[jasers]

I couldn't find a thread with this topic so am starting one. I've been told Mists of Avalon is good, but not a good book to start off with if you have not read a lot of Arthurian fantasy. My friend told me Bernard Cornwell's Trilogy is good. Does anyone else have any suggestions? T.H. White's Once and Future King? Thanks.

[Barbarossa]

Both Cornwell and White are very good if very different.

Perhaps the best start though would be an old fashioned modernized Prosa version of the original medival epics. Something like "greatest medival heroic legends". I know we have plenty of stuff like that here in Germany, not sure what it's like in English.

White follows those epics, especially Malory quite closely but in an ironic almost parodistic way. So it helps if you already know what he's parodying.

Cornwell on the other hand is dark, gritty, more of an attempt to shoe a "historical" Arthur. So his own admission in his afterwords why and how he failed in this is really interesting too.

[Caliban]

I would suggest the Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte.

Although they are more considered historical fiction, he takes a fascinating look at the Arthurian legend. He delves into the Roman occupation of Great Britain and how the myths surrounding Arthur and Excalibur may have sprung from actual events.

The first book is called "The Skystone."

[allanon]

"The Ghost King" and "The Last Sword of Power" by David A. Gemmel. The connection with Arthur is small, but the books are great.

[jbcohen]

My favorite of the Arthurian tale is probably Mad Merlin by J Robert King. It's the same tales that we are all use to but told from Merlin's point of view.

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

Marion Zimmer-Bradley and David Gemmel!

The God Robert Jordan is using many things from Arthur's legend! For exemple:

Arthur Hawkwing = Arthur
Galadedrid = sir Galad
Damodred = Mordred
Ewgwene = Guinevre
etc!

[Vroomfondel]

T.H. White's "THe Once and Future King" sereis is probably the best arthuranian fantasy I've read, with "Mists of Avalon" tied for second. And then there was this fairly humerous book called "The squire's tale" about Sir Gawaine's squire...has a knight sitting backwards on his horse on the cover, I forget the author.

[Carmichael]

I found a link for anyone interested in Arthurian novels.
http://members.aol.com/heroicage1/Bookstore/Arthur.html

Carmichael

[Arty]

OK. This here subject is my "thing", so maybe I can help? (re: my nickname "Arty).

I personally did not care for the Bernard Cornwell books...The Winter King et al. I had a very difficult time relating to the characters and found them very impersonal.

As for Mists of Avalon, yes a wonderful book, although you'd never think it after seeing the mini series made from it. I think it would be fine to read for a "first" book on the subject. You have to start somewhere right?

The first grown-up Arthur stuff I read was Mary Stewart's The Hollow Hills, The Crystal Cave, The Last Enchantment. They are the first books I recommend for anyone wanting to read about Arthur.
My second Arthur recommendation is Jack Whyte's Camulod Series. Its a different approach from Mary Stewart but still you almost believe it could all have happened in just the way as the books.

I just got done looking at my shelves and realized that I dont remember what alot of my Arthur books were about, so I guess I can't recommend them since they were so unmemorable, but I was reminded about another series which I enjoyed written by Stephen Lawhead...Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur...

Oh, and I didn't like The Once and Future King. It was way too silly.

[Cadfael]

The best version of the Arthurian legend I have read was the Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart... the magic is more of the paranormal veriety, Merlin is blessid with skills of precognition, ESP and telikinisis(sp?). It suggest how events really could have happened.

1. The Hollow Hills
2. The Crystal Cave
3. The Last Enchantment

There is a 4th book, The Wicked Day which is more a companion book than part of the series, this however is not very good IMHO.