Mordred, Bastard Son

Summary

Mordred, Bastard Son is a 2006 Arthurian fantasy novel by Douglas Clegg. It tells the story of a sympathetic Mordred, including a romance with Lancelot. The novel was nominated for a 2007 Lambda Literary Award.

Mordred, Bastard Son
First edition cover
AuthorDouglas Clegg
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreArthurian fantasy
PublisherAlyson Books
Publication date
January 1, 2006
Media typePrint (Hardcover & paperback)
Pages360
ISBN978-1-555-83899-7

Plot edit

The illegitimate son of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay, Mordred has been raised in exile, overshadowed by his mother's desire for vengeance against Arthur. He is soon distracted from his studies under Merlin by his attraction to the fallen knight Lancelot.[1]

Reception edit

Publishers Weekly described the story as "revisionist Arthurian fantasy", noting that Clegg goes against convention by portraying Mordred as a sympathetic character, rather than the villain.[1] Publishers Weekly reviewer wrote, "Clegg ... maintains a nice balance between the human and mythic dimensions of his characters, portraying the familiar elements of their story from refreshingly original angles."[1]

In 2007, Mordred, Bastard Son was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.[2]

Sequel edit

A sequel, Mordred, Dragon Prince, was originally announced for publication in late 2018, but has since been delayed.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Fiction Book Review: Mordred, Bastard Son: Book One of the Mordred Trilogy by Douglas Clegg". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  2. ^ Cerna, Antonio Gonzalez (April 30, 2006). "19th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Lambda Literary Foundation. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "Mordred, Dragon Prince – Douglas Clegg". DouglasClegg.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2022.