Fall of Knight by Peter David (2006)
| Overall |  |
Story | |
| Re-Readability | |
Characters |  |
Story: This is the third volume of Peter David’s return of Arthur trilogy. Knight Life (one of David’s first published works) told of Arthur’s reappearance and his election to mayor of New York. One Knight Only had him voted President of the United States. This book takes place after that administration, as Arthur and Gwen bum about at loose ends. But what happens when the healing power of the Grail becomes known to the public at large — especially when it serves as a key part of a dark adversary’s plan to use it, in conjunction with another ancient artifact, to destroy, not heal, the world?
Like his Apropos series, David’s Arthurian tales are darkly whimsical, as both the ideals and dark sides of humanity are brought out by events and personal choices. David’s tone is often cynical, even sometimes bitter, but also hopeful, and includes more than a couple of theological zingers.
The story itself is complex, building some from the previous volumes, but also working pretty well on its own. There are some fine extrapolations (if the Grail can cure those who drink of it — can water from the Grail be bottled and sold? And, if so, what would that do to both churches and hospitals?), some dastardly villainy, more than a few bits of heroism, and a reasonable amount of conspiracy, new and ancient. It’s a satisfying, if relatively quick, read.
Characters: Unlike his New Frontier series, characters take something of a back seat here to myth. They’re there, of course, and well-drawn — from Arthur and Merlin and Percival and Gwen, to politicians, businessfolk, and church leaders — but one has the sense that the tale is more important than the players in it, and that the figures of myth are as captured by the narrative as the reader.
Re-Readability: I think I’ll reread this again — not soon, but it was entertaining enough, and well-told enough, that I think the whole trilogy will stay on my shelf.
Overall: A good capper to the series — and, in fact, there’s nothing to say there couldn’t be a fourth — it was worth the extortionate costs of today’s paperbacks, and probably even more worth borrowing from someone who has it.