‘The Alchemist’s Question’

Jerry Cornelius — the ambiguous, amoral, androgynous English Assassin —

‘The Alchemist’s Question’ was sub-titled, when it first appeared, as “Being The Final Episode In The Career Of The English Assassin”, which did not prove to be the case…

First appearance: The Opium General And Other Stories
London:  Harrap, 1984 (September 27th) hardcover (q.v.);
original price:  £7·95;
207 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  0-245-54202-7;
cover artist: Mark Harrison;
illustrated by Michael Moorcock (uncredited).

‘The Alchemist’s Question’ (illustrated by Michael Moorcock): pp. 13–132.

Other appearances:-

The Cornelius Chronicles Vol. III
New York:  Avon, 1987 (February) mass-sized paperback (q.v.);
original price:  $3·50;
341 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  0-380-70255-X;
cover artist:  unknown.

‘The Alchemist’s Question’ (no illustrations): pp. 206–341.
A Cornelius Calendar;
London:  Phoenix House, 1993 (November 25th) hardcover and simultaneous trade-sized paperback (q.v.);
original prices:  £18·99 (h/c), £14·99 (p/b);
554 pages;
I.S.B.N.s:  1-897580-60-6 (h/c, -50-9 on copyright page), 1-897580-65-7 (p/b, -9 on copyright page);
cover artist:  Robin Cracknell;
interior artists:  Romain Slocombe and (uncredited) Michael Moorcock;
‘The Alchemist’s Question’ (illustrated by Moorcock): pp. 419–554 (includes ‘The Guardian’ on p. 421).
A Cornelius Calendar, expanded edition;
London: Gollancz, 2015 (January 8th) trade-paperback (q.v.);
dated 2014 on copyright page;
edited by John Davey;
original price:  £12·99;
xxii + 864 pages;
I.S.B.N.:  978-1-473-20074-6;
cover artist:  jetdesignltd.com;
interior artists:  Mark Reeve, Romain Slocombe and Michael Moorcock;
‘The Alchemist’s Question’ (no sub-title; illustrated by Moorcock): pp. 509–674 (includes ‘The Guardian’ on p. 512).

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

In Der Opium-General [The Opium General ], Germany (1988).