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The Worm Ouroboros: Difference between revisions

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{{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}}
 
A [[Heroic Fantasy]] novel written by Eric Rücker Eddison in 1922, [[Ur Example|predating]] the ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' by more than 30 years. The novel focuses on a long war between Witchland (under King Gorice) and Demonland (led by Lord Juss and his brothers) in an imaginary world called Mercury, inspired primarily by [[The Icelandic Sagas (Literature)|Norse sagas]].
 
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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** 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 Aa Hippogriff]]: The novel includes both Hippogriffs and "Mantichoras", and both may be somewhat different from what most modern readers would expect.
* [[Call a Rabbit Aa Smeerp]]: "Martlet" is a heraldic term for the real-life bird known as swift. "Flittermouse" is an archaic name for bat.
* [[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 (Literature)|and legend]].
* [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]]: Lord Gro.
* [[Collapsing Lair]]: The Iron Tower.
* [[Combat Byby Champion]]: A wrestling match between Goldry Bluszco of Demonland and King Gorice XI of Witchland sets the main plot in motion.
* [[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''.
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* [[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 Asas Punishment]]: Gorice XII, instead of having the captive Demons [[Bond Villain Stupidity|executed on the spot]], [[Evil Is Petty|tortures them by chaining them to a wall and serving them an opulent banquet just out of their reach.]] -- Hardly surprising, this descent into [[Evil Gloating]] comes to bite him in the ass.
* [[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 Onon Him]]: The death of Lord Gro. For a major and probably the most complex character in the book, his abrupt death in the Battle of Carcë is treated very curtly and feels decidedly anticlimactic.
* [[Due to Thethe Dead]]: The victorious Demons have their dead enemies buried magnificently.
* [[Egg MacGuffin]]: The Hippogriff egg.
* [[The Emperor]]: Despite not carrying the title, King Gorice embodies most aspects of this trope.
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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 Aa Can]]: Goldry Bluszco in his mountain prison.
* [[Self -Disposing Villain]]: {{spoiler|Gorice XII.}}
* [[Serenade Your Lover]]: Laxus for Sriva.
* [[Sorcerous Overlord]]: Gorice XII, though he seems to use his sorcery rather sparingly.
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