is surrounded by unceasing flames. There is only one way to free him: they must find a hippogriff's egg, and one of them must ride the newly hatched hippogriff. Queen Sophonisba gives Lord Juss one hippogriff egg but it is soon lost through betrayal by their lone companion, Mivarsh. Lord Juss and Brandoch Daha have to return to Demonland in search of another unhatched hippogriff egg, their quest defeated for the time being.

Meanwhile, the armies of Witchland have attacked Demonland. Duke Corsus is the first commander of the Witchland army. He conquers part of Demonland but Spitfire beats him at a battle called the Rapes of Brima. A new Witchland army, under the command of the dangerous Lord Corinius, defeats Spitfire and captures most of Demonland. At this point, Lord Gro changes sides and helps Lady Mevrian, the sister of Brandoch Daha (and the only woman of note in Demonland), to escape from the grasp of Corinius. A few months later Lord Juss and Brandoch Daha return and soundly defeat the Witchland army at the battle of Krothering Side.

Equipped with a new hippogriff egg, Lord Juss makes a second attempt to rescue his brother and this time is successful. With their great hero, Goldry Bluszco, returned, the Demonland army then sails to Witchland and faces the army of Witchland in a climactic struggle. In battle before the gates of Carcë, the most powerful hero of Witchland, Lord Corund, dies from wounds he suffers fighting with the heroes of Demonland. So also dies Lord Gro (who switches sides yet again in the battle). The night after the battle, King Gorice attempts another terrible summoning but his spell fails and he is killed. Lord Corsus poisons all the remaining nobles of Witchland but is killed himself by Corinius before Corinius dies from the poison.

Though triumphant, the Demon lords find that victory is bitter because there are no more enemies worthy of their heroism, no more great deeds to perform. The Lord Juss says to Queen Sophonisba:

Sophonisba, gifted by the gods with the power to grant wishes, returns the world to how it was four years ago; and so, with a blare of trumpets, an ambassador from Witchland arrives, "craving present audience," and the story starts over again.

Characters

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this section if you can. (September 2009)

This section's tone or style may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (September 2009)

• Goldry Bluszco is the brother of the hero and one of the chief lords of Demonland. Bluszco has two brothers, Lord Juss and Lord Spitfire. Unlike his bachelor brothers, Bluszco was betrothed to marry Princess Armelline of Goblinland. Bluszco challenges the King of Witchland, Gorice XI to a wrestling match to determine the fate of Demonland. Bluszco wins the match and kills the Witchland king in the process. Shortly thereafter the new king of Witchland, Gorice XII casts a powerful spell and summons an infernal spirit which carries Bluszco away. Most of the remainder of the book shows the attempts by his brothers and their heroic companion, Brandoch Daha, to rescue Bluszco. It turns out he was magically transported to the top of a mystical mountain, Zora Rach, which cannot be climbed and whose peak is surrounded by unceasing flames. He commands one wing of the armies of Demonland in a final battle with Witchland. In the last battle he is driven back by Lord Corund's soldiers and the ships of Demonland are nearly destroyed before Brandoch Daha and Lord Juss turn the tide of battle.

• Corinius is a warrior leader of Witchland, full of life and ambition. He is an enemy of Demonland, and as warrior of some skill he commands a little respect from the lords of Demonland.

• Duke Corsus is the one of the war leader of the armies of Witchland. Duke Corsus was the chief war leader of Witchland a decade before the story begins. Corsus is wily and skillful but prone to drinking and no longer young.

• Lord Corund is the chief war leader of the armies of Witchland. He is a noble man, a mighty warrior, and has some respect from the main characters. Corund leads the Witchland army against the Demonland expedition to Impland.

• Brandoch Daha is a lord of Demonland. After Corinius's sack of Krothering Castle, Brandoch Daha swears vengeance against Corinius.

• Gorice XI, King of Witchland, is killed in a wrestling match by Goldry Bluszco and succeeded by Gorice XII.

• Gorice XII is a sorcerer and King of Witchland. Gorice is the reincarnation of his predecessor, Gorice XI. He rules from Carcë, the capital of Witchland. He wears an iron crown shaped like a crab encrusted with jewels, and his signet ring is in the shape of the ouroboros of the book's title.

• Lord Gro is an advisor to Witchland, later he is an ally of Demonland. Gro is originally from Goblinland and is the foster-brother of King Gaslark before they have a falling-out. Gro is a famous explorer and wrote a book about his travels through Impland. Gro provides crucial aid to King Gorice XII of Witchland when he summons the magic which carries Goldry Bluszco away. He acts as an advisor and trusted messenger to the King regarding the campaign in Demonland. While in Demonland he meets and falls in love with Brandoch Daha's sister, the Lady Mevrian. Because of his love, he betrays the Witchland army and helps Mevrian escape from Corinius after Corinius captures her brother's castle of Krothering.

• Lord Juss is the chief lord of Demonland. Juss has two brothers, Goldry Bluszco and Lord Spitfire. Juss leads an expedition to the capital city of Witchland, Carcë where he is captured by King Gorice XII. He is freed from Carcë by the visiting King of Pixyland, La Fireez and returns to Demonland. He then leads an expedition to rescue his brother Goldry Bluszco.

• Lady Mevrian is a great lady of Demonland and is present at the council in which Lord Juss and her brother plan their expedition to Impland in search of Goldry Bluszco. Later she is forced to defend her brother's castle of Krothering against the army of Corinius of Witchland. After a siege, the castle is taken and Lady Mevrian has to fend off the advances of Corinius. She is able to escape only with the aid of Lord Gro, who betrays Witchland to help her. Together they flee from the Witchland forces sent by Corinius to capture them.

• Lord Spitfire has two brothers Lord Juss and Goldry Bluszco. His chief residence is the castle Owlswick. Spitfire, while fierce in battle, is beaten by Corinius at the battle of Thremnir's Heugh and loses control of most of Demonland as a result. He fights a determined war of resistance from the mountains, but Demonland is only freed from the Witchland army thanks to the return of Lord Juss and Brandoch Daha.

The Kingdoms of Mercury

Map by David Bedell.

Despite the names, all the people in the book (Witches, Demons, Goblins, Imps, Pixies and others) are recognizably human and they are all the same species, or at least able to intermarry (the sister of the king of Pixyland is married to Lord Corund of Witchland). Witchland, Demonland, and others appear to be country names, like England and France. When first presented, the Demons are seen to have horns on their heads, but these horns are not mentioned again, nor is it said whether the other nations have horns.

The named nations and countries are:

• Witchland
• Demonland
• Pixyland
• Impland
• Goblinland
• The Foliot Isles
• The land Zimiamvia (beyond the known world)
• The Ghouls, wiped out in a genocidal war a few years before the story opens

The King of Witchland claims lordship over a number of locations which are not described (page 12):

• Duke of Buteny and Estremerine
• Commander of Shulan, Thramnë, Mingos, and Permio
• Warden of the Esamocian Marches
• Duke of Trace
• King Paramount of Beshtria and Nevria
• Prince of Ar
• Great Lord over Ojedia, Maltraëny, Baltary, and Toribia

Gerald Hayes, a cartographer with the Royal Navy, created the first map for Ouroboros circa 1925, initially from internal evidence, and later in consultation with Eddison. He states in a letter to C.S. Lewis that he secured Eddison's approval "as a true presentation of all the lands, seas, and countries of his history." Source: Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Vol II, page 559. Not sure if it still exists! States crude copy made for Lewis. In Letters Vol II page 560 footnote 57 Hooper states that Hayes' map has survived.

Another map of the world by Bernard Morris was published in Twilight Zine No. 4 and reprinted in the book An Atlas of Fantasy (compiled by Jeremiah Benjamin Post) in 1979.

The map on this page was created by David Bedell in 1978.

For another map of these lands created by J. B. Hare in 2004, see The world of The Worm Ouroboros. For a German map by Erhard Ringer see Der Wurm Ouroboros

Publication History

• 1922: Original publication in London by Jonathan Cape
• 1952: Hardcover publication from E.P. Dutton, featuring illustrations by Keith Henderson and an introduction by Orville Prescott
• 1967: Paperback edition from Ballantine Books (following the success of The Lord of the Rings), with several printings in different years (incorporated into the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series)
• A recent UK paperback edition in the Fantasy Masterworks series
• 1999: Paperback reissue in Replica Books of Bridgewater, New Jersey
• 2008: A new edition by Forgotten Books and on Amazon's Kindle

Comparison with other works

This section is written like a personal reflection or essay and may require cleanup. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (May 2009)

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

As an early and ambitious high fantasy, 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."

Whereas Tolkien invented a backdrop of cultures, histories and languages, in The Worm Ouroboros the prose style is central. It is arguably one of the more convincing examples of mock-archaic high diction; as a translator of old Norse sagas and a connoisseur of medieval and Renaissance poetry, Eddison had the required scholarship.

While Eddison relishes exotic personal and place names, he seems to have given little thought to plausible etymology and consistency, unlike Tolkien's layers of invented languages. On the other hand, Tolkien's prose style may seem pedestrian in comparison to Eddison's, whose use of archaic words makes his text less accessible.

The morality of the tale sharply contrasts with Tolkien's heroism of the common man in a fight against evil and C. S. Lewis's Christian allegory. The protagonists, the four Lords of Demonland, are notable for their loyalty and their sense of fair play; but theirs is chiefly a warrior ethic of seeking glory in battle (and bragging about it in frequent and resonant speeches). Their antagonists are, for the most part, noble and worthy opponents even if their methods are less fair. As a further complication, the most complex and human character, Lord Gro, is a serial traitor, who is motivated by an entirely unselfish, aesthetic sense of the nobility of failure and the inevitability of decay. One can arguably detect echoes of Nietzsche's Also sprach Zarathustra in this worldview.

Eddison's novel includes several bits of song or poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, all meticulously credited in an Appendix. Tolkien's fantasies likewise include lyric works but they are his own invention.

Influence

Michael Swanwick quotes from Ouroboros in The Dragons Of Babel.

External links

• The complete text of The Worm Ouroboros, at sacred-texts.com
• A rough map of the world of The Worm Ouroboros from Sacred Texts.com
• The Works of ER Eddison has notes, annotations, a bibliography, &c.
• "Classics of Fantasy: The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison" by John D. Rateliff
• "Where Head and Tail Meet: The Worm Ouroboros" by Ryan Harvey