The Bright Sword
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| Author | Lev Grossman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | |
Publication date | 16 July 2024[1] |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 688 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-7352-2404-9 |
| LC Class | PS3557.R6725B75 2024 |
The Bright Sword
The Bright Sword is a fantasy novel written by American author Lev Grossman, published in 2024 by Viking Press.[1] The novel takes place within the King Arthur mythology, and follows a talented young knighted named Collum who travels from his backwater home to Camelot, expecting to meet King Arthur and join the Round Table. However, Collum finds the king died weeks ago, leaving only a handful of misfit knights to defend Camelot and the throne of Britain from competing warlords, rivals, and the magical forces of Morgan le Fay.
Grossman wrote the novel over a period of ten years, explaining in a blog post that the book was a personal and challenging project, owing to the difficulty of historical research, vulnerable themes, and writing during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Grossman stated in an interview that he was drawn to the idea of writing a classic Arthurian legend, but discarding the most famous heroes like Gawain or Galahad and instead placing traditionally minor characters at the center stage.[3]
Plot
Reception
Reviews were positive. Kiersten White for the New York Times wrote that the novel "resoundingly earns its place among the best of Arthurian tales" and that "this Camelot is far more diverse and thoughtful than past iterations."[4] The Wall Street Journal's review wrote that it "stands out as the best fantasy of the year."[5] The Washington Post's Elizabeth Hand called it "a thrilling new take on Arthurian legend" and a "splendid, offbeat quest."[6]
The Bright Sword was a nominee for Goodreads Readers' Favorite Fantasy award for 2024.[7]
References
- ^ a b "The Bright Sword". penguinrandomhouse.com. Penguin Random House. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Grossman, Lev (3 April 2024). "The Long Game". Last Stop Corbenic. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Lev Grossman on the Enduring Story of King Arthur". New York Times. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ White, Kiersten (16 July 2024). "King Arthur Is Dead. Long Live King Arthur!". New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Braswell, Liz (5 December 2024). "The Best Books of 2024: Science Fiction & Fantasy". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Hand, Elizabeth. "A thrilling new take on Arthurian legend". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Readers' Favorite Fantasy". Goodreads. Retrieved 12 December 2024.