Warriors of Camlann

Notes:

Literary Quality: You really need to have read Warriors of Alavna to understand a certain amount of this book, especially at the start. Once you've sorted things out, the book moves forward, but sluggishly. The children's characters are quite solid, although a certain amount of their thought is dominated by the mechanics of the (magical) change they have just undergone from AD75 to this time several centuries later. It's not made clear why the children retain certain qualities, and acquire some, but lose others. While over-specification of magical abilities is often a bad thing, in this case the lack of information gives their abilities the appearance of being a convenient plot-device.

In this story, Dan & Ursula are truly immersed in the place and time in which they find themselves, rather than remaining disinterested observers. This gives their characters much greater weight than is the case in the alternative convention of having the children stay apart and only interfere occasionally, and even by accident. Given that, it's easier to swallow the odd mixture in the characters of modern teenagers wanting to get home, and hardened and legendary warriors of almost supernatural prowess.

Rendering what would be Old English into modern English is always a slightly open question. But conventionally, one specifically avoids modern-day expressions, such as Taliesin saying “What you've got, this empathy thing...”.

King Arthur: The Arthurian side of things is pretty run-of-the-mill: Arthur as War Duke aided by more-or-less magical druid accomplice who gains the name Merlin; wife called Gwynefa, best friend called Larcius. If you've ever read any other novel based on Arthurian characters, this one won't surprise you much.

Magic: The magic which takes the characters through The Veil is of a definitely pagan flavour, and without much explanation. There is not too much of it in this book, not least because Ursula is without such power as she once had. At various points, certain of the characters, including Dan & Ursula, employ some mystic technique to allow their soul to leave their body in the form of a bird.

Modesty & Decency: Larcius — the Lancelot of this book — is something of a womaniser and he and Gwynefa, Arthur's wife, are fairly openly lovers.

Loyalty & Friendship: Bryn, Dan's young squire from an earlier age, follows Dan & Ursula forward to Arthur's time and remains fiercely loyal to him. Dan & Ursula, also, are closely united although not considering themselves in love until quite late on.