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The only problem with being a book reviewer is that almost everything I read has been assigned; thus, I knew nothing about Mr. McDowell's Arthurian series until the second volume showed up in the mail.

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.