Synopses & Reviews
At the dawn of his reign, a young king must prove his greatness . . . or forfeit a realm
Arthur is King—but darkest evil has descended upon Britain's shores in many guises. In this black time of plague and pestilence, Arthur's most trusted counselor Myrddin—the warrior, bard, and kingmaker whom legend will name Merlin—is himself to be tested on a mystical journey through his own extraordinary past. So the noble king must stand alone against a great and terrible adversary. For only thus can he truly win immortality—and the name he will treasure above all others: Pendragon.
Synopsis
At the dawn of his reign, a young king confronts his destiny--and must prove his greatness . . . or lose a realm
Arthur is King--but treachery runs rampant throughout the beleaguered Isle of the Mighty. Darkest evil descends upon Britain's shores in many guises. Fragile alliances fray and tear, threatening all the noble liege has won with his wisdom and his blood. His most trusted counselor--the warrior, bard and kingmaker whom legend will name Merlin--is himself to be tested on a mystical journey back through his own extraordinary past. So in a black time of plague and pestilence, it is Arthur who must stand alone against a great and terrible adversary. For only this way can he truly win immortality--and the name to treasure above all others:
PENDRAGON
"Though Lawhead brilliantly creates an authentic and vivid Arthurian Britain, he never forsakes the sense of wonder that has graced the legend throughout the ages."--Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
And now the stirring saga continues, with the long-awaited fourth book of master fantasist Stephen R. Lawhead's critically acclaimed Pendragon Cycle - an epic adventure of faith and fate, of magic, conflict and conquest. The breath-taking legend lives on, as Arthur, the Bear of Britain, faces his most devastating trial - in a furious, sword to sword battle against twin forces of blackest evil that conspire to annihilate his world. In this dark time of plague and pestilence, it is a young Arthur who must now prove his greatness...or witness the agonizing death of his cherished dream of Summer.
About the Author
Stephen R. Lawhead was born in Kearney,Nebraska on 2 July, 1950. He attended local schools and then Kearney State College, where he majored in Fine Art. He paid for his education by playing lead guitar in a popularlocal rock band, Mother Rush. While at Kearney State he published numerous poems incollege anthologies, and wrote a humor column for the college newspaper.
He married Alice Slaikeu in 1972 and, together they moved to the Chicago areaso he could attend Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He left before graduating whenoffered a position on the staff of Campus Life Magazine, where he worked for five years. Writing a record review column at Campus Life fed his musical interest; he took on themanagement of Christian rock band DeGarmo & Key, then left Campus Life to start hisown record company in Memphis, Tennessee.
Ariel Records lasted only a year; going out of business on a Friday afternoon in January. On the following Monday morning Lawhead began writing a novel: In the Hallof the Dragon King. The object of the exercise was to see if he could sustain afull-length work of fiction, and support his family  which now included baby Ross,and soon-to-arrive Drake A on a writer's income.
He did finish the book and, with the support and advocacy of editor JanDennis, it was published in 1982 by Crossway Books. Eight novels followed, all publishedby Crossway: the remaining DRAGON KING books, three science fiction novels, and the firstthree books of THE PENDRAGON CYCLE.
Meanwhile, the Lawheads moved from Memphis to Lincoln, Nebraska, and then toOxford, England, in 1986 for more than a year while researching and writing Taliesin,Merlin, and Arthur. They returned to Lincoln in 1987, but by 1990 were backin Oxford where they now reside.
A strong publishing relationship with Lion Publishing in Britain was forgedwhen Lion published Dragon King, and went on to commission severalchildrenÂs books which had been inspired by Ross and DrakeÂs interest in theirfatherÂs stories. Additionally, Lion acted  and continues to act  asagent for translation editions of the childrenÂs and adult books throughout Europeand beyond.
Avon Books (New York) and HarperCollins (New York and London, along withtheir subsidiary Zondervan in Grand Rapids) are both currently commissioning books. Themost recent Avon release is Grail, the fifth book in THE PENDRAGON CYCLE, andthis will be followed by Avalon a stand-alone novel in which King Arthur returnsto modern-day Britain (anticipated publication September 1999).
HarperCollins, who published Byzantium, is releasing THE CELTICCRUSADES, a series of three books of which the first, The Iron Lance, will beavailable on 21 September in Britain and in November in the United States.
Lawhead's fascination with historical mythology continues unabated. Havingstarted in fourth-century Britain (Taliesin) he has now worked his way forward tothe twelfth-century. What is next? Perhaps a giant step backward. Books about ancientEgypt are beginning to fill his shelves...