Merlin's Gift | |||||
Ian McDowell | |||||
Avon Books, 251 pages | |||||
A review by Stephen M. Davis
I have to say that I'm as impressed with Merlin's Gift as I was with The Once and Future King,
and for me, that's saying a lot.
Mr. McDowell has put a twist on the Arthurian legend, telling his story from the point-of-view of
Mordred, the once-antagonist, now reservedly-trusted son of Arthur. The author gives Mordred an
intelligent and refreshingly funny tone, leaving Arthur's son as one of the last pagans at Camelot
in a world that is becoming increasingly Christian in its practices.
In Merlin's Gift, Guinevere's little sister, Nimue, is beginning to grow a penis. Yes, I too thought
this was a strange way to start a book, but Mr. McDowell actually makes this work. According to
Merlin -- and Merlin is not the comfortable mage we're all used to, but a pedophiliac,
psychopathic dwarf -- Nimue has always been a boy, but did not begin growing a male sex
organ until she/he reached puberty.
Merlin is quite smug in his belief that he is the only one who can give Nimue
what she wants: the chance to become a woman.
In the meantime, Mr. McDowell writes a nice battle scene, comes up with some imaginative, mildly
disgusting mannerisms for his Dark Ages characters, and manages to flood Camelot with a fount of sweet, red wine.
This is the sort of book that would be outright foolishness if it weren't all managed so deftly by the author.
I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone under the age of fifteen. The general theme is a
bit on the warped side and may have a tendency to cause the reader to question his faith, creed, and
general sense of morality. Did I mention that Merlin has uses for all the various bodily fluids?
If, though, you enjoy good writing and you are not too married to a traditional telling of the
Arthurian story, I think you will enjoy this one.
Steve is faculty member in the English department at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, S.C. He holds a master's in English Literature from Clemson University. He was voted by his high school class as Most Likely to Become a Young Curmudgeon. |
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