Cover of the Week: The Black Corridor by Michael Moorcock

Mayflower 563 11640 X (1973)

It’s a shame that this British Mayflower paperback doesn’t list the cover artist because he/she deserves to be credited for creating this dramatic, surrealist cover that fits Michael Moorcock’s story perfectly. Mayflower reprinted many of Moorcock’s books in paperback, including several of his most popular books, like Stormbringer, Behold the Man (a fantastic book), and The Final Programme. Mayflower states that the book is “Science Fantasy,” which I think describes Moorcock’s work very well, although he leans toward the grimdark style of writing that is directly opposite of Tolkien’s “high fantasy” (he hated Tolkien’s work, by the way).

From the blurb on the back of the book (which deserves to be quoted for its over-the-top style:

“The world is sick. The Forces of Chaos have energized the planet. Leaders, fuhrers, duces, prophets, visionaries, gurus, and politicians are all at each other’s throats. And Chaos leers over the broken body of the Order.

So Ryan freezes his family into suspended animation and sets off for the planet Munich 15040, five years distant. There he will re-establish Order in a New World - and create a happier, healthier, saner, and more decent society with the ones he loves.

But they are suspended. And they cannot talk. And he is alone in space. And he has been traveling for three years. And he will still be traveling two years hence, and he cannot see his destination, and is ALONE and LOST and CRACKING UP…”