Fantasy Fiction

Lesson 2: Arthurian Fantasy

Modern Arthurian Fantasy Books

The legend of King Arthur has inspired many Fantasy authors to incorporate the legend or retell it in different ways. Many authors have succeeded in various ways. Some place Arthur in the historical past without the knights. Some place the story in our modern day world. All of the books are unique to their author’s vision.

Marion Zimmer Bradley did something very different. She told the story through the eyes of the women in the legend. Up until then, most of the stories had been from the men’s point of view. Mists of Avalon tells the story through Morgaine and Viviane, priestesses of Avalon. The book takes place in Britain after the fall of Rome, when the Britons try to fight the invading Anglo-Saxons. People are turning from the worship of the Goddess to Christianity weakening the magic of the land. This book’s strong women characters changed the way readers think of the women in Arthur’s story.

A few authors focus on a different character in the legend. Merlin is one of the most popular characters that fascinates everyone. Mary Stewart chose to focus on his life story in her trilogy consisting of The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. She places his story in the historical past of post Roman Britain, following his life from a child until his old age and the events that shaped his life. The books are very detailed and bring a fascinating character to life.

Recently, author Alice Borchardt has begun a trilogy that focuses on the character of Guenivere. In the first two books, Guenivere is the daughter of a pagan queen with magical powers. She is a warrior who loves Arthur and must fight the machinations of the evil high druid Merlin. This author takes a main woman character of the legend and gives her a whole different strength in vivid images. The first two books of the trilogy are: The Dragon Queen and The Raven Warrior.

One of the classic Arthurian fantasies is The Once and Future King by T.H. White. This is a satirical look of Britain through the legend. The book has some wonderful humorous moments and characters. It tells the story of Arthur as a boy until near his final days. Disney made the part of the book titled “The Sword and the Stone” into an animated movie years ago.

Some authors bring the Arthurian story into the present day world. Authors Warren Murphy and Molly Cochran did this in their books The Forever King, The Broken Sword and The Third Magic. Galahad must battle an immortal to protect the reincarnation of young King Arthur in Chicago. Merlin reappears in a druid character to help as they struggle for the powerful Grail that grants immortality to its owner.

Another book telling the story of King Arthur in the modern day world is Excalibur by Sanders Ann Laubenthal. This book takes place in Mobile, Alabama when strange things begin to happen. The characters from the legend appear in reincarnations to keep the events from the past from repeating themselves. Laubenthal creates a vivid story of the legend to keep readers thinking for a long time.

These are just a few of the many books in Arthurian Fantasy. As long as this story continues to touch readers and inspire writers, the legend of King Arthur will live on, haunting our collective consciousness with this timeless story of love, honor, betrayal and heroism.

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