[Mithfânion]

I don't know if you guys have done a similar thread recently, so I'll just go ahead.

I'd like to see what people's most loved books on the legend of Arthur are.

My two personal favorites are:

Merlin trilogy by Mary Stewart

Pendragon cycle by Stephen Lawhead.

I enjoyed these best because of their focus on Merlin, who is my favorite fiction character.

What are your favorite Arthurian books?

[Lifino]

A few years back I purchased a book titled, The Mammoth Book of Arthurian Legends, edited by Mike Ashley [also worked on Pendragon Chron]. It's not a novel based in an Arthurian universe, rather it is a collection of many stories chronicling the life and adventures of King Arthur and his Knights.

Many stories are pulled out of history, dating back sometimes over 100 years, while others were first published in '98. The different writing styles are excelent, and it makes for a great study in various different story telling techniques. As well as offering a diverse range of language and conversations.

Each story is prefaced with an insert or bio of the author and the importance of the work.

I never finished the whole book, it's nice in that you can just jump around and read the sections that catch your interest. My prefered reading environment for this book was on the back porch under a single light with a glass of Scotch, just after the sun had set in late August to early Sept.

I highly recomend the book. At least check it out on your next trip to the Book Store! It is a large book, retails for $10.95, ISBN 0-7867-0532-9(yes I happen to have the book infront of me - I'm not that much of a freak)

-Silas

[Mithfânion]

I think I've seen that book before. It sounds like a really good book. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited January 04, 2002).]

[estranghero]

Oh yes, I tried to do a Arthurian story collection meself.

I had: "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White, "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and "Firelord" by Parke Godwin. Hadn't gotten a crack at the Mary Stewart series yet nor Lawhead's books though.

My favorite? T.H. White, which was funny and insightful in a way.

Interesting site to check: http://kingarthurbooks.com/

Also, if you want a list (1980-1989, so they really need to get this updated): http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/acpbibs/doherty.htm

Btw, if you like Merlin, why not get Merlin books? Like "The Coming of the King" by Nicolai Tolstoy and T.A. Barron's "Young Merlin" YA adults? Haven't read them myself but Tolstoy's looked interesting...

[Mithfânion]

I own the Coming of the King. The prose is absolutely dreadful. The book is universally condemned. Should never have bought it.

I've seen the TA Barron books often enough, but they seem too childish to me.

I'll check out those sites though. About TH White, one thing that always kept me from reading it, is its supposedly queer portrayal of Merlin. Supposedly, he gets the magic he has, from the future, modern world.

Is this true? How is he portrayed?

[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited January 05, 2002).]

[Warewolf]

T.H. White's Once and Future King

MZB's Mists of Avalon

I've also heard that Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory is also quite good, though I haven't read it.

[estranghero]

To Mithfanion: Well, can't remember about Merlin getting his powers from the future, modern world though it may be because this could have been in the sequel-- called, I think, "The Book of Merlin". I haven't read that one yet.

However, "Once and Future King" has a lot of modern-day references that might throw you from the story. If ever, think of Zifnab (or Fizban) of Weis and Hickman though done much better...

[Llama]

Once and Future King is FABULOUS, it's a WONDERFUL read. I can't say I really remember how Merlin gets his magic, but why does it matter?

[Mithfânion]

It matters to me. I don't like anachronisms and I don't want an overly light (or funny) version of Arthurian lore. I'm not saying TH White's book is that, I haven't read it of course, so I'm asking you guys. I tend to focus on Merlin instead of Arthur, happens automatically. I read the "Merlin gets his power from the future/modern world" thing in one of the Amazon reviews. Perhaps it's not true.

What is OAFK like then? I mean, what are its strengths? It's obviously a hugely popular book.

Estranghero, those were some nice sites. Kingarthurbooks had a lot of books up that I already knew though, it's the standard recommendation: Stewart, Bradley, White, Mallory, Cornwell or Lawhead.

The Mammoth book of Arthurian legend by Ashley seems very interesting btw. To my pleasent surprise, I found that Ashley did something similar for Merlin, called The Merlin chronicles. Seems like a nice anthology, although quality will vary greatly http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited January 07, 2002).]

[Barbarossa]

Regarding T. H. White: Merlin doesn't so much get his magic from the future, but lives backward in time, and that for centuries, so he has some knowledge of the 19th century. This doesn't play a big role though.


My personal favorites are: T.H: White "Once and future king",
Bernard Cornwell "Warlord chronicles"
Rosmary Sutcliff "Lantern bearers" and "Sword at sunset".

I read quite a few others including "Mists of Avalon" and that Gilian Bradshw series.
I haven't read Lawhead or Stewart yet.