The Book of Knights [Paperback]

Yves Meynard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999

A fantasy novel about a young boy who discoves a wonderful book that fills him with the desire to grow up to be knight--and whose desire is granted in strange and unexpected ways.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like Phyllis Gotlieb (see Flesh and Gold, reviewed above), Meynard is Canadian. He edits the SF magazine Solaris and has published six books in French, as well as a number of SF and fantasy stories in English. His first fantasy novel to be written in English is a coming-of-age tale of a young man desperate to become a knight. Raised in a society governed by a quasi-religious doctrine called "the Rule," Adelrune is fascinated by the dusty old copy of The Book of Knights he discovers in the attic of his foster parents' home. Eagerly abandoning the Rule for the romance of knightly honor, Adelrune runs away from home to seek out a sage named Riander and pays six years of his life for knightly training. Though the boy physically ages six years overnight, he still retains the mind of a youth. Eventually, Riander sends him on a journey as a final test of his abilities. Little does Adelrune realize that he will grow into his adulthood as well as his knighthood in the course of his adventures, even learning the secret of his own mysterious parentage. Though the plot rambles at times, Meynard's writing is deft, creating evocative imagery with the simplest language.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Spurred on by a miraculous book depicting the deeds of famous knights, a young boy leaves his foster home to seek his own destiny as a hero. The first English-language publication by French Canadian author Meynard evokes a fairy tale-like atmosphere in his depiction of the trials and tribulations of his young protagonist. The author's lyrical style accentuates the allegorical nature of this intensely compact tale of self-discovery. Transcending the fantasy genre, this novel belongs in most libraries.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1 edition (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312868316
• ISBN-13: 978-0312868314
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,911,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting and Magical!, January 11, 2004

By 

Aryon (Salem, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Knights (Paperback)

"The book of Knights" starts off about a young boy named Adelrune who finds a book- describing many different knights- in his foster parents attic. He doesn't believe in "The Rule" ( the laws of their community) and runs away to seek a man named Rainer who trains him to be a knight. Within that time he physically ages 6 years in one night ( on puropse). So, the rest of the story takes place when he's around 19 yrs. old. --- This is a great, exciting book that I really enjoyed. It has a lot to keep you interested. My brother got this for me for Christmas and I really liked it! It's a great book if you like fantasy. With wierd creatures and stuff!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive fantasy with enduring characters, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Knights (Hardcover)

I first came across The Book of Knights while surfing the Fantasy section at Barnes and Noble. The cover was what cought my attention, but when I got home, I found this book to be far beyond the normal Fantasy book. Its character's, particularly Adelrune, are wonderfully portrayed, and the story addictive. Though not among the large names in Fantasy like Tolkien, Feist, or Jordan, Yves Meynard has certainly made a name for himself with this excellent tale.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a fairy tale, March 9, 1999

By 

Dave Duncan <[e-mail]> (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Knights (Hardcover)

Nothing seems simpler and yet is harder to write than a good fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen could do it, and so could Oscar Wilde. My favorite, though, has always been Lord Dunsany, the finest fantasy writer of the twentieth century. No one has ever matched his distinctive blend of gossamer prose and wild invention, but Yves Meynard comes closer than anyone. "The Book of Knights" is sheer delight. I hope he will treat us to many more adventures of Sir Adelrune, that wonderfully likeable, but lethal, innocent.