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The Moon Stallion
When the Purwells set out to explore the land of the real King Arthur, they find themselves caught up in a hunt for the Moon Stallion, a beautiful but dangerous beast without mortal master. Mortenhurze, Purwell's patron, wants revenge. Todman, a horse warlock, has more sinister intentions. Both men seek to capture the mysterious horse, so that its magic powers will become theirs to command.
But they are no match for the dark forces of myth and magic which still exist among the Berkshire hills. Only Diana, who is blind, is allowed a glimpse of the truth. With Merlin's help, she learns that the Moon Stallion is beyond the reach of ambitious men. It is part of a legend which unites past, present and future...
Based on the 1978 BBC Children's fantasy drama starring Sarah Sutton, John Abineri, and David Haig.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best known for his work on Doctor Who, he wrote a total of six stories and created the iconic Celestial Toymaker and The Ice Warriors! Hayles wrote for such television series as The Regiment, Barlow at Large, Doomwatch, Out of the Unknown, United!, Legend of Death, Public Eye, Z-Cars, BBC Playhouse, The Wednesday Thriller and Suspense.
In addition to script writing for the radio series The Archers, Hayles penned a novel based on the soap called Spring at Brookfield (Tandem, 1975) set in the period between the two world wars. His other books included novelisations of his Doctor Who stories, and two horror plays for children, The Curse of the Labyrinth (Dobson, 1976) and Hour of the Werewolf (Dobson, 1976). An original novel entitled Goldhawk (NEL, 1979) was published posthumously.
But they are no match for the dark forces of myth and magic which still exist among the Berkshire hills. Only Diana, who is blind, is allowed a glimpse of the truth. With Merlin's help, she learns that the Moon Stallion is beyond the reach of ambitious men. It is part of a legend which unites past, present and future...
Based on the 1978 BBC Children's fantasy drama starring Sarah Sutton, John Abineri, and David Haig.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best known for his work on Doctor Who, he wrote a total of six stories and created the iconic Celestial Toymaker and The Ice Warriors! Hayles wrote for such television series as The Regiment, Barlow at Large, Doomwatch, Out of the Unknown, United!, Legend of Death, Public Eye, Z-Cars, BBC Playhouse, The Wednesday Thriller and Suspense.
In addition to script writing for the radio series The Archers, Hayles penned a novel based on the soap called Spring at Brookfield (Tandem, 1975) set in the period between the two world wars. His other books included novelisations of his Doctor Who stories, and two horror plays for children, The Curse of the Labyrinth (Dobson, 1976) and Hour of the Werewolf (Dobson, 1976). An original novel entitled Goldhawk (NEL, 1979) was published posthumously.
218 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 1978
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Brian Hayles
26 books6 followersBrian Hayles (7 March 1931 - 30 October 1978) was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. His body of work as a writer for television and film, most notably for the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, lasted from 1963 to 1989.
Hayles wrote six stories for Doctor Who and is best known for his creation of the Celestial Toymaker in the 1966 story of the same name, the Ice Warriors, introduced in the 1967 story of the same name, and the feudal planet Peladon, the setting for The Curse of Peladon and its sequel The Monster of Peladon. His other stories were The Smugglers and The Seeds of Death.
In addition to script writing for the radio series The Archers, Hayles penned a novel based on the soap called Spring at Brookfield (Tandem, 1975) set in the period between the two world wars. His other books included novelisations of his Doctor Who serials The Curse of Peladon (Target, 1974) and The Ice Warriors (Target, 1976), an adaptation of his scripts for the BBC drama The Moon Stallion (Mirror Books, 1978), and two horror plays for children, The Curse of the Labyrinth (Dobson, 1976) and Hour of the Werewolf (Dobson, 1976). An original novel entitled Goldhawk (NEL, 1979) was published posthumously.
Apart from Doctor Who, Hayles wrote for such television series as The Regiment, Barlow at Large, Doomwatch, Out of the Unknown, United!, Legend of Death, Public Eye, Z-Cars, BBC Playhouse, The Wednesday Thriller and Suspense. He also wrote the screenplays for the feature films Nothing But the Night (1972) and Warlords of Atlantis (1978). The novelisation of the latter by Paul Victor (Futura, 1978) included a preface by Hayles entitled 'The Thinking Behind Atlantis' in which he explained the origins of the film's central concepts.
Hayles's final screenplay was for Arabian Adventure (1979), which he completed shortly before his death on 30 October 1978. The novelisation of the film by Keith Miles (Mirror Books, 1979) was dedicated to his memory.
Hayles wrote six stories for Doctor Who and is best known for his creation of the Celestial Toymaker in the 1966 story of the same name, the Ice Warriors, introduced in the 1967 story of the same name, and the feudal planet Peladon, the setting for The Curse of Peladon and its sequel The Monster of Peladon. His other stories were The Smugglers and The Seeds of Death.
In addition to script writing for the radio series The Archers, Hayles penned a novel based on the soap called Spring at Brookfield (Tandem, 1975) set in the period between the two world wars. His other books included novelisations of his Doctor Who serials The Curse of Peladon (Target, 1974) and The Ice Warriors (Target, 1976), an adaptation of his scripts for the BBC drama The Moon Stallion (Mirror Books, 1978), and two horror plays for children, The Curse of the Labyrinth (Dobson, 1976) and Hour of the Werewolf (Dobson, 1976). An original novel entitled Goldhawk (NEL, 1979) was published posthumously.
Apart from Doctor Who, Hayles wrote for such television series as The Regiment, Barlow at Large, Doomwatch, Out of the Unknown, United!, Legend of Death, Public Eye, Z-Cars, BBC Playhouse, The Wednesday Thriller and Suspense. He also wrote the screenplays for the feature films Nothing But the Night (1972) and Warlords of Atlantis (1978). The novelisation of the latter by Paul Victor (Futura, 1978) included a preface by Hayles entitled 'The Thinking Behind Atlantis' in which he explained the origins of the film's central concepts.
Hayles's final screenplay was for Arabian Adventure (1979), which he completed shortly before his death on 30 October 1978. The novelisation of the film by Keith Miles (Mirror Books, 1979) was dedicated to his memory.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 12, 2014
Moon Stallion was one of my favourite programmes as a child. For years I tried to remember what it was called, I remembered the white horse and the beginning on a train. It took me years to track it down but last year I was able to find it. I re-watched it and loved it.
The book was an adaptation of the programme and I honestly wasn't expecting more than a Target novelization treatment. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying this. Brian Hayles really managed to play up the mythological elements of the story and really routed the story and the magic with the themes from the golden bough.
It's a wonderful story set in 1906 about a blind girl who is chosen by the goddess to fight an evil warlock. It's mixed in Celtic mythology with the legend of King Arthur. Archaeology and magic. The book really brings the settings and the characters to life. I'm really glad I took the time to read this.
The book was an adaptation of the programme and I honestly wasn't expecting more than a Target novelization treatment. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying this. Brian Hayles really managed to play up the mythological elements of the story and really routed the story and the magic with the themes from the golden bough.
It's a wonderful story set in 1906 about a blind girl who is chosen by the goddess to fight an evil warlock. It's mixed in Celtic mythology with the legend of King Arthur. Archaeology and magic. The book really brings the settings and the characters to life. I'm really glad I took the time to read this.
April 6, 2013
This is not a TV programme or book that I have heard before and I really don't understand why, as it is completely up my street. Mr Purwell is asked by Mr Mortenhurze to explore the legend of King Arthur, and he takes his children, Paul and Diana, with him. They are picked up from the station by Mr Todman, and on the way to the house, see the mysterious Moon Stallion, a pure white horse who watches them pass. All three are drawn into a plot by the two men to catch the stallion and turn its mystical powers to its own uses, but there are older forces in the hills of the White Horse, and even blind Diana can see that they are risking everything in their quest.
I really did enjoy reading this, even if it is aimed at children. The story was everything I like - Arthur, Epona, horses, magic - I think I might have to track down the TV programme too.
I really did enjoy reading this, even if it is aimed at children. The story was everything I like - Arthur, Epona, horses, magic - I think I might have to track down the TV programme too.
March 12, 2016
This is a strange case of the move was better than the book. Granted the movie came first, so it's not a total shock.
I did enjoy the filling in of some of the history blanks, and more thorough explanation of things that blew by quickly in the series, but given the choice I'd recommend someone watch the series over read this book.
I did enjoy the filling in of some of the history blanks, and more thorough explanation of things that blew by quickly in the series, but given the choice I'd recommend someone watch the series over read this book.
July 7, 2017
Blast from the past!
I watched this show on and old VHS-tape my grandfather had. It always captivated me, with it's mysticism, myth, legend and the beautiful white horse. I always had a thing for fairy tales and folk lore, and I think this contributed to another spark for mythology and old history as well.
Diana is a blind girl, but she sees quite a few thing with her mind instead of her eyes. And in this, she seems to be sort of a chosen person, for the Moon Stallion comes to hear, and she is able to communicate with the Green King as well. This is very much envied by both Mr Mortenhurze, the Purwell family's host, and their stablemaster - Todman.
Both of them want to get hold of the enchanting white steed, but it refuses to come to either of them. Unfortunately both of them will get in touch with the stallion, but it will not bring any luck to either of them.
Fantastic book - albeit rather a short story. Done in a few days, and I've been trying to savour it as well.
I watched this show on and old VHS-tape my grandfather had. It always captivated me, with it's mysticism, myth, legend and the beautiful white horse. I always had a thing for fairy tales and folk lore, and I think this contributed to another spark for mythology and old history as well.
Diana is a blind girl, but she sees quite a few thing with her mind instead of her eyes. And in this, she seems to be sort of a chosen person, for the Moon Stallion comes to hear, and she is able to communicate with the Green King as well. This is very much envied by both Mr Mortenhurze, the Purwell family's host, and their stablemaster - Todman.
Both of them want to get hold of the enchanting white steed, but it refuses to come to either of them. Unfortunately both of them will get in touch with the stallion, but it will not bring any luck to either of them.
Fantastic book - albeit rather a short story. Done in a few days, and I've been trying to savour it as well.
September 16, 2017
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I think some readers are of an age to remember the slightly incomprehensible 1978 BBC children's TV series that this books novelises - particularly memorable for Who fans in that it stars Sarah Sutton, a year or so before she became Nyssa, and John Abineri, who was in Doctor Who four times; and the writer of course was Brian Hayles, who wrote the four Ice Warrior stories of Old Who and also The Celestial Toymaker and The Smugglers. He died, aged 47, just before the first episode was shown (and before the book had been published).
The book sticks fairly closely to the TV story as I remember it (from first watching it in 1978 and again in 2010). It suffers a bit from the inevitable traps of novelising a script - basically, the omniscient narrator sometimes comes over as kinda dumb. But it's a decent recreation of a very weird story, which provoked happy memories.
I think some readers are of an age to remember the slightly incomprehensible 1978 BBC children's TV series that this books novelises - particularly memorable for Who fans in that it stars Sarah Sutton, a year or so before she became Nyssa, and John Abineri, who was in Doctor Who four times; and the writer of course was Brian Hayles, who wrote the four Ice Warrior stories of Old Who and also The Celestial Toymaker and The Smugglers. He died, aged 47, just before the first episode was shown (and before the book had been published).
The book sticks fairly closely to the TV story as I remember it (from first watching it in 1978 and again in 2010). It suffers a bit from the inevitable traps of novelising a script - basically, the omniscient narrator sometimes comes over as kinda dumb. But it's a decent recreation of a very weird story, which provoked happy memories.
April 13, 2025
An interesting mythical fantasy from the 1970s. I appreciated the well executed blending of myth and imagination that is commonly seen in children's books, and this kept me fairly engaged. It didn't completely blow me away, but it was still a fun experience!
December 10, 2023
This was simply a delight to read
January 23, 2021
When I was a kid, about 13 or 14 or so, I had a Sweet Valley High book. Don't ask me why. It wasn't my usual fare and I have no idea how I got it. But my school was having a book swap so I took it in and swapped it for this, which was fantasy and myth and everything I liked, and it was the best book swap I've ever done. The Moon Stallion quickly rocketed up the ranks of my favourite childhood reads, and it's stayed in the upper echelons ever since. It's not perfect, few books are, but when I did my OE, over in England, I went to visit Wayland's Smithy and the White Horse at Uffington entirely because of this book. And yes, I did the turn-around-three-times-in-the-horse's-eye, and no I didn't see anything but grass and chalk. I was delighted anyway.
Apparently it's based on a tv series (which I knew, because of the cover) and that series, decades old itself now, has been put on YouTube, so guess what I'm doing tonight. That's right, watching The Moon Stallion. I hope it's as good as the book.
Apparently it's based on a tv series (which I knew, because of the cover) and that series, decades old itself now, has been put on YouTube, so guess what I'm doing tonight. That's right, watching The Moon Stallion. I hope it's as good as the book.
February 28, 2016
This book was a pleasant surprise. I had tried reading it years and years ago but didn’t get passed the first few pages. I wish that I had read it straight through then, as I really enjoyed reading it years later, but would have probably enjoyed it so much more when I was younger. It was the perfect mix of everything I enjoyed reading at that age and I know I would have loved it.
A family visit an area that’s rumoured to be where King Arthur resided, but that is full of so much more magic than they ever expected. A mysterious white Stallion roams the land and the blind Diana seems to be connected to it somehow. Others seek to find it in order to gain the power and magic that it can give them and they will do anything in order to get it.
This book was indeed magical, with its mix of legends and was really enjoyable. The first few chapters were a little slow but once I’d read past them I found the book addictive and didn’t want to put it down. It was a little predictable at times but still held surprises that I hadn’t expected.
My copy of this book is a little worn and the pages are far from white, but I think it was my sisters before me and she wasn’t the first owner of the book (according to the pencil on the inside of the front cover it cost 25p at some point) but it was still a lovely read and a book that I plan on keeping. I would recommend it for pre-teens who enjoy fantasy.
P.S. Apparently the book is adapted from a T.V show, I should see if I can find that at some point.
March 8, 2016
It seems that King Arthur and sites of ancient superstitious belief formed the backbone of children’s drama back in the 70s. It is 1906 and the Purwell family arrive in the Berkshire Hills at the invitation of Sir George Mortenhurze so that Professor Purwell can research the sites of the legends of King Arthur. On their way there Paul and his blind sister Diana encounter the Moon Stallion, a beast that has its own myths and legends surrounding it. Mortenhurze has his own reasons to search out the Moon Stallion and along with his horse master, Todman, have other plans for night of Beltain that will put them all in danger.
Another captivating and entertaining read, which again lifts from known legends and mythology but presents them with a new twist giving a setting to an exciting adventure which proves that writing for a young audience can be both original and inspiring.
Additional comments on blogsite: http://djksfantasyworld.blogspot.co.u...
Another captivating and entertaining read, which again lifts from known legends and mythology but presents them with a new twist giving a setting to an exciting adventure which proves that writing for a young audience can be both original and inspiring.
Additional comments on blogsite: http://djksfantasyworld.blogspot.co.u...
August 19, 2015
They tell you that you should never meet your childhood heroes as they will dissappoint... In this case they are wrong. The Moon Stallion was every bit as good as I remember from reading as a child; evocative, calling forth memories of the BBC TV show on which it is based.
Gods and Goddesses, I am SO glad I found this again. Off to YouTube to see if I can find the series, too.
Gods and Goddesses, I am SO glad I found this again. Off to YouTube to see if I can find the series, too.
November 10, 2025
This is a really well written book…… folk horror for children and following all the tropes of that 1970’s obsession with paganism. I gave it 4 stars as at times I found it a bit of a plod even though I recognised its quality of writing. It’s not quite my genre now, despite having read it when I was younger and loving it. Funny how a re-read can change your perspective……glad I revisited it though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2014
Enjoyable mythic fantasy, with shades of Alan Garner and Penelope Lively's 'Wild Hunt of Hagworthy'. Arthurian and equine legend combine in the quest for the elusive Moon Stallion.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews