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| Arthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3) | 
 enlarge | List Price: $29.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 33 reviews)
Sales Rank: 758047
Category: Book
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Studio: HarperCollins Publishers
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
Label: HarperCollins Publishers
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2
ISBN: 0310205077
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780310205074
ASIN: 0310205077
Publication Date: June 1, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The legends of King Arthur come alive with a Christian world-view in these masterfully told adventures. These new editions contain new maps and other new material.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Flat writing hits third book in series October 1, 2008
Book Three of The Pendragon Cycle, in which Lawhead tells the climactic story of Arthur's kingmaking and consolidation of British power, and ends with his anti-climactic death (or just "fading into the west"?).
While all this should have been stirring and emotional, Lawhead's writing this time out seems flat, with a couple of long "bard stories" that are confusing and best skipped over, and battle scenes which are either seemingly interminable or laughably short ("We faced 50,000 barbarians with 500 horse, and slew them all, Jesu be praised").
Book four in the series: Pendragon: Book Four of the Pendragon Cycle (The Pendragon Cycle)
 The stunning confusion to the Authurian saga October 7, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
...yawn. Besides, the novel isn't the conclusion- as claimed on the cover, since Mr. Lawhead went on to write a few more...
If you don't mind undeveloped characters, cardboard characters, stupid characters, and mostly stupid plot, you'll love this novel.
Actually, there's not much of a plot at all; just a series of battles where Arthur and his knights battle thousands upon thousands of 'savages' and win every time. I think one battle was against twenty or forty thousand- some silly number considering the time and place, let alone the odds.
So! You have Arthur being crowned- oops- not- just given the title of Duke ala a long dreary preachy Christian ceremony. Then there's a battle, and a battle, and a battle and.... Then another corination ala a long preachy Christian ceremony, then I fell asleep. Another corination where Arthur is made the Grand Mucky Muck of Britian ala Rome and another Christian lecture...I think... and then- wallah! After years of Peace, Arthur ignores Merlin's advice and chooses to march off to save Rome. Somewhere in there Arthur adapts the large red cross as his insignia to show he's a soldier for Christianity.........Anyway, while Arthur's off saving Rome, his Lady and castle, and most of the knights he left back home are attacked, killed, or taken hostage.
The entire story is filled with logic glitches, and Merlin seems so inept-he mostly wanders around moaning over Morgian and the evil Morgian has done. Seems anytime he tries to look into the flames to see the future there's a "fog" where Morgian and other bad guys are concerned. If I was Arthur I'd bump Merlin down the road and hire an advisor who isn't sneaking off to get himself blinded by the same Morgian, or whining because he doesn't know anything and One Must Trust In The Good God. Well, I say: Good God! What a tedious Merlin- and book.
Just one example of questionable story logic: Arthur allowing one of the Irish men to live because the poor fellow explains he's only invading Britian because he was forced to. His family is starving back home and so forth. Arthus feels the man is sincere and allos him to live. Turn a few pages and- hey look at that- the poor fellow is now a King- who sends his daughter along to become Arthur's wife, along with all kinds of treasures, knights, etc.
I have done my best to hang in there because I can usually tolerate the poorest writing if it has to do with Arthurian legend but I won't be reading any more of Mr. Lawhead's novels.
Aside from the lack of a real plot, no major scope to the novel, poor characterization, and poor logic, the prose alone can grate on your nerves; all Mr. Lawhead's characters sound alike but the real kicker is his descriptors with a never ending "and" tossed in- most are redundant -and you'll find them on most every page:
*The sound was wretched and pathetic.
*The day was bright and the wind fresh.
*The barbarians fled howling in despair and anguish.
*The smoke curled black and thick.
*Awed and abashed we gazed upon the wealth we had won.
*It remained sunny and warm, and the long northern day stretched soft and golden before us.
*The winter proved dark and cold.
*Their welcome was genuine and heartfelt.
*She turned on me, livid and spitting.
*The stronghold remained solid and secure.
*The barbarians left a curious reminder of their cruelty and hate.
*The next day dawned fresh and fair.
*That he should appear now upset and angered me.
Geesh, Mr. Lawhead- have you never studied up on showing rather than telling? And having the characters interact with their surroundings? Or filters?
My suggestion is to skip these novels and read Mary Stewart's marvelous Hollow Hills, The Crystal Cave, etc--- just don't purchase the *last* book in her series as it's very disappointing. But the remaining novels are incredible, with a powerful but very human Merlin, fully-fleshed characters, an Arthur and many other characters you will love, marvelous scope and plot, etc. And no preaching!
Third in the Pendragon series September 4, 2007
Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife. Stephen Lawhead is one of my all time favourite authors and I am only sorry that he does not write more often.
Merlin thoughts travel along the same path as his father Taliesin. He has long dreamed of the Kingdom of Summer. A dream that draws together the fragmented tribes of England into one peaceful union. T achieve this dream, Merlin must find and train the boy whose birth has been foretold in the stars, Arthur.
This will be no easy task and there will be many trials and tribulations along the way, but Merlin is ready for all of this and more. Stephen Lawhead weaves a magical tale, bringing a new slant to the Arthurian legends.
Not Free SF Reader September 3, 2007
A look at Arthur, and in a large part, his military life. The book opens with him leading a small war band, and continues with his military prowess increasing, particular when he has sage advice from the more experienced Merlin.
A different take on the Arthur story, but certainly interesting because of it.
Refreshing take on King Arthur June 6, 2007
I have just finished Arthur and so far I have truly enjoyed the series. I love his take on the legends. My favorite of the three first books was Taleisin but the others have been a pleasent read. Its not a nail biter but it is a good book. I really like how there isn't the usual magic. I really find this series refreshing so far!
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