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Summary: Fantasy weaved with factual history
Review: I came across the Crystal Cave as a freshman and couldn't "get into it" although fascinated with the Merlin legend. I picked it up again at the age of 30 and was transported to Wales where Myrrdin Emrys (Merlin) was born. A story of a King's love for another man's wife, a man's love for a boy more his own son than his nephew. Mary Stewart taught me more about Britian and Wales in these 4 novels than I have learned from all else in total. I loved it, and re-read each book about every 3 years.
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Summary: a realistic Merlin for everyone
Review: Before I read these books when I thought of Merlin I thought of magic, dragons, and fantasy. Today my view is so very different. Mary stewart follows Merlin from early childhood to the time of Arthur with her trilogy. And along the way she shows us a realistic young Merlin whom we can all relate to. This series makes the myth of Merlin and camelot seem like it was fact and happened this way. This is my favorite series of books and I will reread and enjoy them for the rest of my life.
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Summary: The best book I have ever read!!
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who loves arthurian stories. It is the best book I have ever read!!!!!
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Summary: Realistic, yet enchanting
Review: The story of Merlin has always intrigued me. Yet I have found the various books and movies distasteful. They portray Merlin in ways that do not jive with my inner sense of what might have been real. Mary Stewart, on the other hand, has portrayed a real individual in her books. A boy, Myrddin Emrys, who grows up spending a great deal of time alone, exploring and thinking. He is then believable as an adult because the magic he practices is ensconced in political wisdom, the beliefs of the people, strategic thinking, and the type of shamanic power that no doubt exists in the world. When the Merlin stood on a hillside overlooking Arthur's troops entering battle, of course they won. They won because they knew they would. Amazingly simple. Was it wizardry or was it the power of belief? Or both? I was permanently affected by this book. I named my son Emrys. I came to believe that the king's merlin no doubt existed, much as political advisors exist today. It is the realistic portrayal of this very important historical character that no one else has managed to conjure in quite so convincing a way.
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Summary: Fantasy weaved with factual history
Review: I came across the Crystal Cave as a freshman and couldn't "get into it" although fascinated with the Merlin legend. I picked it up again at the age of 30 and was transported to Wales where Myrrdin Emrys (Merlin) was born. A story of a King's love for another man's wife, a man's love for a boy more his own son than his nephew. Mary Stewart taught me more about Britian and Wales in these 4 novels than I have learned from all else in total. I loved it, and re-read each book about every 3 years.
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Summary: I, Merlin
Review: In my opinion, this is the second-best re-telling of the Arthurian legend. My favorite is The Once and Future King by T.H. White because of the style in which it is told - it is done with a tremendous amount of humor and charm with its tongue occasionally in its cheek. The tone of this compilation of novels is very similar to the tone of I, Claudius. Here, Stewart writes in the voice of Merlin - and that tone is very serious. Her main source is Geoffrey of Monmouth. She gives a modern-day, realistic re-telling of the events. She takes pains to make everyone into a three-dimensional character. All the familiar plot-points are there as well, but Stewart makes them more modern. It's true, Merlin is psychic, but he uses science more than magic - although he creates magical myths about himself. For instance, the myth of his being sired by an incubus is created to conceal that he is the illegitimate son of King Ambrosius. When he transforms Uther to look like the Duke of Cornwall, he uses a disguise, not magic.This is a thoroughly enjoyable read for any Arthur enthusiast and it is a great piece of literature in its own right. Deservedly a classic.
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Summary: THE MERLIN TRILOGY--MARY STEWART
Review: This series chronicles the adventures of Merlin--from birth to death. Born a bastard prince, young Myrddin Emrys rides his trusty horse around the countryside. He meets an old man named Galapas, near a sacred spring and a crystal cave. He becomes his teacher and makes young Myrddin become the powerful mage Merlin... This book was great. It was one of the first novels to be written from Merlin's point of view. There was only one downfall: the last part went really slow. Mary Stewary did write a companion novel to this series, "The Wicked Day" (from the point-of-view of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son with his half-sister), but it seemed like she tried too hard. Don't read it unless you're a die-hard Arthurian Legend or Mary Stewart fan.
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Summary: Fantasy that feels real, not romance.
Review: This trilogy has been among my favorites since it was first published more than 30 years ago. I love the fact that this is Merlin's story first, and Arthur's only in a secondary sense, and it feels as real as anything can be. Each book in the trilogy has its own fascinations and highpoints. In THE CRYSTAL CAVE, I love the story of how young Myrddin Emrys grows up and finds his way to his father, Ambrosius. I like the fact that this Merlin is an herbalist and physician, an engineer, and a singer, not a "romantic" wizard or magician. The description of the pain of having visions emerges so powerfully, as do the sacrifices Merlin must make to satisfy his "god." The final story of the conception of Arthur is as exciting as anything in historical literature. In THE HOLLOW HILLS, the tension between Merlin and Uther, and the almost filial relationship of Arthur to his mentor Merlin remain in my memory. The powerful climax, in which Uther recognizes his heir, who must then prove himself to Uther's followers and allies, is exciting and well written. In some way, THE LAST ENCHANTMENT is my favorite volume because it tells the story of Arthur's rise and Merlin's decline. One can feel how painful it must be to lose one's powers with increasing age and see oneself superseded by another (Nimue). But even that is an intensely human process: Merlin, suffering from the effects of being poisoned by Morgause, and seeking a young man to be his successor, is "entrapped" in a love relationship he never expected, but the entrapment is not a matter of deception but rather one of letting go and seeing one's lover and pupil assume her rightful place. I recommend this trilogy to anyone who wants the Arthurian legend with a human face and in a realistic historical setting. Everything about it is compelling and satisfying.
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Summary: WONDEFUL BOOK............
Review: THIS A REALLY A UNIQUE BOOK. I LOVE THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN IN THE
FIRST PERSON. YOU REALLY GET THE FEELING MERLIN ACTUALLY EXISTED
AND WAS NOT JUST A FIGMENT OF SOMEONE'S THINKING. IT IS REALLY A BOOK IF ONE IS INTERESTED IN WIZARDS AND THEIR
MANY GIFTS AND WORKINGS OF MAN AND NATURE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL AGES.....
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Summary: Even better the second time
Review: I first read this book when I was in middle school in the early 80's. I remembered I had enjoyed it and ordered it from Amazon. Wow. As far as I'm concerened, it has only gotten better.
The perspective of the books (Merlin's) is told in both a convincing and unique way that is just not duplicated anywhere else. The descriptions of 5th century Brittain and legends are fascinating. It is a fantastic book that goes a different direction than the numerous others, yet more than holds its own.
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