I was surprised to see The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart in the Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time list. I knew Mary Stewart as a Suspense Romance author I used to read in the 1970s, but I was unaware of her fantasy credentials. The Crystal Cave was a revelation. It is anything but a retelling of the Sword in the Stone story. Although the book is loosely about King Arthur, the first-person narrative is Merlin’s story, which happens to be associated with Arthur. We start the story with Merlin, the bastard son of a princess. He is cursed with the gift of prophecy. He may see bits of the future but is unable to modify it. The gift allows him to prepare for Arthur’s birth (and later growth), but it is a curse as he is not able to prophesise at will. He soon realises he is not the powerful magician that everyone thinks he is, but merely the pawn of an old God wanting Arthur to stave off the invading Saxons with their new God.

Stewart anchors us firmly in fifth century Britain, with a detailed account of the culture and environment of the period, that confirms the enormous historical research Stewart must have undertaken. Even the call of the curlew sounds ancient.

The plot is complex, with a host of interesting, rounded characters, solid places and unexpected events, yet the story unfolds at a tremendous pace that a modern fantasy author would be proud of. Oh, and there is plenty of action too.

Merlin escapes his disadvantaged upbringing only to be caught by a couple of spies and transported abroad. At the nadir of his despair, he manages to getaway once again and a vision leads him to his father. His father respects his ability but realising Merlin’s inability to control the prophecy or foretell a particular future that must be seen, is doubtful of its usefulness. Merlin must learn to govern his gift so he could see any future he wishes to see. But will his God extend the gift given to him and will he be able to subvert the future he sees? Find out in the second book The Hollow Hills. The Trilogy is complete with The Last Enchantment but when you finish the Trilogy don’t despair, for Stewart went on to publish a fourth instalment The Wicked Day.

If the books arouse your interest in Merlin, watch the BBC TV Series Merlin (five series between 2008 to 2012) but the BBC series is not based on Stewart’s Trilogy. I would recommend the book to any fantasy or history fan, or any one looking for a damn good yarn.