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Michael Moorcock
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The Cornelius Quartet: The Final Program, A Cure for Cancer, The English Assassin, The Condition of Muzak (Final Programme) Paperback – June 19, 2001

by Michael Moorcock (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
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Jerry Cornelius is an English assassin, physicist, rock star, and messiah to the Age of Science. Written between 1965 and 1967, this sequence of four novels relating Cornelius's adventures has been credited with inspiring dozens of writers and artists to rethink the genre of science fiction. Acclaimed British author Michael Moorcock's time-tripping antihero is one of the great achievements in modern fantastic literature. This is the first U.S. publication of one of the most influential sagas in postmodern sci-fi.
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  1. Print length
    855 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thunder's Mouth Press / Four Walls Eight Windows
  4. Publication date
    June 19, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1568581831
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1568581835
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thunder's Mouth Press / Four Walls Eight Windows; New Ed edition (June 19, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 855 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1568581831
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1568581835
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

About the author

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Michael Moorcock

Michael Moorcock

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Born in London in 1939, Michael Moorcock now lives in Texas. A prolific and award-winning writer with more than eighty works of fiction and non-fiction to his name, he is the creator of Elric, Jerry Cornelius and Colonel Pyat, amongst many other memorable characters.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
43 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Giulio Nils Caroletti
5.0 out of 5 stars perfect
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2009
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It's exactly what I wanted in perfect condition and it arrived before Christmas - something not too easy, and I had even been warned that it could arrive after the holidays. I would have been fine with that, but like this it's much better!

Thanks
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Daniel Carpenter
5.0 out of 5 stars As described and shipped promptly
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2018
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The book was delivered quickly and described accurately by seller.
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Lucas
5.0 out of 5 stars Just great!
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2014
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The timing was spot on, and the book is in perfect state! Absolutely no complaints. Recomended!
Thank you so much!
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sbissell3
3.0 out of 5 stars Hours of boredom---Minutes of brilliance
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2002
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I bought this book due to the rave reviews I had seen. I was largely disappointed. At times the writing is brilliant, but most of the time Moorcock is just coasting. I'm not objecting to the largely idiotic plots, that is part of the charm in fact, it's just that they really don't ever go anywhere.
I think this is the kind of book that probably seemed wonderful when you were 17 and stoned half the time. It does not, however, age very well. I kept coming back to these stories over a six month time span, but never could get more than mildly involved with them. I enjoy experimental writing and stretching the limits of credulity, but these stories just pick at the fringes.
15 people found this helpful
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Freeman64
1.0 out of 5 stars AN EXERCISE IN PRETENTIOUS EXPERIMENTATION
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2014
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I have read three of the four Jerry Cornelius books contained in this collection and found all but The Final Programme even remotely comprehensible, this due solely because of the movie version which acted as a guide. As far as the other two I could not give any sort of synopsis, plot, Jerry Cornelius appears briefly in both, and there is a cameo in one from Flash Gordon. I was hoping for a weird read but not completely incomprehensible. What is goading is that the writing itself is quite good and is never actually boring except in the fact that I had no idea what was going on at any given moment. It will a while before I tackle the final book and have no great ambition to jump into it anytime soon. I quite enjoyed the movie and wished that it was available at a more reasonable price than what is being currently offered. I saw it on cable TV back in the late seventies and it left an impression, with Ronald Lacey's all too brief appearance as a character named Shades. Sometimes I got the impression that Moorcock wrote these whilst under the influence of some mind altering substance and wrote chapters that had no real connection to the chapters that came before, merely throwing out the characters of Jerry, Frank, Catherine, etc. to retain some degree of continuity flowing . I am not a slave to linear plots but there needs to be sme sort of internal structure to keep the reader invested and interested in these characters who just move from one location to another with no real point or purpose. I was truly looking forward to reading these books but was deeply disappointed.
2 people found this helpful
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Kevin M. Derby
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Speculative Fiction Romp Going in Many Directions
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2012
Yet another aspect of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion, Jerry Cornelius is a strange combination of secret agent, rock star, time hopper in an ironic, charming package.

Cornelius is one of Michael Moorcock's funniest creations. Jerry was used to reflect the late 60s and early 70s and the writer takes less-than-subtle shots at American policy in Vietnam and offers interesting looks at urban London of the period.

There are four novels here and some charming appendixes that give a solid overview of Jerry and his century. "The Final Programme" offers an interesting look at London in the 60s (fans of Elric will spot some similarities) and offers a strange adventure story. Moorcock looks at the Vietnam War in "A Cure for Cancer." Jerry fades to the background in "The English Assassin" which also looks back at England's twentieth century--and what could have been England's century. The last novel--"The Condition of Muzak"--looks at urban life in London in the 70s leaving the reader to wonder how many of these stories are all in the mind of a growing teenager.

Moorcock has a serious message which can often be lost in how funny the stories are. These are not exactly subtle stories but there are very tender moments and a solid cast of supporting characters. There are moments when the stories drift off into the weeds but Moorcock is able to get them back on track. Still, the books may do better in bits and pieces and few readers should read them straight through. Despite this, these are fun speculative fiction works though they are not for everyone.
One person found this helpful
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william dillon
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018
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very good
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H. J. Spivack
2.0 out of 5 stars Darned if I get the point here
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2001
I've read Moorcock before and usually like his writing, but I'll be darned if I can 'get' Jerry Cornelius. Between stories, he seems to morph into a completely different person who happens to have the same name. The stories aren't great, although it very obvious that they were written in the 60s and defined a trippy lifestyle.
Nah, pass. I read 3 of the 4 stories in this book already and was ready to give up by the end of the first. I was just too stubborn to stop...
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gary W. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Chronicles of Cornelius
Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2014
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First read this classic tome back when I was a teen, pleased to find it on Amazon one day to buy and renew my acquaintance. Still an awesome read, and I heartily recommend it to all serious readers and enjoyers of fantastic fiction.
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Christopher Copp
5.0 out of 5 stars Weird and wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2015
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The classic Jerry Cornelius novels all in one volume is perfect present for a Michael Moorcock fan, ie ME!! I had them in hardback in my 'library' that I purchased when they were 1st published but they were lost during a house move, so it will be great to recapture those 'lost' 1960s vibes and the strange universe that the JC world inhabits....SF meets James Bond with a hint of dandy highwayman. I shall pass the upcoming Winter hours reading them again, these are a good place to start if you are new to Mr Moorcocks' writing...some of the novels take some getting into..The English Assassin is hard at times, but worth the effort.
One person found this helpful
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chris
5.0 out of 5 stars On time and as described
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2021
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Trusted seller have used before and no doubt will again in the future :o)
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johnnybionic
1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2022
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I must be missing something. I’ve read a lot of Moorcock, but I just can’t get into this. I’m just skimming through it for the occasional interesting section, can’t wait to put it behind me and read something else. What a waste
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Ron
2.0 out of 5 stars Never read it
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2018
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Grant morrison wrote a great storyline based on this character in the invisibles, gideon stargrave ("nice and smooth"). Thats why i bought it. But moorcocks a fantasy writer, right? I dunno, i couldnt do it.

But the movie, The Final Programme, i liked. Moorcock didnt. Said he stopped writing for a year after he saw it
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