The Book of the Sword

Hallowed Isle #1

by Diana L. Paxson

Mighty Rome subjugated the isle of Britain only to abandon it, leaving behind a bloody patchwork of warring tribes. The fragile peace imposed by the conquerors has been shattered, compelling Artoria Argantel -- Lady of the Lake and Druid priestess -- to call upon the Spirit of War and Justice to deliver a champion who will unite the broken land. It is from Argantel's ancient and royal blood that the hero will spring; his sword will be forged from star-steel by ancient spells, carried by soldier-priests from the steppes of Asia to the edges of the Empire. Only one man can wield this holy steel, aided by the wizard Merlin, whose heritage is a magic wilder still. Only one man can free the sword from its prison of stone.

Artor, a fosterling of unknown parentage. The promised High King.

Genres: Fantasy, Arthurian, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Mythology, Historical

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1999

About the author

Diana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.

In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.

Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".

Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.

Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.

A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.

She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.

More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com

Reviews

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐️

I think that this book is best read as a parable instead of as a novel. It’s a good retelling of the classic Arthurian tale and I enjoyed the changes that Paxson made to add historical and Celtic spirituality significance to it. However, the characters were never really fleshed out and felt one dimensional. The writing was was done but also felt like I was reading a bible story at times because it never went too deep.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another spin on Arthur just not as shinny as I like.

[Tenika Fontana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very brief book. It reads almost like a historical record: lots of names (she went with the Roman names for this one) of places, status, etc. In Paxson fashion, she has done a lot of research for the topic. The story is basically the story of the Sword in the Stone: the events leading up to Arthur (Artor) becoming king. The characters don't have depth and the worldbuilding is a minimum, lots of places named, but very little to describe them. She was mainly just getting to the events via the characters. If this were a tv show, it'd be an episode in an anthology about Arthurian legend. Short, to the point, and basically a history lesson about the power vacuume left behind in Britain after the Romans have left. I can see much of the stuff here and how it went to eventually inspire her later Avalon books: Sword of Avalon, Priestess of Avalon and Ravens of Avalon. Also, her close relationship with Marion Zimmer Bradley is very evident. She hints at the magic of Avalon having come from the Atlantic (Atlantis), and the focus is about the pagan religions striving to survive the tide of Christianity.
Overal, 3/5, mostly points just for the history.

[Natasha 4E · Rating 2 out of 5]

While well researched, the characters are flat, and if there were any interesting themes in the story, I missed them. I liked how the magic was very thought out, and I liked the idea of Merlin, having all these crisis. If he'd had a personality, he could have been a great character. Often, I didn't get why the characters acted the way they did.
I like the few modern fantasy novels from Paxon that I've read, but so far all of her historical fantasy bored me.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting variation of the Arthurian legend.

[Din · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzweilige Geschichte mit spannenden Verbindungen zu echten Ereignissen. Zum Teil ein bisschen oberflächlich geschrieben, so das man sich nie wirklich in einen Charakter verlieben kann oder wirklich mit fiebert. Liegt, aber vielleicht auch daran, dass der Ausgang der Geschichte bereits am Anfang bekannt war.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote this in 2008:
Arthurian series with a unique representation:
'Paxson departs from the usual fare is in her consideration of the Saxons as people with their own goals and beliefs and lives, rather than as stock barbarians who exist only to destroy what is left of Roman civilization'.

I am very much looking forward to reading these novels.
I've read Ms. Paxson before and like her style. As Marion Zimmer Bradley's sister in law and most trusted friend, she's worked on the Avalon series with Marion.

Today:
So far, I've read nothing in regards to a unique representation nor any consideration of the Saxons. This is straightforward traditional Arthurian novel, the same as so many others.
3 more books to go in the series, and hopefully, I'll get what I bought this series for, something unique.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many may say that this is just another King Arthur story, but in my opinion, it's not. It's really about the Sword. Yeah, it does tell the story of the origins of Merlin (Ambros) and Arthur (Artur), but the Sword is behind those stories, and is the star of the show more than once. A wonderfully told tale, Diana Paxson is one of the best when it comes to this. Good read.

[stormhawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

really having a hard time deciding what I think about this book. I like that it is a different take on the Arthur legend, with more of an emphasis on the magic of the sword itself, but the writing is rough and unsatisfying.

[Berta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this different perspective of the Arthurian tale, and am already gobbling up the "Spear" book two of the 4-book set. I like Diana Paxson's writing. I love this type of historical fantasy, and I am a huge Arthurian fan. I am enjoying the series very much.

[Afie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely more the Arthurian scholar instead of the Arthurian romantic.

[Tricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

concept was good, writing was just too flowery (dense, heavy, just not right) for me....

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book - it started earlier than usual in the author legend, with Merlin's birth. Not a common angle, but familiar enough to satisfy Authorian legend fans.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Workmanlike tale of Merlin's birth and emergence of the young Arthur. Nothing special here, but future instalments may improve.

[Patrick Bättig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artussage Teil 1: Artur erhält das Schwert von Merlin, der es in einen Stein steckt