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Title: Merlin (The Pendragon Cycle , Book 2) by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 0-380-70889-2 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 April, 1990 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.69 (32 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Immortal in Lawhead's writing
Comment: I started out the Pendragon Cycle with "Taliesin", as was the chronological thing to do. After that came "Merlin" - and maybe it was the anticipation after reading "Taliesin", or maybe it was only the fascination I've held for Merlin ever since the first time I discovered Arthurian legend...whatever it was, I absolutely fell in love with this book.
Now that I've finished reading the cycle, I can say without a doubt that "Merlin" surpasses all others in the series. Arthur is a genius, Llenlleawg a talented warrior, Pelleas a loyal companion...but Merlin is REAL. Merlin has gifts and flaws; he has a distinct personality that makes him come to life as a flesh and bone human (however immortal). For example, I found him to be vain and more snobbish as the story progressed! He is definately one of the most well-written characters I've ever read.
After finishing this book in less than four hours, I eagerly acquired the rest of the Pendragon series, thinking that they would live up to the standard of "Merlin", if not surpass it. I should have known that such a perfect book full of plot and characterization is one of a kind. However, to my delight, Merlin's character only develops more in depth as the Pendragon series continued on. After all, Merlin's name is etched in legend...but in Lawhead's writing, he lives.
Rating: 5
Summary: I give Merlin five stars.
Comment: I give Merlin, by Stephen R Lawhead, five stars because it excelently portrays the life of Merlin before Arthur was actually born. When I was reading the book I felt like I really knew Merlin as my friend , and I really understood him as a person and a character. All of the characters are very well developed and the plot is very exciting and complex. It tells of how he was born, where he lived, a time he ruled as king alongside his friend, Custennin, and the eleborate visions that led to his prophesy of the Kingdom of Summer, originally seen by his father, Taliesin. This is one of the best books about the ancient legend of Merlin and Arthur that I have ever read and I give it five stars.
Rating: 5
Summary: Alternate Arthurian Reality
Comment: Merlin, the advisor of Arthur, considered by some a wizard or sorcerer, is a bard, prophet, and warrior, and possesses power granted by the Christian god. In Merlin, by Stephen R. Lawhead, you discover Merlin's roots, and how he came to know Arthur, who would one day unite Britain. The story can exist by itself, but is much easier to understand if you have read its prequal, Taliesin, which tells of how Merlin's mother and father met. In Merlin, the name most commonly used for Merlin is Myrrdin. He is the offspring of Charis, and Taliesin. Taliesin was the best bard that had ever lived before he was killed and Charis was a princess of Atlantis who managed to escape before the gods reclaimed the land.
The book is wonderfully descriptive and throughout the pages you get a strong sense of emotion, be it joyful or sorrowful. The first part of the book is Myrrdin telling his life until he was driven mad by the mutilation of his wife by Saecson warriors. In his insanity he fled society and live among the hills. The flash-backs are vivid, and make you feel like you are actually experiencing them, not merely being told of them. His life consists of events, all meticulously described, so you can see and hear them in your brain - like the smells the scent of a wolfskin coat, or the roasting of meat, and you can even feel the atmosphere of battle suppressing you. When Myrrdin goes into his "bullet time" battle rage, you can see the battle in slow motion as he effortlessly hacks his way through hundred of Saecson and Picti barbarians, and saves his companions from death by the axes of the Saecsons, or spears of the Picti.
In Myrrdin's charge against the Saecsons that mutilated his wife and unborn child, he cleaves a path to the center of a force of several hundred Saecsons, after entering his battle rage. Because he is in the middle of the Saecson army, he is unable to help his friends, and after seeing several go down, starts seeing all of them die, and after all the Saecsons have been killed flees madly to the hill even with his steward calling his name to come back. The book after the flash backs, is just as descriptive, and even more compelling, The book is a religious novel, but it is not offensive to non-Christians as it doesn't say the extinct Celtic religion is bad, only that it is not the whole truth. The politics of the book are reasonable, the kings and people respond realistically to events. In the second part of the book Myrrdin looses his ability to see battle in slow motion, and respond with super human speed, but the battles are even more amazing.
Uther is the Duke of Britain after Myrrdin establishes his brother as high king. In Uther's first battle against Saecsons he is out numbered by five to one. Yet, by making it appear that he and his horsemen retreated and leaving only footmen behind with Myrrdin and his brother, he managed to come into the rear, where the Saecson leader was and captured him without having to hack their way through several thousand axe wielding Saecsons.
The book, Merlin, is a highly descriptive novel, and is a wonderful addition to the Arthurian saga. It ends with the birth of Arthur, the death of Uther and of the sword of Britain being driven to the hilt into stone. After finishing this novel I immediately got a copy of the next novel of the Pendragon cycle, Arthur. I highly recommend this novel to people who enjoy fantasy novels like Lord of the Rings and any other Arthurian novel.
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Title: Grail (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 5) by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 0380781042 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Avalon: : The Return of King Arthur by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 038080297X Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 December, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 0061057541 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 01 August, 1997 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Black Rood, The by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 0061051101 Publisher: Zondervan Pub. Date: 01 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Mystic Rose, The by Stephen R. Lawhead ISBN: 0380820188 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 03 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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