Rating: 
Summary: better than I thought!
Review: I knew nothing about this book when I first picked it up, in fact I don't know why it caught my interest! I started late at night with the first chapter and kept going, I don't know why but there is something magical about this book, it makes you want to just keep going on and on and on until you've finally reached the very last page. in this book merlin's story is told not as the greatest wizerd of all times with his dark robes and pointy hat but as the dark eyed little boy he once was, the boy who decided that he wanted to be the strong free falcon which he was first named after... I would highly recommened this book even if your not into fantasy books cause for some reson it seems more than that...
Rating: 
Summary: Yick.
Review: I read this book for summer reading. If I didn't HAVE to finish this book, I probably wouldn't have. It was somewhat interesting in parts, but not throughout the whole book. The beginning of the different books in The Crystal Cave were very boring, but then they would become more interesting as the chapters continued. The book is about Merlin, who is royal, but treated as a no-man's-child. His mother claims that his father is The Prince of Darkness. I really can't say more than that because there isn't much more to it. I didn't see a plot that lasted throughout this whole book. I was disappointed with it, but I will say it is readable.
Rating: 
Summary: The Beginning of a Great and Complex Saga
Review: The Story: "The Crystal Cave" is Book One of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy, and focuses on the childhood of Myrddin Emrys, the illegitimate son of a princess in southern England. Myrddin, nicknamed "Merlin" (a falcon), does not know who his father is, and is not very welcome in his grandfather's home. He is welcome by Galapas, a local hermit, who teaches Merlin magic, geography, and medicine. Merlin's grandfather eventually dies and Merlin's uncle, who succeeds the king, has no love for his unwanted and mysteriously mature and intelligent nephew. Merlin flees and ends up in Brittany, where he finds his father, the deposed High King of England, who is readying to for a return to power. Ambrosius, the deposed High King, acknowledges his son and helps him feed his insatiable thirst for knowledge. Merlin also discovers that he has the "Sight" which is the ability to glimpse the future by staring into fire, water, or the night sky. He gradually learns more magical ability, and acquires a strong fund of knowledge in medicine, engineering, music, and poetry. Merlin eventually accompanies his father in the reconquest and reunification of Great Britain. Ambrosius succeeds, but soon dies, leaving the throne to his brother, the womanizing warrior, Uther. Uther falls in love with his ally's wife, Ygraine, and, with Merlin's help, is able to secretly see Ygraine and conceive the future High King, Arthur, whom Merlin has seen in his visions. Merlin, now a famed wizard, because of his vision, prophecies, knowledge, and luck, retires to his cave to await the day when Arthur will need him. Technical: The writing of Mary Stewart is highly detailed and takes patience, but nothing is extraneous or irrelevant. Ms. Stewart's writing style reminds me of Sir Walter Scott's writing style in "Ivanhoe". Overall: A great epic begins, but the reader must be patient and up to the challenge of a long, intricate, and detailed saga.
Rating: 
Summary: mediocre
Review: There were a lot of things I didn't like about this book:
First of all, I prefer science-fiction to fantasy, in other words there were not enough high-tech machines in the book for my likings.
Secondly, I do not like the way Stewart puts women into her story, and the attitude she gives her characters towards these women. For example, when Merlin meets Ygraine, he says that that is the first time he can speak freely to a woman as he can to a man, without thinking over his words. This mean that 18-year old Merlin has in his life only met petty, stupid, maybe demanding women. Out of that I conclude that the biggest part of women in the Arthurian world Stewart creates for us, are that way, a sad thing and a missed opportunity. Also, the first woman Merlin has romantic feelings for is a low-life woman of 'light virtue', who -after his refusal- runs away from him laughing like an evil witch. One day later she sleeps with Uther ! Once again: a not too flattering image of women. If the critics are right, Marion Zimmer Bradley will surely be a better writer as far as the women-issue is concerned.
Thirdly, I don't care for politics and the gaining of property. Strangely enough, Asimovs 'foundation'-series, that contained a great deal of this, is one of my top 5 favorites. In 'The Crystal cave', I had a hard time not skipping the war-like parts. I didn't care whether this or that part of Britain would be gained or lost, while it is Stewarts job to màke the reader care... .
Fourthly, Merlins power to look into the future and act for the Gods puts a heavy blancket over thrilling moments that could have been. I always knew it would work out just fine, because 'Merlin said so'.
Despite of all of this bad stuff, I did enjoy reading it and think I will start reading the second one soon enough.
I can give only one reason for this:
Stewart is really good in making characters alive. At times, it feels as if you can see Merlins stern face looking up at you trough the pages. Also other characters are worked out beautifully: Ambrosius and Uther are two good examples of this. (I would have enjoyed the book more though if the relationship between Ambrosius and Merlin would be a little bit more real. Stewart hardly writes about Merlins feelings when he senses the death of his father, thus making him non-human and therefore less intresting to the reader.)
Taking everything into consideration, three points is how I feel about 'the crystal cave'... .
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Eyed Magician
Review: For a literature circle for our tenth grade advanced english class, my two friends and I read the book "The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart. It was a very tough book to read and follow along. The text, at sometimes, became very blurry and unable to be understood clearly. After a long time, and a large struggle, we finished the book and now will attempt to write this summary of the book. Although a hard read, it brings out the story of Merlin to a good perceptive, and looks at his life as not only magic tricks and spells. It also looks at Merlin not only as a dark and evil person, but as a young boy that is nice and has feelings like all the rest of us. She shows us a more human Merlin than he is usually interpreted as. It gives people that associate Merlin as an old man, with a blue hat with stars and moons on it, and a big beard, a different view of who he really was. The book starts off in Britain with Merlin as a young, wondering boy. He would hide away in his secret tunnels below the castle to get away from everyone and he could also drop in on other people's conversations, which are sometimes about him. He is not a very liked person in his kingdom, as his older brother attempts to kill the young Merlin. Besides those attempts, Merlin escapes and joins his powerful father. With his father he has to use his powers to create his destiny along with that of Britains. Mary Stewart does a good job of bringing this legend to life as you watch this large, dark eyed child go through his adventures and stories of becoming the Great Merlin he became.
Rating:
Summary: The Crystal Cave
Review: I took a pleasurable excursion into Arthurian legend by reading Mary Stewart's "The Crystal Cave". This novel focuss specifically on Merlin, Camelot's famous magician. I have read versions of the ligend of Merlin, but Stewart takes a unique viewpoint. In her interpretation, Merlin isn't a dark and sinister being but a compassionate man with dreams, desires, and some unusual gifts. The novel opens in turbulent, fifth-century Britain. Merlin is the illegitimate son of the King's daughter. Despite his older brother's attempts to destroy him, Merlin esvapes and is reunited with his powerful father. He must now use his unique abilities to create his own destiny along with the destiny of Britain. Stewart's novel sheds light on one of the world's greatest legends while allowing the reader to be immersed in a mysterious and magical past. The characters are developed to such a degree that the reader begins to empathize with their thoughts and feelings. Suspenseful, romantic, and intriguing, the story never let my interest wane. I would recommend "The Crystal Cave" to anyone willing to read a vibrant interpretation of a classic legend.
Rating:
Summary: a MUST read
Review: I read this book for the first time 25 years ago, and I read it over every year or two. Of the 4 books in the series, this is by far my favorite. I think its because this is the only story I've found that shows how Merlin became the legend. For those who think there wasn't enough magic in the book, that's the point. So much of what he does in the book has nothing to do with magic, but manipulation of events and people. The most mystical thing about Merlin is his prophesies. And that makes him so much more believable and human. Throughout the story, he realizes the importance of learning from every source possible to expand his knowledge of the world around him and apply it to the future he knows will come. I have never felt so close to a character as to the little 5 year old boy with the big, dark eyes. Mary Stewart painted a picture of the character that has stayed with me for 25 years. I never can watch a movie with Merlin the Magician and not think of this Merlin, the little boy and how he became the King's magician.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I was required to read this book for summer reading for my highschool freshman honors english class. I started it a couple of days ago, and finished it last night. This is truly a great book. It's a unique take on a classic and well-known story. I'd always associated the name Merlin with an old man witha long white beard and robes with pointy hats. I'd never thought of Merlin as a young man. I also learned a lot about the legend of Camelot from the information in the back of the book .This book may have some faults, but I'm not a historian or camelot buff, and I'm also no author or literary expert. But as a 14 year old girl who loves to read, I am giving this book 5 stars and two thumbs up. The Crystal Cave is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Has its good points...
Review: Based on Geoffrey of Monmouth's account of the Arthurian legend, Mary Stewart's "The Crystal Cave" is essentially Merlin's story. Probably the most striking aspect of the novel is the obviously detailed research which Stewart put into it: from the tunnels in the Roman fortress where Merlin grows up to the subtle nuances of daily life, the author demonstrates a remarkable comfort zone with historical background. This facility for historical detail combined with graceful writing ensures that "The Crystal Cave" is a cut above mediocre. On the other hand, the book has many flaws which prevent it from being exceptional, or even particularly worthwhile reading. The most glaring of these flaws is the character of Merlin: despite the fact that the novel is written from the first-person viewpoint--or perhaps because of it--it is impossible to feel close to the main character or even to be able to know him in any great depth. If asked to describe him at any point in the novel, I would have only been able to say that Merlin is physically weak and perhaps lonely. These are the only characteristics that are apparent--everything else is misty and interchangeable. One moment Merlin is sentimental, the next he is wry and sarcastic, without any seeming connection between the two. In fact, it often seems as if Merlin is voicing the thoughts of Mary Stewart herself instead of his own thoughts as a distinct character. I could not help but compare Mary Stewart's handling of Merlin to Robin Hobb's treatment of her main character in the Farseer trilogy, which is also told in the first-person. The contrast is painfully obvious: Robin Hobb proves in the Farseer trilogy that creating a character in the first-person can heighten the reader's emotional connection to the character, but by the same token Mary Stewart has shown that the opposite effect is possible, too. Apparently using the first-person perspective can distance the character just as easily as draw him close. And since the story revolves exclusively around Merlin, a lack of connection between him and the reader is death for the story as a whole. Another flaw in the novel was a result of Stewart's modeling the novel so carefully upon Geoffrey of Monmouth's account of the Arthurian legend. As anyone who has read it knows, that plotline is not exactly brilliant, believable or realistic. While it is handy as a foundation for the novel, the author commits the fatal mistake of allowing herself to be trapped by Geoffrey's account, and lets his story imprison hers instead of remodeling it to suit her needs. This results in some highly unrealistic actions of characters which seem to have no motivation other than to move the story along its traditional lines. This happens often enough that it becomes impossible to suspend disbelief. The actions of Merlin's mother in Vortigern's court, as well as the entire fiasco with Igraine and Uther, are indicative of this: the characters behave without the logic or sense of purpose necessary to lend them believability. Lastly, it is disappointing that Merlin's magic is given such short shrift. Naturally we know he has magic, he knows he has magic--heck, everyone knows he has magic--but aside from a few hazy visions and some vague allusions to healing, this magic is never dealt with in any detail. This gives the impression more than anything that Stewart was too busy hurrying through Geoffrey's legend to spare any time for personal details, and it also contributes further to the distancing of Merlin from the reader. If we do not even know about the very thing that makes Merlin tick, that separates him from other people, that makes him black out if he tries to have relations with a woman so that he never can, then what do we know about him, really? On a more positive note, minor characters are often portrayed vividly and well, in particular the companions Merlin acquires over the years, Cerdic and Cadal. These characters provide humor and emotion in an otherwise bleak landscape, and it is only a pity that we do not get to see more of them. This book makes for interesting reading, but that is only when taking into account its flaws. It is a must for die-hard Arthurian fans, who will probably not even notice the flaws.
Rating:
Summary: My friend, Merlin...
Review: I suppose I felt I had to add my way of seeing this book, which I haven't found shared among the comments. I read it when I was 13-14, maybe...
I fell in love with Merlin. He's such a real character-- the book is told first-person, I think-- it's character-driven, especially in the first book, so that enjoyment comes from totally immersing youself in that world and that identity. So many details about 5th century English life in a minor castle... I don't know how to say "Merlin is charming" or "Merlin is wonderful", but still, I do know that Merlin never leaves you.
All these years, he's had his stamp on my ideas of England and that time in history. I couldn't read the book like "some book" and "some plot", because it's his life, and he became my friend, relating it to me, a friend I'm in awe/wonder of, a friend who I'm sad for and a friend I'll always remember. Truly one of the most realistic and wondrous descriptions of dealing with the Gift and with Magic I've ever read.
Arthur and Guineveve never inspired me again-- just characters lost in their time, their function-- of course, so was Merlin, in his way, but he also shaped, his time, his destiny, as he was shaped by it. He was aware....
Don't be fooled by the stupid covers to this new edition. It's nothing like a medieval tapestry. It's the story of the man whom history would remember as Merlin.... but that's not how he would tell it.....
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