The Worm Ouroboros is a heroic high fantasy novel by English writer E. R. Eddison, first published in 1922. 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 .

The Worm Ouroboros focuses on a long fantastic history of war between Demonland and Witchland. The very names of these two lands strive to provide an ambient, overwhelming, moral greyness to the world created by Eddison.

Eddison’s first fantasy novel, The Worm Ouroboros, is an epic tale of adventure. Set in the imaginary world of Mercury, it tells of the battles of the heroic Demons against their age-long foes, the Witches, a treacherous and war-like race, ruled by their sorcerer-king, Gorice XII.

Jul 28, 2015 · 1924 "Cheaper Edition" of E. R. Eddison's classic fantasy novel, with illustrations by Keith Henderson. Sheets are those of the 1922 first edition. This is one of the top five fantasy novels ever written, an epic tale of swords and sorcery comparable to Tolkien and Howard. A superb read for the lover ... More... of fantasy or science fiction.

Jan 3, 2022 · "The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance" by Eric Rücker Eddison is a novel written in the early 20th century. This fantasy epic intertwines elements of myth and adventure, taking place in a fictional world inhabited by Demons, Witches, and other fantastical beings.

Greatest and fairest among them was she who led the line, a great dragon of war painted azure of the summer sea with towering head of a worm, plated with gold and wrought with overlapping scales, gaping defiance from her bows, and a worm’s tail erect at the poop.

Nov 25, 2014 · The Worm Ouroboros is an undisputed classic of fantasy literature, and has been an avowed influence on the likes of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Entirely immersive and written in near-Elizabethan tongue, the novel takes readers on an unforgettable ride across the plane of Mercury, flanked by soaring hippogriffs, with an ...

The Worm Ouroboros tells the grand tale of an ancient conflict between two kingdoms: the Demons and the Witches. The narrative begins when King Gorice of Witchland demands fealty from the Lords of Demonland. Among these nobility are the heroic brothers: Lord Juss, Goldry Bluszco, and Spitfire.

Feb 21, 2025 · The second essay in Ballantine Adult Fantasy: A Reading Series, which looks at E.R. Eddison’s The Worm Ouroboros (1922): a complex, challenging, rewarding, hero-obsessed novel.

The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison is a classic work of high fantasy that has captivated readers for nearly a century. Set in a world that is part medieval and part Norse saga, the book tells the story of the protracted war between the domineering King Gorice of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland.