The Last Pendragon

by Robert Rice

This imaginative reinvention of the Arthurian legend begins eleven years after the High King’s fall. Arthur has been taken by his sister Morgan to Ynys Afallon, the healing isle, where it is rumored... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802711804
• ISBN13: 9780802711809
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Walker & Company
• Length: 209 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

The Last Pendragon is a Superb Read!

King Arthur is dying and he commands Bedwyr to throw Excalibur into the lake as his last request. Bedwyr disobeys and hides the sword for another time thinking that Arthur may be healed of his wounds and have need of it again. Well, Arthur doesn't recover and eleven years later Bedwyr returns from fighting for Rome to right the wrong he committed. However, one thing leads to another and he finds himself being asked by Irion, Arthur's grandson to help fight against the Saxons. Irion is the son of Medraut, but is in no way like him. He resembles Arthur in both appearance and personality. Bedwyr refuses, saying that Britain's troubles are no longer his and continues to search for Excalibur. As Bedwyr continues on his quest to find Excalibur Irion tries to find a way for the Britains to reclaim Britain and Camelot. Will their two paths cross again?The story is exciting and never lets up. The ending is climatic and engaging! It's just too bad it's only 209 pages long. I was sad to see it end! This was an excellent novel and didn't find any discrepancies concerning history because this was more an alternate historical fantasy novel and leaves the author much license to do with his story as he pleases. It is out-of-print but I had no trouble obtaining a copy and can't recommend this book highly enough!

A great book

I read a lot of books over the summer, and tis was one of the best. Rice uses ton of historical information to write a fiction story about a time clouded in mystery. The descriptions and battles are colorful and enthralling. Too bad it's out of print...

A worthy addition to the "Historical Arthur" genre.

Being a first-time author, Rice has wisely (I think) avoided trying to give another retelling of the whole Arthurian saga. Instead, he has written a tale set some ten years after Arthur's death, in which the main characters are Bedwyr, Guinevere and Medraut's son (Arthur's grandson) Irion. He tells how the warring Britons manage to hold off the Saxons for a little longer, and also gives the origin for the myth that Arthur is sleeping until needed by his people again. I found the climax both exciting and moving. There are a few historical howlers, but on the whole the times are created quite well, especially with Justinian's reconquest of Italy being brought to the fore at the beginning of the book. Its not the best book I've ever read, but if you collect good historical (not fantasy) novels about the Arthurian period then add this one to your collection.