Le chien de guerre

Michaël Moorcock

Résumé

The basic premise is that Lucifer isn't an omniscient, omnipotent arch fiend, but merely a frustrated, desperate exile. God exiled him to earth with no instructions & no further communication. In his own words, he tells how everything he did since then was his own idea, done on his own initiative. He tried to prove he could build a world greater than the Creator's, revealing that most world rulers & clergy are really his. However, by the 17th century, Europe is dying in unending warfare & plague despite his efforts to make a better world. Lucifer admits that his efforts have been a colossal failure & he's no idea why. Moreover, he just wants to reconcile with God & go back home to his old position in heaven. In desperation Lucifer sends an agent to find the Holy Grail. Grasping at straws, he believes the legendary Grail will grant immediate union with God, & as a result the Last Judgment & an end to the World's Pain. Unfortunately, he's no pure knights to seek it. The closest thing he can find is Capt. Ulrich von Bek. Von Bek is far from innocent. A mercenary, he's wilfully commited murder, torture, rape & robbery as part of his craft. Von Bek has a conscience, he'd just gambled there was no God or Devil to answer to for his crimes. Now Von Bek goes forth on this hopeless quest convinced that Lucifer, & quite possibly God, are both out of their minds.--Oakshaman (edited)