The Hallowed Isle Book Four: The Book of the Stone [Paperback]

Diana L. Paxson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hallowed Isle | Publication Date: January 1, 2000

After years of conflict, Britannia finally knows peace and Artor reigns from his throne at Camalot. But discontent rumbles through the kingdom. A new generation longs for the glory their fathers knew. Medraut, the son conceived by deceit, lusts for Artor's crown -- and his queen. Dreams of an empire draw the king to Gallia to battle again, leaving the sovereignty of the isle in Guendivar's hands. As Artor's painful absence grows longer, the land cries out for its champion -- and even the queen doubts his return. With the rise of revolt home to a country in turmoil. Only he can heal the land and reclaim the kingdom -- or else the hallowed isle will be ripped asunder once again.

A darkness born and bred for revenge shadows the nation. But one hope shines -- the Defender of Britannia.

After years of conflict, Britannia finally knows peace and Artor reigns from his throne at Camalot. But discontent rumbles through the kingdom. A new generation longs for the glory their fathers knew. Medraut, the son conceived by deceit, lusts for Artor's crown -- and his queen. Dreams of an empire draw the king to Gallia to battle again, leaving the sovereignty of the isle in Guendivar's hands. As Artor's painful absence grows longer, the land cries out for its champion -- and even the queen doubts his return. With the rise of revolt home to a country in turmoil. Only he can heal the land and reclaim the kingdom -- or else the hallowed isle will be ripped asunder once again.

A darkness born and bred for revenge shadows the nation. But one hope shines -- the Defender of Britannia.After years of conflict, Britannia finally knows peace and Artor reigns from his throne at Camalot. But discontent rumbles through the kingdom. A new generation longs for the glory their fathers knew. Medraut, the son conceived by deceit, lusts for Artor's crown--and his queen. Dreams of an empire draw the king to Gallia to battle again, leaving the sovereignty of the isle in Guendivar's hands. As Artor's painful absence grows longer, the land cries out for its champion -- and even the queen doubts his return. With the rise of revolt home to a country in turmoil. Only he can heal the land and reclaim the kingdom -- or else the hallowed isle will be ripped asunder once again.

A darkness born and bred for revenge shadows the nation. But one hope shines -- the Defender of Britannia.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-This volume concludes Paxson's series on the "Matter of Britain." The previous volumes focused on Merlin's life and his origins in prehistory; the Roman influences underlying Arthur's values; the role played by the Saxons; and the variety of spiritual traditions seeking to prevail in determining the fate of Britain. Book Four begins in A.D. 502 when peace has been established and Camalot rules, but Arthur soon leaves on a seemingly hopeless quest to bring peace to Gallia. In the years of his absence, Guendivar grows in stature and becomes a true queen; Morgause finally finds peace as a priestess of Avalon; Medraut, Arthur's troubled son, attempts to usurp the throne; and the kingdom is once again torn by strife. Ultimately the land itself ("the stone") asserts its power to guide the key figures through these cataclysmic events. Though it is the end of one age, spiritual and cultural traditions have been set in motion that will continue to guide Britain's destiny in the years to come. Paxson's vivid retellings of the familiar story bring out the depth of its mythical and magical qualities and should please fans of Gillian Bradshaw, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and other writers who mix historical fiction with fantasy.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An accomplished writer...I look forward to reading any of Diana Paxson's work." -- Marion Zimmer Bradley

"An accomplished writer...I look forward to reading any of Diana Paxson's work." --- Marion Zimmer Bradley -- --- Marion Zimmer Bradley

"Seamlessly blends history and legend." -- Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Eos (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380805480
• ISBN-13: 978-0380805488
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,712,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Arthurian

More About the Author

I was brought up in southern California, but came north to attend Mills College and never left. I got my M.A. in (medieval) Comparative Literature from the University of California in 1966, the same year I put on the first tournament of what was to become the Society for Creative Anachronism. Since 1971 I've lived at Greyhaven, a hundred-year old house in Berkeley, with successive generations of family, friends, cats and dogs.

It's a literary family, including my husband, Jon DeCles, and the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, who was my mentor as a writer as well as colleague in founding Darkmoon Circle. My first published novel was Mistress of the Jewels, which began the chronicles of Westria. After I had written several historical fantasies, Marion, whose health deteriorated after she wrote Mists of Avalon, asked me to help her with The Forest House, which is how I ended up writing the Avalon series.

Much of the spiritual experience in my novels comes out of my work in the pagan community. I have now begun to publish that material in a series of non-fiction books, the most recent being Trance-Portation. My most recent novel is Sword of Avalon, set at the end of the Bronze Age, which gave me an opportunity to explore the end of the Homeric Age and the techniques of bronze- and iron-forging.

For more about my work, see:

www.westria.org
www.avalonbooks.net
www.seidh.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the greatest!, March 14, 2000

By 

Gonzalo Perez Benavides - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hallowed Isle Book Four: The Book of the Stone (Paperback)

What's in a novel? A great novel has characters that live forever in our imagination, high tension of destiny and free will, gripping emotions, an inspiration that takes us to archetypal heights. The Hallowed Isle is that, and more. Diana Paxson retells the most loved and haunting romance of the Western Soul,the Arthurian cycle. The Sword, the Spear,the Cauldron,and the Stone, the Hallows, are four books that open a fresh understanding of the myth,giving vulnerable human flesh and spirit to the inmortal story.It's a towering book, a masterpiece. Stays inside as a beacon bringing light to our Arthur, our Guendivar, our Merlin,the Lady of the Lake...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hallowed Isle: The Book of the Stone, June 21, 2001

By 

"jersey13" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hallowed Isle Book Four: The Book of the Stone (Paperback)

I recently purchased The Hallowed Isle (The Book of the Sword, The Book of the Spear, The Book of the Cauldron, & The Book of the Stone. I am a major believer and admirer of King Arthur (Artor)and have read & own many books on him, fiction & non-fiction. I do believe that of all the fiction versions of his story I have read, Diana Paxson's is the best. She actually had me in tears at the end, even though I of course knew the ending already. The book is beautifully and believably written. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it & will eventually read it again. She made Artor a very real person.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why isn't ridley scott making a movie of this???, November 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hallowed Isle Book Four: The Book of the Stone (Paperback)

I don't even know where to begin. Of all the books I've ever read--and there have been many--involving king arthur, the fall of the roman empire, sub-roman britain, etc...paxson is one of those authors where I can just see the drama as it would unveil on the large screen cinema. Her twist on these characters is fresh and original, her female protagonists strong, intelligent, and unsentimental without outshining the men. Her action sequences are robust, yet she can write a berserker-rage of Oesc (the saxon prince of the second novel), as sensitively as she can write Gueniver's uncertain reluctance to be a queen, or the fledgling, star-crossed and belated love of arthur and his "white phantom". Her keenest strength is her portrayal of traditional "villains"; for with Paxson, they cease to be good or bad, but become complex characters, full of their own ideals and sense of honor within a savage world of changing customs and clashing cultures which so encompasses our own modern era. Three words--READ THESE BOOKS!! YOu will not regret it, i promise.