- Mass Market Paperback: 671 pages
- Publisher: Spectra; First THUS edition (Feb 1 1990)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0553283952
- ISBN-13: 978-0553283952
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.2 x 3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Tolstoy (a British descendant of the famous writer) has named his volume aptly: this first book of a trilogy is also the first to draw the complex, mysterious Merlin from the mists of Britain's Celtic past in terms poetic, fantastic and true. This is no garishly covered blockbuster to be quickly read and lugged around in commuter handbags: instead, it should be kept for reading alone--and telling aloud, as the Iliad , Beowulf and the Mabinogion were told. In a brief prologue, a king rides out with his warband and sees a vision of a man rising from a great mound to address him: "You awaken me, that am departed from the world of men." And Merlin mab Morfryn proceeds to tell how, in fulfillment of legend and prophecy, he was born in a castle and consigned as a baby to the depth of the sea for 40 years. Once again on dry land, there were battles, duels with the supernatural, visions of past and future and wonderful riddles: "What is swifter than the wind?--Thought." "What is sharper than the sword?--Truth." In classic, heroic style, and with wit, tragic sensibility and poetry in the bardic tradition, Merlin's story--which includes Arthur's and tells of the coming of the priests of Iesu Crist to save the soul of Britain in the Dark Ages--is gathered up in masterly fashion from scattered references in chronicle, fable, myth and poem into an epic with the complex quality of nectar: not easily described, nor for every taste, but once tasted, never forgotten.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Library Journal
Merlin's world in all its complexities is memorably depicted in this first of three fictional studies by the author of the nonfiction The Quest for Merlin . The legendary figure tells his own story from his birth, including some mystical episodes. This book culminates in the battle of Dineirth, where Merlin has accompanied King Maelgun the Tall. Although there are references to Arthur, that story is not told here. A generation later, the northern and western British lords with their medley of Christian and pagan practices are uniting to drive out the heathen Saxons. Names, terms, and places are generally in old Celtic. A list of characters and places assists; a map would have been helpful. Those well versed in Merlin lore, as well as those who enjoy similar fantasies, will welcome Tolstoy's contribution. Readers who lack this background can still appreciate the rich, evocative prose and the musings of Merlin et al.
- Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
- Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
More that just a light read,
By Paul B. Dickey (Wellington New Zealand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Coming of the King (Hardcover)
While this book is a hard read, I loved it, and appreciated its authentic feel. It is of a much higher quality that much other modern Arthurian trashy fantasy novels. And, in my opinion, should not be compared to them. If you want an easy, simple story to read featuring Merlin, etc, there's lots more to choose from. If you want something with an edge, is more real, and substance, then get this book.
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Coming of the King,
By Twainophile "Tom" (Peoria, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Coming of the King (Hardcover)
As the other two reviewers noted, the book is difficult to get through. I made it past page 65, but I had to push myself. I actually purchased the book over 10 years ago, tried to read it, and became bored. I picked it up again recently, wanting to give it a second chance. I just couldn't stay with it. I am pretty well versed in Arthurian myth, Welsh mythology, etc., and the obscure references to gods, people, and places left me totally confused.I checked out the reviews here to see if others were having the same experience. I think this book looks good on a shelf, but not to read.
1.0 out of 5 stars
I agree with the other reviewer...,
By Keith Russell (Shawnee Mission, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Coming of the King (Hardcover)
...but the reason for the book's dullness is interesting. The entire story (I did read the whole book, but cannot for the life of me remeber why...) is told as a history, as if the action is not happening as the reader reads, but has already happened long ago, and the narrator is simply relating ancient events.This device lends a bit of interest at the beginning of the book, but it gets terribly dull by about the twelfth page of the book, and the author never shifts the narrative to the present, but continually reminds the reader (through verb conjugation and other devices) that this stuff has already happened. "The Lord of the Rings", on the other hand, is told as if the action is taking place as the reader reads, and this helps to hold the readers' attention, keeping them interested in what is going to happen 'next'. In Tolstoy's book (and a case could be made that an Authurian book should be more engrossing than a modern tale) however, there is no 'what happens next', since the whole thing was over long ago--and Tolstoy never lets his readers forget it, and thus one never really 'gets into' the story. Tolkein suffered from this device in 'The Silmarillion', and Tolstoy should have learned from that epic history that this device makes drama and mystery nearly impossible. And both drama and mystery are required of any writer wishing to hang onto his audience's attention much past page 65. Keith Russell
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