by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Diana L. Paxson
Katherine Kerr
Rosemary Edghill
Tricia Sullivan
Diana Gabaldon
Samuel Watkins
Michelle Sagara West
David Farland
Kristen Britain
Judith Tarr
Mike Resnick
Adrienne Gormley
Jennifer Roberson
Laura Resnick
Lorelei Shannon
Eric Van Lustbader
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
ISBN: 0-451-45831-1 Order from: Amazon.com
Despite taking a well-trodden path, this collection of Arthurian-flavored fantasy exhibits skills and occasional freshness to appeal even to jaded readers with lively characters and comfortable elegy.
Reviewed by David on October 04, 2003
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: The stories take place, for the most part, somewhere in the outskirts of the great Arthurian legends. Most show an unusual twist, from the real history of Merlin, to an unusual role of Parsifal. Despite the short length, all stories succeed in creating an interesting, self-contained story. Many limn a world somewhere beyond the story, and some paint vivid and appealing characters, gains, remarkably despite the tiny workspace.
I found Sullivan's "The Secret Leaves" particularly memorable, with its deft portrayal of Nimue's coming of age. Gabaldon and Watkin's "Castellan" is amusing, if perhaps the least Arthurian story. Resnik and Gormley's "Me and Galahad" is a skewed, Western version of the Grail Quest.
The book is a collection, and uneven in tone: some stories are comedies, some classic tragedies. Some are spare, and others filled with melodrama. There is even a poem. But there is a consistent level of impressive skill, and the book is a pleasure to read.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 4.5;
Copyright date 2001, Penguin Group (Roc), May 2001, Mass-market, 336 pages
ISBN: 0-451-45831-1 Order from: Amazon.com