When I was an Arthurian gamer, I couldn’t read Merlin’s Book of Magic and Enchantment by Nevill Drury when I saw it sitting at a discount table in some airport or other book store. I thought it was a story about Merlin and Arthur, but this is not it at all. It’s not new, it’s a book of poems with a little context thrown in for Merlin as a mod.
It is a very decorative hard bound book with copper-printed letters and very thick, glossy like color film. a>. It presents a wonderfully magical piece, a fine addition to any fantasy library. Nay, what kind he asks you to take up.
This Book of Magic begins
The first chapter lived up to our rather high expectations. It is written as if Merlin himself drew this tome.
“Here before you now is a book of mage and wonder – a treatise of mysteries and enchantments and secrets, of which some have spoken, but few have reached their hearts and souls. And I leave this book with you, lest my doctrine be in you. Mystic May the magic of Pathmo perish forever.”
The whole book is written in that medieval style. It would not be unusual, but it would be enough to be very mood-setting. We begin with Merlin being captured by a woman who traps him in a prison in her tower. This is how he came to sit down and write the rest of the book, who are inclined quickly.
Now, if you’ve never researched the lands of religions (Druids, Witches, etc.) then you’ll just find this very interesting. However, if you are well versed in working various gods then you will quickly become bored. What Drury basically did was revise the basic magical disciplines and attribute them to Merlin.
As he describes making a circle of magic, he follows the elements, such as fire and water. besomes, all these things. The material of the books of beginning magicians. Later in that book he throws in some spells that require incantations and invoking words.
Yawning.
What I have done is that in addition to Merlin’s Books of Magic and Enchantment, there are illustrations throughout. The colors are very attractive. Linda Garland is someone I will research further when I think about it, I really like the idea of purchasing some of her work. She is good. Seeing the man and the man, himself an illustrator, they have a book called Garlands Fantasy. I need to find…
So. Would I recommend Merlin’s book Magic and Enchantment? I’m really torn. The book is beautifully done, and the illustrations are wonderful, but… well, I’ll recommend it to Aruthurian folks who aren’t into the theories of the old ways, and to folks who want to know more. same thing… but if you’re looking for the story of Camelot, don’t look here.
