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Guardians of the Tall Stones #1
The Tall Stones
Book One of The Guardians of the Tall Stones. The first of four novels set in Bronze Age Britain, a society focused around the great circles of Sacred Stones scattered across the landscape. It tells the story of a community threatened by the evil designs of Wardyke, a corrupt and ambitious priest, and its only defence, the courageous young psychic, Kyra. But to defend her community, Kyra must enter the forbidden circle of stones and call upon its unseen, mystical powers... This book has been called "one of the great esoteric novels of the 20th century".
255 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Moyra Caldecott
61 books30 followersStarted academic career by obtaining degrees in English Literature and Philosophy.
* Briefly lectured in English Literature at university level.
* Raised three children and had a most interesting and stimulating life as the wife of Oliver Caldecott in London from 1951 to 1989. (Oliver was an editor at Penguin, Readers Union, and Hutchinson and founded his own publishing firm Wildwood House with his partner Dieter Pevsner. His last editorial post was at Rider, for Century Hutchinson. He was also a very good artist.)
* Took evening classes in palaeontology (geology always a favourite subject), religious studies and mythology.
* Was secretary of the Dulwich Group in the ’sixties, a most successful poetry reading group. Read a lot. Wrote books. Met many interesting people and had many interesting discussions. Travelled a lot.
* Her life has also been enriched by the interests of her children: Religion – Conservation – Art.
* She has had various experiences she considers to be ‘paranormal’, including a dramatic healing from angina. She gives talks to various personal growth and consciousness raising groups, and groups interested in the ancient sacred sites of Britain.
* Her most successful book so far, Guardians Of The Tall Stones, is set in ancient Bronze Age Britain, and is required reading for some groups visiting the sacred sites of Britain from America. It has been in print continuously since 1977.
* Myths and legends are a particular passion and she follows Jung and Joseph Campbell in believing that they are not ‘just’ stories but actually deep and meaningful expressions of the universal and eternal in the human psyche.
* Briefly lectured in English Literature at university level.
* Raised three children and had a most interesting and stimulating life as the wife of Oliver Caldecott in London from 1951 to 1989. (Oliver was an editor at Penguin, Readers Union, and Hutchinson and founded his own publishing firm Wildwood House with his partner Dieter Pevsner. His last editorial post was at Rider, for Century Hutchinson. He was also a very good artist.)
* Took evening classes in palaeontology (geology always a favourite subject), religious studies and mythology.
* Was secretary of the Dulwich Group in the ’sixties, a most successful poetry reading group. Read a lot. Wrote books. Met many interesting people and had many interesting discussions. Travelled a lot.
* Her life has also been enriched by the interests of her children: Religion – Conservation – Art.
* She has had various experiences she considers to be ‘paranormal’, including a dramatic healing from angina. She gives talks to various personal growth and consciousness raising groups, and groups interested in the ancient sacred sites of Britain.
* Her most successful book so far, Guardians Of The Tall Stones, is set in ancient Bronze Age Britain, and is required reading for some groups visiting the sacred sites of Britain from America. It has been in print continuously since 1977.
* Myths and legends are a particular passion and she follows Jung and Joseph Campbell in believing that they are not ‘just’ stories but actually deep and meaningful expressions of the universal and eternal in the human psyche.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 11, 2024
Old school classical fantasy focused on the community, spirituality, and what can happen if you turn down a dark path. Nothing ground breaking but a breath of fresh air and a story you can get lost in. Already got the sequel ready to go
March 27, 2010
One of the better fantasy books I've read in a long time. The spirituality of the people involved was incredibly beautiful and full of wisdom. Likable characters, well written.
November 4, 2008
Inspiration comes in many forms. For Moyra Caldecott, a trip to Scotland in 1975 was the spark for her trilogy, The Guardians of the Stones. In The Tall Stones she describes her trip to the Circle of the Standing Stones at Dyce near Aberdeen, Scotland and how it focused the threads of her life into this trilogy.
The Tall Stones is about the balance between tradition and change. The high priest Maal is coming to the end of his life and while most of the village is willing to accept what happens based on their trust in tradition, a brother and sister feel compelled to question the ways of things. Karne recognizes his sister's spiritual power. Together they befriend Maal and he begins to train Kyra in secret.
Change will come Kyra and Karne realize with the passing of Maal While their initial questioning of Maal's ways and his participation in the running of the village is seen as blasphemous when Wardyke, the new priest arrives, their thirst for knowledge becomes the only way to preserve the village's traditions.
Who Mandrake is and what his goal as priest is never fully understood by Maal and his students. As they are working on the verge of society as Wardyke moves the village away from their traditions, there is no way for them to know. Kyra of course becomes his replacement, whether by the Lords of the Sun or by Maal himself or perhaps some other cosmic force. Karne seems to be set up in a leadership position perhaps to take on a role as a village Elder in a future novel. His marriage to Fern, another student of Maal helps to reunite village life to nature.
The Tall Stones though set in the Bronze Age of Britain (somewhere in 2300-600 BC), Caldecott's characters are recognizable with believable motivations and reactions to the problems before them. Wardyke and his Strangers are a hint of things to come for the British Isles. I liked the lack of major historical figures or events. It gave the story the freedom to expand along its own lines rather than being forced along pre-determined lines.
The remaining books in the series include The Temple of the Sun and Shadow on the Stones, both which I will be reviewing in the next couple of weeks. There is also a recent addition to the original trilogy called The Silver Vortex. At this time I don't have a copy so it's not one i'm planning to review. If I enjoy the next two books as much as the first, I might seek out the fourth book to review.
The Tall Stones is about the balance between tradition and change. The high priest Maal is coming to the end of his life and while most of the village is willing to accept what happens based on their trust in tradition, a brother and sister feel compelled to question the ways of things. Karne recognizes his sister's spiritual power. Together they befriend Maal and he begins to train Kyra in secret.
Change will come Kyra and Karne realize with the passing of Maal While their initial questioning of Maal's ways and his participation in the running of the village is seen as blasphemous when Wardyke, the new priest arrives, their thirst for knowledge becomes the only way to preserve the village's traditions.
Who Mandrake is and what his goal as priest is never fully understood by Maal and his students. As they are working on the verge of society as Wardyke moves the village away from their traditions, there is no way for them to know. Kyra of course becomes his replacement, whether by the Lords of the Sun or by Maal himself or perhaps some other cosmic force. Karne seems to be set up in a leadership position perhaps to take on a role as a village Elder in a future novel. His marriage to Fern, another student of Maal helps to reunite village life to nature.
The Tall Stones though set in the Bronze Age of Britain (somewhere in 2300-600 BC), Caldecott's characters are recognizable with believable motivations and reactions to the problems before them. Wardyke and his Strangers are a hint of things to come for the British Isles. I liked the lack of major historical figures or events. It gave the story the freedom to expand along its own lines rather than being forced along pre-determined lines.
The remaining books in the series include The Temple of the Sun and Shadow on the Stones, both which I will be reviewing in the next couple of weeks. There is also a recent addition to the original trilogy called The Silver Vortex. At this time I don't have a copy so it's not one i'm planning to review. If I enjoy the next two books as much as the first, I might seek out the fourth book to review.
January 5, 2025
This book is wonderful. It is very meditative, profoundly spiritual without being preachy, all the while centering the idea and importance of community; it is heavy and light at the same time; soft and gentle, despite it's cruel moments.
It is not for everybody: it starts slow and the focus is on the spiritual trials and tribulations, as opposed to physical battles. I might have disliked it if I'd read it at some other point in my life. But it found me when I needed it the most!
It is not for everybody: it starts slow and the focus is on the spiritual trials and tribulations, as opposed to physical battles. I might have disliked it if I'd read it at some other point in my life. But it found me when I needed it the most!
July 14, 2013
This book was one of my favorites when I was a teenager. I loved fantasy back then and unlike a lot of the fantasy around, this has names you can pronounce! I still have the book and probably will forever because it's one of these stories that really stuck in my head. It's a large book but definitely worth the read. :)
May 18, 2026
I read this many years ago and found the whole concept not only fascinating, but knowing the area around Avebury in the UK and having wandered through the 'Tall Stones' in person, I could picture the characters in the settings of the Temple of the Sun. This is a unique book about spirituality before organized religion took over and I found it contained an honesty from a time when truth and oneness with the earth was not subjugated to a power base of an enforced belief system.
The story is captivating, the characters expertly drawn and at the end of the trilogy have started to read the final book in the series, The Silver Vortex. I have enjoyed it just as much on this reading as I did when it first was published.
The story is captivating, the characters expertly drawn and at the end of the trilogy have started to read the final book in the series, The Silver Vortex. I have enjoyed it just as much on this reading as I did when it first was published.
February 12, 2019
What a wonderful mind this lady had
With deep regret it is to find that the lady who wrote this great book is no longer with us but I am certainly going to read every story published .She was so good that you can imagine yourself in the village that she writes about.
All the characters appear to be real people so much that you could describe the main characters I must admit I really enjoyed every single page sadly I came to last page cannot wait to read the next book
With deep regret it is to find that the lady who wrote this great book is no longer with us but I am certainly going to read every story published .She was so good that you can imagine yourself in the village that she writes about.
All the characters appear to be real people so much that you could describe the main characters I must admit I really enjoyed every single page sadly I came to last page cannot wait to read the next book
May 16, 2026
Read this because my mom named me after Kyra, and has always boasted that she is a strong figure.
It's a very philosophical book, one that I took time to read. There were multiple times when I had to re-read certain sentences to make sense of it.
So far this is the best book out of the trilogy. I love Kyra's strength, and how her bravery and love for others kept pushing her forward.
It's a very philosophical book, one that I took time to read. There were multiple times when I had to re-read certain sentences to make sense of it.
So far this is the best book out of the trilogy. I love Kyra's strength, and how her bravery and love for others kept pushing her forward.
November 19, 2025
starts well but becomes rather procedural and lost a sense of history and prehistory
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January 10, 2008We are trying to slim down our book collection and I thought this might be a good one to get rid of. But after reading it again I thing I will keep it. It is a fun read. I would have been happier with a little bit less religious detail, but the story was exciting and intense, sometimes sweet, and other times gripping. I may read it again someday.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews