I bought this book simply for Alan Lee’s illustrations, but I stayed because of the amazing stories by Peter Dickinson! Dickinson retells the story of Merlin’s imprisonment by Nimue by using the magician’s entrapment and dreams as a frame story to explore events throughout the Arthurian world and era. We see Merlin trapped, but his mind is still (mostly) alive as we see him dream of the outside world - picturing knights battling dragons and their own worst impulses, damsels rescued and acting as inspirations, and political machinations to magical wonders. The book is less than straightforward, as each tale stands alone yet builds into a larger world, but the magic and strangeness of the Arthurian era is present throughout and makes the book a wonderful read. Lee’s illustrations are also an excellent addition, as they personify the ragged landscape, dark forests, and strange happenings that seem to be just short of the reality we know. I was always interested in the legends of the Arthurian period, but the magic that I used to find in the stories was often missing in many of the recent books I’ve read on the topic, so I am glad that I stumbled onto this one accidentally. Like Merlin’s dreams of the past, present, and future, I got a few days of wondrous moments that reminded me of the sheer magic of discovery from when I was younger. ( )

Ok, first the disclaimers/ context. I'm not a fan of Arthurian tales; I am a fan of some of Dickinson's poetic and powerful work.

This is an amazing book. The concept is marvelous. The framework that refers to Merlin and the magic done to him is mysterious and allegorical, and, frankly, beyond my ken. The art is lovely, at times even breathtaking. The stories are clever and fun and exciting and provocative, each one more appealing and richer than the last.

This is a book you buy for your child when s/he is about 8, and watch as the child rereads it every year, gaining fresh understandings each time as s/he becomes a more mature person and a more sophisticated reader.

My favorite story is called 'Damsel' even though I cannot figure out why it is called such. There's a young female chieftain in it, and a farm-boy recently dubbed knight, and a couple of dogs, a bear, and a wicked uncle - not a damsel in distress anywhere.

So, yes, I do widely recommend this - to children and to teens, to fans of tales of knighthood, to folks who are reading paranormal and wanting to move a bit beyond such, to anyone who can appreciate a well-told intelligent story.

I want to read it again, despite the fact that I have more than a lifetime's worth of unread books on my to-read lists. ( )

An excellent collection of fantasy tales, strung together loosely on the thread of being dreams (memories?) of Merlin's as he lies imprisoned in his oak. ( )