Arthurian Fiction

[Blackbird]

I've just finished reading the first two books in Helen Hollick's Pendragon trilogy. After the first few pages, I was wondering whether to persevere - the writing style is so simple that I feared for the worst.

However - I can say that they are definitely worth the effort. While the style is simple, the plotting is very good and the simplicity allows the story to move along at a good pace. Hollick places her Arthur firmly in 5th century Britain and chooses to dispense with latecomers such as Lancelot and Myrddin. Her Arthur is a ruthless war leader, commanding a cavalry regiment, while Gwenhwyfar is feisty enough to remain interesting

Has anyone else read these? And if so, what did you think? (Don't spoil the ending for me though - I've not found a copy of the last book yet!)

Also, what other Arthurian fiction have you read? (I'll try to write some short reviews of other stuff too)

[Brochfael]

I've read Bernard Cornwell's Arthur trilogy "The Winter King", "Enemy of God" and "Excalibur". He too tries to put Arthur in sub Roman Britain about AD500 but keeps characters such as Merlin and Lancelot as well as including characters such as Culhwch, Aelle, Cuneglas and Bedwyr. I do like the way he portrays Lancelot as a total scumbag ;-)

I've also read the Rosemary Sutcliffe books: A mythological trilogy consisting of "The Circle and the Sword", "The light beyond the forest" and "the road to Camlann". And a more historical story featuring Arthur entitled "The Lantern Bearers"

I started on "Mists of Avalon" but couldn't get into it. Likewise another rather Christian Historical novel.

[Blackbird]

I saw Mists of Avalon in a charity shop the other day. My test for a book is to open it at random and read a page to see if I like the style. In this case, I'm afraid it went straight back on the shelf... though I've heard so many people raving about it, it must have something going for it

Rosemary Sutcliffe! How could I forget her... I was brought up on those books - the first ones I was given by my Grandparents were The Eagle of the Ninth and Mark of the Horse Lord, both set in Roman Britain, though I was soon down the library reading the rest.

I have read the Bernard Cornwell books - but to my dismay, I find I can't remember anything about them. I'm blessed with a short memory for fiction, which means I can then have the pleasure of re-reading. I'll dig the Cornwell books out again, I think.

[beithann]

Mists of Avalon is written by someone who is used to writing potboilers and the style shows it - but once you get into it and leave your preconceptions at the door, there are some interesting connections made. It's very modern and the bit about the Merlin (called Kevin ) is rather laughable, but some of the imagery is good and it is nice to see the book written from the perspective of Morgan. All the women are shown in a sympathetic light, and most of the men.

Not for the purists though

The ones I couldn't stand were the Steven Lawlead trilogy - if you think that Mists was Historical Christian - it looks very pagan compared with these (although there was another trilogy of his that I read, not Arthurian, but Celtic and for the life of me can't remember the titles of them which I rather enjoyed)

I have read the Cornwell and Sutcliffe ones, but was weaned on Mary Stewart

Beith

[Midori]

I have read so many that they all blur together- Lawhead, Cornwell and a few others, but I did like 'Mists' by Bradley, although since she has passed her books are being re-issued with different titles, which is annoying. I do enjoy Helen Hollick, also Mary Stewart but, apart from Eagle of the Ninth, I have missed out on Rosemary Sutcliffe.

BB Midori

[Blackbird]

Forgot about Lawhead - I got through the first two books, and wasn't terribly impressed. Not impressed enough to buy the rest of them, anyhow... though I might give them a go if I found cheap second hand copies. It's just that whole Atlantis thing... can't take it seriously