 | | | | Steel Magic |  | List Price: $1.75
Buy New: $0.65
You Save: $1.10 (63%)
Buy New/Used from $0.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 8 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2454041
Category: Book
Author: Andre Norton
Publisher: Pocket Books
Studio: Pocket Books
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
Label: Pocket Books
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 3.8 x 0.7
ISBN: 0671560948
EAN: 9780671560942
ASIN: 0671560948
Publication Date: August 1978
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A final stand for Avalon...
Sara, Greg, and Eric Lowry are exploring the woods near their uncle's Hudson Valley estate when they are magically transported to the land of Avalon. There they meet Huon, Warden of the West. When he tells them that the forces of darkness have stolen the three talismans that protect Avalon-King Arthur's sword, Excalibur; Merlin's ring; and Huon's horn-the children set off on a quest to find the three tokens of power. For Avalon stands as a wall between the Dark and the mortal world. And if Avalon falls, so does Earth....
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
Also known as GRAY MAGIC November 16, 2008
This is the second of the three novels collected in the omnibus THE MAGIC BOOKS (see), one of a set of at least six stand-alone novels with young, troubled protagonists who stumble across magical ways into other times or other worlds that give them a new perspective on their problems in the here-and-now. In some ways this story is more of a comfort read than the others, as the Lowrys (Greg, Sara, and Eric) have not had their personal world overturned by tragedy; they are just staying with an uncle at his half-wild estate while their parents are in Japan. Their problems have to do with phobias: Greg's fear of the dark, Sara's fear of insects, and Eric's fear of water.
In fact, the story begins on an upbeat note: Sara has just won a prize for the first time, and she and her brothers break in the new picnic basket by exploring the estate with a packed lunch. Having a supply of ordinary food - and stainless-steel cutlery - becomes critical very quickly, as they stumble upon, and through, a gate to another world, where Arthur and Merlin still do battle with the forces of darkness. To find their way back home, the kids need to help the people of Avalon retrieve three stolen magical artifacts, which can only be won back by those who can handle 'cold iron' - and they need to do it before their supply of safe food runs out and they begin forming unbreakable ties to Avalon. They thus divide the food between them, and the three pieces of steel cutlery, and each pursues a separate artifact and faces his or her worst fear. (This gets interesting, especially since Eric is protected by a spoon rather than anything more glamorous.)
Norton has used an Arthurian/semi-Arthurian setting in several other stories, including the full-length novels MERLIN'S MIRROR and HERE ABIDE MONSTERS, but none use the same setting or exactly the same characters. While Huon of the Horn appears in this story, the tone and style make STEEL MAGIC very, very different from Norton's book HUON OF THE HORN; if you enjoy STEEL MAGIC, that's not a reliable indicator as to whether you'll like HUON OF THE HORN.
 Super Reader August 4, 2007
Three kids find a secret entrance that leads them to Avalon. Once there, they find out a few things are missing, including Excalibur. Huon, the Warden of the West, fills them in.
They set out to find them, intrepid younglings that they are. Along the way they meet Merlin, among others.
A great starter to catch the imagination of younger readers November 10, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the tipe of book that will fire the imagination of younger readers and have them clammering for smething else to read.
Soft "Magic" December 13, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Starscape Books starts off a new reprint series, the "Magic Books" by the late Andre Norton, called that because each book has the word "Magic" in the title. The first in that series, "Steel Magic," is a charming and imaginative book, though it's too fast-moving for its own good.
While vacationing with their uncle, the three Lowery children go on a picnic, and decide to explore the local woodlands. They find a minature castle, creep past a wall -- and find themselves in an unfamiliar world. They promptly bump into the legendary Huon of the Horn, who tells them that they are in the magical land of Avalon. Merlin and Arthur are also there.
And that's where the problems are. Three magical items have been stolen: Huon's horn, Merlin's ring, and Arthur's sword. Evidently Greg, Eric, and Sara are destined to find these three things. And so they set out on three separate quests, battling the dark forces on Avalon with only a steel knife, fork and spoon...
Andre Norton spins up the feeling of a classic in "Steel Magic," adding heft doses of myth, legend and classic Arthuriana to your basic good-vs-evil battle. It's got Norton's detailed writing, a unique setting, and a shriveling spin on the idea that certain metals (like steel) will destroy fey creatures. It's a brilliant, and rather funny, application.
The only problem is that the book feels like abridged version of the realm thing. All the quests seem to take about half an hour; the kids barely arrive in Avalon before they are shuttled off to do battle. Avalon is bursting with potential for exploration, and we get a day trip that ends all too quickly.
Despite this, the climactic clash between good and evil shows Norton's considerable skills at their best. Arthur and Merlin have very brief cameos, but much of the attention is on the admittedly charming Huon and the courageous lead trio, who are reminiscent of the plucky, stout-hearted kids in books like the Narnia series.
While it feels like it's set on fast-forward, with no breathing breaks, "Steel Magic" is still a charming, enchanting little magical book, and at times shows Norton's skill at its peak.
Great Rings/Redwall/Narnia Precursor for Younger Children April 5, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Steel Magic was a favorite of mine growing up - I probably read it 3 or 4 times. I recently ordered it for my children, and I reread it before I passed it on to them. Norton's world retains a magic and wonder that should entrance just about any child. But when I was growing up we did not have Lord of the Rings, the Redwall series, Narnia (well, it was there, I just hadn't discovered it), or the many other well-developed fantasy worlds both in print and the visual media of today. So a worldly pre-teen might now find Steel Magic to be a little simple in comparison to the plethora of other fantasy stories now available.
That is not to detract from Norton's fine storytelling ability. Buy this book for a nine-to-twelve year old who has not yet delved into Tolkien or Jacques. A fine tale.
|
|
|
 Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| | |
