[Mithfânion]

Can anyone give me some pointers on what the best or most famous are?

There are two I'm familiar with, outside of Arthurian lore, Druids, by Llywelyn and the Sevenwaters trilogy by Marillier.

Recommendations are very welcome. Preferably very mythical http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Warewolf]

Mith,

There's a book that's out of print that's thoroughly steeped in Celtic myth that you might enjoy if you can find it. It's called Hunter of the Light by Risa Araytr (or is it Aratyr?). Once I got past trying to figure out how to pronounce all the names (there's a pronounciation guide in the back), it was an enjoyable read.

[wolfshead]

Yearwood by Paul Hazel, if you can find it.Nancy Springer's early stuff was celtic-myth-based and much better (if a little self indulgent) than her later books.The Crow Goddess by Patricia Finney is an excellent book about the Irish hero Cuchullain. The Eagle and the Raven by pauline gedge is a very competent book about Boudicca.Evangelyne Walton wrote a trilogy of fantasy classics (many years ago0 based on the Welsh mabinogion--highly recommended.
You can avoid anything written by MZB and her little writers' clique of the 80's (fluffy bunny goddess worshippers, celtic neo hippies living in peace and harmony with mother earth, man!)I am not keen on Peter tremayne of Kenneth Flint who both based their books on celtic myth. The characters were very flat.

[Mithfânion]

You didn't like Kenneth Flint? He did the Riders of the Sidhe trilogy right? Not too good then?

[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited January 28, 2002).]

[Steerpike]

There's The Prydain books by Lloyd Alexander and I've heard Katherine Kerr's Deverry series is Celtic inspired, but I haven't read them. The Fionavar Tapestry has a lot of Celtic mythology mixed in.

And there is the Celts in Space http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif series by Jim Morrison's widow, Patricia Keneally(sp.?). They were fairly decent. I can't remember the titles except that they had silver and copper in them. It was way back in the 80's when I read it.

Evangeline Walton's books are good. There are four of them, one for each branch of the Mabinogion- Island of the Mighty, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon and The Prince of Annwn.

Also, The Owl Service by Alan Garner is good

[This message has been edited by Steerpike (edited January 28, 2002).]

[The Iron Orchid]

I heartily concur with the recommendations of Lloyd Alexander and Evangeline Walton. For some good historical fiction dealing with Celts, there is Mary Stewart's Merlin series, The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment.

Although his books may be a little bit harder to find, I will recommend them to you, Mith, 'cause you seem to be something of a connoisseur: Kenneth Morris was a Welsh scholar and Theosophist who wrote unusual fantasies based on Welsh mythology, The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed and The Book of Three Dragons. There was a collection of his short stories called The Dragon Path published not too long ago.

[Mithfânion]

Thanks for the recs! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Another to throw into the fray, what about Michael Scott's Tales of Paedur the Bard? I saw these three out of print volumes were now available as a single volume done by the Meisha Merlin people. Looked good, but I didn't like the first chapter excerpt they had available..

Would it be required to have read the Mabinogion itself before one starts on the Walton books?

I'll check out Kennith Morris.

About Garner, hasn't he done one with Merlin? Same book that has these two kids, Colin and Susan. Maybe he goes under another name though.

[vexed2002]

I found Stephen Lawheads, Song Of Albion to be an enjoyable read, tis a cross-over fantasy about a present-day scholar drawn into Albion.. i'm not sure how it compares to Hardcore Celtic Myth but I'd recommend it.

Also check out his Pendragon series re: Arthurian legend.

[Shadowen]

Cecilia Dart-Thornton's book The Ill made Mute has a lot (a whole lot!) of Celtic and European mythology in it. I've heard mixed reviews of the book but I personally enjoyed it. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Sammie]

Mithfanion, Alan Garner wrote The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and it's sequel, The Moon of Gomrath, about modern day kids Colin and Susan getting mixed up in a whole loada fantasy stuff. There is a wizard in it, and he's kinda Merlin-esque, but i don't remember it being suggested that he actually was Merlin. As an aside, i used to LOVE these bks. - but they weren't especially Celtic, if i recall correctly.

hope that helps?

[This message has been edited by Sam82 (edited January 29, 2002).]