‘Colour’

‘Colour’ was very much inspired by Moorcock’s interest in chaos theory and fractal geometry, which he has since likened to his own concept of myriad layers of the ‘multiverse’ permeating his work. The story — revised and expanded — went on to form the opening part of Blood: A Southern Fantasy (1995), first volume in a trilogy known collectively as ‘The War Amongst The Angels’ (sometimes referred to as the “Second Ether” trilogy).

First appearance: New Worlds Vol. 62 No. 217
(Also known as New Worlds 1 [as New Worlds on cover & spine]);
London:  Gollancz, 1991 (September 26th) trade-sized paperback (q.v.);
edited by David Garnett;
price:  £4·99;
267 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  0-575-05134-5;
cover artist: “Image Bank”.

‘Colour: A Short Story’ (as ‘Colour’ only, on contents page) (illustrated by Moorcock [uncredited]): pp. 133–159.



First anthologised appearance: Confederacy Of The Dead
New York: Roc, 1993 (June) trade-sized paperback;
edited by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg & Edward E. Kramer;
original price:  $12·00;
496 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  0-451-45249-6;
preface by Michael Bishop;
cover artist: unknown.

‘Colour’: pp. 404–436 (including editors’ note).

First collected appearance: Blood: A Southern Fantasy
London:  Millennium, 1995 (January 26th) hardcover and simultaneous trade-sized paperback (q.v.);
original prices:  £15·99 (h/c), £9·99 (p/b);
248 pages;
I.S.B.N.s:  1-85798-232-0 (h/c) & 1-85798-233-9 (p/b);
cover artist:  Gustave Moreau (Jupiter et Sémélé).

‘Colour’, revised & expanded as ‘Part 1: Colour’: pp. 5–46.

Other appearances:-

The Best Of Michael Moorcock
San Francisco:  Tachyon, 2009 (May 15th) trade-sized paperback (q.v.);
edited by John Davey with Ann & Jeff VanderMeer;
original price: $14·95;
403 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 978-1-892391-86-5;
cover artist: Ann Monn;
interior design: John Coulthart;
introduction (+ notes) by John Davey;
afterword by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer;
‘Colour’: pp. 167–195
(see also The Very Best Of Michael Moorcock).
Blood: A Southern Fantasy (see above)
in The War Amongst The Angels (omnibus);
London: Gollancz trade-sized paperback (q.v.), 2014 (September 11th);
edited by John Davey;
original price:  £10·99;
xx + 798 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  978-0-575-09273-0;
cover artist:  Gustave Moreau (St. George And The Dragon);
‘Part 1: Colour’: pp. 13–57.

Foreign (i.e. non-English language) appearance:-

In Второй Эфир [The War Amongst The Angels (omnibus)], Russia (2023).