A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

Will Arthur ever find his peace? A great end to the trilogy, 28 Oct 2008
The third and final book of the Arthur/warlord trilogy is again a Bernard Cornwell classic. Not many authors have his ability for you to get into the heads of their characters in the same way he manages. You are so immersed in them, the story and the time period that it gives you an extra depth when you read his work. Our heroes think that maybe at last they have found a lasting peace for Britain..... of course that could never do! With twists, plots and power hungry rulers, there is still plenty for them left to fix. Cornwells interpretation of the Arthur legend is based on the stories from the time, rather than the much later Arthur legends which were written over 500 years later. This gives a much more believable Arthur legend than many others. He has included many of the later additions to the legend such as the round table, Camelot and alike so as not to make the story too different to the one we all grew up with, however still keeps the story in the dark ages as it was meant to be. An excellent end to the set and for me unfortunately only a couple more of his novels left to read.....

Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur, 13 Jun 2008
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.

Inspiring, 23 Mar 2008
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.


A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy., 22 Oct 2007
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)

The trilogy ends - but what an ending!, 10 Aug 2007
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.

A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

Will Arthur ever find his peace? A great end to the trilogy, 28 Oct 2008
The third and final book of the Arthur/warlord trilogy is again a Bernard Cornwell classic. Not many authors have his ability for you to get into the heads of their characters in the same way he manages. You are so immersed in them, the story and the time period that it gives you an extra depth when you read his work. Our heroes think that maybe at last they have found a lasting peace for Britain..... of course that could never do! With twists, plots and power hungry rulers, there is still plenty for them left to fix. Cornwells interpretation of the Arthur legend is based on the stories from the time, rather than the much later Arthur legends which were written over 500 years later. This gives a much more believable Arthur legend than many others. He has included many of the later additions to the legend such as the round table, Camelot and alike so as not to make the story too different to the one we all grew up with, however still keeps the story in the dark ages as it was meant to be. An excellent end to the set and for me unfortunately only a couple more of his novels left to read.....

Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur, 13 Jun 2008
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.

Inspiring, 23 Mar 2008
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.


A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy., 22 Oct 2007
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)

The trilogy ends - but what an ending!, 10 Aug 2007
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.

Id as blud, 25 Oct 2008
I used to read cornwell books when I was 14 and I thought they were amazing.

Recently I picked up this book again and had a quick look through and realised why the biggest fans of these books are 40 year old men and 13 year old boys.

His books contist of gory battles puncutated by erotica set in a different historical periods with a few dates and a bit of a plot thrown in (13 year old boys liking this formula becuase they are interested in sex and a box and 40 year old boys because perhaps dont get as much sex and excitment as they got when they were in their prime)

To be fair this book has a mildy engaging plot but there truly are better books, and authors out there.

Cornwell does it again, 22 Oct 2008
This is the second book in the Arthur series and Cornwell keeps up his amazingly consistant and high standards. This is his take on the Arthur legend, using much more of the 'real' story compared to the legend most of us know now. He has incorporated some modern additions to the legend such as Merlin, Lancelot, the Round Table and Camelot, however being Bernard Cornwell he does not deliver these in a standard way, he has his own twist! I agree a little with the other review on here, he recaps a lot of Book 1 on the assumption it may have been a long time for readers in between books, however if you read them in sequence like I did, it is a little annoying. However this is my only small critiscm, and this book is another historical fiction classic.... leaves Britain in turmoil as usual and cannot wait to finish the 3rd and final in the series....

Enemy of sleep!, 13 Jun 2008
this trilogy held my attention, this book particularly with its indepth look at battles, territory and the like. My criticism, for there is one, remains the same as my criticism of the last book and indeed the overall saga, all that spitting! Endlessly recited. He spat. OK, they did it to avert evil but one would think they spent their lives averting evil as they were spitting at every conceivable moment of their lives. It spoiled an otherwise very good series.

2nd part of the greatest Trilogy ever written, 22 Oct 2007
Continues on from The Winter King and skillfully handles many well known elements of the Arthurian legends such as Tristan, Lancelot and Guineveire's 'romance' and the Grail in a realistic well thought out way. The narrator of the story, Derfel Cadarn,friend of Arthur is on top form and brings to life a very realistic view of life in 500AD.
The use of the bitches against the war-dogs during one of the battles against the saxons was brilliant and cunning Merlin and Nimue are again on top Form here. If you can get hold of it try listening to Tim-pigott Smiths audio cassette of this trilogy, he reads it wonderfully and why its not been released on CD yet i dont understand.
Highly Recommended

Amazing continuation of a great saga, 10 Aug 2007
After the great "Winter King" here is the equally splendid second part of the trilogy. Bernard Cornwell managed to keep exactly the same very high level of storytelling and all day life and nature description. The story never gets boring and, even for people knowing the story of Saxon invasions and having some knowledge of Arthurian mythos, there are surprises in every chapter. Author's (and narrator's) dislike of Christianism is even stronger in this book that in the previous, so religious people can be somehow schocked, but still it is a great read.

A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

Will Arthur ever find his peace? A great end to the trilogy, 28 Oct 2008
The third and final book of the Arthur/warlord trilogy is again a Bernard Cornwell classic. Not many authors have his ability for you to get into the heads of their characters in the same way he manages. You are so immersed in them, the story and the time period that it gives you an extra depth when you read his work. Our heroes think that maybe at last they have found a lasting peace for Britain..... of course that could never do! With twists, plots and power hungry rulers, there is still plenty for them left to fix. Cornwells interpretation of the Arthur legend is based on the stories from the time, rather than the much later Arthur legends which were written over 500 years later. This gives a much more believable Arthur legend than many others. He has included many of the later additions to the legend such as the round table, Camelot and alike so as not to make the story too different to the one we all grew up with, however still keeps the story in the dark ages as it was meant to be. An excellent end to the set and for me unfortunately only a couple more of his novels left to read.....

Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur, 13 Jun 2008
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.

Inspiring, 23 Mar 2008
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.


A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy., 22 Oct 2007
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)

The trilogy ends - but what an ending!, 10 Aug 2007
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.

Id as blud, 25 Oct 2008
I used to read cornwell books when I was 14 and I thought they were amazing.

Recently I picked up this book again and had a quick look through and realised why the biggest fans of these books are 40 year old men and 13 year old boys.

His books contist of gory battles puncutated by erotica set in a different historical periods with a few dates and a bit of a plot thrown in (13 year old boys liking this formula becuase they are interested in sex and a box and 40 year old boys because perhaps dont get as much sex and excitment as they got when they were in their prime)

To be fair this book has a mildy engaging plot but there truly are better books, and authors out there.

Cornwell does it again, 22 Oct 2008
This is the second book in the Arthur series and Cornwell keeps up his amazingly consistant and high standards. This is his take on the Arthur legend, using much more of the 'real' story compared to the legend most of us know now. He has incorporated some modern additions to the legend such as Merlin, Lancelot, the Round Table and Camelot, however being Bernard Cornwell he does not deliver these in a standard way, he has his own twist! I agree a little with the other review on here, he recaps a lot of Book 1 on the assumption it may have been a long time for readers in between books, however if you read them in sequence like I did, it is a little annoying. However this is my only small critiscm, and this book is another historical fiction classic.... leaves Britain in turmoil as usual and cannot wait to finish the 3rd and final in the series....

Enemy of sleep!, 13 Jun 2008
this trilogy held my attention, this book particularly with its indepth look at battles, territory and the like. My criticism, for there is one, remains the same as my criticism of the last book and indeed the overall saga, all that spitting! Endlessly recited. He spat. OK, they did it to avert evil but one would think they spent their lives averting evil as they were spitting at every conceivable moment of their lives. It spoiled an otherwise very good series.

2nd part of the greatest Trilogy ever written, 22 Oct 2007
Continues on from The Winter King and skillfully handles many well known elements of the Arthurian legends such as Tristan, Lancelot and Guineveire's 'romance' and the Grail in a realistic well thought out way. The narrator of the story, Derfel Cadarn,friend of Arthur is on top form and brings to life a very realistic view of life in 500AD.
The use of the bitches against the war-dogs during one of the battles against the saxons was brilliant and cunning Merlin and Nimue are again on top Form here. If you can get hold of it try listening to Tim-pigott Smiths audio cassette of this trilogy, he reads it wonderfully and why its not been released on CD yet i dont understand.
Highly Recommended

Amazing continuation of a great saga, 10 Aug 2007
After the great "Winter King" here is the equally splendid second part of the trilogy. Bernard Cornwell managed to keep exactly the same very high level of storytelling and all day life and nature description. The story never gets boring and, even for people knowing the story of Saxon invasions and having some knowledge of Arthurian mythos, there are surprises in every chapter. Author's (and narrator's) dislike of Christianism is even stronger in this book that in the previous, so religious people can be somehow schocked, but still it is a great read.


Best author of this genre, 22 Oct 2008
Bernard Cornwell for me is the no 1 in historical fiction genre, and as these are his favourite set of books of all he has written, I was really looking forward to these. I have just finished the first book, and it was amazing. I think as these books are written in the Dark Ages, he is able to let his imagination go wild in a way that he couldn't in the Sharpe or Grail Quest series. This book is an interesting take on the famous Arthur legend, and in his usual way, he has done an amazing amount of research into the time period and legend, to make what is probably the most likely Arthur tale that I have read (dont expect round tables!). This book is one you just cant put down, finished it in a week! A great tale of battles, love and magic..... halfway through book 2 already!

Great beginning to a fantastic trilogy, 12 Oct 2008
This is the journey of a young man called Derfel becoming a warrior lord around the Arthurian Legends - the story is Inventive and wonderfully descriptive, which brings all the characters to life. The story has an earthy realism feel to it and keeps you wanting the main character Derfel to be safe throughout all the battles and challenges he comes up against. This is my all time favourite trilogy, its great escapism and wonderfully written. Bernard Cornwell in an interview said this was his best work and I can't disagree with him. This trilogy is also a great way to learn about the history of Britain that weaves truths in with a fantastic fictional story.

Not for me, I'm afraid, 14 Sep 2008
OK, I give up. I wanted to like this, I really did. As a teenager I read and loved Frans Bengtsson's "The Long Ships", and I was hoping to recapture some of that chilly evocation of the dark ages; this "authentic" Arthurian trilogy is supposed to be among Cornwell's best work (and is indeed his own favourite).

But it just didn't do it. Lots of Celtic names, lots of "he said, she said", lots of fighting... but zero engagement with this reader; I didn't make it to the end.

Sorry Bernard, but this (and its two sequels) are going back to the charity shop.

Over hyped poor attempt to take your money off you., 31 Aug 2008
I am a fan of Bernard Cornwell, but wow! this was boring, nothing happened. He has obviously attempted to take money out of your pocket 3 times to get to the ending. He should have cut out the boring bits (i.e 98% of the book) took the sequals and edited it all into one decent book. Instead we have to spend about 30-40 hours reading a trilogy that is full of irrelevent banter between a bunch of weirdo's, where nothing really happens. This is seriesly overhyped and a snoozefest. I tried to read it months ago but after reading 100 pages (& still no arthur) i gave up with boredom. Then i started the book again and i've just finished it (i was suicidal from the boredom) and i cant remember what happened, because nothing did happen. I will be donating this book to charity, and i hope they will enjoy it.

My favourite series of books., 12 Aug 2008
I have read all three of these books, several times because I felt so close to the characters. I found that the welsh names very off putting at first, but once you get past that, the writting is a dream. It gives you a real sense of what it would be like to live in mediaeval Briton, as well as in the times of dramatic change for the Britons after the departure of the romans.
I loved all of the characters, they felt real to me, like it was describing real people. I especially loved the way Merlin was portrayed in the books. He was sharp, yet warm and funny. These are books which I will continue to reread again and again, and they will always be special to me.

A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

Will Arthur ever find his peace? A great end to the trilogy, 28 Oct 2008
The third and final book of the Arthur/warlord trilogy is again a Bernard Cornwell classic. Not many authors have his ability for you to get into the heads of their characters in the same way he manages. You are so immersed in them, the story and the time period that it gives you an extra depth when you read his work. Our heroes think that maybe at last they have found a lasting peace for Britain..... of course that could never do! With twists, plots and power hungry rulers, there is still plenty for them left to fix. Cornwells interpretation of the Arthur legend is based on the stories from the time, rather than the much later Arthur legends which were written over 500 years later. This gives a much more believable Arthur legend than many others. He has included many of the later additions to the legend such as the round table, Camelot and alike so as not to make the story too different to the one we all grew up with, however still keeps the story in the dark ages as it was meant to be. An excellent end to the set and for me unfortunately only a couple more of his novels left to read.....

Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur, 13 Jun 2008
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.

Inspiring, 23 Mar 2008
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.


A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy., 22 Oct 2007
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)

The trilogy ends - but what an ending!, 10 Aug 2007
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.

Id as blud, 25 Oct 2008
I used to read cornwell books when I was 14 and I thought they were amazing.

Recently I picked up this book again and had a quick look through and realised why the biggest fans of these books are 40 year old men and 13 year old boys.

His books contist of gory battles puncutated by erotica set in a different historical periods with a few dates and a bit of a plot thrown in (13 year old boys liking this formula becuase they are interested in sex and a box and 40 year old boys because perhaps dont get as much sex and excitment as they got when they were in their prime)

To be fair this book has a mildy engaging plot but there truly are better books, and authors out there.

Cornwell does it again, 22 Oct 2008
This is the second book in the Arthur series and Cornwell keeps up his amazingly consistant and high standards. This is his take on the Arthur legend, using much more of the 'real' story compared to the legend most of us know now. He has incorporated some modern additions to the legend such as Merlin, Lancelot, the Round Table and Camelot, however being Bernard Cornwell he does not deliver these in a standard way, he has his own twist! I agree a little with the other review on here, he recaps a lot of Book 1 on the assumption it may have been a long time for readers in between books, however if you read them in sequence like I did, it is a little annoying. However this is my only small critiscm, and this book is another historical fiction classic.... leaves Britain in turmoil as usual and cannot wait to finish the 3rd and final in the series....

Enemy of sleep!, 13 Jun 2008
this trilogy held my attention, this book particularly with its indepth look at battles, territory and the like. My criticism, for there is one, remains the same as my criticism of the last book and indeed the overall saga, all that spitting! Endlessly recited. He spat. OK, they did it to avert evil but one would think they spent their lives averting evil as they were spitting at every conceivable moment of their lives. It spoiled an otherwise very good series.

2nd part of the greatest Trilogy ever written, 22 Oct 2007
Continues on from The Winter King and skillfully handles many well known elements of the Arthurian legends such as Tristan, Lancelot and Guineveire's 'romance' and the Grail in a realistic well thought out way. The narrator of the story, Derfel Cadarn,friend of Arthur is on top form and brings to life a very realistic view of life in 500AD.
The use of the bitches against the war-dogs during one of the battles against the saxons was brilliant and cunning Merlin and Nimue are again on top Form here. If you can get hold of it try listening to Tim-pigott Smiths audio cassette of this trilogy, he reads it wonderfully and why its not been released on CD yet i dont understand.
Highly Recommended

Amazing continuation of a great saga, 10 Aug 2007
After the great "Winter King" here is the equally splendid second part of the trilogy. Bernard Cornwell managed to keep exactly the same very high level of storytelling and all day life and nature description. The story never gets boring and, even for people knowing the story of Saxon invasions and having some knowledge of Arthurian mythos, there are surprises in every chapter. Author's (and narrator's) dislike of Christianism is even stronger in this book that in the previous, so religious people can be somehow schocked, but still it is a great read.


Best author of this genre, 22 Oct 2008
Bernard Cornwell for me is the no 1 in historical fiction genre, and as these are his favourite set of books of all he has written, I was really looking forward to these. I have just finished the first book, and it was amazing. I think as these books are written in the Dark Ages, he is able to let his imagination go wild in a way that he couldn't in the Sharpe or Grail Quest series. This book is an interesting take on the famous Arthur legend, and in his usual way, he has done an amazing amount of research into the time period and legend, to make what is probably the most likely Arthur tale that I have read (dont expect round tables!). This book is one you just cant put down, finished it in a week! A great tale of battles, love and magic..... halfway through book 2 already!

Great beginning to a fantastic trilogy, 12 Oct 2008
This is the journey of a young man called Derfel becoming a warrior lord around the Arthurian Legends - the story is Inventive and wonderfully descriptive, which brings all the characters to life. The story has an earthy realism feel to it and keeps you wanting the main character Derfel to be safe throughout all the battles and challenges he comes up against. This is my all time favourite trilogy, its great escapism and wonderfully written. Bernard Cornwell in an interview said this was his best work and I can't disagree with him. This trilogy is also a great way to learn about the history of Britain that weaves truths in with a fantastic fictional story.

Not for me, I'm afraid, 14 Sep 2008
OK, I give up. I wanted to like this, I really did. As a teenager I read and loved Frans Bengtsson's "The Long Ships", and I was hoping to recapture some of that chilly evocation of the dark ages; this "authentic" Arthurian trilogy is supposed to be among Cornwell's best work (and is indeed his own favourite).

But it just didn't do it. Lots of Celtic names, lots of "he said, she said", lots of fighting... but zero engagement with this reader; I didn't make it to the end.

Sorry Bernard, but this (and its two sequels) are going back to the charity shop.

Over hyped poor attempt to take your money off you., 31 Aug 2008
I am a fan of Bernard Cornwell, but wow! this was boring, nothing happened. He has obviously attempted to take money out of your pocket 3 times to get to the ending. He should have cut out the boring bits (i.e 98% of the book) took the sequals and edited it all into one decent book. Instead we have to spend about 30-40 hours reading a trilogy that is full of irrelevent banter between a bunch of weirdo's, where nothing really happens. This is seriesly overhyped and a snoozefest. I tried to read it months ago but after reading 100 pages (& still no arthur) i gave up with boredom. Then i started the book again and i've just finished it (i was suicidal from the boredom) and i cant remember what happened, because nothing did happen. I will be donating this book to charity, and i hope they will enjoy it.

My favourite series of books., 12 Aug 2008
I have read all three of these books, several times because I felt so close to the characters. I found that the welsh names very off putting at first, but once you get past that, the writting is a dream. It gives you a real sense of what it would be like to live in mediaeval Briton, as well as in the times of dramatic change for the Britons after the departure of the romans.
I loved all of the characters, they felt real to me, like it was describing real people. I especially loved the way Merlin was portrayed in the books. He was sharp, yet warm and funny. These are books which I will continue to reread again and again, and they will always be special to me.

Excellent starter for Primary age children, 05 Apr 2007
I am a teacher who has long been looking for a simplified version of the Egyptian myths. This book fits the bill exactly! I loved the questions and extra info at the end of each story and the answers at the back!! This is a great book for me to use with the children or for Key Stage 2 children to read by themselves. Little touches, such as the hieroglyphic name plate and the animated scribe, make it very child-friendly. Truly excellent value for money!!

A,B,C of Egyptian Myths, 10 Jan 2006
I bought this book to introduce my children to some of the Egyptian Myths and put a few ghosts to bed. Unfortunately, some of the characters such as Osiris, Seth and Isis appear to have been hijacked by various computer games, trading cards and cartoon characters and the original ethos lost. The book is interactive and allows the younger Egyptologist to take on ownership by writing their name in Hieroglyphs within a Cartouche. This then leads the reader into a map of the ancient world where the Egyptian Empire was powerful and larger than most people realise. Joyce has done an excellent job of targeting the younger audience by selecting stories of interest, using words with kid-appeal and tailoring the tales to a manageable length. To reinforce the legends Joyce has provided questions and answers at the end of each story and this helps adults using the book for bed time story telling! The author has also selected to tell the story of the battle of Kadesh that is based on historical fact. Ramess II fought the Hittite army there and then appears to have put his spin doctors to work in providing a version of the battle for public consumption-no change there then!
Each epic has supporting illustrations by Julian Heath that helps to emphasise key points and introduce young minds to the 2-dimensional representations of a complex Egyptian World! There is an added bonus that the corners of the book have a scribe and a mummy that write and walk when the pages are flicked- a main talking point for children! I would recommend this book for any younger readers interested in Egyptology especially if they want to better understand the creation myth and the gods associated with it. Joyce has done her homework well in providing children with a book that can kick-start them into a fascinating world where Gods and Men shared the same land.

A wonderful book to enhance your Discworld experience, 07 Jan 2009
As a fairly long - term fan of the Discworld series, I found this book entrancing. I enjoy reading books on folklore and traditions, so this was right up my street, combining both interests. Sometimes I've read a Discworld passage and chuckled knowingly as to where Terry got THAT idea from - the gonnagles, Bel-Shamharoth, the Necrotelicomnicon for example. Some were ideas where nearly everyone can share the joke - Quoth The Raven, Cohen the Barbarian. I didn't know about Black Annis, though, the inspiration for Black Aliss, or that a stone in Rheims cathedral is said to have the marks of Christ's buttocks.

The book is full of interesting pieces, where Dr Jacqueline Simpson's deeply scholarly knowledge has explained some fact or told a story of which you were almost certainly previously unaware. If you are a person who has stumbled across this whilst looking for resources on folklore in general, it might be well worthwhile looking out for some of Dr Simpson's previous books - I certainly intend to. As for Sir Terry himself - this book is a worthy addition to the Discworld canon. I loved it.


Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

Will Arthur ever find his peace? A great end to the trilogy, 28 Oct 2008
The third and final book of the Arthur/warlord trilogy is again a Bernard Cornwell classic. Not many authors have his ability for you to get into the heads of their characters in the same way he manages. You are so immersed in them, the story and the time period that it gives you an extra depth when you read his work. Our heroes think that maybe at last they have found a lasting peace for Britain..... of course that could never do! With twists, plots and power hungry rulers, there is still plenty for them left to fix. Cornwells interpretation of the Arthur legend is based on the stories from the time, rather than the much later Arthur legends which were written over 500 years later. This gives a much more believable Arthur legend than many others. He has included many of the later additions to the legend such as the round table, Camelot and alike so as not to make the story too different to the one we all grew up with, however still keeps the story in the dark ages as it was meant to be. An excellent end to the set and for me unfortunately only a couple more of his novels left to read.....

Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur, 13 Jun 2008
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.

Inspiring, 23 Mar 2008
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.


A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy., 22 Oct 2007
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)

The trilogy ends - but what an ending!, 10 Aug 2007
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.

Id as blud, 25 Oct 2008
I used to read cornwell books when I was 14 and I thought they were amazing.

Recently I picked up this book again and had a quick look through and realised why the biggest fans of these books are 40 year old men and 13 year old boys.

His books contist of gory battles puncutated by erotica set in a different historical periods with a few dates and a bit of a plot thrown in (13 year old boys liking this formula becuase they are interested in sex and a box and 40 year old boys because perhaps dont get as much sex and excitment as they got when they were in their prime)

To be fair this book has a mildy engaging plot but there truly are better books, and authors out there.

Cornwell does it again, 22 Oct 2008
This is the second book in the Arthur series and Cornwell keeps up his amazingly consistant and high standards. This is his take on the Arthur legend, using much more of the 'real' story compared to the legend most of us know now. He has incorporated some modern additions to the legend such as Merlin, Lancelot, the Round Table and Camelot, however being Bernard Cornwell he does not deliver these in a standard way, he has his own twist! I agree a little with the other review on here, he recaps a lot of Book 1 on the assumption it may have been a long time for readers in between books, however if you read them in sequence like I did, it is a little annoying. However this is my only small critiscm, and this book is another historical fiction classic.... leaves Britain in turmoil as usual and cannot wait to finish the 3rd and final in the series....

Enemy of sleep!, 13 Jun 2008
this trilogy held my attention, this book particularly with its indepth look at battles, territory and the like. My criticism, for there is one, remains the same as my criticism of the last book and indeed the overall saga, all that spitting! Endlessly recited. He spat. OK, they did it to avert evil but one would think they spent their lives averting evil as they were spitting at every conceivable moment of their lives. It spoiled an otherwise very good series.

2nd part of the greatest Trilogy ever written, 22 Oct 2007
Continues on from The Winter King and skillfully handles many well known elements of the Arthurian legends such as Tristan, Lancelot and Guineveire's 'romance' and the Grail in a realistic well thought out way. The narrator of the story, Derfel Cadarn,friend of Arthur is on top form and brings to life a very realistic view of life in 500AD.
The use of the bitches against the war-dogs during one of the battles against the saxons was brilliant and cunning Merlin and Nimue are again on top Form here. If you can get hold of it try listening to Tim-pigott Smiths audio cassette of this trilogy, he reads it wonderfully and why its not been released on CD yet i dont understand.
Highly Recommended

Amazing continuation of a great saga, 10 Aug 2007
After the great "Winter King" here is the equally splendid second part of the trilogy. Bernard Cornwell managed to keep exactly the same very high level of storytelling and all day life and nature description. The story never gets boring and, even for people knowing the story of Saxon invasions and having some knowledge of Arthurian mythos, there are surprises in every chapter. Author's (and narrator's) dislike of Christianism is even stronger in this book that in the previous, so religious people can be somehow schocked, but still it is a great read.


Best author of this genre, 22 Oct 2008
Bernard Cornwell for me is the no 1 in historical fiction genre, and as these are his favourite set of books of all he has written, I was really looking forward to these. I have just finished the first book, and it was amazing. I think as these books are written in the Dark Ages, he is able to let his imagination go wild in a way that he couldn't in the Sharpe or Grail Quest series. This book is an interesting take on the famous Arthur legend, and in his usual way, he has done an amazing amount of research into the time period and legend, to make what is probably the most likely Arthur tale that I have read (dont expect round tables!). This book is one you just cant put down, finished it in a week! A great tale of battles, love and magic..... halfway through book 2 already!

Great beginning to a fantastic trilogy, 12 Oct 2008
This is the journey of a young man called Derfel becoming a warrior lord around the Arthurian Legends - the story is Inventive and wonderfully descriptive, which brings all the characters to life. The story has an earthy realism feel to it and keeps you wanting the main character Derfel to be safe throughout all the battles and challenges he comes up against. This is my all time favourite trilogy, its great escapism and wonderfully written. Bernard Cornwell in an interview said this was his best work and I can't disagree with him. This trilogy is also a great way to learn about the history of Britain that weaves truths in with a fantastic fictional story.

Not for me, I'm afraid, 14 Sep 2008
OK, I give up. I wanted to like this, I really did. As a teenager I read and loved Frans Bengtsson's "The Long Ships", and I was hoping to recapture some of that chilly evocation of the dark ages; this "authentic" Arthurian trilogy is supposed to be among Cornwell's best work (and is indeed his own favourite).

But it just didn't do it. Lots of Celtic names, lots of "he said, she said", lots of fighting... but zero engagement with this reader; I didn't make it to the end.

Sorry Bernard, but this (and its two sequels) are going back to the charity shop.

Over hyped poor attempt to take your money off you., 31 Aug 2008
I am a fan of Bernard Cornwell, but wow! this was boring, nothing happened. He has obviously attempted to take money out of your pocket 3 times to get to the ending. He should have cut out the boring bits (i.e 98% of the book) took the sequals and edited it all into one decent book. Instead we have to spend about 30-40 hours reading a trilogy that is full of irrelevent banter between a bunch of weirdo's, where nothing really happens. This is seriesly overhyped and a snoozefest. I tried to read it months ago but after reading 100 pages (& still no arthur) i gave up with boredom. Then i started the book again and i've just finished it (i was suicidal from the boredom) and i cant remember what happened, because nothing did happen. I will be donating this book to charity, and i hope they will enjoy it.

My favourite series of books., 12 Aug 2008
I have read all three of these books, several times because I felt so close to the characters. I found that the welsh names very off putting at first, but once you get past that, the writting is a dream. It gives you a real sense of what it would be like to live in mediaeval Briton, as well as in the times of dramatic change for the Britons after the departure of the romans.
I loved all of the characters, they felt real to me, like it was describing real people. I especially loved the way Merlin was portrayed in the books. He was sharp, yet warm and funny. These are books which I will continue to reread again and again, and they will always be special to me.

Excellent starter for Primary age children, 05 Apr 2007
I am a teacher who has long been looking for a simplified version of the Egyptian myths. This book fits the bill exactly! I loved the questions and extra info at the end of each story and the answers at the back!! This is a great book for me to use with the children or for Key Stage 2 children to read by themselves. Little touches, such as the hieroglyphic name plate and the animated scribe, make it very child-friendly. Truly excellent value for money!!

A,B,C of Egyptian Myths, 10 Jan 2006
I bought this book to introduce my children to some of the Egyptian Myths and put a few ghosts to bed. Unfortunately, some of the characters such as Osiris, Seth and Isis appear to have been hijacked by various computer games, trading cards and cartoon characters and the original ethos lost. The book is interactive and allows the younger Egyptologist to take on ownership by writing their name in Hieroglyphs within a Cartouche. This then leads the reader into a map of the ancient world where the Egyptian Empire was powerful and larger than most people realise. Joyce has done an excellent job of targeting the younger audience by selecting stories of interest, using words with kid-appeal and tailoring the tales to a manageable length. To reinforce the legends Joyce has provided questions and answers at the end of each story and this helps adults using the book for bed time story telling! The author has also selected to tell the story of the battle of Kadesh that is based on historical fact. Ramess II fought the Hittite army there and then appears to have put his spin doctors to work in providing a version of the battle for public consumption-no change there then!
Each epic has supporting illustrations by Julian Heath that helps to emphasise key points and introduce young minds to the 2-dimensional representations of a complex Egyptian World! There is an added bonus that the corners of the book have a scribe and a mummy that write and walk when the pages are flicked- a main talking point for children! I would recommend this book for any younger readers interested in Egyptology especially if they want to better understand the creation myth and the gods associated with it. Joyce has done her homework well in providing children with a book that can kick-start them into a fascinating world where Gods and Men shared the same land.

Fantastic, 16 Jun 2007
I read this book in two sittings. The first while waiting in a hotel reception for my friend Darren. He was fairly late but I had plenty of time to kill. One of the bots at reception, a tall greek from Corfu, saw me waiting and handed me the book, "I have committed it all to memory", "you can keep it" he vocoded. I sat down and read a few chapters before I started to think I'd told Darren the wrong moon. He must have gone to Europa. I couldn't wait another hour for contact with Europa, and had been told by Darren not to use the telecom relay networks around Jupiter. I stopped reading and caught the Ganymede/Europa bus from outside the hotel. After about ten minutes of listening entertained to the bus' weird babble of tongues, I got a call from Darren, he said he'd contracted Liver Flees while sightseeing on Jupiter's rocky core and was currently resting at the health centre on Europa. His voice was strangely restrained, I wasn't sure whether he was joking, though I remembered from a Jessop Attenborough programme, that Liver Flees need hydrogen to survive, and since the last of Jupiter's hydrogen had been tapped 130 years ago, i figured he was just protecting his cover, maybe the space masons were with him.

Sat next to me on the bus, was a mother and child of a familiar Mandarin-speaking alien race - The Squit. These clothe-less people are descendants of what on earth we call `birds', The mother had what looked like bird feathers for hair and the child was young enough to still have the fingers of one arm attached the wing, the other arm was free and flailing. The mother was very attractive but the child was annoying. It was telling me story after story, all of which ending in "and I didn't even cry". I tried to think of something to say to end the onslaught yet still maintain my chances with the mother. In desperation I asked the mother "what's your favourite seed". I really wish I hadn't. She seized the opportunity to recite a litany of edible seeds from far and wide. Stumbling to think of a top top favourite seed, she looked up at the ceiling in thought. This gave me time to catch sight of her flange and busters, the joyous vision of overpowering my torment. Before I could completed SWOT analysis, she looked at me and carried on with her jabbering fusillade of seed talk. In total awe I looked back up at her beautiful beak, clasped it shut and kissed her on her beady black eye.

A remarkable reference book, 22 Sep 2004
This book is remarkable for many reasons. It covers the entire cannon of greek myths and legends in a refreshing and illuminating way. Graves cross-indexes the entire book with a kind of "internet-link hypertext" (this book was written WAY before the WWW) that can lead to surprising connections. And yes, he does present his ingenious "key" to understanding the "true" meanings "hidden" behind these stories, but he had the decency to separate these from the more generally accepted "University course" interpretations. And, as even critical reviewers have pointed out, even if you disagree with what he has to say, he was an extremely well read and scholarly man with an astonishing knack for rendering the past vivid and meaningful. His opinions are always thought provoking and worth reading...

The myths are great but the commentary is horrible, 30 Dec 2003
This is a fine scholarly work collecting together all the Greek myths from various sources (Hesiod, Homer, Apollodorus, Pindar, etc.) and retelling them in a highly accessible manner. However, for every page of Greek myth there are two pages of Graves's commentary and here is where the problem lies. It's all sacred queen and sacrificial king nonsense, the sort of prehistoric fantasy that he went on about at tedious length in the 'White Goddess'. Lacking documentary evidence, he feels free to impose whatever fantasy he likes on prehistoric European society and, at heart, Graves was nothing more than a new-age mystic. Nonetheless, buried among the dross there is real scholarship which makes you feel that you should read the commentary in case you miss something genuinely illuminating. It does make it damned hard going, though.

An Exhaustive Text for Advanced Students of Greek Mythology, 13 Apr 2003
Robert Graves' THE GREEK MYTHS falls between the Victorian bombast of Bulfinch and the popular style of Edith Hamilton, less stylistically intimidating than the former and more scholarly than the latter. Originally published as a