- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books; New title edition (1 Jan 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765303728
- ISBN-13: 978-0765303721
- Product Dimensions: 23.7 x 14.8 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,394,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"From the building blocks of history and the mortar of reality, Jack Whyte has built Arthur's world, and showed us the bone beneath the flesh of legend."-Diana Gabaldon
"Jack Whyte is a master storyteller . . . . Wyte breathes life into the Arthurian myths by weaving the reality of history into them."-Tony Hillerman
"I loved the book. It was an extraordinary story, totally original and clearly there is a lot more excitement to come in the upcoming volumes."-Rosamunde Pilcher
--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
"Jack Whyte is a master storyteller . . . . Wyte breathes life into the Arthurian myths by weaving the reality of history into them."-Tony Hillerman
"I loved the book. It was an extraordinary story, totally original and clearly there is a lot more excitement to come in the upcoming volumes."-Rosamunde Pilcher
--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Product Description
Everyone knows the story-how Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, how Camelot came to be, and about the power struggles that ultimately destroyed Arthur's dreams. But what of the time before Arthur and the forces that created him? How did the legend really come to pass? Before the time of Arthur and his Camelot, Britain was a dark and deadly place, savaged by warring factions of Picts, Celts, and invading Saxons. The Roman citizens who had lived there for generations were suddenly faced with a deadly choice: Should they leave and take up residence in a corrupt Roman world that was utterly foreign, or should they stay and face the madness that would ensue when Britain's last bastion of safety for the civilized, the Roman legions, left? For two Romans, Publius Varrus and his friend Caius Britannicus, there can be only one answer. They will stay, to preserve what is best of Roman life, and will create a new culture out of the wreckage. In doing so, they will unknowingly plant the seeds of legend-for these two men are Arthur's great-grandfathers, and their actions will shape a nation . . . and forge a sword known as Excalibur.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Of course, this is only the first book of the series, but in terms of literary content, style, etc., I would definitely put this series on a par with Mary Stewart's Merlin Chronicles. Of course, Whyte's books seem a bit more down-to-earth, with little (if any) magic involved - the comparison is invited because, as in Stewart's books, the characters seem so real, so fleshed-out, that you can easily believe that they were and are real people. I can't remember a single character that I didn't believe in - even the most pompous of the lot, Quintius Varo (Britannicus' brother-in-law).
One final point - if you buy the paperback of this book, and you find it has a "preview" of the next book in the series, READ THAT PREVIEW. Talk about a cliffhanger - this is the best hook for buying the next book in a series I've ever seen!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
the examination of an interesting, historical hypothesis, namely, that Arthur emerged from the deliberate merging of Celtic and Roman blood and culture. The story is gripping and the hypothesis compelling; it is not, however, for the faint-of-heart. If you like Skystone, you'll immediately seek out The Singing Sword and then The Eagle's Brood, which continue the story. Each is richly detailed and self-contained. Perhaps the best series I have ever read.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I love this series of books. I was reading the report (by an American, would you believe it) who said the Camulod Chronicles were inaccurate. Maybe so.
But actually LIVING in Britain gives you a unique outlook on it. It is nice to here what Jack Whyte thinks of the area where I live, and despite some inaccuracies, it is very believeable.
Here, here to this book. If you live in the country, you'll like it. If somebody who can't spell colour correctly quibles over some small discrepancies, then they're taking literature too seriously.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Skystone by Jack Whyte
I loved this book, which is the first in a series about the Arthurian legend. This first book takes you back to before Arthur, to the time when Romans were in control of Britain. Read more
Published 15 months ago by P. A. Cunningham
Every Legend has a Beginning
The Skystone is the first novel by Canadian author and former schoolteacher Jack Whyte in the medieval series of books referred to as The Camulod Chronicles. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Cara Ibertsen
The Beginning of an Epic Tale!
The Romans don't know it yet, but they are on the verge of abandoning Britain. Some of them realise the inevitability of it however and are making preparations to stay in this... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Ann Parker
THE SKYSTONE
This is an amazing read. The first time that I have read any of Jack Whyte. He leads the reader into our land of Roman rule, each character holds a special interest. Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by Mrs. C. M. Hatley
Entering an adventure
The book is well written and draws you in from the first page. The main characters are very well drawn and grabbed my sympathies immediately. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by Barbara E. Ellams
Dream of Eagles series
An amazing and riveting story that you just can't put down.
It is the kind of book that appeals to everyone, a must read. Read more
It is the kind of book that appeals to everyone, a must read. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by MV John Sollars
A non historical novel
How this book ever passed an editor into print is beyond my imagination. It is certainly non historical, but it is also awfully written. Read more
Published on 27 April 2009 by Valhain
First book in the Camulod Chronicles
Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, but has lived in Canada for the last forty odd years. He is the author of the Camulod series of books and has just had published the... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2007 by J. Chippindale
living inthe area
I am now starting to read the camulod series by Jack Whyte for the third time. I live in the country and area where Mr Whyte has based his books. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2003 by R N DURRANT
What a Surprise!
I picked this book off the shelf, because I saw the Romans on the cover of a book in the fantasy section I religeously stick too. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2001 by Daniel Dean
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fantasy > Contemporary
- Books > Fantasy > Historical
- Books > Fiction > Contemporary Fiction
- Books > Fiction > Historical
- Books > Fiction > Myths & Fairy Tales
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
