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Summary: The definitive Merlin...
Review: ...at least, according to me. Having an interest in Arthurian mythology, I have read various retellings of the story from Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon" to Parke Godwin's "Firelord," and I can say without hesitation that Mary Stewart's "The Crystal Cave" is my favorite presentation of Merlin, period. In part this is because I read it when I was young, and so it was one of my first exposures to the characters, but I think that my deep-seated love for this book goes beyond mere familiarity. It is, plain and simple, a fantastic book. The narrator is Myrddin Emrys, later known as Merlin Ambrosius, the enchanter of legend-and here a fully realized human being, with questions, flaws, magnificences, and all the rest in between, sympathetic and capable both of evoking familiarity and mystery. (Yes, I love the character, want to make something of it?) While he is certainly the central character around which events revolve, Mary Stewart does not neglect any others, giving even the most minor players a full wealth of description and believable character. Skillfully handled by Stewart is the question of "magic," which is here the direct communication between Myrddin and his god, whatever god that might be. The visionary scenes read like pure poetry, never once resorting to any stock-fantasy cop-outs in their resolution; the concept of the crystal cave itself is enchanting. By the midpoint of the book Myrddin has become known as a prophet, but when he was young this gift was called "the Sight," and taken as a sign of his demonic parentage; for his mother named no man as her child's father, giving rise to the rumor that he was sired by the Prince of Darkness himself. This, of course, leads to his famous summoning to Vortigern, and the tower that will not hold fast but splits and falls every night...Here, as throughout the entire story, Stewart holds fast to the main details of the legend, fleshing out and elaborating upon the bare actions of the narrative. Even the names have an earthier sound to them, more historical and less stylized, while remaining recognizable to the reader. While "The Crystal Cave" may not be the most historically accurate of them all-there is one wonderful twist of plot and story, around which the center of the book and much of Myrddin's life hinges, which has absolutely no base in fact or legend-it evokes the times so richly that it might as well have been real. Mary Stewart's characters are people, not constructs; they interact realistically against the backdrop shadowed by Myrddin's mysterious god and the Sight that guides and drives his life. One can believe solidly that this Merlin existed. And, after all, is not that the point of both magic and good writing?
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Summary: Great book!
Review: This is my first book about King Arthur. It's really a page-turner. I'm impressed by the author's ability to convert a myth to such a lifelike story. Everything that happened had its own reason. I love it.
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Summary: LOVED IT
Review: This was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE book of all times!! I couldn't put it down (even though it became lenghty at points). A book of medieval war and romance...
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Summary: Great
Review: Grea
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Summary: Stewart shows real Merlin in this spellbinding masterpiece
Review: What was it like to live in Arthurian time? No one living today can actually know, but after reading The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart, one feels as if they had. Those who haven't read this yet must obtain a copy. Stewart delves into the personal life of Myrddin Emrys, better known as Merlin the magician, counselor, and guardian of King Arthur. Intertwining fact, legend, and fiction, Stewart interprets the mystery surrounding Merlin and his powers into a personal, heartfelt story of a very misunderstood individual. This book starts when Merlin is very young and living in his grandfather's castle in Madridunum. We follow him through the trials of growing up without knowing the identity of his father, interacting with his Uncle Camlach who tries to poison him, understanding his mother, and discovering his power which is later referred to as "The Sight". This power he possesses perplexes, terrifies and intrigues him. One day he travels far into the hills around his town and finds a cave full of crystals and an old man named Galapas. Here he learns of his powers and how to control them. When his grandfather is killed, he runs away in fear of his uncle. Soon he is kidnapped but this leads to meeting Ambrosius, who is later discovered to be his true father. Ambrosius keeps him as a counselor and lets him live as he pleases. Many years later he goes back to Madridunum to visit his mother and seek out information for Ambrosius when he is captured by men of Ambrosius' enemy, Vortigern. He goes through trials of staying alive and soon prophesizes of a cave and two dragons. This is the turning point from which the normal legend of Merlin turns dark. In Stewart's version, though, Merlin is also in awe of his powers and has fear of what he is becoming. Up to this point the book is intriguing and fast paced, but now it turns to the more historical side and even cuts out most of the dialog. The story of Ambrosius, his brother Uther, Vortimer and his father Vortigern with the Saxon wife drags on for about a fourth of the book. Soon enough, Ambrosius is the High King and wants to take Killare, the stronghold of Ireland. Inside this fortress is a huge ring upon ring of enormous stones called The Dance. Ambrosius wants it moved to his new stronghold of all the empire. While this seems impossible, Merlin again surprises the kingdom with his supposed magic and thinks of a plan. Suddenly Ambrosius dies and Merlin dedicates himself to moving this and burying Ambrosius under the center stone, which has magical qualities itself. This new Dance is better known as Stonehenge. Now Uther is King, and Merlin and Uther must work out their problems to rule the kingdom. Presently, Uther falls in love with another ruler's wife. She, named Ygraine, wants him also, but is constantly followed by guards. Merlin, his devoted servant Cadal, and Uther devise a plan to impregnate Ygraine with Uther's baby, but let her husband think it is his child. This plan is barely carried out, and in this process Cadal and other servants of Ygraine and her husband are killed. Merlin, saddened, but with high faith, returns to Galapas' Crystal Cave, which is now his own. What makes this book so unique is that Stewart portrays Merlin as a real human being with emotions, fears, and dreams, unlike the legends show. She lets the reader see into his head and understand that he was just a highly intelligent human used by the gods, not a sinister wizard. After reading it, the real Merlin Emrys becomes an odd but graspable character with whom one can connect. This true mastery shown by Mary Stewart beckons me to read the next two books in the trilogy.
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Summary: mary stewart wonderfully retells mystical stories of merlin
Review: man, I loved this book i read it when i was 11 (i'm 12 now) but this book topped most of the many books i've read!I highly reccomend this book to any one looking for a really interesting book
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Summary: This is the best Arthurian Saga I have ever read
Review: I read it for a book report and I couldn't put this enchanting version of merlin down!
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Summary: Mary Stewart retells the magical story of merlin
Review: I read this story a couple years ago, when I was 12, I loved it! Mary Stewart brings the magical world of merlin to readers in such a wonderful way that it's impossible to dislike! However, I little more description would make this a 5 star book!
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Summary: slow
Review: this is a great book to read but is slow reading because it takes a while for the book to get to the point theya re trying to make.
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Summary: Great book for fantasy lovers!!
Review: The Crystal Cave gives you a crisp clear picture of what Merlin's Life really might have been. It describes all of the legends in a reasonable way. It was well written and described
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