A World Called Camelot

by Arthur H. Landis

Book Overview

Book by Landis, Arthur H. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879974184
• ISBN13: 9780879974183
• Release Date: November 1978
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

"I call you coward and traitor to all men of Fregis. And, foul thing of Hish, I will prove this on y

Yeah, I remember this one, and vividly. Arthur H. Landis, in his time, only wrote four works of fiction, but three of these are novels which comprise the fabulous "Camelot" arc. This is a sci-fi/fantasy trilogy which I've read over and over, and have never gotten tired of. A WORLD CALLED CAMELOT, published in 1976, is the first entry, and was actually previously released in a somewhat different version as a 1969 serial titled "Let There Be Magick" under the byline of "James R. Keaveny." I don't know much about Arthur H. Landis, but I do know I'm thankful that he wrote this series. This story takes place in the distant future, where humanity had long ago gained firm purchase to the stars. The Galactic Foundation is a far flung Terran body benignly keeping tabs on planets with primitive cultures. For the past two hundred years, observers from the Foundation had been avidly tracking the progress of Fregis, the second planet in the Fomalhaut star system. In the Galactic listings, this world is called Camelot. And with good reason. Magic works on Camelot. In this feudalistic society, knighthood is in full flower and chivalry holds sway. And for the Terrans, this makes for fascinating study. But, of late, dark omens cloud the future. Murmurs begin to spread of an all-out war which threatens to engulf the two continents of Fregis. The Dark One, called the Kaleen, a being of vast and malignant sorcery, is on the move. And the Galactic Foundation decides that something must be done. So, Galactic Adjuster Kyrie Fern strolls in. Kyrie Fern, or, rather, Sir Harl Lenti, as he'd go down in the annals of Fregis lore, is an engaging and grounded hero, applying a down-to-earth colloquial vocabulary in his first-person narration, but switching to Arthurian vernacular when he addresses his Fregisian colleagues. Thanks to Galactic science, Kyrie is well-equipped to handle the rigors of Fergis, with preconditioning having turned him into a master of arms and a flawless disguise rendering him a normal Fregisian in appearance. Normal, of course, being furry and purply-blue eyed. Kyrie, being good at his job, quickly ingratiates himself into Fregisian society and is soon being hailed as "the Collin," a reincarnation of a famous past hero. Kyrie, it seems, can also trade in manly braggadocio with the best of 'em. Kyrie reveals his talent for manipulation early on as he begins to speedily affect events in his favor. But it doesn't take long for him to realize that he's not the only non-native player in the game. Enter the Pug-Boos, beloved beasts who look somewhat like koala bears. The Pug-Boos are actually idiotic creatures, no matter that they're so revered. But in the context most important to Kyrie and to the fate of Fergis, the Pug-Boos also occasionally play host to powerful alien beings who might or might not share Kyrie's agenda. Kyrie, throughout, is never quite sure about the Pug-Boos, and, especially, his wiseacre personal Pug-Boo, whose name is Hooli. Thi

A superb series and author

Sadly, Arthur Landis and his Camelot series seem to have been all but forgotten these days and, as such, have drifted out of print. The books are wonderfully crafted and were one of my early introductions into the world of science fiction and fantasy. Find copies if you can...you won't regret the time and effort spent in doing so, I promise.

Here There Be Dragons...

The natives called Formalhaut II by the name of Fergis. In Galactic listings the Watchers and Adjusters called it Camelot for a good reason.For one thing, magic seemed to work. For another, knighthood was the order of the day and a strict chivalry ruled the lands. For a third, there was evil in the world to be combatted.Mere observation from orbit no longer sufficed, because now that evil had assumed menacing and warlike proportions. Armies and huge flying dragons were moving from the sinister southlands to overwhelm this world, much as the legions of legendary Mordor had moved to conquer Middle Earth.It was time for an Adjuster to step in and unravel the mysteries of Camelot...and that task fell to Kyrie Fern, henceforth to be known as Harl Lenti, swordsman and manipulator of a mightier magic - that of galactic science.

Science Fiction meets the Round Table

A superb novel. The three book set: A World Called Camelot, Camelot in Orbit and The Magick of Camelot have been favorites of mine for many years. Here, the old stories of global conflict, Magick (sic), and all the best of feudal society meld in to a fine tale. I was drawn into the characters and the setting. A must read set. Very hard to find now.