Excalibur
Just finished re-reading "Excalibur" by Sanders Anne Laubenthal, first published as part of Ballantine's Adult Fantasy series back in 1973.
Created by editor and science fiction and fantasy author Lin Carter, the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series focused on publishing and reintroducing long lost fantasy classics to readers in the late 1960s and early 1970s in an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the unauthorized editions of The Lord of The Rings that had been published ACE books in the 1960s.
While the series' primarily focus was to reprint out-of-print fantasy classics that were in the public domain, the series did publish a few original novels like Joy Chant's classic "Red Moon and Black Mountain." In his introduction to "Excalibur" Carter stated that he first learned of Laubenthal's Arthurian novel when she wrote him a letter about it and subsequently sent it to him for consideration. He snapped it up and it was one of the last novels published in Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series.
Now a word about Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series, It was not x-rated by any stretch of the imagination. Back in the 1960s and 1970s was considered to be literature only for children.
"Excalibur" is part of my "Great Re-Reading of Favorite Books From My Youth" project, and I got my reading copy from Chamblin's Bookmine - the best bookstore here in Florida and the Eastern United States.
Sanders Anne Laubenthal was a military technical writer who had previously published a volume of poetry before her brilliant take on Arthurian Legend.
"Excalibur" opens with Linette Silverthorne longing for something other to do than wait out a thunderstorm, when archaeologist Rhodri Meyrick arrives to begin his hunt for a lost British colony that brought the legendary sword Excalibur to Mobile, Alabama centuries ago.
What follows is a brilliant and unique exploration of Arthurian mythos as Rhodri and Linnette become involved in a centuries old battle between the forces of light and darkness as Rhodri reveals that he is a descendant of King Arthur and is seeking to reclaim Excalibur as his birthright. Only Morgause has survived through the centuries through an unholy alliance and is determined to bring a final end to her half-brother's legacy. Yet Rhodri has not learned from his legacy's past and makes a mistake that only Linnette's fiance can rectify by going on a quest for the Holy Grail that has been hidden away somewhere in Alabama.
Sadly Sanders Anne Laubenthal passed away before writing any more novels.
"Excalibur" is a classic Arthurian fantasy novel and well worth the effort and reward of reading in seeking it out and reading it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-Adul...
Created by editor and science fiction and fantasy author Lin Carter, the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series focused on publishing and reintroducing long lost fantasy classics to readers in the late 1960s and early 1970s in an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the unauthorized editions of The Lord of The Rings that had been published ACE books in the 1960s.
While the series' primarily focus was to reprint out-of-print fantasy classics that were in the public domain, the series did publish a few original novels like Joy Chant's classic "Red Moon and Black Mountain." In his introduction to "Excalibur" Carter stated that he first learned of Laubenthal's Arthurian novel when she wrote him a letter about it and subsequently sent it to him for consideration. He snapped it up and it was one of the last novels published in Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series.
Now a word about Ballantine's Adult Fantasy Series, It was not x-rated by any stretch of the imagination. Back in the 1960s and 1970s was considered to be literature only for children.
"Excalibur" is part of my "Great Re-Reading of Favorite Books From My Youth" project, and I got my reading copy from Chamblin's Bookmine - the best bookstore here in Florida and the Eastern United States.
Sanders Anne Laubenthal was a military technical writer who had previously published a volume of poetry before her brilliant take on Arthurian Legend.
"Excalibur" opens with Linette Silverthorne longing for something other to do than wait out a thunderstorm, when archaeologist Rhodri Meyrick arrives to begin his hunt for a lost British colony that brought the legendary sword Excalibur to Mobile, Alabama centuries ago.
What follows is a brilliant and unique exploration of Arthurian mythos as Rhodri and Linnette become involved in a centuries old battle between the forces of light and darkness as Rhodri reveals that he is a descendant of King Arthur and is seeking to reclaim Excalibur as his birthright. Only Morgause has survived through the centuries through an unholy alliance and is determined to bring a final end to her half-brother's legacy. Yet Rhodri has not learned from his legacy's past and makes a mistake that only Linnette's fiance can rectify by going on a quest for the Holy Grail that has been hidden away somewhere in Alabama.
Sadly Sanders Anne Laubenthal passed away before writing any more novels.
"Excalibur" is a classic Arthurian fantasy novel and well worth the effort and reward of reading in seeking it out and reading it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-Adul...
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