Bob's comments (member since Nov 18, 2008)

Bob's comments from the Arthuriana -- all things King Arthur ! group.

Welcome Jennifer. I'm also a fan of "The Mists of Avalon". I've always wondered about the follow up books and if they were any good. Did you read any? Has anyone? I think I've kept my distance from them out of fear that they might spoil the first.

Jon wrote: "Hi, I'm also from the Midwest (live and work in the Kansas City metro area). I'm a long time fantasy genre reader, but I got my start back in the 70s reading my grandmother's copies of Mary Stewar..." Mary Stewart's were my first as well. I'm sure many fans started their. Welcome!

I'm 3/4 of the way through this. Bernard is making this particularly painful. I know it's coming. As if the death of Dian wasn't enough agony, watching Arthur march to save Gwen is gut wrenching. I don't know how this chapter ends but I think Arthur is about to take the Gwen bomb betrayal right in the bread basket. Gwen!!! Why Gwen!!!?

Of course I'll have to read on to see if my angst is validated.

Where "The Winter King" takes it's time, This first part of "Enemy of God" went off like a rocket...Well, not really but it moves right along. <spoiler here> When Ceinwyn turns down Lancelot and choses Derfel I was shocked. Such an unexpected happiness for Derfel who seems destined for struggle and pain. Cornwell has created two extremely likable characters here but as Anna suggests the foreshadowing makes enjoying their happiness together all the more painful.

I too really enjoy Galahad but there is starting to be a pattern of Galahad/Merlin stepping in and saving the day. Is this becoming a bit too predicatable? Only the future chapters know and I'm all too happy to find out.

Agreed across the board. Ready to roll.

I agree that the pace is very controlled but I never felt bored or that it wasn't moving forward. I liken it to a good symphony slowly building up to a crescendo. And what an ending! Derfel's old enemies, now his men, come out of the line and confront old grievances and ask for forgiveness. It is a very subtle nod to Christianity and at the heart of it's power. On our last day, pagan, Christian, atheist all have a universal desire to be forgiven of our sins. With hearts and spirits lighter the warriors are now allowed to lose themselves to the battle. BC does a great job of describing the fight without going into the mundane. In it's conclusion I'm sure hardcore Arthur fans are a little disappointed that he did not win the day through his own might/will ( I was a little), but none the less a satisfying ending.

Prologue'ish? Yes, but IMHO, in the best of ways. He also does a good job of bringing the book to a natural conclusion without falling into the "...to be continued" structure. I don't feel obligated to read "Enemy of God"...but I want to. :)

Nice find, though I may wait for the paperback. Tough times ya'know. :)

...until they start sprinkling us with salt and pepper.

What would the "Isle of the Dead" be without cannibalism! :) That scene also took me off guard. I kinda jump when he attacked Derfel.

I really enjoyed this section too. The whole time I was wondering how he was going to get out of there. I was very tense!

At your will...

Bernard Cornwell is certainly a crafty writer! Onward to "The Isle of the Dead"?

Dee - I missed your comments about Arthur/Merlin, Derfel/Nimue. So true though. Thanks for highlighting. It seems in many ways Derfel is the proxy not just for Arthur but for other Arthurian characters. The purity of Perceval, the chivalry of Lancelot, the stubbornness of Arthur. Others??

Anna - We knew what you meant and concur with the sentiment! :)

Hey Barbarossa! What are your thoughts on the books you mentioned? Could you recommend?

That is excellent Dee!! Congratulations! Your series is on my "next to read" list. I can't wait to have a group discussion! We won't have to ask "Gee, what was the author thinking?" :P

Anna - I think you are right. If you can't "let go", this book and presumably the rest of the series will be very hard to get through, never mind enjoy.

So our first glance into Merlin. I loved his nutty/quirkiness. I love characters that are on the edge. We get the sense that he is "playing the game" at a different level. Will Bernard expose Merlin's plans fully? I'm not sure I want to know. I like having to guess.

Arthur sending Derfel to Armorica was simply a logical decision. Arthur could not go so sent his best.

Lancelot is an intriguing character so far. I think we can all agree that he falls short of the classical Lancelot character. I wonder though if BC isn't setting Lancelot up for a major change. Will he experience some profound moment that will shake him to the core?

Chivalry, or the lack of, is an interesting topic. Lancelot in my mind is the embodiment of chivalry, at least as his character is classically known, not Bernard's. And yet we know that ultimately he commits a most un-chivalric act. In the end Arthur, and I, forgive him. So, if chivalry is not perfection and Arthur is still young (though clearly battle tested) we see a man making many mistakes. I will only be disappointed if he doesn't learn from these mistakes by the time he becomes king.

The mantle of chivalry, at least toward women, is squarely hung above Derfel. Arthur is very chivalric when it comes to soldiers and his enemies. In fact it could be argued that he is so chivalric that he puts himself at a disadvantage. His attitude towards women though can almost be described as "disinterested...except for Gwen.

Arthur is the ultimate alpha male! *Smirks at Dee*

Saxon Chronicles! Yes! Who is starting the medieval fiction group so we can converse and share there? :)

No worries! I think it's great you both are so passionate about the characters. I just meant to keep the thread light. :)

Guinevere's treatment is extreme but almost seems neccesarry with such a strong Arthur. Otherwise I think she would fade back. I do understand your desire for a purpose beyond that. We will have to trust BC! :P

Dee + Sarah - Your points were clearly noted from your previous posts. I was not looking to sway anyone to my opinion. Just sharing how it plays out in my minds eye. Sorry if it proved less then valuable for you. Maybe it's a gender perspective or maybe I have "bought into" the Arthur that BC has created. It must be the same conflict Derfel has. He sees the result of Arthur's choice and yet he still loves him.

Arthur surely makes a poor political choice but I don't think that speaks to his abilities as a leader. The best leaders have the loyalties of those they command even when the choices they make seem poor.

I think I'm having an easier time with the re-characterization issue because this is my first Arthur book in over a year. I think I would find it harder if I had just finished reading another.

Arthur choosing Guinevere can be viewed as a lustful selfish act. However I like to think that Guinevere is the embodiment of the old gods. Arthur's heart is with the old gods. That is why Merlin gave him Excalibur. Cornwell goes into great detail to describe the rapture that has enveloped Arthur, albeit through Derfel's eyes. The "lust" isn't given much power at least not in a physical sense. Were Arthur not to have chosen Guinevere he would have been extinguishing the flames of the old gods. In his selfless act (yes I did say selfless) he risks all. He knew that in this act of defiance he was laying down the lives of his brothers, the honor of his love and the glory of his fame. The pain/sorrow for modern readers is that we know the battle against the new god is futile.

Then again, maybe I'm giving him too much credit. :)