Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing but strained
Review: A new and interesting combonation of several legends (Arthurian, Norse, Atlanian, etc.) with new "legends." All in all, I gave it 4 stars for its creativity, but the book does lack focus and was downgraded for trying to do too much with its storyline. The characterization is a little weak as well. It's one of the few series that I haven't been interested in continuing, but I'm not sorry I read this one.
Rating: 
Summary: The Dragon and the Unicorn
Review: A startlingly enjoyable blend of legend, fantasy, and galaxy. Beautiful imagery and well-rounded characters matched only by Robert Jordan. A powerful escape into a greater realm. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautifully written mess is STILL a mess...
Review: A well-written bad blending at best. A pretentious mess at worst. While no one, least of all me, can deny that Mr. Attanasio has a splendid writing style that is beautiful, if not poetic--that does not soley make a good book. His total mish-mosh of Celtic, Nordic, Germanic, and Christian religions, myths, legends, etc is a major hurdle, especially if you know even the basics of those things. That he throws in new-age concepts that are both historically and mythically innaccurate is almost un-forgiveable, but as I sad, he writes beautifully. So I sat through the book, after a second attempt. I still came away dissapointed, to say the least. I notice that the people who seem to enjoy this book most have no Arthurian legend baggage to begin with, much less of any of the myths Mr. Attanasio throws together into a sloppy mess. The dots don't connect in my eyes, much less look well together. And what one other reviewer said echoes true for me too: even with it's grand setting and epic feel, none of it seemed to matter. I just didn't care, and this is coming from a big fan of myths, legends, and modern fantasy. Sorry Mr. A....stick with your sci-fi.If you're expecting Tolkien (a true master of blending myths) or anything like the myths he claims to be inventing "anew", don't look for it here. But if you don't care about that or can ignore it--then it's a beautiful lyrical read, I'll give him that much.
Rating:
Summary: an enchanted tale of epic scope
Review: Although this book is a at first little hard to get into simply because of its poetic and lyrical style, once you are acquainted with Attanasio's descriptive and unique story-telling, you'll find yourself swept up in a tale of such breath-taking imagery that you'll feel as though earth no longer is a place of mundane routine and solely human reign, but really is the home to mystical beings whose power and actions drive the inner fires of its heart. With a spell-binding finale, this book, written in the present tense, is a journey written by a literary master, who weaves the traditional Arthurian saga into a powerful tale that keeps you captivated until the end.
Rating:
Summary: Raises the bar for the fantasy genre.
Review: An exquisitely crafted tale which deftly blends elements of the Arthurian legend with Norse mythology and paganism. Although less erudite readers may find Attanasio's vernacular somewhat cumbersome (those with weak hearts or iron-poor blood need not apply), many will find the author's willingness to apply his profound vocabulary to a fantasy title (of all things!) refreshing and unexpected. Pretentious? Not in the least. Attanasio ALWAYS chooses the right word and never comes across as a writer intent on showing off his chops. He is just too damned talented not to shine brilliantly with every turn of the page. I'll be looking forward to the release of "The Serpent and the Graal".
Rating:
Summary: wonderful book
Review: I am very disappointed by the reviews I've read of this book - even the positive ones. People are praising and denouncing this book for all the wrong reasons. There are more people in this world than pagans and christians and there are more reasons for enjoying this book than inclusion of various religious beliefs and mythologies and i'm sure there are much better reasons for disliking it. People are trying much too hard to be critics.
Rating:
Summary: very good, opens up new avenues of thought
Review: I found the complex way of telling a simple tale intriguing and fascinating. I believe Attanasio has captured an entirely different view of Arthurian legends. He has opened up doors that people had always walked past before. He gave new light to subjects people had always speculated or taken for granted before. Some of his explanations were a little troubling to the traditional tales, but then again that's what made it so good. I believe that "The Dragon and the Unicorn" is the first in a long line of alternative, thought-provoking tales of King Arthor.
Rating:
Summary: Great idea, but not quite there...
Review: I love the premise, mostly because very few writers have really tried to explore the origins of Uther and his life in his own right. Much of the mythology the author lays out is interesting in idea, mixing Celtic, Christian, Roman, and on and on. Some of his theories get a little mixed up, but his ideas of Fire Lords and the birth of the universe are essentially worthwhile.
Many have commented on Attanasio's poetic prose, which I agree with to a point. He has many beautifully crafted lines, but I often found myself skimming over them, just in trying to get to some real meat of a story. I imagine he pumped up this aspect to lend to the mythic feel of the work, but in contrast to someone else in the genre like Samuel Delaney, this author still has much to learn in controlling that poetic voice.
More than anything what is missing from this cosmological epic is a sense of humanity. All the characters seem to be dragged around from point to point, event to event without much concern or consideration for what's occurring within them. Uther in particular is challenged at the core of his belief, but this is all solved rather quickly. Some of his problems might be fixed by focusing more on a core character, and their are at least three in this novel, not leaving much time for full exploration of the character.
Attanasio is trying something a little different from the typical thread of sword and sorcery books. While not wholly successful, it is still worthwhile if you are a fan of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: Great idea, but not quite there...
Review: I love the premise, mostly because very few writers have really tried to explore the origins of Uther and his life in his own right. Much of the mythology the author lays out is interesting in idea, mixing Celtic, Christian, Roman, and on and on. Some of his theories get a little mixed up, but his ideas of Fire Lords and the birth of the universe are essentially worthwhile.
Many have commented on Attanasio's poetic prose, which I agree with to a point. He has many beautifully crafted lines, but I often found myself skimming over them, just in trying to get to some real meat of a story. I imagine he pumped up this aspect to lend to the mythic feel of the work, but in contrast to someone else in the genre like Samuel Delaney, this author still has much to learn in controlling that poetic voice.
More than anything what is missing from this cosmological epic is a sense of humanity. All the characters seem to be dragged around from point to point, event to event without much concern or consideration for what's occurring within them. Uther in particular is challenged at the core of his belief, but this is all solved rather quickly. Some of his problems might be fixed by focusing more on a core character, and their are at least three in this novel, not leaving much time for full exploration of the character.
Attanasio is trying something a little different from the typical thread of sword and sorcery books. While not wholly successful, it is still worthwhile if you are a fan of the genre.
Rating: 
Summary: A great fantasy for fantasy lovers
Review: I loved the author's (Attanasio) blend of the many different legends and myths that melded into this wonderful story. This was the first book by him that I read and also one of the few fantasy books I have read but while I'll admit that it took me a little way into the book to get my bearings, I am glad that I never gave up on it. Ultimately, I was drawn into the story and couldn't wait to see where it would go next. I would highly recommend this to fantasy readers everywhere.
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