Customer Reviews

The Metatemporal Detective

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I have read and reread virtually every word of fiction Michael Moorcock has written over the course of his long career, and my favorite stories of all of them are to be found in this book. A member of the extended Von Bek/Beck/Begg family which has featured in so much of Moorcock's output the last few decades, Sir Seaton Begg is a metatemporal detective, and from his rooms at Sporting Club Square he ranges all over the multiverse solving crimes. His frequent nemesis and bęte noire (and distant relation) is Monsieur Zodiac, himself a variant not only of the Count Ulric von Bek of the Dreamthief's Daughter trilogy, but also of Elric of Melnibone himself, and his sidekick is Taffy Sinclair, who may or may not be British novelist Iain Sinclair. Some of the stories are somewhat steampunk in flavoring, complete with airships naturally, and most are technically alternate histories, but taken as a whole cover they too large a range to be confined by a single subgenre. They are simply "fantasy," and leave it at that.

The Metatemporal Detective collects stories that originally appeared in venues as far afield as the Michael Chabon-edited McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales, New Statesman, and Tales of the Shadowmen (and variations on some of the stories were central to the comic book miniseries Michael Moorcock's Multiverse, as well). This is the only place to get them all together, though, and the only place to read the original "The Flaneur des Arcades de l'Opera," for that matter.

This collection represent nothing more or less than a grand master of fantasy working in top form, writing the kinds of stories it amuses him to write. Highly recommended.

While I am of course quite aware of the works of Moorcock, I've somehow managed to not actually read any of them save for a few short stories here and there. I do have a vague understanding about his particular treatment of the multiverse and the Eternal Champion, but I certainly am not steeped in the nuances of his oeuvre. I am then not exactly the target audience for this collection.

Here we have the adventures of Sir Seaton Begg as he tackles his great nemesis, relative, and frenemy Monsieur Zenith across time and space. It took me awhile to figure out that we're dealing with variants of these characters from one story to the next--while most settings share some similarities (no United States, no internal combustion engines or oil production, lots of electric-powered trains and zeppelins, and plenty of Hitler), they differ in certain details, and in only two or three stories is there any suggestion of continuity. Pretty much these are standalone tales featuring a bunch of different guys called Begg and Zenith (who are usually aware of, and skilled in traveling to, parallel dimensions), scattered across the multiverse on their own individual tracks of history. At the same time, each Begg and Zenith also seems to be the *only* incarnation around--there's never an overt suggestion that there's a Begg from Earth-2 and a different one from Earth-616, and while they acknowledge the existence of other worlds, they never speculate about other versions of themselves. It's all very quantum.

As a sometime resident of both Central Texas and France, Moorcock does a nice job capturing the atmosphere and distinguishing details of these locales when he sets stories there. But when it comes to characters, Begg and Zenith and their supporting casts are very much (by design?) merely archetypes. The reader rarely gets the vaguest hint about their thoughts or personalities. Similarly, events typically unfold as if preordained, and often it seems as if the outcomes would've been the same regardless of what anyone did. It's as if Moorcock envisions a particular spectacle he wishes to depict at the climax and a particular style he wants to emulate (he excels at banging out excitable prose in the manner of a Boy's Own tale), and then just arranges the pieces to move mechanically toward the end. Often the import of what is taking place is buried in the minds of Begg and Zenith, who only grudgingly provide the reader with a tidbit or two about what it all means. (I assume that Moorcockians get about 117% more meaning out of these stories than the layperson.)

These short stories are fine as stylistic exercises (and for Moorcock to revisit characters over the years and to earn a paycheck in contributing to various anthologies), but they certainly are not very gripping and there's some degree of repetition. I also could've done with less Hitler. And I'm a little tired of how often British genre writers express their hatred of Thatcher and Bush (although Reagan was spared this time). Often I think that they were traumatized as lads when Thatcher evidently confiscated their puppies and took away their candy and personally cancelled "Doctor Who". Fortunately literature gives them avenues for revenge.

The eleven tales that make up this fascinating (for fans of the Moorcock multiverse) short story collection are predominately written in the last fifteen years with two of them from 1966 They all obviously involve adventures of The Metatemporal Detective on worlds similar yet dissimilar to ours. Although the hero's name slightly varies but for the most part he is British Home Office Metatemporal Investigation Department agent Seaton Begg; his prime adversary is Count Zenith the Albino (Elric by any other name?) although Hitler is an opponent/client in "The Case of the Nazi Canary". His sidekick is MID pathologist Dr. Taffy Sinclair

The satirical entries are fun especially as the skins of politicians better be thick with characters like George Putz, Dicky Shiner and Wolfy Paulowitz (see "The Mystery of the Texas Twister"). However, they are also often difficult to follow with obscure references in a pseudo historical setting on an alternate world. Mr. Moorcock also pays tribute to pulp fiction magazine detective Sexton Blake (never read) and the 1966 tales seem to have served as a prototype for Elric. This is definitely for the Moorcock mob, but not a good entry point for newcomers.

Harriet Klausner

A collection compiling all of the tales, whether modified old, or newly constructed, of Sir Seaton Begg versus his nemesis the albino Monsieur Zenith.

Or, the Metatemporal Detective vs The Eternal Champion as Elric in one of his other incarnations in worlds a little more similar to our own than those which contain Melnibone or Tanelorn.

So, something here for whacky alternate history fans, Sexton Blake buffs, as well as Eternal Champion afficionados, or even those who don't mind a little along the lines of Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

Metatemporal Detective : 01 The Affair of the Seven Virgins - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 02 Crimson Eyes - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 03 The Ghost Warriors - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 04 The Girl Who Killed Sylvia Blade - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 05 The Case of the Ratzi Canary - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 06 Sir Milk-and-Blood - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 07 The Mystery of the Texas Twister - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 08 London Flesh - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 09 The Pleasure Garden of Felipe Sagittarius - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 10 The Affair of the Bassin des Hivers - Michael Moorcock
Metatemporal Detective : 11 The Flaneur des Arcades de l'Opera - Michael Moorcock


The consulting detective, Seaton Begg, has an albino visitor, and things get complicated.

3.5 out of 5


Seaton Begg, in the course of investigating some murders, runs into Count von Bek and his black blade.

3.5 out of 5


A bit of a teamup with The Masked Buckaroo, and an Apache leader to find, named Pale Wolf.

3.5 out of 5


A shooting, and Klosterheim's kinky club.

3 out of 5


Begg is called in to assist when Hitler's girlfriend is killed, but there are Von Beks and albinos around.

3 out of 5


A pair of IRA bombers don't realise that their 'release from active duty' involves The Black Sword.

3.5 out of 5


Seaton Begg becomes enmeshed in a Texas political plot, wherein Zenith has sold his aeronautircal engineering expertise. It is Rose to the rescue.

3.5 out of 5


A blood sacrifice, and an outlaw and Christmas interruptus for Begg and Sinclair.

3.5 out of 5


Sam Begg is a metatemporal investigator in Europe.

He comes across Klosterheim and Eva Braun.


3 out of 5

New fiction from Michael Moorcock is always a treat and no less so for this latest, chronicling the encounters of the intrepid metatemporal detective Seaton Begg of the von Bek/Aubec/Begg family and Zenith the Albino (also known as Elric of Melnibone and also of the same family). The multiverse is a-swirl through these roughly interconnected stories, culminating in a (perhaps --- one is never quite sure with Moorcock) major and forever shift in the organization of everything. Moorcock's characters have never been more appealing in all their antiheroism and futziness. Stylistically, narrative power and descriptive aplomb are at peak and keep the pages turning. If you are a fan already, this is essential reading and yet further development of long-established Moorcockian themes. If you aren't familiar with the multiverse and its quirky fun, this is not a bad place to jump in and on (although again with Moorcock, one can never be just quite certain, even in this sort of recommendation) this scary, exhilarating ride through everything.

Each story in the Metatemporal Detective carries with it a powerful blend of detective cases which mirror worlds like our own and a blend of fantasy and science fiction challenging one's deductive abilities. Seaton Begg and his companion pathologist Dr. 'Taffy' Sinclair head the secret British Home Office section of the Metatemporal Investigation Department, and covers crimes in dozens of alternate worlds. His travels take him to strange universes, challenging settings, and mind-boggling crime puzzles in a collection recommended not just for science fiction collections, but for libraries patronized by mystery and detective fans as well.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If anyone new to Moorcock's work read this book, his or her head would spin for weeks with the comings and goings of Bek, Begg, von Bek, von Beck, so on, so forth. Holy Grail and Black Sword together again in yet another twist in a branch of a branch of a branch of more than 30 years of genius work. Splendid!, but yet again? Yes, again. Moorcock at his best for connoisseurs.

Firstly, I grew up loving Lord Elric of Melnibone - He was cooler than cool in my book - and my older brother, who introduced me to this ilk, was masterful in his reading choices - So I was drawn to this Moorcock outing - The Metatemporal Detective - It is an homage to the penny detective Sexton Blake - His version of Blake is Sir Seaton Begg, and his villian of choice is none other than his best character of his writing, Lord Elric - gorgeous albino of such complex emotions and strength - as Monsieur Zenith - They have battles of wits in different times, dimensions, persona and it is who will best the other this time - with the Holy Grail as one of the prizes -
But I didn't get caught up if you want to call it 'the fun' - I wanted MY Elric -
Diehard fans will purchase this book, but I don't think it will be a favorite.