Customer Reviews

Mad Merlin

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Stories about King Arthur and the other people of the legend can be looked at as being similar to the same situation that is being addressed in the excellent TV show "Smallville". We Know that Clark is fated to become Superman. We Know that he and Luthor will become enemies. We Know that Kryptonite will kill him, he'll have certain powers as an adult and that he will move to Metropolis and... Yet the delight in this show is its take on how Clark gets there. The stories the show tells are good on their own, but they hang together because of what We know will be. In other words, we don't really worry aobut why or how Clark is getting these powers because we Know that he is supposed to. The references placed in the show to "their" future are an extra treat. We accept this interpretation of that future will come to be because we already know what that future is and the adventure is filling in the details and seeing how it all fits into what one day will "be".

This story has to be looked at in the same vein. There are a lot of gods, godesses, Celtic and Norse mythology and even some T. H. White thrown into this mix, all hung on the framework of what we "know" of Arthur. We Know there's going to be a Modred and that Morgan will bring him into being from her hate for Arthur becuase of what Uther and Merlin did. The story doesn't have to explain her motivation for that hate more than that because we Know that hate exists. It is not a "classic" Arthur, but it fits within the frameowrk. Jack Whytes wonderful "Eagles Brood" series or Godwin's superb "Firelord" aren't "classic" either, but tehy do fit within teh History and events of Arthur as we Know them. Does the retelling under inspection remain true to the legend even if the details vary? As long as a story does this, it is OK to look at the legend though a differnt lens.

This King does, and his take is marvelous. The other reviews talk a bit how he does this, but I will just recommend this book without reservation.

J. Robert King has taken a familiar story and given it a new point of view and a very fresh interpretation. Where Merlin is so often portrayed as the shadowy figure lurking around the edges of the tale, King dives right into the old wizard's tangled psyche. The writing is lively and vibrant, the language inspiring.

Unique plot twists include explanations for the origins of Merlin and Excalibur--each a stunning and poignant surprise--and the use of a host of gods, faeries, and other enchanted beings struggling for survival in the dawn of the Christian era.

The book opens with Merlin wallowing in the depths of complete insanity, unaware of his own origins. The quest for that identity provides an excellent element of mystery, with an utterly satisfying resolution. The magic in this tale is powerful and dramatic. King makes no attempt to explain his wizard as some kind of master of alchemy and sleight-of-hand--this is a mage in the classic Gandalf archetype (though, I suppose, it was originally Merlin who was the archetype for Gandalf!). In any event, he can fly, hurl fireballs, change his shape, and carry whole armies on swift, magical marches.

This book will have strong appeal to all lovers of the Arthurian legends, and also stands alone as an epic of high fantasy. One caveat: King does not recount all the elements of the classic King Arthur story...I have a feeling that readers might be waiting (rather impatiently) for a sequel.

...and I've read a LOT of Arthurian stories. Quite literally dozens of them. I found Rob King's retelling of the Merlin myth to be firmly grounded in tradition, yet strikingly original.

The first thing that impressed me was Merlin's voice, and the way the deft characterizations swept me into the story. The second thing that hit me was the writing style. It's impressive. So are the underlying ideas, and the cohesive vision painted from the lore of many cultures. The author is unusually literate, both in his use of language and his wide-ranging knowledge of classic and mythic lore. This is not to imply that the book is stodgy and academic. To the contrary. This book has both depth and sparkle. Rob King's sense of humor is disarmingly off-beat. This is clearly the work of someone who loves the sounds and shapes and textures of words. As such, it offers a genuine and rare treat for like-minded readers.

I'm guessing that fellow Arthurian buffs, an admittedly varied and contentious group, will find much to enjoy here. The book is both fresh and familiar. I found myself sometimes nodding in recognition, and sometimes delighting in new explanations to well-known situations. The motivation behind the characters and events is cohesive and believable. The story behind Excaliber, in particular, was startling, but logical and resonant.

Although most of Rob King's previous work has been in game-related fiction, his fans will not be disappointed. There's enough action to please the most avid readers of adventure fantasy. The battle choreography is exciting and visual. And it's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't warm to Merlin's sublime silliness.

A word about characterization: terrific. The scene that introduces a young and boastful Kay is both funny and spot-on. Guinevere's portrayal offered a nice respite from the usual tortured, adulterous queen. And although I love Arthurian lore, the portrayal of the central character occasionally leads me to wonder what all the fuss was about. (Tennyson's Arthur, for example. MZB's, for another.) Let's face it: Arthur is a tough character to portray. King's king makes you understand why men followed and bards still tell his tale.

I could go on, and usually do. But you've got better things to read than this review. Get the book. Get two copies, and give one to someone you really, really like.

As the child of someone who studied the King Arthur in great depth, I have been fascinated with Arthur, Merlin, and the whole lot. It is a story told and retold throughout time, and is rarely looked upon with such a fresh set of eyes.

This is not the standard fair for an Arthurian Mythos; In fact, Mad Merlin is, in many ways, quite the departure. Fair enough. There are far more views of the legends than are adequately represented in the thousands of fiction stories.

Gone is the Merlin who was the quiet orchestrator, the man with a plan who pulled the strings behind it all. In his palce, we find an endearing and often humorous, yet tragic wizard. His memories are wracked by delusion, a madness to which he believes Arthur to be the cure.

Merlin is haunted by delusions so intense he cannot seperate them from reality, which leaves his memory in a fragile status. Had he really been there? Did he dream the past? Was he dreaming of his salvation, or were his visions true?

Woven into his madness are gods and the God-Killing sword Excalibur, and the boy that would grow to save him. Through his visions, he orchestrates the birth of Arthur, and he and Ulfius train him so that he may one day become King. Ulfius is a practical man, while Arthur tends to follow "Grandfather" Merlin with awe, latching onto his delusions and fantasies all the while.

The first half of the book deals with Arthur's birth through the beginning of his reign, as naysayers challenge the right of a sword-puller to claim the throne. It also deals with the recovery of Merlin's sanity, and his final memories--Both of his origin, and of Excalibur. The second half deals with the aftermath and the forging of the great Kingdom.

J. Robert King has taken some brave (And sometimes brilliant) ventures out into left field where the mythology is concerned. He involves Deities of many Pantheons in one large cosmology, where a God is only strong as long as people believe. The Norse God of mischeif plagues Merlin through his madness, and Wotan seeks Excalibur. Jupiter and the Roman Mythology are also present as is the Christian God (Often referred to as the Tetragammaton by fearful pagans). Excalibur and Avalon take their place in this giant mythos, each afforded decent explaination.

While I do admire this departure, it was both confusing and contradictory at points. Sometimes I think King got lost too deep in this subplot, when the characters could have used some more attention. It is a minor quibble, however, as the large part of this mythos was pulled off quite marvelously.

King's style is quite intruiging. Even when I was uncertain about this book, something in the first few pages drew me in, and kept me reading. Seeing what twists he had in store was quite the treat.

Some people will not be pleased by this book. Some people only want to see the story told in variations on one of the many themes it has been presented in. Others will enjoy the book for what it is--A fun read with interesting variatons on an old theme, not a blasphemic slur of something Holy.

While I would have liked to see more of the scheming Merlin we know from Malory, the mad mage was quite the enthralling character (He could have done with a little Machiavelli for his madness, though). All in all, an entertaining read.

I give it 4 1/2 stars, with the singular caveat that you may not like this book if you cannot look past the difference in the euation. If you love fantasy and unique storytelling, you'll be hard pressed to be disappointed in this book

Mad Merlin is yet another take on the King Arthur legends of early Britain. Sometimes, it seems like Arthurian pastiches are a dime a dozen. But King does a wonderful job of mixing the legends with other mythologies, creating a taut tale of magic, intrigue, violence and royalty that will take your breath away.

Books based on the Arthur legends can be predictable, and in a sense this isn't any different. However, King throws so many interesting side elements into the mix that the reader is constantly wondering what's going to come next. He has created, in Mad Merlin, a very interesting character that you want to read about. Not only is he destined to aid Arthur in his quest, but through Arthur he will come to know his own mind. He is truly mad at the beginning of the book, and it is only through his actions and his time with Arthur that he slowly becomes aware of who and what he is. What is his relation to Excalibur? What is the source of his power? As the book goes on, you find out more and more and the story never lets you go. I'm not going to reveal Merlin's secret, but it just adds another intriguing layer to an already interesting character.

The side elements are the flavoring for the Arthurian myths, and they make the book a great read. King throws in the Roman pantheon of gods, the Norse gods, the land of the fey (fairies, pixies, nayads, and many other mystical creatures) and tells a tale not just of personal destiny (in the case of King Arthur) but also of religious destiny. The war is not just between men, but between gods. There are a lot of Christian images that will infringe on the other pantheons if they don't fight back. Christ himself is not portrayed in any way, but the Christian mythos is portrayed as an overwhelming force that will wipe out anything that stands in its path.

I liked how this book moved beyond the typical Arthurian legends, even as it rewrote them. All of the main elements are there: Merlin, Guinevere, Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake (though she's called something different in this one), Camelot, and the Round Table. Lancelot doesn't show up until the next book, though (one which I will also review shortly). Even the origins of Morgan Le Fay and Arthur's son Mordred are detailed, probably in much the same way as the legends go, though the details surrounding these events are different. There's even the act of Arthur removing the sword from the stone, though the circumstances are very different, and it even becomes a bad thing that he does it when he does. This impulsive mistake drives the action for the rest of the book, and adds an interesting element to the mix.

The language and the prose King uses are magnificent. It took me forever to read this book (and the next one), and I thought it was because of the mood I was in. But I'm reading another, lighter book now, and I'm breezing through it. Looking back on this book, I realize that it's the beauty of the imagery and description that kept me going so slowly. King really knows how to tell a story. When the battles rage, you're right there with blood flowing, heads being caved in and swords finding their way into the seams of plate mail armour. The good times, the festive and romantic times are also well told. At times King gets a bit excessive with the description, but it's so beautiful (or chilling, depending on what is happening), that you normally don't notice. You just notice that you haven't moved very far into the book.

There is one strange thing about this book, however. It feels like it's two separate books combined into one. There's no hint that this is true, and books are divided into "Books 1 and 2" quite often. However, the second book begins with a bunch of description of the previous events, a recap of sorts, that isn't really needed considering the events in question happened just a few pages ago. It's almost like the second book was supposed to be published separately (or it was published without any indication in this book of this fact). I found it quite distracting, but thankfully that only lasted until I got into the second book. It was quickly gone again.

A couple of other minor problems mar what would otherwise be a marvelous book, both having to do with the ending. The final battle just drags on a little too long, and then the sequence with Loki in the land of the Saxon gods, while entertaining at times, seems a bit useless. I realize that Loki's exploits have a lot to do with Excalibur so they are important to the story, but the writing of these events just makes them feel extraneous. It's the only place where the writing fails a little, and it makes the final sequence more of a chore to get through than it should be. This combined with the seemingly never-ending final battle makes for a dull thud of an ending.

All in all, though, this is a great King Arthur book. I picked it up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. What a marvelous mixture of everything. You think you know King Arthur? Think again. Then read this book, and its sequel. You'll be glad you did.

David Roy

This book took awhile to get past the normal arthur legend and moved on finally to an interesting twist. I will say I did enjoy the tale in full...but you must read the entire book to realize the writers plan for the story. I would recommend this for a nice change.

As an avid reader of the Arthurian legend, I am always thrilled to find a different "take" than the stock retellings. And, in "Mad Merlin", J. Robert King has truly found a different take. This tale is a veritable mind barrage of conflicting theologies and mythos. Unfortunately, this strength was also a weakness for me. Thought I enjoyed the story as a story, I always felt that I was missing something by not being as versed in Norse, Roman, and Greek mythology as the author expected me to be. This is probably a personal problem, but anytime I see reference to Joseph Campbell, as I did in the liner notes of this book, I immediately think "dense and difficult". I realize that this is a weakness on my part, but, hey, I'm giving my take right now. . .

None of this is to say I didn't like the book. I enjoyed the alternative characterizations of Merlin as defrocked god and part-time madman, Guinevere as earth mother (a refreshing departure from many of the self-serving, vapid treatments we see all too often), and the more benevolent handling of Nyneve. I have "Lancelot du Lethe" in my possession and it will be the next book I read.

My favorite version of Merlin is probably the old standby of Mary Stewart, and "Mad Merlin" has done nothing to change that. But "Mad Merlin" is a welcome addition to the store of contemporary Arthurian literature and I, for one, appreciate every single one of them and enjoy the differences they offer.

As a voracious fantasy reader and writer, I read a LOT of Arthurian fiction, from the very-well-known (Mary Stewart, MZB) to the far less so (Turner's King of the Lordless Country), and this new offering from Rob King is among the best. Full disclosure time: Rob and I are friends and co-workers, having collaborated on novels and edited each other. However, that doesn't influence me in saying that I bought it sight unseen, took it home to glance at it, ended up reading it through at one sitting, and want more. In particular, Excalibur is handled brilliantly. Rob also conveys the feel of impending doom and bloodshed as well as any writer I've ever read, not just the clangour and shouting of actual battle. I look forward to sequels, if any. Buy it, read it, and see if you don't agree. This is both a keeper and one to give as a gift to friends!!!

This is flat out a great book. King manages to put his own unique spin on the often written about subject of King Arthur. The book follows Merlin's quest from madness to sanity, and the realization of his true identity. Arthur, of course, holds the key to the wizards past.

Hardcore Arthurian fans will not be disappointed with this book. King takes the framework of the legend and builds around it a magnificent story filled with faeries, gods, and the most imaginative magic I have ever read in any fantasy novel. Expect a sequel, because the tale is by no means finished in this first novel.

J Robert King brilliently takes the story of Merlin, King Arther and Camelot and encapsulates it in a magical fantasy story. I could not put this book down. King's words to describe the actions taking place are of none other I have ever read before. Emotions poored out of me: excitement, sorrow, happines, anger, and even teary eyed . King puts you right there in the story with Merlin and Arthur with great detail of each event happening. No doubt a 5 star, must read, fantasy novel.....