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Bradley's Successor?

A Review of Diana Paxson's Ancestors of Avalon by Wyldwytch

Synopsis: In this pre-pre-pre-prequel to The Mists of Avalon (1982), a kingdom sinks into the sea--but the spirit of a deceased author appears to rise again. Paxson, who completed Bradley's Priestess of Avalon (2001) after the widely revered novelist died in 1999, fashions an entirely new entry in the Avalon saga, one that telescopes the evocative notion that the otherworldly forces supporting Arthur were remnants of Atlantis. The curtain opens on an Atlantean island just prior to its destruction; most of the novel, however, is set among refugees of the doomed kingdom who make landfall in pre-Christianity Britain. Parallel stories unfold as two lovers separated during the cataclysm, the priest Micail and the priestess Tiriki, establish two settlements and struggle with the need to adjust to a new environment (with native peoples playing a major role) while still honoring their lost civilization's spiritual legacy. The colonies develop in opposing directions, mirroring Bradley's primary thematic interests: the (typically male) desire to compete and conquer versus the gentler impulses associated with goddess worship.

I’ll be honest, I bought this book purely because the title across the cover reads Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon and being the Bradley fan that I am, I couldn’t resist another installation in her mind-blowing saga beginning with The Mists of Avalon. However, had I read the title closer, I would have realized she didn’t write the book! Rookie mistake, I still read the work, and tried hard to see the Bradley I had come to love over the years peak through in the words of Paxson. This is what I found; although the reader can pick up on the Bradley style, it is not Bradley. That being said I will move on to a review.

In a nut shell what we have here is a tale of how Atlantis fell into the ocean and the survivors (Sun Worshippers) came to the new land to establish their new tradition, as the prophecy had told. Along the way the two main characters, the love birds of course, Tiriki and Micail get separated and are forced to thrash threw this new land separately. As one can probably deduce their paths lead them in very different directions, one assimilates to their surroundings, the other tries to change the landscape to suit their needs. And that’s as far as I am going with the story line, you’ll just have to read it to find out.

The characters are, interesting. They are cliché in the sense that the reader knows what is going to happen if you’ve read any other of Bradley’s work, but I found Paxson’s development of the (I will refer to them as) “bad guys” was interesting. I enjoyed reading through the alternate chapters (as every other switches landscapes) and seeing how one side would fail from greed and power and the other would flourish and establish the Tor we all have come to enjoy. Things that bothered me about the book you ask? Too many characters that were not fully developed, it is essential that you do not tell the story through various characters eyes if they are not developed enough for the reader to really understand that. I found myself referencing the front of book where there is a name key even in the last chapter trying to figure out who the h-e-double hockey sticks Paxson was talking about now. The other big concern I had for this book is that it was written using Bradley’s name, in Bradley’s idea, but it lacked the passion she conveyed on the topic. Paganism came to light in her words, Paxson’s understanding seemed either not up to par with Bradley, or to be lacking in interest.

From a general readers point of view; good book, I would recommend it to several people. From a Pagan and Bradley fan point of view; I might pass so as not to constantly be wondering when it was going to get good, or where you were going to get so caught up you could smell the herbs the Saji were using to heal the wounded.

To close, the ending threw me off, I so want to discuss this with you all! So please buy the book, read it, and come to Weavings to discuss it with me!