Lately I've been absolutely up to my ears in King Arthur stuff and loving it, so I wondered if there were any empathizers around here Favorite characters/versions/authors? I just finished the original Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which was very interesting to compare with modern versions of the story like Gerald Morris's retellings, and am on The Book of Mordred by Vivian Vande Velde. It's okay, I've read better, and she sure hasn't sold me on Mordred, who I still think is kind of a nasty guy. Never was a big fan of Lancelot either, though I pretty much adore Gawain. There seem to be some widely differing opinions on Gareth/Gaheris/Agrivaine, too. And I'm really quite undecided on Guinevere as of now. So. Thoughts?

_________________

I've read the Roger Lancelyn Green version, that was really good. And I loved The Book of Mordred! (Though, I was never entirely clear on how to spell Keira's/Kiera's name, because the spelling kept switching within the text. ) But I thought it was an interesting take on "the other side", I've always liked books which tell the story of evil or less important characters.

_________________


Thanks RA, Elenriel, PD/Aliana Dawn, Arwen, Aramel, Shadowcat, Nurr, Tar-Dis!
Pippin of Herenya's Line - "...give nothing back!"
Got fed up and eloped with Ragetti 1-3-08
PHYLLIS, THE ANTI-SUSPIAN!

I finished it earlier today, and I have to admit I do like it better now. The ending surprised me, I was dreading Mordred/Arthur dead (not so much Mordred, as I didn't like him very much toward the end), but he actually redeemed himself and Arthur went off to Avalon. I think it's Keira? Like Keira Knightley? Lol, I couldn't stop thinking of it whenever I saw her name and it drove me insane.

Have you read any Gerald Morris? I've grown out of him a bit, but I ADORED his books.

_________________

....I have never read The Book of Mordred. But I have read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and three or four variations of stories about the Knights of the Round Table.

My favorite version of the whole Arthur story, though, is definitely The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead. It's an incredible series.

_________________

*reads about <i>The Book of Mordred</i> ending* What! That's not the story- how dare the author! lol Sorry, I guess I'm sort of a King Arthur purist. lol Anyway...

Probably my favorite telling of the myth is the Arthurian Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff. The books are <i>The Sword and the Circle, The Light Beyond the Forest,</i> and <i>The Road to Camlann.</i>

Actually, though, I've found that I really like reading about the people that the legends could be based on. A wonderful book for this (and one of the best books I've read) is <i>Sword at Sunset</i>, also by Rosemary Sutcliff. (It has some mature contest, just to let you know. lol)

I saw the Pendragon Cycle in a used book store- I might have to get it. I do like Stephen Lawhead's work!

Oh, definitely, Elenya. Lawhead's Arthur is fantastic. However, it does also contain some mature content. The same applies to Merlin (it's prequel) and Taliesin (the first book).

Still, Arthur was fantastic.

_________________

With Arthur comes some mature content, I think. When you have the Guinevere/Lancelot affair, and Morgause/Arthur having Mordred, and Tristan/Isolde...hard to avoid.

Lol, Elenya - it's okay, Vivien and Morgan go off with Arthur to Avalon to heal him, but we don't find out whether he lives or dies. At the end Mordred had a pretty serious would, but I think it's sort of implied that he lives...? Maybe? Or maybe not. It's a bit ambiguous. I've always thought the end to the Arthur saga was so sad, so I kinda liked it.

Now reading Queen of the Summer Stars by (I think) Persia Woolley. Little bit of mature content there too, so far, but I think I like it.

Does anybody else have a horrible time keeping relations straight here? I'm always forgetting that Arthur is Morgan and Morgause's half-brother, meaning that Mordred is Arthur's son AND his nephew, and Gawain/Gaheris/Agrivaine/Gareth are all also half-brothers to Mordred because Morgause is their mother, but they really ARE Arthur's nephews, and...gah. So confusing.

_________________

^*Agrees*
There is mature content sort of... inherent in the Arthurian stories. I guess I meant Sword at Sunset is more... detailed. The Sutcliff trilogy is more for kids (even though I still liked it!) so it tells about all the relationships, but it doesn't go into detail. Anyway...

I have a hard time keeping relationships straight, too. The first time I read about Mordred calling Arthur "uncle", I was like, "Wha-?!" then I figured it out. lol

Has anybody read Gawain and the Green Knight by Tolkien? 'Tis is poem form- it's interesting!

I read a version of it, by W.S. Merwin, but I haven't done Tolkien's

_________________

Yeah, I read Tolkien's version, Elenya.

And I meant basically the same thing about the mature content in The Pendragon Cycle. It's a little more....detailed...than the average Arthur retelling.

Lol--I have a good memory for relationships and stuff, so no, I didn't really have much trouble with them.

_________________

Wow - good to know, I have the Mists of Avalon out from the library right now, I was going to read it. Would you still say it's worth it with the weird subplots, Aer?

_________________

Also good to know I'm currently reading Queen of the Summer Stars still, and there wasn't a lot of specific stuff (general Arthur/Guinevere romance) but she just kinda got kidnapped by her cousin for less than noble purposes, which was toooooo explicit, and now there's Lancelot/Guinevere stuff. Bleargh.

Yeesh, are there any MORAL females in Arthur?!

_________________

Hm... *thinks* Erm... The Lady in the Lake? The only moral women I can think of are the ones in lesser roles. lol

Yeah, Guinevere/Morgan/Morgause aren't, really. Oooh, maybe Nimue? There are different interpretations of her, though.

_________________

Lol, Melda. In The Pendragon Cycle, Nimue is actually the only immoral woman. She ends up being Morgain.

_________________

^Wow, that sounds refreshing! lol