[.ca] Avalon:: The Return of King Arthur (ISBN 0380977028)

The Once and Future King:
England is in turmoil. The ineffective king, Edward the Ninth, has committed suicide. Prime Minister Thomas Waring is one referendum away from abolishing the monarcy. And James Arthur Stuart, a Scottish commoner and former army officer, is about to find out that he is the rightful heir to the throne. "Avalon", the final book in Stephen Lawhead's 'Pendragon Cycle', is a fitting conclusion to the Arthurian legend of a king who was, and will be again. When James Arthur Stuart finds out he is heir to the throne, he is dumbfounded to say the least; and when he is told that he is the legendary King Arthur reborn, he finds himself remembering his previous life in spite of his doubts. It is his task, along with his advisor M. Embries, better known as Merlin, to reignite the British peoples desire for a monarcy and defeat the power-hungry Waring at dangerous cost. Set in a modern/near-future time, "Avalon" is a departure from the rest of the series. Yet Lawhead brings the same intensity to detail and legend to the last book of the series. Mixed into James' life is a cast of characters from Arthurian legend, and the circumstances of his life fall uniquely in line with that of Arthur's own upbringing. While the plots of the previous five books have played out on battlefields full of blood and gore, "Avalon" is played out in the field of politics, an all too telling look at a probable reality. Lawhead has done a tremendous job at bringing the Arthurian legends to new life. While there are moments in "Avalon" that are trite and push the limits of reality, the story is a fitting piece of the legendary puzzle. Although it already pushes 500 pages, the ending seems to come too quickly for all the previous buildup, and leaves readers wishing for just a little more.

Amazing:
A High King has risen out of the midst of his people. By his side stand a wise councilor, a beautiful Queen, and faithful companions. This man has a vision of peace and prosperity, but to make that dream a reality he must overcome a terrible evil and a petty Prime Minister. That's right; Arthur is no longer a mythical figure from the dark ages. He lives on in Steven R. Lawhead's masterpiece about near-future England. Everything changes when King Edward the Ninth dies and leaves the government with the means to dissolve the monarchy. For most of England, this event comes almost as relief. The monarchy has been in steady decline and nearly everyone is saying "good riddance" to the whole thing. James Stewart only wants to hold-on to the home that was left for him by his parents and which is being battled over by numerous people with claims to the property. When James comes home and discovers a man -who identifies himself only as Embries -his life changes completely. This book does not take the story of King Arthur and magically transform it into a modern tale. It carries it on, fulfilling the prophecy of Arthur's return. "The throne of Britain shall become an iniquity to the nation, and a reproach to the people, ere Arthur returns. But, when Avallon shall rise again in Llyonesse, and the Thamesis reverse its course, then also shall Arthur take up the kingship of his nation once more."- Anerin, the Black Book of Anerin (ca. 643)-preface of Avalon. Avalon goes far beyond the traditions of Arthurian tales, and yet the Old World feel and enchantment remain unchanged. Whether or not he ever drew a breath or sword, Arthur inspired anyone who heard his tale. Now we have a new hero; James Stuart. Lawhead's genius is apparent in his characterizations. No matter how absurd the idea of a reincarnated King Arthur may seem, James is completely believable. He is confident and modest, and feels like a real person. I found myself wishing that I could be present at one of his awe-inspiring speeches. Arthur's closest friends and allies have also reappeared. Everyone fits into modern society perfectly, while retaining qualities that instantly identify them. Jenny is strong, and supportive; just as before, she is James' backbone. Cal McKay is James' fiercely loyal best friend; "the brother James' parents never got around to giving him." Even Prime Minister Waring is portrayed flawlessly as the ladder climbing politician whose entire life's work is crumbling out from under him. This book has something for everyone; Arthurian legend, political intrigue, fantasy, romance, adventure -you name it. There are places where suspended disbelief is necessary, but in a book this amazing it doesn't matter. At just over 400 pages, Avalon is not a book for someone looking for a quick read, but once you start, putting it down ceases to be an option. Stephen R. Lawhead is the author of many other wonderful books. His works include The Pendragon Cycle, the Dragon King Trilogy, and The Song of Albion trilogy. The Pendragon Cycle is recommended for anyone who would like more background on Lawhead's version of King Arthur's tale; it consists of five books, each of which tells a story leading up to or about Arthur, beginning with that of his grandfather; Taliesin. Avalon can certainly stand by itself, but these novels give further insight into the story.

Bland Cliches:
Stephen Lawhead has always been hit and miss with me. Some of his books I've really enjoyed (The Song of Albion series), others not so much (The Celtic Crusades). This book falls into the "not so much" category. The characters are bland, cardboard cut-outs of previous incarnations; the motivation behind many of the characters is thin at best; and the writing seems like it was called in. If you're a Lawhead fanatic, you'll love this book. If you're a fan of Arthurian legends, there are better choices out there.

Avalon: Intreging:
This story is intreging and has an interensting view on the return of King Author. It acts as a prolog to the Pendragon Cycle.

A fun romp:
A somewhat isolated book of the Pendragon Series which borrows a few key personalities from the series and brings them ~1500 years ahead to the current time. The characters are transparent, the plot is fairly predicable, and the climax was not. No sword clashing or epic battles, and a small and shallow romance thrown in for spice. With all that in mind, read it for purely entertainment purposes. Set your mind in the same mood as when you watch an action movie, with no real expectations beyond that, and it is an enjoyable read that you'll devour fairly fast, then put it away and forget within a few days.