Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon

As a Feminist, it can be a bit difficult to love the Arthurian Legends considering their often unflattering portrayal of women.And, I read Mists of Avalon and felt that here was the story I was looking for. And have continued my way through the books, going further back in time.So, I am beyond gladdened that in Ms. Plaxon we have a writer to continue these tales. Serving as a bridge between Zimmer Bradley's book on Atlantis and giving us a solid legendarium that connects these two mythologies together.Brava!

I have all the 'Avalon' series. The 'Sword of Avalon' is a quick read for it's 400+ pages. It answers some questions which, for me at least, lingered from earlier stories but left several unanswered.I cannot speak to the Celtic influences in this story, however I find many Asatru parallels: Ragnarok represented as the battle between Britons with Hope and those without Hope; the formation of a Warrior Band/Commitatus around a hereditary hero (Son of a Hundred Kings); a foreign-born smith who forges the Sword of Power; initiation of the Warrior-King.As a hand-spinner, myself, I appreciated the appearance of the Three Queens with their spindles 'spinning glistening threads from the flowing streams of light that swirled across the land...'. However, it is the drafting motion of the spinner's fingers which pulls the fibers down, not the weight of the spindle as described in the story.A problem I have with most of the 'Avalon' series is that I find it creepy to see Marion Zimmer Bradley's credits without also acknowledging that she passed in 1999. I suppose that is an issue for the editor or publisher more than the author. We are fortunate that she had collaborated closely with someone so that the stories could continue with some consistency.

I have read several books in the Bradley/Paxson "Avalon" series and found them to be good but deep reading, so I chose "Sword of Avalon" as my first download to my Kindle. It is set in the late Bronze Age and describes how Excalibur, the Sword of Avalon, was crafted -- one of the first swords to be crafted in bronze rather than steel. We see the Priestesses of Avalon, we see ancient Celtic celebrations, and we see a fast-paced story, just as we would expect in this series.Those who know the series are aware that there are many pages of front matter (lists of characters, places, and other information) and often back matter describing how and where the author found the facts to back the tale. Though this book was good, its complexity coupled with mastering the usage of the Kindle make it a less than the best choice for a first-time Kindle user. It kept my interest well enough, however, for me to want to keep it in my Kindle and try again after I've mastered the usage of the Kindle better and read a few less complex works with it.

I'm a big fan both of Marion Zimmer Bradley and her series, and I have no objection to read books written by other authors that she cooperated with closely, as it was the case of Paxson. I've read all of the books, both in and out of order, and The Sword of Avalon is the best book Paxson wrote so far. The characters are well established, and true to their souls (literally, meaning you can recognize who they have been/will be in other books of the series). I found the forge work very interesting and well researched. I can't say much about the cultural descriptions, but surely it shows well what happens during an grand climate change when people aren't ready for it.It is better than Ancestors of Avalon and -much- better than Ravens of Avalon (that for all it's historical interest doesn't make a good reading, being worst than her first Avalon novel, Priestess of Avalon, that isn't that good either). It shows that Paxson has really found her way into the writing and I look forward to see how she'll keep the story from now on (if she does).

While nothing can ever match The Mists is Avalon by the late MZB, I have to say that I am satisfied immensely with DLP' s addition to the Avalon mythology. An interesting and enjoyable read, I only wish that the story could go on to speak of Anderle' s fate. And dare I say it, I think it would have been more fitting if Anderle were to have also sacrificed herself at the end to symbolize that her purpose had been fulfilled, that she could leave her human body to join the celestial body of Velantos. Otherwise, well done and an enjoyable read. I would include this narrative into the top three of my favorite DLP Avalon series--the others being Ancestors of Avalon and Preistess of Avalon. I hope we see more additions to the Avalon story from DLP that meets this narrative quality.

Another great blending of history, anthropology, and mythology wrapped up in a really great fantasy novel. Paxson takes this stuff seriously and I love it. As far as I'm concerned, she doesn't get anything wrong. "Bull from the Sea" meets "Mists." Excellent read.

A great fictional historical novel incorporating many of the olds English folk laws - i can recommend this book with honesty

This might be my favorite book of the series. I loved the characters, especially Valentos. All stay true to their character from the first word to the last.

I am an ardent Avalon fan, but apparently not a fan of Diana Paxson. Marion Zimmer Bradley originated this series and I appreciated that DP came in when help was needed and took over from MZB when she could no longer work alone. However, I think that Avalon without MZB is a different place. MZB created strong female characters who were the focus of the story. Yes, there were men, and yes, there were battles, but the priestesses of Avalon were central to the story.In Sword of Avalon, the priestesses are more of a plot device to get the Avalon fans to buy a male oriented fantasy book. The central characters here are Mikantor and Velantos, the strong men, not the priestesses of Avalon. This is a very disappointing shift from the other Avalon books. I was also disappointed in DP's need to change the naming conventions and the regional references used in prior Avalon books. She has every right to suit her own writing style and interests, but this is definitely the last Avalon book that I will ever buy. I have every MZB Avalon book & it will pain me to own a partial compilation, but I don't recognise the series any more.That said, I will likely give the next book a chance by checking it out of my local library.

I have just finished this book and I enjoyed it very much. Another great book in the Avalon series. It explains the making of Excalibur. Diana Paxson fills the book and her characters with rich details drawing you in immediately. It also introduces 2 characters that have been reborn in this story that were in Ancestors of Avalon, and you make the connection. I found it to be an easy, fun read and I would highly recommend it to anyone reading the Avalon series of books.

This book fills the gap between the Stories of the Ancestors and the actual Avalon stories including Arthur.It flows with a speed that matches the other Marion Zimmer books and gives a hint of the intervening yours before Arthur.

A good read and long since passed on to a new reader!

I love all this authors books spell binding