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The Merlin Codex #1
Celtika
Centuries before he meets Arthur, Merlin wanders the Earth, eternally young, a traveler on the path of magic and learning. During his journeys, he encounters Jason, and joins in his search for the Golden Fleece.
Hundred of years later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a northern lake, and divines that is the Argo . . . that Jason still screams our for his sons, stolen by the enchantress Medea and thought dead. But death is not the end, and Merlin's trek to the North leads to the revival of both man and ship, with new companions and a new quest-to find Jason's sons.
Roving from the frozen north to the blighted island that will become Arthur's realm, from the deep forests of ancient Britain to the sun-washed shores of ancient Greece, Merlin's journey is an epic tale of mystery and enchantment.
Hundred of years later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a northern lake, and divines that is the Argo . . . that Jason still screams our for his sons, stolen by the enchantress Medea and thought dead. But death is not the end, and Merlin's trek to the North leads to the revival of both man and ship, with new companions and a new quest-to find Jason's sons.
Roving from the frozen north to the blighted island that will become Arthur's realm, from the deep forests of ancient Britain to the sun-washed shores of ancient Greece, Merlin's journey is an epic tale of mystery and enchantment.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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1,015 people want to read
About the author
Robert Holdstock
113books386followersRobert Paul Holdstock was an English novelist and author who is best known for his works of fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction.
Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.
Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.
Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.
Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 15, 2021
After loving the Mythago series from the same author, it was time to also read The Merlin Codex by him and find out more about his version of Merlin (which also appears in the Mythago series).
While I recognize the writing style - sometimes convoluted but definitely compelling and engaging - this series (or at least its first installment) was a bit more 'meh'. The descriptions and the initial plot are engaging enough, but the character's motivations were really hard to understand and relate to. It seems like everyone is moving about according to the script the author gave them but without really feeling it, and we, the audience, are not really feeling it either.
Also, Merlin's weariness against Niiv and his resolution to remain steadfast and not allow her to "corrupt" him with her charms in order to steal his magic (aka learn from it).... it has a distinct whiff of sexism that would seriously put me off if I encountered it into a more contemporary novel (published in the last 10 years, let's say).
While I recognize the writing style - sometimes convoluted but definitely compelling and engaging - this series (or at least its first installment) was a bit more 'meh'. The descriptions and the initial plot are engaging enough, but the character's motivations were really hard to understand and relate to. It seems like everyone is moving about according to the script the author gave them but without really feeling it, and we, the audience, are not really feeling it either.
Also, Merlin's weariness against Niiv and his resolution to remain steadfast and not allow her to "corrupt" him with her charms in order to steal his magic (aka learn from it).... it has a distinct whiff of sexism that would seriously put me off if I encountered it into a more contemporary novel (published in the last 10 years, let's say).
March 9, 2021
Kao i u serijalu Mythago Wood, Holdstok nas vodi u dubine mitskih područja - ovoga puta u keltsku potku upreda mit o Jasonu i argonautima, Medeji i Merlinu.
Merlin je sidrište priče i vekovima nakon što je sa Jasonom išao u potragu za runom, sada odlazi na daleki sever da njega i Argo vrati u život, nakon čega se upušta u potragu za njegovim sinovima, sve do Makedonije i Delfija.
Holdstokov stil, kao i u Mythago Wood, raskošan je i bogat, pitak, očaravajući. Sama priča, odnosno izvedba zahteva više pažnje i strpljenja, kao i spremnost da se iskorači iz okvira poznatih mitova koje autor stapa u svežu, novu, originalnu priču koja poseže u daleku mitsku prošlost ali ujedno pravi sprege sa mitovima koji, hronološki, dolaze kasnije (o, da, Artur).
Oni koji su čitali Mythago treba da očekuju siroviju i suroviju priču koja ne samo što uvodi mitsko u stvarnosno, nego upravo suprotno - daje klice poznate nam stvarnosti u mitskim prostranstvima koja svoju snagu crpe iz mračnih dubina podsvesti i maglovitih područja zaboravljene prošlosti.
Možda je realno knjiga više za 4*, ali toliko mi je legla, u pravom trenutku i postigla upravo ono što od dobre fantazijske književnosti očekujem: mešavinu moći mitova i magije mašte koja daje novu, originalnu priču, a tako poznatu, tu negde, ispod prozračne površine podsvesnog.
Holdstok je za mene veliko osveženje i definitivno mi je u samom vrhu fantazijske književnosti.
Zaista mi je žao što se još nijedan domaći izdavač nije latio ovog naslova, ali valjda (ako mene pitate, srećom!) nema potencijal da ispuni komercijalne zahteve...
Merlin je sidrište priče i vekovima nakon što je sa Jasonom išao u potragu za runom, sada odlazi na daleki sever da njega i Argo vrati u život, nakon čega se upušta u potragu za njegovim sinovima, sve do Makedonije i Delfija.
Holdstokov stil, kao i u Mythago Wood, raskošan je i bogat, pitak, očaravajući. Sama priča, odnosno izvedba zahteva više pažnje i strpljenja, kao i spremnost da se iskorači iz okvira poznatih mitova koje autor stapa u svežu, novu, originalnu priču koja poseže u daleku mitsku prošlost ali ujedno pravi sprege sa mitovima koji, hronološki, dolaze kasnije (o, da, Artur).
Oni koji su čitali Mythago treba da očekuju siroviju i suroviju priču koja ne samo što uvodi mitsko u stvarnosno, nego upravo suprotno - daje klice poznate nam stvarnosti u mitskim prostranstvima koja svoju snagu crpe iz mračnih dubina podsvesti i maglovitih područja zaboravljene prošlosti.
Možda je realno knjiga više za 4*, ali toliko mi je legla, u pravom trenutku i postigla upravo ono što od dobre fantazijske književnosti očekujem: mešavinu moći mitova i magije mašte koja daje novu, originalnu priču, a tako poznatu, tu negde, ispod prozračne površine podsvesnog.
Holdstok je za mene veliko osveženje i definitivno mi je u samom vrhu fantazijske književnosti.
Zaista mi je žao što se još nijedan domaći izdavač nije latio ovog naslova, ali valjda (ako mene pitate, srećom!) nema potencijal da ispuni komercijalne zahteve...
June 25, 2016
I really wanted to like this book better. I had read it once before and found it a resounding 'meh', but I gave it another shot because it's Holdstock, and the Mythago series is amazing, and he's dead, and there are only so many books of his I haven't read.
Celtika had a good premise (Merlin was actually more than just the guy in the Round Table legends, he joined Jason and the Argonauts, etc.). It even starts out great, resurrecting Jason and Argo herself out of a Finnish lake. You get Mielikki, the Finnish goddess (and a constant Nightwish soundtrack in my head). And then the story goes of the rails - way too many characters with nothing to set them apart except their origin and a quest that was not compelling (because I didn't give a shit about Jason and his sons). Merlin and Fierce Eyes are interesting, but there was way too much filler about ??? trying to raid Delphi for... profit? I seriously don't know who and what was happening. The setting reminded me of Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn, where it worked SO much better.
Also, so! many! exclamation! marks! It is beyond me how a writer who can write something like Mythago Wood would need to resort to this kind of punctuation to get his point across.
And yet I will go ahead and read the entire series... maybe I'm a masochist.
Celtika had a good premise (Merlin was actually more than just the guy in the Round Table legends, he joined Jason and the Argonauts, etc.). It even starts out great, resurrecting Jason and Argo herself out of a Finnish lake. You get Mielikki, the Finnish goddess (and a constant Nightwish soundtrack in my head). And then the story goes of the rails - way too many characters with nothing to set them apart except their origin and a quest that was not compelling (because I didn't give a shit about Jason and his sons). Merlin and Fierce Eyes are interesting, but there was way too much filler about ??? trying to raid Delphi for... profit? I seriously don't know who and what was happening. The setting reminded me of Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn, where it worked SO much better.
Also, so! many! exclamation! marks! It is beyond me how a writer who can write something like Mythago Wood would need to resort to this kind of punctuation to get his point across.
And yet I will go ahead and read the entire series... maybe I'm a masochist.
February 19, 2009
Holdstock may well be my favorite fantasy writer. This book is the first in the Merlin Codex trilogy. Merlin journeys to Hyperborea to find his Argonaut comrade Jason (kept alive in his mourning by the guardian spirit of the ship Argo). They are joined by a motley band of Celts and others on a journey to Greekland in the time of Celtic incursions into the Mediterranean world (sometime after the death of Alexander).
Jason wants to find his sons, murdered by their mother Medea. Merlin, in his wanderings on the Path, has reason to think that at least one of the sons might be alive, hidden by Medea in time. Merlin also suspects that he is being followed by a spirit that is very old and very angry; he can't escape the half-formed sense that he knew this spirit in his youth.
Like many of Holdstock's books, this one mixes fantasy with the early edges of history in a way that I find very satisfying. Holdstock's approach to fantasy is firmly rooted in legend and myth, especially that of the Celtic peoples. By doing this, he avoids writing the sort of fantasy fiction that is mainly anemic Tolkien knockoff. (Buy me a a few beers and I'll pontificate for hours on this subject.) Allow me to state, however, that Holdstock presents a believable world in which magic is subtle, mysterious, and rare (rather than explained ad nauseum).
Jason wants to find his sons, murdered by their mother Medea. Merlin, in his wanderings on the Path, has reason to think that at least one of the sons might be alive, hidden by Medea in time. Merlin also suspects that he is being followed by a spirit that is very old and very angry; he can't escape the half-formed sense that he knew this spirit in his youth.
Like many of Holdstock's books, this one mixes fantasy with the early edges of history in a way that I find very satisfying. Holdstock's approach to fantasy is firmly rooted in legend and myth, especially that of the Celtic peoples. By doing this, he avoids writing the sort of fantasy fiction that is mainly anemic Tolkien knockoff. (Buy me a a few beers and I'll pontificate for hours on this subject.) Allow me to state, however, that Holdstock presents a believable world in which magic is subtle, mysterious, and rare (rather than explained ad nauseum).
December 20, 2017
Celtika held so much promise. It is an ambitious, startlingly original work. Unfortunately, it is partly undone by a convoluted plot and certain confusing creative choices.
Holdstock has built an intriguing world that mixes Arthurian and Greek legend with shamanism, the characters found or likely to be found in those stories, and a plot that concerns the invasion of Greece by Brennus and the search for Jason's sons, hidden in time (yes, not in space, but in time) by his devious wife Medea.
Certain scenes in this book are stunningly evocative in true Holdstock fashion, and every time I came across one I was reminded of what this story could have been had it been more cohesive and less prone to meandering off into confusing situations and long, somewhat repetitive stretches of internal narration by Merlin. The choice to make an area of woodland in Britain the "Land of the Dead" was jarringly out of context with the sense of visceral Iron Age reality brought to the rest of ancient Europe. Giving it the name "Ghostland" didn't help. Its presence was too literal and pulled me out of the story, and since it is a central location in the plot I couldn't ignore it.
In the second half of the novel the story leaves Ghostland and heads for the Mediterranean world, and the narrative picks up considerably, yet is still weakened at the very end by another confusing development. I felt disappointed that a book that started off so compelling and fresh for the fantasy genre could not have been more consistent throughout in maintaining those qualities.
Holdstock has built an intriguing world that mixes Arthurian and Greek legend with shamanism, the characters found or likely to be found in those stories, and a plot that concerns the invasion of Greece by Brennus and the search for Jason's sons, hidden in time (yes, not in space, but in time) by his devious wife Medea.
Certain scenes in this book are stunningly evocative in true Holdstock fashion, and every time I came across one I was reminded of what this story could have been had it been more cohesive and less prone to meandering off into confusing situations and long, somewhat repetitive stretches of internal narration by Merlin. The choice to make an area of woodland in Britain the "Land of the Dead" was jarringly out of context with the sense of visceral Iron Age reality brought to the rest of ancient Europe. Giving it the name "Ghostland" didn't help. Its presence was too literal and pulled me out of the story, and since it is a central location in the plot I couldn't ignore it.
In the second half of the novel the story leaves Ghostland and heads for the Mediterranean world, and the narrative picks up considerably, yet is still weakened at the very end by another confusing development. I felt disappointed that a book that started off so compelling and fresh for the fantasy genre could not have been more consistent throughout in maintaining those qualities.
September 9, 2013
This is a strange amalgamation, very ambitious, very imaginative, but not particularly successful.
Basically, a Pre-Camelot Merlin teams up with the Jason of Greek legend to find Jason's children (because it turns out his ex Medea didn't kill them after all.)
It would very helpful for the reader to have a good grasp of Greek and Celtic mythology before reading this, because there are a lot of creatures, spirits, and happenings that aren't going to make a lot of sense otherwise (and Holdstock doesn't really explain them either).
One good point: There's some fantastic imagery in this series. Holdstock is obviously very creative, but all this dreamy world-building is obscured by a frustrating fog of ambiguity. Too much fanciful ephemera, not enough cohesion.
Basically, a Pre-Camelot Merlin teams up with the Jason of Greek legend to find Jason's children (because it turns out his ex Medea didn't kill them after all.)
It would very helpful for the reader to have a good grasp of Greek and Celtic mythology before reading this, because there are a lot of creatures, spirits, and happenings that aren't going to make a lot of sense otherwise (and Holdstock doesn't really explain them either).
One good point: There's some fantastic imagery in this series. Holdstock is obviously very creative, but all this dreamy world-building is obscured by a frustrating fog of ambiguity. Too much fanciful ephemera, not enough cohesion.
September 4, 2023
Jasné, že som to čítala pre tie veľkonočné vajíčka spojené s Lesom mytág. Ale to neznamená, že inak ma to nebavilo. Opak je pravdou. Zamilovala som si to. Tú mágiu, atmosféru, detailnosť. To, ako autor zobral toľko rôznych kultúr a dokázal, že to bude fungovať. Jedinú výhradu mám len k tomu, že v strede to trošku škrípalo. No a potom k faktu, že tie postavy si ma akosi nezískali, ale tak ešte majú priestor zmeniť to.
March 1, 2017
A brilliant novel, resonant with mythic power.
December 1, 2010
Well this book was weird! A book about Merlin opens with Jason, of Golden Fleece fame, attempting suicide through grief for his two dead sons, killed by their mother, Medea. Huh?
Flash forward 700 years and it turns out that Merlin was one of the Argonauts and that he's discovered that Medea did not kill Jason's sons afterall - in fact they are alive in the present, hundreds of years after they should be dead even if they had lived to old age.
Jason isn't dead, either - he's half-dead in the bottom of a demon haunted lake, protected and kept from fully dying by the Spirit of his ship, the Argo. Merlin brings both from the bottom of the lake and restores them to full life. A new quest begins with new Argonauts, a renewed Argo carrying a forest Goddess rather than Hera and only Jason and Merlin remaining from the quest for the fleece. This time Jason is searching for his sons but the voyage of the Argo proves as inordinately long and difficult as the previous ones and the story is not over when the end of the book arrives - indeed there are two more volumes following.
The story is set mainly in the lands and time of the Pagan Celts and I've never come across a more convincing evocation of them; it's not a suprise though - rather to be expected from the author of the Mythago books - and it transpires that there is a gigantic Mythago Wood in Britain, known to one of the New Argonauts, Urtha, whose home borders it, as Ghostland.
Merlin is an intriguing character with an intriguing background. His mastery of the natural magic in the world comes from charms written on his bones and his tale (he tells it himself in the first person) is a strange one. I'm very keen to finish it.
Flash forward 700 years and it turns out that Merlin was one of the Argonauts and that he's discovered that Medea did not kill Jason's sons afterall - in fact they are alive in the present, hundreds of years after they should be dead even if they had lived to old age.
Jason isn't dead, either - he's half-dead in the bottom of a demon haunted lake, protected and kept from fully dying by the Spirit of his ship, the Argo. Merlin brings both from the bottom of the lake and restores them to full life. A new quest begins with new Argonauts, a renewed Argo carrying a forest Goddess rather than Hera and only Jason and Merlin remaining from the quest for the fleece. This time Jason is searching for his sons but the voyage of the Argo proves as inordinately long and difficult as the previous ones and the story is not over when the end of the book arrives - indeed there are two more volumes following.
The story is set mainly in the lands and time of the Pagan Celts and I've never come across a more convincing evocation of them; it's not a suprise though - rather to be expected from the author of the Mythago books - and it transpires that there is a gigantic Mythago Wood in Britain, known to one of the New Argonauts, Urtha, whose home borders it, as Ghostland.
Merlin is an intriguing character with an intriguing background. His mastery of the natural magic in the world comes from charms written on his bones and his tale (he tells it himself in the first person) is a strange one. I'm very keen to finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2009
Okay, so I stumbled upon Robert Holdstock when I found a copy of Mythago Wood and Lavondyss. Thoroughly enjoyed the books, and have been working on collecting the series and going through them, start to finish.
This series is along those same lines, and has a fair amount of verbiage and overlap from those other books.
An interesting twist on the Merlin Legend, bouncing back before Arthur and the tales of the Round Table. It intertwines Greek and Celtic myths loosely, but in an interesting fashion, and draws you in for an enjoyable trip. If you're a mythology purist, this may irritate you, but as another side/view of the myths, its rather fun.
The first book follows the resurrection of Jason and the Argo by Merlin, after finding out Medea didn't kill the boys. The book traces the search for the oldest boy. The second book traces the search for the second boy. And the third book goes into an interesting version of the link between Merlin and Daedalus.
The third book has been left somewhat opened-ended, so I don't know if there will be more, where Holstock really does bring in Arthur or not. That said, the actual story in the book is finished, so one isn't left hanging.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, and found them to be easy, enjoyable reads.
This series is along those same lines, and has a fair amount of verbiage and overlap from those other books.
An interesting twist on the Merlin Legend, bouncing back before Arthur and the tales of the Round Table. It intertwines Greek and Celtic myths loosely, but in an interesting fashion, and draws you in for an enjoyable trip. If you're a mythology purist, this may irritate you, but as another side/view of the myths, its rather fun.
The first book follows the resurrection of Jason and the Argo by Merlin, after finding out Medea didn't kill the boys. The book traces the search for the oldest boy. The second book traces the search for the second boy. And the third book goes into an interesting version of the link between Merlin and Daedalus.
The third book has been left somewhat opened-ended, so I don't know if there will be more, where Holstock really does bring in Arthur or not. That said, the actual story in the book is finished, so one isn't left hanging.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, and found them to be easy, enjoyable reads.
August 21, 2020
Poté, co mě poněkud otrávil a jeho , rozhodl jsem se podívat se do starověku očima mýtů a pověstí, zkrátka pohledem Roberta Holdstocka. To je totiž vždycky skvělá volba.
Keltika sice nepatří do jeho nejznámějšího cyklu Lesa mytág, ale to kouzlo starověkých mýtů mají společné všechny Holdstockovy knihy. Když ji otevřete, prožijete příběh dvou známých mytických hrdinů, keltského Merlina a řeckého Iásóna, které přes propast 700 let spojila tajemná magie lodi Argó. Je to vyprávění o dlouhém hledání Iásonových synů, o válečné výpravě spojených keltských kmenů do delfské věštírny, o magii a kouzlech čarodějky Médey, o živých, mrtvých i nezrozených hrdinech, o lásce i pomstě. Zkrátka sága jak se patří.
Čtu to už podruhé či potřetí, a klidně si to ještě párkrát zopakuju.
Keltika sice nepatří do jeho nejznámějšího cyklu Lesa mytág, ale to kouzlo starověkých mýtů mají společné všechny Holdstockovy knihy. Když ji otevřete, prožijete příběh dvou známých mytických hrdinů, keltského Merlina a řeckého Iásóna, které přes propast 700 let spojila tajemná magie lodi Argó. Je to vyprávění o dlouhém hledání Iásonových synů, o válečné výpravě spojených keltských kmenů do delfské věštírny, o magii a kouzlech čarodějky Médey, o živých, mrtvých i nezrozených hrdinech, o lásce i pomstě. Zkrátka sága jak se patří.
Čtu to už podruhé či potřetí, a klidně si to ještě párkrát zopakuju.
February 9, 2008
"Centuries before he meets Arthur, Merlin wanders the Earth, eternally young, a traveler on the path of magic and learning."
I loved this odd, magical, slightly off kilter book. The character of Merlin, the intertwining of Jason and Medea into his history, the deeper fuzzier history and independence from the King Arthur legends with only a bare hint of foreshadowing, was fascinating and engrossing. I was haunted by it for months after reading it and didn't want it to end.
I'm glad I had read Mythago Wood prior to picking this one up, because the basis for some of the world Merlin occupies is related to if not from Mythago Wood and Lavondyss. Both of which I also highly recommend.
I loved this odd, magical, slightly off kilter book. The character of Merlin, the intertwining of Jason and Medea into his history, the deeper fuzzier history and independence from the King Arthur legends with only a bare hint of foreshadowing, was fascinating and engrossing. I was haunted by it for months after reading it and didn't want it to end.
I'm glad I had read Mythago Wood prior to picking this one up, because the basis for some of the world Merlin occupies is related to if not from Mythago Wood and Lavondyss. Both of which I also highly recommend.
October 8, 2009
I have literally read just about all of Holdstock's work. He is one of the top fantasy writer's ever.
December 7, 2009
Well worth a read, another look at Merlin as a man rather than the myth. I found it unputdownable
June 24, 2019
Come mio solito, anche con questo romanzo sono stata completamente deviata dal genere e (più che dalla copertina) dal titolo in sé: la sola idea che ci fosse Merlino come protagonista mi ha spinta ad acquistarlo ad occhi chiusi. Incollati. E, come volevasi dimostrare, la mia imprudenza mi è costata cara.
Ho fatto una fatica immensa ad iniziare questo libro. Non a finirlo; proprio ad iniziarlo. I primi capitoli sono così confusionari che o ti accingi a percuoterti nel continuare la lettura o molli definitivamente. La prima volta, dunque, ho mollato e sono passati circa due anni da quando ho deciso di riprenderlo in mano e riprovarci. Questa volta è andata decisamente meglio ma questo romanzo non è affatto di un “maestro indiscusso del fantasy�. Mica siamo ai livelli di Tolkien o Martin. A malapena ci avviciniamo a Licia Troisi.
La trama, dunque, è un no colossale, delle dimensioni di un Ent come Barbalbero.
I personaggi, che sono una marea oltretutto, sono buttati a casaccio in quel calderone che è la storia senza un ordine preciso. Sembra quasi una ricetta fatta ad occhio che sai per certo che verrà male se non dosi bene le quantità di tutti gli ingredienti. E infatti non mi è piaciuto per niente. Solo verso gli ultimi capitoli la storia, per quanto mi riguarda, ha avuto un senso. Peccato che fosse troppo tardi.
Robert Holdstock non si dilunga mai troppo in descrizioni superflue, ma è il romanzo nell'insieme che è un gran disastro. E ne sono rimasta davvero delusa.
Ho fatto una fatica immensa ad iniziare questo libro. Non a finirlo; proprio ad iniziarlo. I primi capitoli sono così confusionari che o ti accingi a percuoterti nel continuare la lettura o molli definitivamente. La prima volta, dunque, ho mollato e sono passati circa due anni da quando ho deciso di riprenderlo in mano e riprovarci. Questa volta è andata decisamente meglio ma questo romanzo non è affatto di un “maestro indiscusso del fantasy�. Mica siamo ai livelli di Tolkien o Martin. A malapena ci avviciniamo a Licia Troisi.
La trama, dunque, è un no colossale, delle dimensioni di un Ent come Barbalbero.
I personaggi, che sono una marea oltretutto, sono buttati a casaccio in quel calderone che è la storia senza un ordine preciso. Sembra quasi una ricetta fatta ad occhio che sai per certo che verrà male se non dosi bene le quantità di tutti gli ingredienti. E infatti non mi è piaciuto per niente. Solo verso gli ultimi capitoli la storia, per quanto mi riguarda, ha avuto un senso. Peccato che fosse troppo tardi.
Robert Holdstock non si dilunga mai troppo in descrizioni superflue, ma è il romanzo nell'insieme che è un gran disastro. E ne sono rimasta davvero delusa.
April 7, 2020
This is the fifth book in a series I am calling "quarantine life." With our public libraries closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I've turned to my bookshelves to check out books that I have not read yet.
This book has sat on my shelves for close to 20 years and whenever I've looked at it I've thought that it didn't look very good. What a colossal mistake.... I was startled by how great this book was: incredible writing, engaging plot, and deeply drawn characters. Although I only have fleeting knowledge of both Arthurian and Greek myth, it didn't matter. I am very eager to start on the next book, which has also sat on my shelf for 20 years....
This book has sat on my shelves for close to 20 years and whenever I've looked at it I've thought that it didn't look very good. What a colossal mistake.... I was startled by how great this book was: incredible writing, engaging plot, and deeply drawn characters. Although I only have fleeting knowledge of both Arthurian and Greek myth, it didn't matter. I am very eager to start on the next book, which has also sat on my shelf for 20 years....
January 7, 2024
The novel had an interesting premise, an immortal Merlin uncovering an iced-preserved Jason to reconstitute a second Argonaut expedition. Unfortunately, the story didn’t seem to take off. Too many pages were spent of establishing the various Celtic and Germanic tribes Holdstock wanted to incorporate into the story as well as the backstory and arcs of the various new Argonauts. Besides trying the patience of the reader, they also serve to dilute the already small progress made towards the shifting goals of the expedition. While the novel ends with a clear nod to a continuation in a subsequent novel, there was little to tempt this reader to continue the story.
August 5, 2020
L'ennessima reinterpretazione della sotria di Merlino, si presentava con una copertina intrigante ed una storia dai risvolti accattivanti. Poteva essere una gran bella storia, sparsa nel tempo e con avvenimenti fino ad ora mai messi in correlazione con Camelot. Si respira una forte atmosfera magica, ma il tutto non è ben comunicato. Si perde molto in un modo di scrivere poco adatto ad atmosfere del genere, quasi storico, in una storia che poco potrebbe essere credibile. Poco scorrevole.... si legge mlto lentamente, nonostante non sia molto pesante a livello di pagine.
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March 26, 2024DNF page 145. I wanted to like this more than I did, but I found myself very indifferent. I like Merlin and the legend of Arthur. I like Greek mythology. I did not care for this odd blending of the two. Jason being alive and Medea hiding their children in time was not something I could get into.
Merlin having an inner dialogue about being attracted to his however-many-great-granddaughter really gave me the ick, as well. I realize that they would have been so far removed that it shouldn’t matter, but it bothered me a lot.
It wasn’t for me.
Merlin having an inner dialogue about being attracted to his however-many-great-granddaughter really gave me the ick, as well. I realize that they would have been so far removed that it shouldn’t matter, but it bothered me a lot.
It wasn’t for me.
February 5, 2018
Gave up on this halfway through. It's not a bad book, but I've lost my taste for fantasy and it doesn't have the magic of the Mythago Wood series.
May 22, 2018
Hej jako dobrý. Po Fantomovi jsem se trochu bála, ale Keltika byla vlastně úplně jiný styl, mytické fantasy, které baví. Navíc s lodí, co víc můžu chtít.
Za knihu děkuji Morgain! :)
Za knihu děkuji Morgain! :)
September 7, 2022
Another delightful Holdstock yarn, reminiscent of half-remembered tales read to you at night as a kid. There's a lot of fascinating tales alluded to, let alone the actual plot line.
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March 7, 2017DNF. I just cant get into it as much as I like Celtic legend and wanted to read the whole trilogy.
July 14, 2010
I suppose that you are thinking that a series entitled The Merlin Codex might be about the Merlin of the Arthurian legend. If so, and you are expecting Camelot to make an appearance in this book, you are in for a surprise. Yes, the main protagonist is Merlin, but he isn’t the character you might have expected. Instead, although very old he is also quite young. In appearance at least. And instead of serving or advising Kind Arthur he travels with Jason of the Greek myths. The book is set hundreds of years after the quest for the Golden Fleece, and the love affair with Medea and the resulting tragedy, but Jason is not dead. He has been kept in a sort of suspended non-life by the magic of his ship, the Argus, and now Merlin has returned to bring him back to life. Merlin, you see, has discovered that Medea did not actually kill her two sons.
Full review:
Full review:
March 26, 2011
The universe of this book is a mix of history and mythology, though it takes a lot of liberties with the details of both. The main character is Merlin, though so far it matters less that he will someday be King Arthur's enchanter than that he once traveled with Jason and the Argonauts under the name "Antiokus." (That character isn't in the Argonautika, and I'm assuming Holdstock made him up). Seven hundred years later, he decides to revive Jason and Argo for a new quest. Merlin is a virtually immortal sorcerer who is older than recorded history. For me the biggest strength of the plot was how unexpected information from Merlin's past would crop up and throw things in a new light every so often.
I found the characterization and style not terribly interesting. But when the plot started to move forward, it largely made up for the defects, so my policy of not giving up on books partway through paid off.
I found the characterization and style not terribly interesting. But when the plot started to move forward, it largely made up for the defects, so my policy of not giving up on books partway through paid off.
January 24, 2012
This book was a beautiful example of worldbuilding, creating a consistent system of magic, and an interesting exploration of immortality. However, I never really felt connected with Merlin or the other characters. I never really got within their head or heart or skin. People did things and the plot moved along, but it was hard to truly be invested in what was happening. But the language was beautiful and it had some interesting insights on immortals (or very-long-lived people). If someone's been around forever, they would have spent most of their existence running around in prehistory. Merlin in this story is very much a pre-historic shaman moving through the lives of people. But never really getting as close as we might have hoped. Still, fairly interesting.
October 23, 2012
I'm really not sure what to make of this. A combination of interesting ideas and muddled execution. Or possibly just muddled reading, possibly not helped by the fact my copy seemed to have loads of weird typos in it.
I think I was far more intrigued by the idea of the world than the characters, and to me it felt like some of the plot was sacrificed to be more mysterious. I don't know.
Not something I probably would have read if it had been left to me, but someone bought me it for xmas and I felt like I ought to read it. If I can find the other books cheap then I might pick them up, but I doubt I'll buy them new.
I think I was far more intrigued by the idea of the world than the characters, and to me it felt like some of the plot was sacrificed to be more mysterious. I don't know.
Not something I probably would have read if it had been left to me, but someone bought me it for xmas and I felt like I ought to read it. If I can find the other books cheap then I might pick them up, but I doubt I'll buy them new.
September 16, 2015
The characters were not original. The main elements of the storyline were not original. The mythology and fable of mystical characters and powers so overwhelmed the storyline that I didn't find this worth reading. The mystic elements were obfuscatory to the plot, and were very weak in their presentation.
The character names could have been much simpler. There could have been more direct action in the plot instead of the nauseating narration from and about the dreamland, the dead, the ageless Merlin, Jason, bla, bla, bla.
Bottom line, for me the only item of value in this book is the image of the boat on the dust jacket.
The character names could have been much simpler. There could have been more direct action in the plot instead of the nauseating narration from and about the dreamland, the dead, the ageless Merlin, Jason, bla, bla, bla.
Bottom line, for me the only item of value in this book is the image of the boat on the dust jacket.
February 5, 2017
It has been some years since I read Holdstock. The first book of this trilogy evokes his major themes of myth, symbol and ritual: though now mixing history and fantasy, Greek and keltoi, rather than the magical realist setting of his earlier sequence. Whilst the characters remain complex and ambivalent to their fates, the tapestry of time, foretelling and prediction shifts the book from free will to Fate. And this is where the tensions fails: for how does one maintain an interest in a quest that is completed, and what of the protagonist's thoughts.. Maybe these values clear in the next novel of Homeric determinism
June 21, 2013
“Celtika� was a free book that my mother found at a garage sale, was “Celtika" amazing? No not really, but it did keep my interest as I’m a glutton for Merlin and King Arthur related books. The story involves the lost years of Merlin before the King Arthur days and when he is still young for his age. Merlin was on the Argo and the quest for the Golden Fleece, who thunk it. The writing could of used a good editor since there were numerous errors. The book did do its job though, I will read the sequel.
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