Book Review: Knight Life

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Knight Life     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Peter David
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Historical
Ace, Jun 2002, $22.95, 352 pp.

It is time to fulfill the medieval prophecy as Arthur Pendragon has returned to the mortal plane. However, instead of ye olde merry England he lands in modern day Central Park making Belvedere Castle his home. Arthur struggles to adjust to Manhattan especially with the dysfunctional assistance of his mentor Merlin.

Once Arthur becomes a little more acclimated to the city that never sleeps, he decides that the best way to fulfill his mission is to become mayor so he throws his helmet into the ring as a candidate for the mayor of the Big Apple. Besides Merlin, Guinevere and Percival assist Arthur on his maiden political run. An atrophied couch potato living in exile in New Jersey, the return rejuvenates Morgan Le Fay who enters the city to challenge her long-term foes. Worse than the sorceress for Arthur is that Modred has also been reincarnated, but this time as the deadliest of opponents, a public relations professional working for the dreaded competitor.

Renowned comic book and fantasy novelist Peter David has rewritten his wild mid-eighties -Camelot in Manhattan tale, retaining the humor and the personae of the cast, but tightening the plot. The story line is fun for more than just the Round Table crowd as Arthur struggles with almost everything about contemporary New York even as he runs for the job of mayor. Mindful of Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland’s Camelot 3000 series (also originating in the 1980s), but less graphic and more amusing, KNIGHT LIFE is a wonderful modernization of Camelot.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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