From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-5)

T.H. White

Why we're reading this: #47 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#15 on L…more
[close] #47 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#15 on Locus Magazines Best Fantasy novels of the 20th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Jan 10, 2014 Brenda Clough rated it it was amazing

This novel is a great example of how the artist can take a body of material and make it completely his own. The old material (Malory, etc) passes through White's hands and turns into something recognizable and yet completely different -- a sea change, rare and strange.
It's also a perfect example of the fix-up. Originally 4 or 5 separate novels, White rewrote them all to get them to be this one volume, and in the effort a great deal of self-indulgence and general not-quite-right went away, so th ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2023 James rated it it was ok

Shelves: sf-top-100

This is probably a book that has had the widest ranges of experiences for me in quite some time, if ever. Large chunks of these books are boring, repetitive, and strangely unfocused, and yet every now and then a lovely little moment or quote occurs, and some of these are very moving.

The first part (The Sword in the Stone) felt like it was written for quite young reader in sections (you can see why Disney jumped on it) and there are often overlong 'animal' sections along with fantastical creature This is probably a book that has had the widest ranges of experiences for me in quite some time, if ever. Large chunks of these books are boring, repetitive, and strangely unfocused, and yet every now and then a lovely little moment or quote occurs, and some of these are very moving.

The first part (The Sword in the Stone) felt like it was written for quite young reader in sections (you can see why Disney jumped on it) and there are often overlong 'animal' sections along with fantastical creatures and a very mythological feel.

The Second was the "The Queen of Air and Darkness" and was probably the least boring of the books but still struggled with focus and often any semblance of plot.

Then on to the rambling and confused "The Ill-Made Knight" which continued the trend of the writing feeling like it was for more mature readers, while still struggling with focus. It did have some cracking quotes, including "Nice weather. Don't have daughters unboiled every day. I think dinner will be ready." This section had some excellent moments, but also seems to struggle (for with) with sections involving Guinevere and Elaine.

"The Candle in the Wind" was again a serious struggle, and probably the book that fluctuated the most, as there were still a few fine moments in there. (view spoiler)

Finally there is the confused and painful "Book of Merlyn" where White brings in chapters that were originally in the first book as part of a (as was covered in the afterward) a complex attempt to deconstruct and understand war. Sadly this again causes the plot to falter which is a shame as the final scenes are very powerful.

Heck of a book. I'll never read the whole thing again, but I have made a number of annotations to reference in the future. "hic sunt dracones" should be written on the cover, for there are indeed moments of great power (and references to Quest beasts!?) but the true dragons were the ones in White's mind.

Honestly, I'm just glad I finished it. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review