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Cover of King of the City

King of the City

Michael Moorcock (2000)

SubgenreSword & Sorcery
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingR
Pages (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age18+
Goodreads3.63

Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentModerate
LanguageModerate

Synopsis

"The narrator, Dennis Dover, son of 'the last real Londoner to be hanged for murder', is born and raised in Brookgate, an inner London area rich in multi-layered histories and resonances. He grows to adulthood streetwise and savvy - and deeply attached to his beautiful, brilliant cousin Rosie Beck with whom he has an almost telepathic empathy. But neither Dennis nor Rosie can foresee the inexorable rise of John Barbican Begg, the financial genius and unscrupulous schemer who, despite their resistance, latches lamprey-like onto their lives. As Dennis pursues a dual career as underground rock guitarist and intrepid photojournalist while Rosie devotes her intelligence and energies to helping the poor of the world, Barbican builds a commercial empire whose unprecedented wealth and power dwarfs that of most nation states.". "Rosie, Dennis and Barbican follow their different paths, drawing towards a spectacular joint resolution of their destinies at one of the most historic nodal points of the Old World."--BOOK JACKET.

King of the City: content & age rating

Intended for adult readers (18+).

Adult literary fantasy with mature themes including murder, financial manipulation, class struggle, and the corrupting influence of wealth. Some profanity and implied sexual content expected given Moorcock's adult fiction style.

What to know going in

This book has moderate violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include murder, death of parent, and class struggle (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Adult readers will appreciate the complex exploration of friendship, ambition, and the cost of power in a richly detailed London setting.

Tags

Urban FictionLiterary FantasySocial CommentaryContemporary Fantasy