The Wolf and the Crown

Amazon.com
A.A. Attanasio presents a flamboyant recounting of the myths of Camelot in The Wolf and the Crown, which continues the story of The Dragon and the Unicorn and The Eagle and the Sword. This particular Camelot features a demonic Merlin, Hollow Hills full of tiny faeries "in nightgowns of fog and sticky halos," and a callow High King whose devout prayers to Mary close each of his viewpoint chapters. Attanasio loves the surface flash of words, and The Wolf and the Crown is as dazzling as a jeweled necklace, with occasional flaws, such as references to Brownian motion or "Bunsen blue," that intrude into the concoction of fantasy, mythology, and Arthurian lore. The myths of Camelot, dear to fantasy readers, provide Attanasio with the perfect setting for his intricate lapidary. --Blaise Selby


From Library Journal
Though he possesses the legendary sword Excalibur, the boy-king "Arthor" discovers that he must earn the respect of the warring lords of Britain before he can truly claim his place at their head. The third volume in Attanasio's epic re-creation of the Arthurian cycle follows young "Arthor" through his first difficult year of kingship. Drawing liberally from both Norse and Celtic mythologies, the author adds his own cosmic embellishments to a story that spans not only the island of Britain but the lands of faerie, the Otherworld, and the spaces between the stars as well. Along with the other series titles, The Dragon and the Unicorn (HarperCollins, 1996) and The Eagle and the Sword (LJ 6/15/97), this mythic fantasy belongs in most libraries.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Los Angeles Times
"A truly amazing, original, towering talent!"



"A truly amazing, original, towering talent!"



"Strikingly unconventional...passionate... a remarkable work-in-progress!"



"By far the most lyrically written of the recent Arthurian books...Fresh and engaging."


Isaac Asimov's Magazine
"A. A. Attanasio, he of the mystical insights and capacious world-hoard...proves that old myths never die, as long as they have brilliant bards to reinvent them."


Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
"By far the most lyrically written of the recent Arthurian books...Fresh and engaging."


Locus
"Strikingly unconventional...passionate... a remarkable work-in-progress!"


Book Description
The Warrior King Arthor, Eagle of Thor, has triumphed through war. Now Britain--and destiny--are his to claim. Already rolling on the roads from Tintagel to Camelot is the great wheel that will become the Round Table. But the perilous order promised by Arthor's victory is threatened by forces beyond human ken. For Merlin has descended into Hell, to fend with the Fire Lords who give the Universe its shimmering form. And for the young king himself, there is a sacred Graal, and an Earthly love, to seek... A. A. Attanasio's epic retelling of humankind's most beloved legend weaves into one magnificent tapestry the hallowed warp of Arthurian lore, the shaggy woof of Druidic myth, and the shimmering strands of quantum science.


About the Author
A. A. Attanasio is the author of The Wolf and the Crown, The Eagle and the Sword, The Dragon and the Unicorn, Solis, Kingdom of the Grail, Hunting the Ghost Dancer, Wyvern, Radix, and The Moon's Wife. He lives in Hawaii.


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The Wolf and the Crown continues Attanasio's Arthurian fantasy begun in The Dragon and the Unicorn (HarperPrism, 1996/VOYA February 1997) and The Eagle and the Sword (HarperPrism, 1997/VOYA December 1997). Once again, the reader is taken back to ancient Britain and the tumult and strife of a land in chaos. Warring factions threaten the very existence of Britain's people; they need a leader who will protect them. Enter Arthor, who extracts the sword Excalibur from the stone in the opening scene of the novel. Attanasio takes the reader through the first year of Arthor's tenuous reign as king. Arthor's foster father Kyner, foster brother Cei, Merlin, Lot, and Bedevere stand behind the young ruler as he seeks allies to fight the Foe-deratus, an alliance of the north tribes. Bloody battles provide the backdrop for Merlin's magic, Morgeu the Fey's traitorous deeds, and Ygrane's devotion to both her son Arthor and the Holy Graal. The dwarf Dagonet and his familiar, Lord Monkey, provide an additional story line. The author's historical knowledge and adept character development bring Arthor's world to life. Especially effective are Arthor's prayers to Mother Mary through which we see his doubt and pain as well as his strong moral, ethical code for life. Morgeu's evil plans are chillingly delineated as well. The dichotomies of good and evil, Christian and pagan, and reality and magic sustain an element of suspense in this tale. Although part of a series, The Wolf and the Crown can be read and enjoyed on its own by those familiar with the Arthurian legends. VOYA Codes: 4Q 2P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12). Read all 6 "From The Critics" >


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