Merlin Dreams

by Peter Dickinson

Nine stories of blood, magic, and fabulous creatures, set in the framing device of dreams coming to the enchanted wizard Merlin as he lies imprisoned under a great stone.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Arthurian, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Picture Books

167 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Peter Malcolm de Brissac Dickinson OBE FRSL was a prolific English author and poet, best known for children's books and detective stories.

Peter Dickinson lived in Hampshire with his second wife, author Robin McKinley. He wrote more than fifty novels for adults and young readers. He won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Award twice, and his novel The Blue Hawk won The Guardian Award in 1975.

Reviews

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book simply for Alan Lee’s illustrations, but I stayed because of the amazing stories by Peter Dickinson! Dickinson retells the story of Merlin’s imprisonment by Nimue by using the magician’s entrapment and dreams as a frame story to explore events throughout the Arthurian world and era. We see Merlin trapped, but his mind is still (mostly) alive as we see him dream of the outside world - picturing knights battling dragons and their own worst impulses, damsels rescued and acting as inspirations, and political machinations to magical wonders. The book is less than straightforward, as each tale stands alone yet builds into a larger world, but the magic and strangeness of the Arthurian era is present throughout and makes the book a wonderful read. Lee’s illustrations are also an excellent addition, as they personify the ragged landscape, dark forests, and strange happenings that seem to be just short of the reality we know. I was always interested in the legends of the Arthurian period, but the magic that I used to find in the stories was often missing in many of the recent books I’ve read on the topic, so I am glad that I stumbled onto this one accidentally. Like Merlin’s dreams of the past, present, and future, I got a few days of wondrous moments that reminded me of the sheer magic of discovery from when I was younger.

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband had picked this up years ago on a whim but hadn't read it. I'm enjoying going through our combined shelves now, reading new-to-me books that I've inherited by marriage. I'm used to knowing my shelves very thoroughly, so it's exciting to stumble upon intriguing tales I didn't know were in the house.

What a gem I stumbled upon here! This book is lovely, both visually and in terms of the storytelling. The artwork is done by the incomparable Alan Lee of Lord of the Rings fame, and they're beautiful.

The stories are even more so. This book is labeled YA for some reason (perhaps because it's illustrated), but the depth of the stories is impressive, and I think adults might appreciate their subtlety even more. Not a dud amongst the collection, all of which are loosely bound together by the theme of Merlin's dreams. Arthurian fans will be in heaven, but you could read and fall in love with this book even if you'd never heard of King Arthur.

I love the author Robin McKinley, and Peter Dickinson was her husband. He passed away last year, and I can't help but think how sad it would be to love and lose the creator of such beautifully spun tales.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that belongs to my older brother which was given to him as a gift when I was approximately 4 years old. At that time I enjoyed looking at the pictures, but I've since come to love the stories.
A wonderful take on the ideas of Arthurian legends told from the perspective of various characters as Merlin, trapped beneath his rock, dreams glimpses of their lives.
The book barely touches on any tales of Arthur, Merlin or any of the other well known characters of the legends; instead focusing on characters that might have existed within such a world.
If you're a fan of Arthur's tales I recommend it strongly as a fresh breath in otherwise similar stories told on repeat.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of fairy and folk tales, threaded together by the conceit that they are the dreams and/or memories of a sleeping Merlin, (willingly) laid into the ground by Nimue. Dickinson's brilliance is to interweave conventional tropes and ideas for this genre with more eccentric and unusual matter, often involving human frailty, and he is unafraid to shun conventionally positive outcomes. There is even a consummately well executed eclogue.

Alan Lee's ethereal drawings pefectly complement the text. A real treasure for the spirit and the eye.

[Laura Morrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful collection of stories, but talented fantasy artist Alan Lee's haunting illustrations were really what made this book stick in my head for all those years since I first read it. The illustrations are amazing!

The stories and illustrations are both perfect!

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of people sort this as if it were a children's picture book, and while it does sort of have that format, the writing is advanced enough that it's probably meant more for older kids or adults. Overall the stories were good, feeling like real fairytales with some creative twists, though each one had some flaw that kept them from perfection, and a lot felt like they could have expanded into whole novel(la)s. I noticed a running theme of characters learning to do the right thing without following the rules of knightly chivalry that get in the way, though thankfully Dickinson is less annoying at that than Gerald Morris.

It's not a very Arthurian collection; Merlin is never even named, and overall I didn't love his segments, which felt like they were trying to sound profound and mystical without really saying anything of significance. The story "Damsel" also begins at Camelot, though you wouldn't know that unless you're familiar enough with Arthuriana to recognize Arthur's "won't eat until I see a marvel" shtick.

[Martin Whittaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I real treasure of a find. In this modern take on traditional Arthurian storytelling Dickinson delivers an anthology of wierd and wonderful tales each beautifully crafted with both poetry and a large dose of magic. This book was also illustrated by Alan Lee, whose Middle Earth art inspired the look of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the illustrations in this book really have an ethereal and fairytale quality but also reflect the wild beauty of England and Wales.

[Etola · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I picked up this book from a local used book store, mainly because of the Alan Lee illustrations and a passing interest in Arthuria. It sat on my shelf waiting for at least a year, I think, mainly because its large size made it hard to read in all the locations I usually read books. But the flu caught me this past December, so sitting on the couch with a large book on my lap seemed like a natural way to spend my time, when I wasn't deep in a fevered sleep.

And wow, I was super impressed with this book. Not only are the illustrations gorgeous and evocative, but the stories themselves were engaging, solidly written and powerful. I really fell into the world and enjoyed walking with these characters on their various journeys.

The premise or narrative frame of the book is that all these stories are dreams that Merlin has while trapped beneath his rock. Between each story, there's a brief vignette of Merlin's thoughts and memories which shift and flow into the next story. Each story is set in a fantasy Arthurian world, with questing knights, scoundrels, clever damsels, mythic beasts and magic. And yet Peter Dickinson deftly shifts style and tone depending on the story's need. Some read more like fairy tales; others like tales told around a fire; others are more "realist" in their approach, heavy and rich with detail and complex characterization. There are even a couple of poems mixed in. The resulting stories all feel very different from one another, with a variety of settings, characters, and conflicts even if they all take place in the same large landscape of "Arthurian fantasy."

If you like Alan Lee's work, Arthurian fantasy, or just enjoy good stories well-told, this book is worth picking up.

[Juniper Shore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book many years ago and checked it out repeatedly. Then I moved. For years I couldn't remember its title or author, though I could tell you exactly where it was located in my school library on the far side of the ocean. And then the internet was invented, and I tracked it down.

Alan Lee's illustrations almost define the fantasy genre, in my opinion. When I picture Camelot or druids, I'm likely thinking of an image from this book. The writing is also quite good, though some of the stories are better than others. Children can read and enjoy this book (as I did) but adults may get more out of it, as some of the stories hint at darker themes beyond children's grasp.

I own the book now, and I reread it regularly.

[Nisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good book.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for the art, which of course will take readers back to Tolkien and the marvelous art Lee did for those works and for the films. The stories are dense and beautifully written but not for late night reading--way too much going on. The foundation is Merlin (though he isn't identified as such in the beginning) who is sleeping, dreaming, on a moor under a huge rock, and the stories are his dreams. Possibly not really for children.

[mstan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This doesn't read like YA. The nine stories are dream-like retellings of Arthurian legends and myths, and involve rather strange and wondrous twists. I think the packaging/cover detail threw me off quite a bit - the rather cheesy drawing is quite jarring compared to the density of the tales, and did not quite prepare me for it.

[angrykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok, this is an awesome book that anyone that is into authurian writing must read. not only are the stories great, but if you get the hardcover edition, there are the most remarkable pictures as well. truly an awesome book.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything that has to do with the realm of King Arthur.

Favorite quote: Later she used her power to rescue a man she loved from enchantment, and married him. No more is known of her. She too seems to have chosen her doom. It was to become like other people, ordinary.

[Beth E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written, yet the stories are often show paced and dreamy in tone. I think it was a mistake by the publishers to present this as a children's book- adults will better enjoy its subtleties.

[Mfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still remember the images.

[Diane]

For Ryan, maybe Ella; suggested by Cheryl