While Elric famously owes allegiance to the chaos god Arioch, Corum follows the cause of Law and begins his adventures by opposing the plans of Arioch (or his universe's version of the same being).Ĭorum lives during an age before recorded history, when human beings are rising on Earth and beginning to war with the planet's older societies. In some stories, Corum's adventures allow him to meet other aspects of the Eternal Champion, such as Elric of Melniboné, Erekosë, and Dorian Hawkmoon. After he loses both artifacts, Corum relies on a normal eyepatch and a silver prosthetic hand.Ĭorum is one of many incarnations of Michael Moorcock's ' Eternal Champion', a soul who is reborn frequently throughout the multiverse and usually fights to restore or maintain the Cosmic Balance between Chaos and Law. Since the Eye of Rhynn causes Corum to see multiple planes of reality simultaneously, he often wears an eye patch over it to keep from being overwhelmed. Corum is usually reluctant to use these two artifacts, as they involve methods and dark forces that conflict with his personal morality.

The hand and eye are later replaced by the Eye of Rhynn and the six-fingered Hand of Kwll, powerful artifacts that help Corum against his enemies. The character then starred in three books making up the 'Silver Hand trilogy', and has appeared in other stories taking place in Moorcock's multiverse.Ĭorum is a hero with disabilities, losing his left hand and right eye early in his first story. Both The Knight of the Swords and The King of the Swords won the August Derleth Award in 19 respectively. The three novels are collectively known as the 'Corum Chronicles trilogy' or 'the Chronicles of Corum'. This was followed by two other books published during the same year, The Queen of Swords and The King of Swords. The character was introduced in the novel The Knight of Swords, published in 1971. Cover of Corum (The Tale of the Eternal Champion), written by Michael Moorcock (this edition was published in 1992).Ĭorum Jhaelen Irsei (known also as 'the Prince in the Scarlet Robe' and 'Corum of the Silver Hand') is the name of a fictional fantasy hero in a series of novels written by Michael Moorcock.

Corum by Michael Moorcock