The Return from Avalon

"Considering the number of recent fantasies inspired by Celtic literature, Professor Thompson's survey of modern Arthurian fiction is a very welcome addition to literary scholarship. Covering writers from Mark Twain to Marion Zimmer Bradley, it is divided into five sections: retellings, realistic fiction, historical fiction, SF, and pure fantasy, with the greatest attention given to the historical and fantastic novels. Thompson summarizes almost every piece of prose fiction written since 1882 which makes even minimal use of the Arthurian legend, and adds a very useful appendix and bibliography. ...readers interested in Arthuriana will find this book a valuable reference tool. Its strengths are its breadth of coverage and the usefulness of its summaries. Critical evaluations are brief but generally helpful.... [Most] libraries will want to own this useful book, as will readers with any interest in historical or fantastic fiction, Arthurian or otherwise."-Fantasy Review