Arthurian fiction

[messy]

can anyone recommend a good king arthur book? i'm intrigued by the once and future king, because i've heard it's similar to a certain epic fantasy series by george rr martin.

anybody?

[thejeff]

The Once and Future King is a classic version of the Arthur myths. Definitely worth reading. The first section, on Arthur's youth is almost a children's story, but it gets darker as the story proceeds. It was mostly written back in the 40's so it has a different style to the writing than more modern work.

I haven't read it in years, but I wouldn't say it has much similarity to Martin's saga.

[jocundthejolly]

Paizo has a bunch on clearance, many of them classics.

http://paizo.com/store/fiction/kingArthurPendragon

[Tequila Sunrise]

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley is the best Arthurian legend I've ever read. It's written from Morgan's perspective, and has a fresh take on many of the classic characters. In this retelling magic is a very real, but unpredictable, force.* Bradley is probably better known for her science fiction like the Darkover books, but I think The Mists is her crowning achievement.

*This fad of telling mythical legends as magic-less 'this really could have happened' quasi-historical dramas is a pet peeve of mine.

[Cartigan]

The Once and Future King is pretty much a less serious take on Le Morte d'Arthur, from what I can tell.

And if anything, Martin's works would be like the Once and Future King, being published when he was 10 years old and a composition of stories individually published before he was born.

[messy]

Tequila Sunrise wrote:

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley...

i'm planning to read this after i read a more "traditional" telling of the story. :-)

[Mark Sweetman]

If you want a good Arthurian re-imagining, then Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles is very good.

[Doodlebug Anklebiter]

In case you haven't read any "real" Arthurian stuff, there's:

Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory, as Catigan mentions above

The Mabinogion, a books of Welsh mythology, has a few older, more Celtic Arthurian stories

The Age of Chivalry by Thomas Bulfinch (which can sometimes be found separately, but more often in a compilation of his work called Bulfinch's Mythology) which is kind of dry and scholastic

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, which is a nice introduction for kids and adults alike

Tolkien did a pretty ubiquitous translation of the Sir Gawain and the Green Knight poem

and

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain which I'll mention for giggles

[messy]

Mark Sweetman wrote:

If you want a good Arthurian re-imagining, then Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles is very good.

thank you. that's going on my list.

[mellowgoth]

I would highly reccommend Mary Stewart's series: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day. After reading Gillian Bradshaw, M.Z. Bradley, Once and Future, and the older sources, it still ranks as my favorite - Cromwell's Warlord books are a close second, though.

[Crimson Jester]

I will echo the Mary Stewart series. I liked the first 3 books.

[Grey Lensman]

If you want a more historical fiction take, the Camulud Chronicles by Jack Whyte is an interesting read. It start out with two friends in the end of Roman occupation who are Arthur's great-grandparents, and follows the story all the way to the beginning of the end (Whyte felt that part had been done by so many others he doesn't spend much time with the fall), all through the eyes of 3 main characters. Publius Varrus, who forges Excalibur, Merlyn, and Lancelot. (and an addition that tells the same events of a couple of books through the eyes of Uther) There is very little magic in the world, mainly Merlyn's visions and something undefined in Excalibur itself.

Also decent are the Stephen Lawhead novels, although they aren't on the level of some of the others previously mentioned. They also follow a post-Roman take, but with more magic in the world.

[Xabulba]

Another shout out to the Mary Stewart books. her books are what interested me in any of the Arthurian stuff at all.

[Curaigh]

Dragon and the Unicorn by A. A. Attanasio. Though I struggled with the first one there are four or five out there now.
Daughters of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, not technically Arthurian but it certainly has that feel.
The Pendragon by D. J. MacHale. This is a YA series that my nephew gobbled up. If I ever see number 1 I will read it too, but have not yet. :).
Also on my list, but again have not yet read: The Mammoth Book of Merlin by Mike Ashley

[Dragonsong]

Curaigh wrote:

Dragon and the Unicorn by A. A. Attanasio. Though I struggled with the first one there are four or five out there now.

I heartily recommend this as well. In fact it's where my nom de plume was inspired from.

Also for an interesting variation:

The Book of Joby by Mark J. Ferrari

YA wise Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising Series draws upon Arthurian mythos.

The Age of Misrule series by Mark Chadbourn also draws from Arthurian mythos in a modern setting. But can be a bit on the YA fiction side of things.

[messy]

thanks very much for all the excellent info, folks.

i just read "arthur's final morn," by j robert king in dragon magazine #254, and it was outstanding! i might have to track down his novel "mad merlin."