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{{work}}{{Infobox book
| title = The Worm Ouroboros
[[File:Ouroboros_w211_5865.jpg|frame]]▼
| original title =
| caption =
| author = Eric Rücker Eddison
| central theme =
| elevator pitch = [T]he 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. ''(Wikipedia)''
| genre =
| publication date = 1922
| source page exists =
| wiki URL =
| wiki name =
}}
{{quote|''"Rightfully, having such a timeless life, this King weareth on his thumb that [[Title Drop|worm Ouroboros]] which doctors have from of old made for an ensample of eternity, whereof the end is ever at the beginning and the beginning at the end for ever more."''
|'''Lord Juss''', Chapter XIII: Koshtra Belorn}}
Note that the names "Demons", "Witches", "Imps", "Pixies" etc. do not have their traditional meaning. Rather, they are more like nations, and are able to interbreed. Basically, they're all either humans or [[Rubber Forehead Aliens]].
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''The Worm Ouroboros'' is in the public domain. You can find the text online at [http://www.sacred-texts.com/ring/two/ Sacred Texts] or [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Worm_Ouroboros Wikisource]. Or listen to [http://www.archive.org/details/WormOuroboros the audiobook.]
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{{tropelist}}
* [[Aborted Arc]]: The story begins with the avatar of a man called Lessingham going to Mercury (note that this Mercury has no resemblance to the real-life planet), but this whole arc gets dropped after the first few chapters. Lessingham is never mentioned again. He is not missed.
* [[Acceptable Targets]]: In-universe: The Imps are practically the [[Butt Monkey|Butt Monkeys]] for all other nations of Mercury.
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* [[The Alliance]]: Demonland and Goblinland, {{spoiler|later also Impland and Pixieland}}.
* [[Alternative Calendar]]: The timeline in the appendix uses ''Anno Carces Conditae'' dates, "in the year since the founding of Carcë".
* [[Always Chaotic Evil]]: The Ghouls, according to the testimony of the civilized ("polite")<ref>Where Witchland, Demonland, Goblinland and Pixieland are regarded as the major "polite" nations.</ref> Mercurians.▼
* [[Arch Enemy]]: Corinius and Brandoch Daha to each other.
* [[Asexuality]]: In contrast to the Witches, the Lords and Ladies of Demonland are mostly asexual beings -- with the single exception of Brandoch Daha, none of them show interest in sex, and none at all (including Brandoch) show interest in a romantic attachment. This even includes Goldry Blusczo, who is "betrothed" to Princess Armelline of Goblinland, but whose bride has about two appearances in the book – after all, it is only a political marriage.
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* [[Badass Boast]]: Humility is not the strong (or weak) point of the heroes of Mercury, be they Demons or Witches. Brandoch Daha and the Gorices are especially prone to this.
* [[Barbarian Tribe]]: The Imps as a whole. At least that's how the Demons and Witches see them.
* [[Basilitrice]]: In Chapter 4, King Gorice shows Gro a live cockatrice.
* [[Beard of Evil]]: King Gorice has a sinister-looking goatee.
* [[Big Bad]]: Gorice. ''All'' of him.
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* [[The Big Guy]]: Goldry Blusczo. While all the Lords of Demonland are supreme warriors, Goldry is the tallest and strongest. Corund is this to the Witches.
* [[Bishonen]]: Brandoch Daha, for want of a better word to describe him. As he's introduced (though like the rest of the lords he wears mustachios):
{{quote|
* [[Black Magic]]: Gorice XII's area of expertise.
* [[Blood Knight]]: Most of the characters, actually.
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** Corsus fits this better. And, no, he does not have Corund's sense of honor.
*** On the other hand Corsus tends to use subterfuge and deception, while Corund is more direct in his approach.
* [[Call a Pegasus
* [[Call a Rabbit
* [[The Cameo]]: The mysterious, nameless old man that warns Spitfire before the Battle of Thremnir's Heugh is identifiable as Odin for those versed in [[Norse Mythology]] [[The Icelandic Sagas
* [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]]: Lord Gro.
* [[Collapsing Lair]]: The Iron Tower.
* [[Combat
* [[Conflicting Loyalties]]: Prince La Fireez has to chose between his vassal duties to King Gorice and his debt of honor to the Demons, who once saved his life.
* [[Costume Porn]]: Very much. Special mention to the King's mantle of ''cobra hides''.
* [[Curse]]: Zeldornius, Helteranius and Jalcanaius Fostus "ensorcelled" in Impland. The "weird" imposed on Brandoch by the Lady of Ishnain Nemartra.
* [[Darkest Hour]]: There are two instances when temporarily all hope seems lost for the Demons: Juss and Brandoch getting captured in their botched surprise attack on Carcë, and the loss of the (presumedly unique) Hippogriff egg in Ravary.
* [[Death or Glory Attack]]: Gorice XII’s "sending". While it is an extremely powerful spell, performing it is so difficult and dangerous that Gorice is reluctant to us it more than once.
* [[Decoy Protagonist]]: Lessingham, who is simply never mentioned after the first few chapters. He is no loss.
* [[Denied Food
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Gro towards Mevrian.
* [[Dragged Off to Hell]]: {{spoiler|Gorice, we must assume.}}
* [[The Dragon]]: Lord Corund takes the post over from Corsus, and the implication is that Corinius is next in line.
* [[Driven to Suicide]]: {{spoiler|Queen Prezmyra.}}
* [[Dropped a Bridge
* [[Due to
* [[Egg MacGuffin]]: The Hippogriff egg.
* [[The Emperor]]: Despite not carrying the title, King Gorice embodies most aspects of this trope.
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* [[Evil Overlord]]: King Gorice's aspiration in all his incarnations.
* [[Evil Tower of Ominousness]]: The Iron Tower in Carcë. Also a [[Mage Tower]].
▲* [[
* [[The Exile]]: Lord Gro, banished from his native Goblinland for treason.
* [[False Reassurance]]: Lady Sriva tells Corinius he will "find her chamber-door unlocked at midnight". And she keeps her promise. {{spoiler|Only ''she'' isn't there.}}
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* [[Fantasy Counterpart Culture]]: Demonland bears a strong resemblance to medieval Norway. The towns and castles have English names, though.
* [[Fat Bastard]]: Old and gluttonous Corsus. As it turns out, he still can be quite capable when needed.
* [[Fate Worse Than Death]]: According to the grimoire, making a mistake in the "sending" ritual will not only mean death for the performer, but also his eternal damnation. Ouch.
* [[Final Solution]]: Used against the cannibalistic Ghoul nation.
* [[Foreshadowing]]: Many instances, sometimes lampshaded and sometimes not. For example, the King's wild eagle tearing out the eyes of the King's hound foreshadows {{spoiler|the murder of Gallandus by Corsus.}}
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* [[Scarpia Ultimatum]]: Corinius suggests to Mevrian marrying him would be in the interest of her conquered people. She doesn't buy it.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: Both landscape and architecture is often described extensively.
* [[Sealed Good in
* [[Self
* [[Serenade Your Lover]]: Laxus for Sriva.
* [[Sorcerous Overlord]]: Gorice XII, though he seems to use his sorcery rather sparingly.
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* [[Treasure Is Bigger in Fiction]]: Juss' palace at Galing takes the cake. Not only are the high seats of the Demons carved from single gemstones "of monstrous size", there's more: "(...) the capital of every one of the four-and-twenty pillars was hewn from a single precious stone (...) all hewn from faultless gems, thrice the bulk of a big man's body."
* [[Turncoat]]: Lord Gro.
* [[Ugly Guys Hot Daughter]]: Corsus' daughter Sriva, "strangely fair for such a father."▼
* [[Ugly Guy, Hot Wife]]: Corund and Prezmyra. Just about everybody views their marriage as a misalliance yet Corund was Prezmyra's own free choice out of a score of suitors.
* [[Unstoppable Rage]]: Goldry Bluszco is seized by berzerk-fury in the wrestling match.
* [[Victory Is Boring]]: And accordingly sends the Demons off into melancholy.
* [[Villainous Crush]]: Gro, Heming ''and'' Corinius fall for Mevrian. She's quite something! Unluckily for them all she's also vowed to Artemis. Recognizing the honorable character and intentions of Gro and Heming Mevrian turns them down gently and with courtesy as opposed to her scornful rejection of the brutish Corinius.
* [[Villainous Glutton]]: Duke Corsus.
* [[Villainous Valour]]: Displayed by the Witches in many instances.
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[[Category:The Worm Ouroboros]]
[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Literature of the 1920s]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worm Ouroboros, The}}
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