# The Once and Future King-anyone else read it?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 8, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714 "2003-12-08T07:08:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/21 "2003-12-09T00:30:07Z")
Sorry, Professor Xavier, I haven’t finished it yet. But I will tomorrow, I promise.
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### Author:  [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/22 "2003-12-09T01:59:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by noodler \*
> \*\*“The Queen of Air and Darkness” has some weird Freudian under-tones. \*\*
_Undertones?_ I’d say it’s pretty overt… :eek: 😉
**ouisey** , I’ve always been fond of that line, too. My sisters and I used to get a good deal of mileage out of it. 😉 (We used to read it aloud, with voices for all the characters – I can still do them. Granted, this wasn’t _that_ long ago… ;))
**Skopo** – yes, White does describe Lancelot as really ugly, which I think is a great touch. Really a spectacular bit of characterization – although the same goes for all three of the principals, really. And the severely dysfunctional Orkney family, too.
I definitely need to reread it – it’s been a few years. And I’ve done a lot of graduate work in medieval studies since then, so I imagine I’d get a lot more of the references (and the book is fairly packed with them)…but first, I need to get a copy that’s not in danger of falling to pieces if you look at it the wrong way.
I read _The Book of Merlyn_ too. It’s weird. 😉
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### Author:  [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/23 "2003-12-09T03:38:44Z")
I read it way back in high school, I think. In fact I just mentioned this book in another thread about reading. I do remember enjoying it, but not much of the acutal story. I do have the _Book of Merlyn_, but don’t think I ever read it.
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### Author:  [@MamaHen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MamaHen)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/24 "2003-12-09T04:11:25Z")
I read this book back in high school on my own and I loved it. My Mom bought it for my birthday when I turned 18 but I’ve lost it. It’s on my “Must buy” list though, I can’t wait to share it with my kids.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/25 "2003-12-09T04:13:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lao Tsu \*
> \*\*I read it a long time ago and really enjoyed it. Have you read _The Book of Merlin_? It’s a conclusion to TOAFK from White also. I really enjoyed it too. \*\*
I own it, but I haven’t read it yet. Hopefully, after the re-read.
I like how they call Guinevere “Jenny.” It just adds that little touch.
And how Merlyn keeps mentioning Freud and Victorians.
If I’m not mistaken, it’s also a comment on fascism-the symbol that Mordred chooses is actually a swastika. Wasn’t White an avowed pacifist?
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/26 "2003-12-09T07:31:56Z")
A lovely read. I also liked Berger’s Arthur book. I’m blocking on the title, but IIRC there’s a line something like “Godsf\*\*\*! I do not like this dying!”
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/27 "2003-12-09T07:35:07Z")
_Arthur Rex._ Also : “Shut thine ancient meat-trap!”
Not a good book for children, I’m afraid.
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### Author:  [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/28 "2003-12-09T10:59:51Z")
Read it 20 years ago, need to read it again…Thanks for jogging the memory on it!
-Tcat
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### Author:  [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-once-and-future-king-anyone-else-read-it/217714/29 "2003-12-09T11:23:34Z")
I rescued it from the garbage at church (they were getting rid of it because it had _unicorns_ and _magic_ in it. Oooooo, the horror.) I really, really liked it and should probably re-read it. I suppose it’s been about ten years.
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