Taltos

I've heard that One and Future King is, basically, THE definitive King Arthur book and I'd always felt guilty for not having read it. I finally picked it up because I was there buying Mists of Avalon and I thought I should have "the original" also.

I'm utterly shocked. It's a children's book. What the?!? I was expecting some Tolkienesque grand legend, perhaps written in that odd celtic style I have such a hard time reading through, but... it's just goofy. Arthur is a little boy named "The Wart". Merlin has worms and mice living in his hair. Sir Ector is a joke. Everyone sort of is. I'm torn as to whether or not to like this book. It doesn't make any sense, but I feel like its a parody of the King Arthur sagas I've always loved so much.

And yet, Goddess help me, I can't help but like dear King Pellinore.

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Though we are not now
That strength that in old days
Moved Earth and Heaven;
That which we are, we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts
Made weak by time and flesh
But strong in will
To seek, to strive, to find
And not to yield.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson