Rating: 
Summary: Hail Merlin!
Review: Merlin is an awsome charecter of the Arthurian Legend,this book tells about Merlin's life before Arthur.Merlin once lived among the Hill Folk (people who are thought to be God's first children) and learns about and possesses power that the druids don't, he then meets his one true love. But shortly after their marraige she is killed by barbarians, he then goes into hiding in the woods, until Pelleas finds him they then go and find Vortigern (a tyrant) and warns him of Aurelius and Uther (the Pendragons)who will want revenge. The rest you'll have to find out in "Merlin".HAIL MERLIN!!! LONG LIVE LAWHEAD!!!
Rating:
Summary: importance of MERLIN
Review: Merlin is the key to the Pendragon Cycle. In this book, you learn Merlin's innermost fears and thoughts. My personal favorite of the series, it helps the reader to truly understand the most constant, key character of the Pendragon Cycle.
--Nathanael W. Fish (NateWFish@aol.com)
Rating:
Summary: Lawhead's Re-Imagining of the Arthurian Mythos Continues...
Review: Merlin is the second book in Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle. Merlin picks up following the events of Taliesin, which saw Atlantean Princess Charis marrying Bard Taliesin, the birth of their son Merlin, and Taliesin's murder by Charis' half-sister Morgan. This book can be diveded into about 3 parts. The first is the story of Merlin's childhood, where is is taught wisdom by both Druids, Priests and former kings of Atlantis. The second deals with Merlin's brief reign as a warrior Celtic prince, story of love and war, ending in tragedy. The final part of the book deals with Merlin as a kingmaker and ends with the birth of Arthur. Set in the time period just after the end of Roman occupation, Lawhead combines history with Celtic mythology to create a very different look at the story of Arthur. Very few writers take their works as far back as Lawhead does, and very, very few are as detailed and interesting. Although there are many elements of magic in this book, it can almost be described as historical fiction as opposed to fantasy, yet enough fantastic elements remain to make this a terrific read.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent glimpse into a man's heart and soul
Review: Merlin is the second book of the Pendragon cycle. It follows Merlin from boyhood to adulthood, and chronicles his struggles along the way. I loved the refreshing honesty of a man who struggled with his destiny. He didn't shirk it, but he never really wanted the role he was forced to play. He really just wanted to live a life like any other. My favorite thing about Merlin is the glee with which he satirizes stupidity-on-purpose. No one can hurl an insult like Merlin!
Rating:
Summary: All hail Myrddin, Greatest of Bards
Review: Merlin or Myrddin (the dd makes the Th sound) as he is called in the book, is never talked about much in the legends and I for one wanted to hear more about this character. I don't mind him being a Christian since I am one too. This book takes us from his youth to his elder years. The great thing about the trilogy is that Merlin stays young forever. So he really is immortal (okay, you can kill him but aside from that)>
Rating:
Summary: Myrddin, True Bard to the High King of Heaven
Review: Merlin was the best book I have ever read regarding the Arthurian legends. Lawhead is an excellent writer, well-worthy of praise. Merlin, the man and the myth, is brought to light and his true self revealed. His triumphs and tragedies are unveiled and his emotions unleashed in this remarkable epic of a man who rose to greatness.
Rating:
Summary: Alternate Arthurian Reality
Review: Merlin, the advisor of Arthur, considered by some a wizard or sorcerer, is a bard, prophet, and warrior, and possesses power granted by the Christian god. In Merlin, by Stephen R. Lawhead, you discover Merlin's roots, and how he came to know Arthur, who would one day unite Britain. The story can exist by itself, but is much easier to understand if you have read its prequal, Taliesin, which tells of how Merlin's mother and father met. In Merlin, the name most commonly used for Merlin is Myrrdin. He is the offspring of Charis, and Taliesin. Taliesin was the best bard that had ever lived before he was killed and Charis was a princess of Atlantis who managed to escape before the gods reclaimed the land. The book is wonderfully descriptive and throughout the pages you get a strong sense of emotion, be it joyful or sorrowful. The first part of the book is Myrrdin telling his life until he was driven mad by the mutilation of his wife by Saecson warriors. In his insanity he fled society and live among the hills. The flash-backs are vivid, and make you feel like you are actually experiencing them, not merely being told of them. His life consists of events, all meticulously described, so you can see and hear them in your brain - like the smells the scent of a wolfskin coat, or the roasting of meat, and you can even feel the atmosphere of battle suppressing you. When Myrrdin goes into his "bullet time" battle rage, you can see the battle in slow motion as he effortlessly hacks his way through hundred of Saecson and Picti barbarians, and saves his companions from death by the axes of the Saecsons, or spears of the Picti. In Myrrdin's charge against the Saecsons that mutilated his wife and unborn child, he cleaves a path to the center of a force of several hundred Saecsons, after entering his battle rage. Because he is in the middle of the Saecson army, he is unable to help his friends, and after seeing several go down, starts seeing all of them die, and after all the Saecsons have been killed flees madly to the hill even with his steward calling his name to come back. The book after the flash backs, is just as descriptive, and even more compelling, The book is a religious novel, but it is not offensive to non-Christians as it doesn't say the extinct Celtic religion is bad, only that it is not the whole truth. The politics of the book are reasonable, the kings and people respond realistically to events. In the second part of the book Myrrdin looses his ability to see battle in slow motion, and respond with super human speed, but the battles are even more amazing. Uther is the Duke of Britain after Myrrdin establishes his brother as high king. In Uther's first battle against Saecsons he is out numbered by five to one. Yet, by making it appear that he and his horsemen retreated and leaving only footmen behind with Myrrdin and his brother, he managed to come into the rear, where the Saecson leader was and captured him without having to hack their way through several thousand axe wielding Saecsons. The book, Merlin, is a highly descriptive novel, and is a wonderful addition to the Arthurian saga. It ends with the birth of Arthur, the death of Uther and of the sword of Britain being driven to the hilt into stone. After finishing this novel I immediately got a copy of the next novel of the Pendragon cycle, Arthur. I highly recommend this novel to people who enjoy fantasy novels like Lord of the Rings and any other Arthurian novel.
Rating:
Summary: Alternate Arthurian Reality
Review: Merlin, the advisor of Arthur, considered by some a wizard or sorcerer, is a bard, prophet, and warrior, and possesses power granted by the Christian god. In Merlin, by Stephen R. Lawhead, you discover Merlin's roots, and how he came to know Arthur, who would one day unite Britain. The story can exist by itself, but is much easier to understand if you have read its prequal, Taliesin, which tells of how Merlin's mother and father met. In Merlin, the name most commonly used for Merlin is Myrrdin. He is the offspring of Charis, and Taliesin. Taliesin was the best bard that had ever lived before he was killed and Charis was a princess of Atlantis who managed to escape before the gods reclaimed the land. The book is wonderfully descriptive and throughout the pages you get a strong sense of emotion, be it joyful or sorrowful. The first part of the book is Myrrdin telling his life until he was driven mad by the mutilation of his wife by Saecson warriors. In his insanity he fled society and live among the hills. The flash-backs are vivid, and make you feel like you are actually experiencing them, not merely being told of them. His life consists of events, all meticulously described, so you can see and hear them in your brain - like the smells the scent of a wolfskin coat, or the roasting of meat, and you can even feel the atmosphere of battle suppressing you. When Myrrdin goes into his "bullet time" battle rage, you can see the battle in slow motion as he effortlessly hacks his way through hundred of Saecson and Picti barbarians, and saves his companions from death by the axes of the Saecsons, or spears of the Picti. In Myrrdin's charge against the Saecsons that mutilated his wife and unborn child, he cleaves a path to the center of a force of several hundred Saecsons, after entering his battle rage. Because he is in the middle of the Saecson army, he is unable to help his friends, and after seeing several go down, starts seeing all of them die, and after all the Saecsons have been killed flees madly to the hill even with his steward calling his name to come back. The book after the flash backs, is just as descriptive, and even more compelling, The book is a religious novel, but it is not offensive to non-Christians as it doesn't say the extinct Celtic religion is bad, only that it is not the whole truth. The politics of the book are reasonable, the kings and people respond realistically to events. In the second part of the book Myrrdin looses his ability to see battle in slow motion, and respond with super human speed, but the battles are even more amazing. Uther is the Duke of Britain after Myrrdin establishes his brother as high king. In Uther's first battle against Saecsons he is out numbered by five to one. Yet, by making it appear that he and his horsemen retreated and leaving only footmen behind with Myrrdin and his brother, he managed to come into the rear, where the Saecson leader was and captured him without having to hack their way through several thousand axe wielding Saecsons. The book, Merlin, is a highly descriptive novel, and is a wonderful addition to the Arthurian saga. It ends with the birth of Arthur, the death of Uther and of the sword of Britain being driven to the hilt into stone. After finishing this novel I immediately got a copy of the next novel of the Pendragon cycle, Arthur. I highly recommend this novel to people who enjoy fantasy novels like Lord of the Rings and any other Arthurian novel.
Rating:
Summary: Myrddin Emrys is back
Review: Thank you very much Mr. Lawhead. Thank you for giving us a new Merlin: a man, a bard, a holy man. The tale of his life and doings, of his struggles and pains kept me tied to the book for many breathless beautiful hours. How I wish I could have met him and be at his service. He reminded me of another wonderful character: Master Elrond of Imladris, created by Prof. Tolkien. What do you think about this?
Rating:
Summary: As good as the first
Review: The second part of the Pendragon cycle is as captivating and enjoyable as the first part (Taliesin). This book expnads on subjects covered in Taliesin and takes the reader through a chronological procession of the groundwork for the coming of Arthur. Lawhead weaves many theories and legends together to make a completely believable and enticing account.
|
