Merlin's Bones

 

 I picked up Fred Saberhagen's Merlin's Bones to read another take on the Arthur legend. This story was certainly unlike any other. I first encountered King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as kid. My parents had a series of flip over books--two books in one with each upside down to the other, with two covers--I'm not sure, but I believe the King Arthur book was opposite Howard Pyle's Robin Hood. I loved both of those books. In King Arthur, the knights were always fighting and at some point one of them would smash through the other's helmet to bury his sword in the brain pan of the other. In Robin Hood, the hero was always sending a clothyard shaft to its mark. Later, my high school librarian got me a copy of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur. She found it at a yard sale and thought of me--which, of course, was fabulous. I still have that one and read it again only a few years ago. Other retellings of the tale I've read include Bernard Cornwell's version (books 1 and 3 only because I never found book 2 on sale) which I've discussed here previously. I can't remember the others I've read, but I'm sure there have been others. 

As for Saberhagen's tale, it captured my interest from the start. We have the young Amby and a troupe of performers taking refuge in a mysterious and unfinished castle near a network of caves in which Merlin's bones are hidden. Meanwhile, a woman at some high tech company in the 20th century is left alone at the establishment. A guy named Fisher finds her, and other characters from the legend get involved. She eventually drives an ambulance to Camelot. Amby and the other performers take on roles from the legend while the actual mythical characters get involved as well. 

Although the story grabbed my attention, the longer it went on, the less fascinating it became. Perhaps I should've expected it from the start, but ultimately it became much ado about which I grew weary. I recommend the first three-quarters of the book. Of course, one won't be able to stop at that point and one will then continue to the point that disappoints. Don't say you weren't warned. 

I love Saberhagen's work, at least the portion I've read. My first Saberhagen experience came through a book my mom got me for Christmas: Brother Assassin. Later I read at least the first book of Empire of the East (in fact, I'm re-reading that now and I have acquired the second book as well). I've also read most, but not all of the Swords books. As far as I can remember, I haven't read any of his vampire books. So, I like his style and his stories. This particular one just didn't live up to the high expectations the early part of the story created for me. I give it 3.5 femurs out of 5, calculated as 5 for the promise but subtracting 1.5 for failure to deliver in a satisfying manner.

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Why was I reading Merlin's Bones, even pausing 80% of the way through Empire of the East to digest the bones? Therein lies a tale, or two tales. First, you must be aware that my adventure book for boys, Accidental Pirates, has now become available in paperback as well as ebook--that's the first tale. (While I'm mentioning that, here's an Excerpt from Accidental Pirates). I've been working on the sequel to that exciting tale. In the sequel, the boys go to a land, inspired by the Arthur myth in some respects, with kings and knights and wizards--that's the second tale. I read for inspiration, and got some. I knew reading that would cause me to think of things I did or didn't want to do for my adventure book, which was already half complete, but a twist was coming. I was wrestling with some ideas and reading MB helped me make some decisions. In reading the early part, I favored one angle, but upon completion of MB, I revised my opinion in favor of the original idea I had before reading the book. If that doesn't make much sense, don't worry. It doesn't have to. It's the sausage itself and not the process that is the product.