Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon

by Diana L. Paxson and Marion Zimmer Bradley

Book Overview

Once again, Diana L. Paxson has beautifully elaborated on Marion Zimmer Bradley?s beloved Avalon saga with this dramatic new installment, which for the first time reveals the past of the ancestors of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670033146
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Viking Adult
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Customer Service

Book arrived on time and in excellent condition. New. I am very happy with your service. Thanks so much.

Best Books

I love all Marion Zimmer Bradley books. Great Book,excellent shape, recieved on time. Will order again.

neat take on history

Ancestors of Avalon picks up where "The Fall of Atlantis" leaves off. This is the book that gives more insight to the lives of the ancients in Atlantis, and the actual devestation and destruction of their lands. The story then moves to the Atlantic Ocean, upon the ships of the fleeing Atlanteans (and other Sea Kingdom peoples). Following different groups of refugees, you find yourself immersed in ancient Cornwall, Glastonbury (Avalon), and Stonehenge (before it was built) from 4,000 years ago. The natives that are encountered are very interesting, and as much as possible the anthropological/archeological evidences as we know them are held in check with the story. The raising of Stonehenge is very enchanting, along with the building of the spiral path around the Tor. This book is a fun read into an ancient and magical past. This is book #2 in "The Mists of Avalon" series, to be followed with "The Forest House."

Perhaps Miss Paxson should have Waited

I love Marion Zimmer Bradley's self written Avalon books. Their mixture of the conflicting pagan and chirstian religions, history, and fantasy were nothing short of to/die/for. I was astounded when I saw this book was being released (awhile ago). I saw that it was actually written by Bradley's protege: Diana Paxson. I haven't read any full novels by her (are there any?) but I have read many short stories and for the most part they range from good to excellent, so I was sort of expecting Marion Zimmer Bradley quality, unfortunately I expected too much. The feel I got while reading this was that of the pulpy fantasy books ala Dragonlance series and the such. You know the ones, where an author spews out 3 or 4 books a month in the series and the stories are all similar. That's how I felt with this. Plus the names, gods the names! Some of them were okay, but Tiriki?! Come on! And I hate those hyphenated names, so pulp fantasy! Feel free to add some realism to fantasy, it makes is so much better. Another complaint was the believability of characters, especially between the Priest Micail and Preistess (groan) Tiriki. They are husband and wife, lovers. It is very unrealistic that they would always agree on every single issue of everything *lovingly*! That never happens. People are different and disagree! Gah! Those characters and other just seemed to be cardboard cutouts and you really didn't care about them (unlike in The Mists of Avalon). And my! Final! Complaint!!!! !!! Guess what it is! It seemed about every other sentence of dialogue had an exclamation mark. That is way to much and out of place. It was horrific. Other than that it was a decently average read. I'm not going to throw it out or disown the author. I'm a completist and want to have all the Avalon books. Plus I would read it again if I want to read the series in chronological order (again). I know Miss Paxson has the ability to write great fiction, lets just hope this was the runt of her herd.

The Missing Link

ANCESTORS OF AVALON is the missing link in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon sequence. It ties together Bradley's novel of Atlantis, THE FALL OF ATLANTIS, with the THE MISTS OF AVALON and its prequels. It is questionable whether it was really neccessary to have this novel written, because the other entries in this series can stand solidly on their own, but if Bradley had lived a littler longer, and if she had been in good health, she probably would have written it herself, so it is justifiable that Diana L. Paxson, who had such a close relationship with Bradley, wrote the novel after Bradley's notes and ideas (and with the help and knowledge of Bradley's oldest son David). Diana L. Paxson is a skillful writer herself with over twenty novels to her credit, and she has made a name for herself with splendid historical fantasies about the British Isles such as THE WHITE RAVEN or the four books of THE HOLLOWED ISLE. Diana L. Paxson is unable to write an ungraceful story, and this is no exception. This is, however, not a good starting point for readers who are unfamiliar with the Avalon novels, but rather for experienced Bradley readers who want to return to Avalon one last time.