The Merlin Trilogy (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Mary Stewart
- First Published: 1970
- Type of Work: Novels
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—mythological
- Time of Work: The late fifth century
- Setting: Great Britain
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy, Arthurian romance
- Subjects: Magic or magicians, Mythology or myths, Incest, Fratricide, parricide, or filicide, Prophecy or prophets, Great Britain, Fifth century, Swords
- Locales: Great Britain
The Plot
The Merlin trilogy tells the King Arthur story from the viewpoint of Merlin, Arthur’s protector, teacher, and adviser. The Crystal Cave focuses on Merlin’s childhood and youth as he struggles to find his father and develop the gift of the Sight, the ability to see visions of events elsewhere or in the future. The novel begins by introducing Merlin as the illegitimate son of Niniane, daughter of a Welsh king. She has refused to tell anyone the name of the man who fathered her child.
Merlin is an outsider at his grandfather’s court because of his...
[The entire page is 1490 words long]
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