Merlin, by Stephen Lawhead
In this second book of the Pendragon Cycle, we watch the life of young Merlin as he discovers who he really is, and what he is meant to do. Merlin grows up in Yns Avallach, one of the last remnants of Atlantean culture. When he is old enough, he spends his summers with his Grandfather Elphin, learning to be a warrior and a just king. Merlin grows, knowing that he is different and must one day save Britain from ruin. He experiences great joy, and even more terrible sorrow. For even though Merlin is more than a man, he is no less of one either. There are many things on earth that are too powerful for a single man to overcome, or to endure. His faith in God is tested to the utmost, but it also saves him to continue the work that only he can do. Soon, the child that is to be High King over all Britain will be born, and the Kingdom of Summer will reign. But only if Merlin can find him.
As with many of the Arthurian legends, most people have heard stories about the life of Merlin. Some say that his mother was a mortal, and his father was no man. Some say that he turned Uther Pendragon into a likeness of Gorlas, so he could sleep with Ygerna. Merlin has forever been a mystery, and a wonder. Stephen Lawhead does not veil that sense of mystery or wonder, but we are allowed to glimpse beyond it into the mind of a remarkable man. For he is a man, and men make mistakes and must suffer for them: the world is not perfect. I came to care greatly for Merlin, and it hurt all the more when life went badly for him. Lawhead does not give all his characters happy endings: he knows that they joy in life is more powerful when we also experience the sorrow.
As with Taliesin, Merlin is full of Christianity: it is an integral part of Merlin’s life and how he sees the world. But his is not a perfect faith: God will allow events to happen that are nearly unbearable, and Merlin cannot take it. It is a much more realistic take on faith than is seen in most books.
One problem with reading Merlin, is that sometimes it jumps around. The time is slightly fluid at points, and it makes for a confusing reading. The ending of a story might be told first, and then it is revealed what went before it. This can be an effective tool of writing, but it did not always work in Merlin. There are jumps in the plot that aggravated me, because I wanted to know what went on in between. But if you keep reading, the blank spaces are filled, and comprehension will come.
As much as I love the character of Merlin, somehow I felt more attached to Taliesin. Not to say that Merlin is not likable, but there was something about the character of Taliesin that is nearly indescribable. A power and a beauty, a steadfastness and a love that is hard to match. Merlin is more of an ordinary man, for all of his talents.
I really did like this book. It could exasperate me and annoy me, but the charm of the tale would not let me go. The story starts to come on more familiar ground: we see Vortigern and his tower that will not be built; Uther and his insane love for Ygerna; and we get a glimpse of Arthur who will one day be High King of all Britain, and ruler of the Kingdom of Summer. Lawhead builds up such expectation for the rule of Arthur: it has been two books already and only at the end of the second do we even see Arthur. It will mean more to us that Arthur will gain the throne, because we have waited so long to see it happen. In this, we might feel some of the impatience of Merlin himself, who had to wait many many years and manipulate many events so that it might take place. Lawhead is a clever author, and a good one, in my estimation.
If I could ask Stephen Lawhead one question about Merlin, it would be: We learn a lot about the Atlanteans and their extended lifetime: how long is their normal lifespan compared to a normal human’s? Or Merlin’s?
As with many of the Arthurian legends, most people have heard stories about the life of Merlin. Some say that his mother was a mortal, and his father was no man. Some say that he turned Uther Pendragon into a likeness of Gorlas, so he could sleep with Ygerna. Merlin has forever been a mystery, and a wonder. Stephen Lawhead does not veil that sense of mystery or wonder, but we are allowed to glimpse beyond it into the mind of a remarkable man. For he is a man, and men make mistakes and must suffer for them: the world is not perfect. I came to care greatly for Merlin, and it hurt all the more when life went badly for him. Lawhead does not give all his characters happy endings: he knows that they joy in life is more powerful when we also experience the sorrow.
As with Taliesin, Merlin is full of Christianity: it is an integral part of Merlin’s life and how he sees the world. But his is not a perfect faith: God will allow events to happen that are nearly unbearable, and Merlin cannot take it. It is a much more realistic take on faith than is seen in most books.
One problem with reading Merlin, is that sometimes it jumps around. The time is slightly fluid at points, and it makes for a confusing reading. The ending of a story might be told first, and then it is revealed what went before it. This can be an effective tool of writing, but it did not always work in Merlin. There are jumps in the plot that aggravated me, because I wanted to know what went on in between. But if you keep reading, the blank spaces are filled, and comprehension will come.
As much as I love the character of Merlin, somehow I felt more attached to Taliesin. Not to say that Merlin is not likable, but there was something about the character of Taliesin that is nearly indescribable. A power and a beauty, a steadfastness and a love that is hard to match. Merlin is more of an ordinary man, for all of his talents.
I really did like this book. It could exasperate me and annoy me, but the charm of the tale would not let me go. The story starts to come on more familiar ground: we see Vortigern and his tower that will not be built; Uther and his insane love for Ygerna; and we get a glimpse of Arthur who will one day be High King of all Britain, and ruler of the Kingdom of Summer. Lawhead builds up such expectation for the rule of Arthur: it has been two books already and only at the end of the second do we even see Arthur. It will mean more to us that Arthur will gain the throne, because we have waited so long to see it happen. In this, we might feel some of the impatience of Merlin himself, who had to wait many many years and manipulate many events so that it might take place. Lawhead is a clever author, and a good one, in my estimation.
If I could ask Stephen Lawhead one question about Merlin, it would be: We learn a lot about the Atlanteans and their extended lifetime: how long is their normal lifespan compared to a normal human’s? Or Merlin’s?
posted by Tai Schutz | Saturday, October 21, 2006
1 Comments:
I could not have said it better myself. Merlin is a wonderful story.
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