The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
Dec. 27th, 2007 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keilexandraThe Crystal Cave
by Mary Stewart
494 pages (trade paperback)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Before I begin commentary, I'd like to preface this review with the disclaimer that in general, I dislike Arthurian fantasy. Much in the same way that I dislike epic quest fantasy--unless it's really really really well-done, I feel like the core of the story is unoriginal. (This bias does not extend to fairy tale or mythological retellings, which I often adore. Go figure.) The major exceptions being Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry trilogy and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, respectively; GGK and GRRM are actually #1 and #3 on my list of all-time favorite authors.
But even amongst the ranks of Arthurian fantasy, I feel that Stewart's Arthurian Saga (A.K.A. the Merlin trilogy) cannot hold its own. In fact, despite its flaws I would place Marion Zimmer Bradley's much-acclaimed and much-criticized The Mists of Avalon above The Crystal Cave. If this weren't required reading for class, I would have stopped at around page 150. Bradley's book, I at least willingly read to the end.
I wrote an essay around one essential flaw in The Crystal Cave, and that is unoriginality. By all indications, this is a fantasy novel. Fantasy. I am a huge fan of fantasy of manners, which often does not employ direct magic, so lack of magic in and of itself is not condemning. But furthermore, this is an epic fantasy novel. Arthurian, to be even more specific. For this particular subgenre, explicit fantastical elements is--in my opinion--a necessity. Unfortunately, Stewart's interpretation reads more like historical fiction in which too many liberties have been taken.
The prose is elegant and glides smoothly for the most part, though a bit overboard on landscape descriptions for my taste. Character is not outstanding, perhaps slightly above mediocre--I cared about Merlin at dangerous moments but the connection was often cut by some jolt or other. Regarding plot, Stewart chooses to follow a mostly realistic interpretation--the white and red dragons are merely a banner and a comet, the king's stone is raised through simple engineering, etc. Merlin's Sight is the only magical element, and a cliche one at that. The Crystal Cave feels like an attempt by Stewart at original deviation by staying true to realism; however, it muddles about too much to succeed.
Not recommended except to die-hard Mary Stewart or Arthurian legend fans. I don't think I know anyone who falls into either catagory, but please correct my impression in comments if necessary.
by Mary Stewart
494 pages (trade paperback)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Before I begin commentary, I'd like to preface this review with the disclaimer that in general, I dislike Arthurian fantasy. Much in the same way that I dislike epic quest fantasy--unless it's really really really well-done, I feel like the core of the story is unoriginal. (This bias does not extend to fairy tale or mythological retellings, which I often adore. Go figure.) The major exceptions being Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry trilogy and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, respectively; GGK and GRRM are actually #1 and #3 on my list of all-time favorite authors.
But even amongst the ranks of Arthurian fantasy, I feel that Stewart's Arthurian Saga (A.K.A. the Merlin trilogy) cannot hold its own. In fact, despite its flaws I would place Marion Zimmer Bradley's much-acclaimed and much-criticized The Mists of Avalon above The Crystal Cave. If this weren't required reading for class, I would have stopped at around page 150. Bradley's book, I at least willingly read to the end.
I wrote an essay around one essential flaw in The Crystal Cave, and that is unoriginality. By all indications, this is a fantasy novel. Fantasy. I am a huge fan of fantasy of manners, which often does not employ direct magic, so lack of magic in and of itself is not condemning. But furthermore, this is an epic fantasy novel. Arthurian, to be even more specific. For this particular subgenre, explicit fantastical elements is--in my opinion--a necessity. Unfortunately, Stewart's interpretation reads more like historical fiction in which too many liberties have been taken.
The prose is elegant and glides smoothly for the most part, though a bit overboard on landscape descriptions for my taste. Character is not outstanding, perhaps slightly above mediocre--I cared about Merlin at dangerous moments but the connection was often cut by some jolt or other. Regarding plot, Stewart chooses to follow a mostly realistic interpretation--the white and red dragons are merely a banner and a comet, the king's stone is raised through simple engineering, etc. Merlin's Sight is the only magical element, and a cliche one at that. The Crystal Cave feels like an attempt by Stewart at original deviation by staying true to realism; however, it muddles about too much to succeed.
Not recommended except to die-hard Mary Stewart or Arthurian legend fans. I don't think I know anyone who falls into either catagory, but please correct my impression in comments if necessary.