# King Arthur Fiction **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115 "2013-10-13T03:34:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/1 "2013-10-13T03:34:17Z")
So I’ve been watching Merlin on Hulu Plus. Good show by the way, I highly recommend it. Anyway, it has gotten me interested in reading some fiction of that time frame and genre. That’s where you guys come in. Is there any fiction out there about King Arthur that an adult would enjoy? Even better if it’s available on Kindle. If not that, what other suggestions have ye? I’ve been told that the Game Of Thrones is a good read, which sounds like it comes close… but is also depressing because every character you like supposedly ends up dying. Blech! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/2 "2013-10-13T03:35:51Z")
I’d recommend The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It’s the story of Camelot et al. told from the point of view of the women. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/3 "2013-10-13T03:41:56Z")
Not sure if you mean the “Swords and Sorcery” genre or its subset of specifically Arthurian stories, but I have liked The Winter Prince, a short novel told in the first person by Medraut (Mordred), by Elizabeth E. Wein. Taut, rather harrowing, and well-written. And the classic by T.H.White, The Once And Future King, is still classic, in its inimitable, deliberately anachronistic way. Perfectly enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/4 "2013-10-13T03:51:10Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Not sure if you mean the “Swords and Sorcery” genre or its subset of specifically Arthurian stories, but I have liked The Winter Prince, a short novel told in the first person by Medraut (Mordred), by Elizabeth E. Wein. Taut, rather harrowing, and well-written. > > And the classic by T.H.White, The Once And Future King, is still classic, in its inimitable, deliberately anachronistic way. Perfectly enjoyable. Well I think my first choice is specifically Arthurian stories, but since I’m just looking into this as it’s a radical departure from my usual interest I’ll take any consensus seriously. Thanks for the suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/5 "2013-10-13T04:49:58Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Is there any fiction out there about King Arthur that an adult would enjoy? Wow. I’m speechless. There are approximately 19 billion books about Arthurian Legend. You are spoilt for choice. Add onto that the kajillion more about Fantasy very akin to the same stuff, and then the sesquillion of Fantasy books quite far removed, and it will overwhelm you. Anyways, my favourite Arthurian legend-related novel, when I first read it at least, was Mary Stewart’s series about Merlin that starts with [The Crystal Cave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Cave). It tries to tie the legend into feasible reality, with real world explanations for what and where Camelot was, how the sword ended up in the stone, who the Lady of the Lake was, etc. Merlin’s wizardly power, for example, is interpreted as mechanical and scientific genius, in the vein of Leonardo da Vinci. The only concession to magic are occasional prophetic visions. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/6 "2013-10-13T04:53:49Z")
I’d take a stab at Mary Stewart’s [Merlin trilogy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Stewart%27s_Merlin_Trilogy). As the name suggests they are Merlin-centric, starting from when Merlin is a wee lad, bastard son of a southern Welsh princess in post-Roman Britain. Arthur does show up eventually of course. But they’re really quite well done, with only the lightest touch of magic, mostly in the form of prophecy. ETA: Argh! Ninja’ed! 😃 ETA 2: > [@GuanoLad](#): > > . Merlin’s wizardly power, for example, is interpreted as mechanical and scientific genius, in the vein of Leonardo da Vinci. The only concession to magic are occasional prophetic visions. There is some non-prophecy sorts of magic, but it is very underplayed and mostly very modest in effect. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/7 "2013-10-13T07:46:57Z")
Gillian Bradshaw’s trilogy - Hawk of May / Kingdom of Summer / In Winter’s Shadow - is excellent. Stripped of most of the magic and told from the pov of Gawaine (“Gwalchmai”), one of his servants, and Guenevere. Officially aimed at a YA audience I suspect but then, it looks like Merlin is too, and I still appreciate her writing as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/8 "2013-10-13T08:02:17Z")
Wikipedia has a whole page on [Modern Arthurian Fiction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Modern_Arthurian_fiction). Links take you even further into the vast world of Arthurian fiction, myth, legend, mysticism & “fact.” So you really need some personal recommendations! Rosemary Sutcliff’s _Sword at Sunset_ is an adult attempt to tell the story of a Dark Ages battle leader, fighting the Saxons, in a culture that mixes paganism & Christianity. I read it long ago and found it quite powerful; it’s apparently part of a series. _The Once and Future King_ is a classic. White loved the H ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/9 "2013-10-13T10:55:25Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Wikipedia has a whole page on [Modern Arthurian Fiction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Modern_Arthurian_fiction). Links take you even further into the vast world of Arthurian fiction, myth, legend, mysticism & “fact.” > > So you really need some personal recommendations! Rosemary Sutcliff’s _Sword at Sunset_ is an adult attempt to tell the story of a Dark Ages battle leader, fighting the Saxons, in a culture that mixes paganism & Christianity. I read it long ago and found it quite powerful; it’s apparently part of a series. > > _The Once and Future King_ is a classic. White loved the H Yes. I see I wasn’t clear in the op. Finding it wasn’t my concern so much as trying to find something that I might enjoy. It’s a completely unknown genre to me. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/10 "2013-10-13T10:59:25Z")
You have to start with _The Once and Future King_. Srsly. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/11 "2013-10-13T12:13:05Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Wikipedia has a whole page on [Modern Arthurian Fiction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Modern_Arthurian_fiction). Links take you even further into the vast world of Arthurian fiction, myth, legend, mysticism & “fact.” > > So you really need some personal recommendations! Rosemary Sutcliff’s _Sword at Sunset_ is an adult attempt to tell the story of a Dark Ages battle leader, fighting the Saxons, in a culture that mixes paganism & Christianity. I read it long ago and found it quite powerful; it’s apparently part of a series. _The Once and Future King_ is a classic. White loved the H _Wrist brace makes typing while lying down awkward._ White loved the High Middle Ages, setting of the most popular Arthur tales; most of our visions of Arthur’s Knights show them in fancy armor (see the movie _Excalibur_), rather than the simpler gear (possibly supplemented with castoff Roman items) shown in more “modern” interpretations. One “modern/Celtic” version is the quite good Merlin series by Mary Stewart–available [bundled for your Kindle](http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Arthurian-Crystal-Enchantment-ebook/dp/B007QXWCQE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1381665277&sr=1-1&keywords=mary+stewart). Malory’s _Morte D’Arthur_ is the source of the classic story, like White’s version. Kindle editions begin at 0.00 dollars;[this 99 cent version](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YFX5G/ref=kcr_store_sample) seems pretty good… ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/12 "2013-10-13T12:23:07Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/13 "2013-10-13T12:28:53Z")
Another vote for the Mary Stewart series, and another vote for _Mists of Avalon_, both of which are utterly enthralling. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/14 "2013-10-13T14:19:18Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > You have to start with _The Once and Future King_. Srsly. Yes. Yes yes yes. The only problem with doing that is that then you’re ruined forever for any other version. The characterisation. The emotional power. The absence of any forsoothly cheesiness. The _writing_. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/15 "2013-10-13T14:24:39Z")
Let me throw another vote in favor of \* The Once and Future King\*. It’s just a fantastic book. The best version of the Arthur story as far as I am concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/16 "2013-10-13T14:38:02Z")
Since \*The Once and Future King \*and \*The Crystal Cave \*have both been mentioned, I guess I will throw in \*Arthur Rex \*by Thomas Berger. It is an extremely funny, irreverent and adult version. I would anti-recommend _Le Morte D’Arthur_; I think most modern readers would find it deeply boring. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/17 "2013-10-13T14:42:36Z")
I like Stephen Lawhead’s [Pendragon Cycle](http://stephenlawhead.com/the-pendragon-cycle.html), although I should qualify that remark some: [ul] [li]I have only read the first four,[/li][li]There is “magic” involved, but it’s not overblown traditional swords-and-sorcery stuff,[/li][li]Lawhead grounds the story in 5th and 6th Century Wales, so some of the names may seem a bit unfamiliar,[/li][li]and, they can be a bit of a slog.[/li][/ul]It’s definitely an out-of-the-ordinary telling of the legends. I like them, but they are not necessarily the most accessible books out there. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/18 "2013-10-13T14:43:24Z")
I’ve also been watching Merlin and just ordered [this book](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030014489X). It’s not fiction but looks interesting all the same. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/19 "2013-10-13T14:56:34Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I would anti-recommend _Le Morte D’Arthur_; I think most modern readers would find it deeply boring. I disagree. I expected to find it boring, but it was quite the opposite. A version with modernized spelling and footnotes to explain the unfamiliar terms helps. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115/20 "2013-10-13T15:18:14Z")
And for a movie, begin with _Camelot_. > **[Amazon.com: Camelot (Special Edition) : Harris, Redgrave, Nero, Hemmings: Movies...](https://www.amazon.com/Camelot-Special-Edition/dp/6304712944)** > > Camelot (Special Edition) \[Import\] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-arthur-fiction/671115.md?page=2)