Customer Reviews

Out of Avalon: An Anthology of Old Magic & New Myths

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having read Mists of Avalon about a dozen times, I figured reading this book would be the next logical step. Admittedly, I'd read Marion Zimmer Bradley's other books about Avalon (The Forest House, etc.) and found them seriously lacking, so to say that I was skeptical about this collection is an understatement. I decided to give it a whirl, though, when I saw that Jennifer Roberson (whom I love) was the editor on this . . . thus, I bought it.

It's good stuff. This is a collaboration of short stories that deal with different perspectives of Avalon, Morgan Le Fay, and the entire Arthurian legend in the feminine aspect. What really entranced me was the various views/religious aura's surrounding each story - some from the druidic perspective, some from the more traditional Christian perspective. It's an interesting dynamic.

If you bought the book JUST for the Marion Zimmer Bradley story because you're a Mists of Avalon fan, you won't be disspointed. It's a brief story, but sweet . . . I don't know how well it fits into the book part of things, but it is still well written and fun. Make sure you delve into the other writings in the book as well, though. It's good stuff. (Roberson is in there, I know, and her story was pretty darn good).

Happy reading!

This anthology is for everyone who loves re-takes on the Arthurian legends, and especially those readers who loved _The Mists of Avalon_ and are seeking more of the same sort of retellings, laced with gender politics, religious issues, and romance.

As in all anthologies, some of the stories are to my taste, some aren't, and there is probably somethig for everyone. In my opinion, the stunner of the bunch os Rosemary Edghill's "Prince of Exiles". Set among bloodthirsty warlords rather than knights-n-ladies, it is narrated by Ator (Arthur)'s bitter illegitimate son, as he unfolds his intricate plan for revenge against his father. It's a darkly engrossing story until you get to the last line--at which point it becomes a shocking, chilling, incredible, six-star story. WOW. I also enjoyed Tricia Sullivan's "The Secret Leaves", the romantic tale of young Vivien, who loves and seduces the ethereal Merlin, but eventually loses him to hs shamanistic dreams. And Judith Tarr's "Finding the Grail" is best described as "sweet", a story about a young girl named Melisende who quests for the Grail with the help of the pretty-boy knight Beaumains. Beaumains hides a secret--and it's not the secret you were expecting.

These stories and many others await you. If you liked _Mists of Avalon_ or any of the wave of women-centric Arthurian novels it inspired, give this book a chance; it's even cheap! LOL.

I never know what to expect from an anthology, sometimes you hit a bunch of good stories, and sometimes you hit a bunch of bad ones. In this case, there's a bunch of good stories.

All the stories are short enough you can read them in under an hour even if you're a slow reader, and they're all concise, nothing drags on for pages about unimportant things. Also, the stories all have a central theme that while it bends around king Arthur and Avalon, it also has it's own distinct theme.

From a story about a southern girl trying to attract Lancelot's attention, to a story about a girl that was part fey, part something else, there's a little bit of everything in the book. Even if all the stories don't interest you, there should be enough that you would like to justify purchasing the book.

As a pre-service teacher, I am eager to share this anthology with any teacher who would like a less than bible-thick introduction to Arthurian literature for their teenage students. Short stories, that not only simmer with the breath of Avalon and mystery of legends, it is also a painless introduction to great fantasy writers like Marion Zimmer Bradley. I am promoting it for use in SSR (sustained silent reading) in class-rooms and as a fine teaching resource to launch into bigger things like Morte de'Arthur. It's focus on the little people (the extras) suggests the very essence of fables and myths - the fluidity and re-telling of a story to legendary status. While I wouldn't say every story appealed to me - I would say that this must testify to the fact that it includes a tale bewitching enough for a wider audience than I anticipated. Try it! on yerself and on yer teenagers. It's a great platform for engaging in olde worlde literature and classics - creative, sweet and sometimes shocking....loved it...won't sell it..pass it on

If half stars were available, I'd give this anthology 4 1/2 stars, not 4. I bought the anthology because I am so looking forward to TNT's _Mists of Avalon_, because short stories in this universe by Bradley, Gabaldon and Roberson herself meant I was sure to enjoy it. What suprised and pleased me is that theirs are not the stories I most admired. "Black Dogs" by Lorelei Shannon gives the real reason that Arthur fell at Camlann. Mordred was only the instrument, according to his favorite dog, the narrator of this story. "Greivous Wounds" by Laura Resnick has Arthur dying regret-filled and going back into his past to see how much he really has changed the world. "The Mooncalfe" by David Farland has Merlin begetting a daughter on a scullery maid at Tintagel while Uther is with Igraine. Merlin's daughter gets revenge. These are my favorite stories in this collection, you may have others, it is well worth reading and buying.

"Out of Avalon" Is a fantastic anthology put together by a mindspring of artists/authors whom have all been inspired by the Authorian Legends of old. Tales ranging with Artur being portrayed as the cruel king, and Myrddin as a light hearted creature afraid of being chained. These various shorts happily visit many, often unexplored, avenues of these fascinating spins. A must for the Mythology follower, or just plain young at heart. This pleasing book will most definately give one a refreshing new persepctive and reinstall a sense of magic to the soul and imagination.

Out of Avalon was good but it gave the taste of something that could have been better. The tales that are featured in this book were interesting but some were down right boring. I had fallen asleep on The Castellan and thought Me and Gallahad could have been written by a fanfiction amateur. I was impressed however with the stories Avalonia and Finding the Grail, especially loved the line that stated men go out for treasures both rare and magickal but women are the ones that find it. Overall it is a reccomended read but still could have been done better.

This is a collection of short stories centered around Avalon and King Arthur written in tribute to Marion Zimmer Bradley (author of the infamous "avalon" novels). These short stories are very enjoyable and fun to read. One of my favourites was the one written by Bradley herself which centred around Morgaine teaching (or trying to) this young, wild girl, the ways of Avalon. She runs off and finds this stone which tests the courage and will of everything Morgain ever knew. And I loved the one about Morgaine's cousin (!) who is sent from her court in disgrace to live with her because she nearly killed her brother. She is attacked by a wolf (her and her party) and is the only survivor and meets as well as falls in love with a psycho named Myriddin (who I think is Merlin, but with maybe the welsh spelling?) He reminds me of how Merlin was portrayed in the movie Excalibur, this crazy eccentric psycho wizard. Escapt in this story his magic is really shapeshifting abilitues. And we watch as this girl tries to learn his ways. And on and on and on. All these stories are way fun to read. If you like this subject, get this. It's fun.

I adore the Avalon series, but this book, quite frankly, sucked. While it was not anywhere near as horrible as "Ancestors of Avalon", it was still bad. I wish people would learn that Bradley cannot be imitated. If you wish to write about Arthurian legend, be my guest. Stop trying to mimic Bradley though!

If you want to read this novel, get it from your library. Don't waste your money on it.