The Crystal Cave (1970)

There are a lot of versions of the King Arthur/Merlin stories out there, but in my opinion this THE BEST version! I love the way Mary Stewart weaves in all the legend and myth into one cohesive story. I re-read the whole series again every few years! ( )

This was a re-read of Mary Stewart’s 1970 rendering of the legend surrounding Arthur's "begetting" and rise to power as told in retrospect by a young Merlin, who although blessed with "the sight" is merely a well educated, mortal man. No cup-twirling, talking-teapot Merlin is he. Nor is he the alleged “Prince of Darkness but rather a skilled physician and engineer. Born a bastard son into the royal family, Merlin learns to survive in a family that, save his mother, wants him dead. His medical and engineering prowess sow the seeds of legend through the countryside as he travels about, healing when he can, and constantly gathering knowledge and skills. His talents and sight eventually arrange Arthur’s birth and rise to power. Rejecting the life of a prince, Merlin prefers the solitude and peace of his Crystal Cave on Bryn Myrddin (Merlin’s Mountain) where staring into the glowing embers of his hearth he conjures visions of things to come.
Mary Stewart, God rest her soul (9/17/1916 – 5/9/2014), immerses us in fifth-century power struggles and mysticism swirling in medieval England. A wonderful, classically literary read. Four and a half stars . ( )

Mary Stewart's first book in her Arthurian Saga deals entirely with Merlin, his upbringing, his unique gifts and the mystery of his "magic".

It truly is well written - sparse, concise and yet with beautiful descriptive passages that give a glimpse into what the characters were seeing. And the best part of this book? How the author handled the magic, at once beautiful and explainable, but mysterious and uncontrollable.

I can't wait to read the next one. ( )

I read this many moons ago and enjoyed it then. Finally, I'm getting back to it again after some serious fantasy reading and finding it just as enjoyable now.

Merlin tells the story of his youth. He grew up with his mother, the daughter of the king of England. He meets an old druid living in a cave and starts to learn about his abilities. When the king is killed and is taken over by his brother, Merlin leaves and sails across the Narrow Sea to Breton. He offers his services to Ambrosius who he recognizes as his father. Eventually he returns to England and is called to assist Uther for the well known tryst with Ygraine.

Though the story of Merlin and Arthur's birth is so well known, Stewart gave us a version through Merlin's eyes that give us a thorough picture of the intrigue and history of the period. I would not hesitate to label this trilogy a classic. ( )

The beginning of the Arthur legend. I didn't find it interesting, the characters didn't draw me in, nor did the historical'ness" of it come across as more than a text book read.

I'm glad others enjoyed it, but I didn't really and I won't be reading the sequels." ( )