Of Swords and Parasols

Just like I’m one of the five people on the internet who isn’t tired of fae stories, I’m one of the five people on the internet who isn’t tired of Arthurian Legend. Or parts of it, at least. I fear Arthur and Lancelot will never manage to hold my interest for long. Mind you, that number may have changed with Merlin, but most of the interest there seems to be limited to the show itself. Mostly, like fantasy and fairy tales and mythology in general, I probably imprinted on the stuff too strongly at a young age to really be able to ever break up with it completely.

Morgan has always been of particular interest to me, though, while I love her as a myth, I’m rarely happy when she’s turned into a character, as she tends to end up either the evil seductress or the persecuted saint, neither of which particularly interests me. Nancy Springer’s version of Morgan covers her life from a child through young adulthood, ending when Arthur’s reign begins, and only hinting at the problems between the two that will follow, despite laying the groundwork for that throughout the book.

For most of the book, Morgan straddles the line between good intentions and being ruled by often self-centered impulse, influenced by power, loss and betrayal. The eventual outcome is obvious, but it’s a sympathetic road to that outcome, as opposed to an implied obvious evilness and saintliness. For most of the book, however, there isn’t the feeling of myth that I always hope for, though that’s more a flaw in my expectations than a flaw in the book, which is very solid overall. One thing I really liked is that, unlike most adaptations of Arthurian legend that somehow get rid of Igraine as soon as she gives birth, her job done, Springer keeps Igraine as an important factor, and one that plays a strong role in Morgan’s eventual fate.

Has anyone read Springer’s book about Mordred, or have any opinions about Springer’s books in general?