Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon (Paperback)

~ Diana L. Paxson (Author) "Tiriki woke with a gasp as the bed lurched..." (more)
Key Phrases: saji women, marsh folk, other acolytes, Prince Tjalan, Ancient Land, Omphalos Stone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ancestors of Avalon may be the best of the Avalon tales. -- Midwest Book Review

An elegant stylist, Paxson captures the awe, tragedy and resounding mystery of ancient Britain and mist-enshrouded Atlantis. -- Publishers Weekly

Review

Magical... [The Mists of Avalon] devotees won't feel let down by Ancestors...provides plenty of pleasurable reading hours. (Publishers Weekly) Ancestors of Avalon may be the best of the Avalon tales. (Midwest Book Review) An elegant stylist, Paxson captures the awe, tragedy and resounding mystery of ancient Britain and mist-enshrouded Atlantis. (Publishers Weekly)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Roc Trade; First Thus edition (June 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451460286
• ISBN-13: 978-0451460288
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #770,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars neat take on history, July 9, 2006

By	Monarch (San Fran Bay area, California) - See all my reviews

Ancestors of Avalon picks up where "The Fall of Atlantis" leaves off. This is the book that gives more insight to the lives of the ancients in Atlantis, and the actual devestation and destruction of their lands. The story then moves to the Atlantic Ocean, upon the ships of the fleeing Atlanteans (and other Sea Kingdom peoples).

Following different groups of refugees, you find yourself immersed in ancient Cornwall, Glastonbury (Avalon), and Stonehenge (before it was built) from 4,000 years ago. The natives that are encountered are very interesting, and as much as possible the anthropological/archeological evidences as we know them are held in check with the story. The raising of Stonehenge is very enchanting, along with the building of the spiral path around the Tor. This book is a fun read into an ancient and magical past.

This is book #2 in "The Mists of Avalon" series, to be followed with "The Forest House."

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Grave Disappointment, August 26, 2007

By	S. Miller - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors Of Avalon (Paperback)

This book accomplishes the seemingly impossible: it breaks continuity with both The Fall of Atlantis (which it follows) and The Mists of Avalon (which it prequels), and it completes both of these feats while being a complete and utter bore.

The chief failure of this book may lie in how plot-driven it is. It seems as though the writer was so intent on getting through her plot that she forgot to devote any page-space to characterization at all, and was obliged to add bits and pieces of character moments at a later date. The fall of Atlantis is rushed through on the way to the actual plot, and has no emotional resonance. The emotional core of the novel rests instead with the separation of the main characters, Tiriki & Micail, and their desire to reunite. Unfortunately I found their love for one another hard to buy: readers are informed that this is a great love affair, but we aren't shown much evidence of it. Tiriki at least is a somewhat likable character, unlike Micail, who spends much of the novel whingeing.

The continuity problems are major: the book cannot exist in the same universe as Mists of Avalon. Paxton excuses this in the Afterword by pointing out that Marion Zimmer Bradley wasn't a stickler for continuity; She should have thought of her readers, instead.

I loved The Mists of Avalon, The Forest House, and most of The Fall of Atlantis. I stuck with the series through the diminishing quality of Lady of Avalon and Priestess of Avalon. Someone- the publishers, Paxton, Bradley's estate- seems intent on milking the franchise for all it's worth; But I'm done.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book, March 26, 2009

By	Valerie M. Bowman "Whirledwolf" (Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a beautiful book just as all the Avalon books are. It provides more background for all the characters in the Avalon books. A wonderful way to spend reading time!