Book Review
Copyright (c) 1995, Tommy Van Hook
All rights reserved



In The Shadow Of The Oak King by Courtway Jones
Copyright 1991, Baen Books
1st Printing May 1992
ISBN 0-671-73404-0
340 Pages


The story and tales behind the legend of Britain's King Arthur
are numerous and well-known.  With the exception of Marion Zimmer
Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon," most stories told from this
storyline are bland and repetitive.  This is not the scenario
concerning Courtway Jones first installment in his Dragon's Heirs
trilogy.

Mr. Jones paints one of the most vivid and captivating pieces of
work with this novel.  It portrays the early years of King Arthur
as told through the eyes of his Pictish half-brother Pelleas. 
What Jones offers to the reader is a compelling page-turning
novel.  Jones gives Pelleas the task of providing insight to
Arthur's nature within the story.  This proves to be interesting
and extremely entertaining.  Pelleas' comments are sometimes much
too priceless.  I found myself wiping tears from my eyes while I
was laughing.  Pelleas' insight to the lovely (and stupid)
Gueneviere is strange since it portrays her as nothing more than
a piece of art for Arthur's side.

With Pelleas' as the main character, the story does not follow
Arthur once Camelot is built, but it does look into what the rest
of the kingdom is like during his (Pelleas') travels.  The
jousting tournaments is where Pelleas starts his travels, beating
all the knights including the handsome Lancelot.  This makes
Lancelot and Pelleas enemies from the beginning of their initial
meeting, although the young lady known as Nithe provides even
more reason for the rivalry to heat up.  From the tournaments,
Pelleas' travels find all the Picts adoring him for what he has
done.  Eventually, he ascends (reluctantly) into the position of
being their King.

If you are looking for a very enjoyable read, and you love the
mystery of old England, then you must acquire this book and
devour it.  It's depictions will have you laughing, crying, and
smiling at Pelleas, Nithe, Arthur, Myrrdin (Merlin), Lancelot and
a host of others.

Overall Grade:  A-