Book Review: The Golden Barge

THE GOLDEN BARGE

Page Created: 11/14/11. Last Updated: 11/14/11.

THE GOLDEN BARGE

Michael Moorcock

DAW Books

Moorcock’s earliest novel, never before published in America, is a kind of negative PILGRIM’S PROGRESS. The Pilgrim, in this case, is Jerhraim Tallow, a repulsive little (four foot, six inches) man with pointed teeth, red eyes, and no naval. The object of his search is a mysterious golden boat he sees one day and decides to follow, believing the boat contains the answers to all his questions. A man whose teeth have turned to fangs and whose naval has disappeared does have a good many questions. He never does catch the barge, but his antics in trying to catch the thing reveal to us a good deal about Tallow. His repulsive actions—deserting his feeble old mother, killing a man to steal his boat, betraying a friend, ignoring a whore with a heart of gold (something infinitely more rare than a mere golden barge), and callously deserting cripples, orphans and beggars in his path—show that Tallow is as ugly on the inside as on the outside. The chase takes him through a country that might be England from the way the people act and speak, but which is ravaged by war, famine, poverty, disease and revolution. Tallow constantly turns down chances to improve this wretched world to chase the boat.

This is not a “fun” book, like Moorcock’s later fantasies, nor as well done as the symbolic works of Lewis or Charles Williams, THE GOLDEN BARGE is still an excellent parable about the danger a man faces (and causes) when he ignores his humanity to pursue what might be higher truths.

Not for those who dislike downbeat stories.

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