Merlin's Mistake [Hardcover]

Robert Newman (Author), Richard Lebenson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1985

Sixteen-year-old Brian jumps at the chance to go on a quest with a young stranger, Tertius, who is determined to fix a mistake Merlin the magician made long ago. This tale of adventure follows the boys on an exciting journey through medieval England.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Newman's career as a writer includes numerous radio and television plays and serials, adult novels, and both fiction and nonfiction for children. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 237 pages
• Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc (June 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844661872
• ISBN-13: 978-0844661872
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,518,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light Arthuriana, March 13, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Merlin's Mistake (Lost Treasures) (Paperback)

It's pretty hard to find original ideas about King Arthur, Camelot and Merlin. Original ideas that don't stink, that is. But this light little novel overflows with them, with tidbits of as-yet unknown info and a great, twisty storyline that leaves no loose ends.

Despite being an Arthurian novel, nothing takes place in Camelot and few of the characters are from it. Brian is an idealistic young man at an out-of-the-way castle, whose father was killed years before in the Crusades. (Nice intertwining of reality and fantasy) When a rather odd young man named Tertius appears, Brian jumps at the opportunity to come with him. Tertius's quest is to find someone who'll teach him magic -- the famed wizard Merlin tried, but made a mistake and so Tertius has no knowledge of magic, but plenty of knowledge about science (from the future, no less!)

Along the way, Brian clashes with a mysterious Black Knight that keeps a city paying tribute to him. There is supposedly a knight with a red shield, a sword, and certain emotional requirements who can defeat him; to find this mystery knight becomes Brian's personal quest. They are joined by a crabby crone and a strange Pict in their journey, venturing into great danger -- and finding unexpected allies.

Perhaps the main problem with this book is that it dashes from one scene to another, with relatively little time for character development. For most of the book, Brian feels underfleshed despite being the lead; characters like Maude, Tertius and Merlin are better defined and more individualistic, aside from nice-serious-minded-good-hero. The three of them have personality quirks that flesh them out, while Brian does not.

The writing is pretty sparse, but descriptions of action are good; the scene in Nimue's hall is worth it by itself, it's so amazingly written. And though the book initially seems lightweight, there are twists and mysteries in it that you will NEVER guess until you read to the end. Then, you'll smack yourself on the head and say, "of course!"

And the mix of fantasy and science is nice: the rather odd White Lady; the most unusual dragon; the pleasant forest thieves; and the Viking sword. And though a lesser author wouldn't have managed it, it never becomes tedious when Tertius blurts out some fact that nobody else understands, given that nobody knew what a quasar was back in medieval times.

Even if you're not an Arthurian fan, you may enjoy this tight little book. I sure did.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really liked IT!, July 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Merlin's Mistake (Lost Treasures) (Paperback)

Okay, since I adore Arthurian fantasies, I thought I might give this book a try. I'm really glad I did. This book is about a boy named Brian who wants to be a knight. So when Tertius, who also has a quest, shows up at his castle, they leave together. Before long they arrive at Meliot which is besieged by a great evil. They leave Meliot again, with a crone (but is it a crone?) The three of them have their separate quests. Before the end of their journey, they will have met a dragon (or is it a dragon?), a giant, a few witches, and the greatest wizard of them all - Merlin.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light, anachronistic fun, November 13, 2001

By 

Jennifer Mo - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Merlin's Mistake (Hardcover)

Having gotten over my King Arthur mania a few years ago, after reading so many Arthurian fantasies that I swore I wouldn't touch another one, I was a little hesitant about buying a book called Merlin's Mistake. I didn't have any very high expectations, but it turned out that I really liked it.

It's not really an Arthurian tale at all, and though Merlin does play a role in the premise, he's hardly the center focus of the book. Anyway, the enchanter accidentally gives Tertius not all magical knowledge, but all future knowledge. Merlin then disappears with Nimue. Knowledge about nuclear reactors isn't particularly useful in the medieval ages...although chemistry does come in handy later on. Tertius joins forces with Brian, a young, idealistic squire, and they go off on adventures-- Tertius continues his quest to find someone to teach him magic, Brian acquires the mission of rescuing a kingdom from the menace of an invincible and mysterious Black Knight.

This has all been done before, of course, but Robert Newman somehow makes it fresh and enjoyable all over again. They encounter everything from outlaws (sensible enough to steal from everyone and keep their loot and yet not without honor) to a giant (who would rather not be disturbed, thank you very much), a very unstereotypical dragon, an anachronistic goddess, and the usual knights and princesses. But are even they exactly what they seem?

By turn serious and humorous, Merlin's Mistake reminds me just a bit of Lloyd Alexander, Patricia C. Wrede and T. H. White. Its messages about mercy and good judgment are never overstated and never get in the way of a good tale. I read it shortly after seeing "A Knight's Tale," and they are a little similar-- but in Merlin's Mistake, there's a likable female protagonist! There's a sequel, The Testing of Tertius, but it's out of print and I haven't read it.

Ailanna