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The Pendragon Cycle is a series of historical fantasy books based on Arthurian legend, written by Stephen R. Lawhead. The cycle was originally planned as a four-book series, but the original publisher opted to stop after the first three books, resulting in an abrupt ending to Arthur and the existence of many unexplored stories and plotlines. The first three books were thus originally called "The Pendragon Trilogy". Lawhead moved to a new publisher a few years later. It was decided to expand on the trilogy by finishing the series, and two additional books were planned. These books, Pendragon and Grail, are set in between events covered in Arthur. Lawhead later wrote a final book Avalon, which is not considered to be a true addition to the cycle but rather a "related semi-sequel" to round out the "Once and Future King" aspect of the legend. The film and television rights to the series were purchased by DailyWire+ in November 2022.

Overview

The series is a work of fiction that takes place in the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries and attempts to present the Arthurian legends in a historical setting while presenting the story with a reality the reader can connect with. Lawhead bases his stories on the Mabinogion, the History of the Kings of Britain and other works of Geoffrey of Monmouth, the writings of Taliesin, Gildas, and Nennius, and several other legends that he manages to interweave into the Arthurian legend.

The books, with the exception of Taliesin and Avalon, are narrated in the first-person, and, except for Pendragon, Grail, and Avalon, are each split into three sections (Pendragon has four, Grail one, and Avalon five). Merlin and Pendragon are narrated by Myrddin (Merlin). The first third of Arthur is narrated by Pelleas, the second by Bedwyr (Bedivere), and the third by Aneirin/Gildas. Grail is mostly narrated by Gwalchavad (Galahad), with a short narration by Morgian (Morgan le Fay) at the beginning of most chapters. Taliesin follows Taliesin and Charis (the Lady of the Lake), alternating in each chapter; Avalon mostly follows James Stuart (the reborn Arthur), Merlin, and the fictional Prime Minister Thomas Waring.

Novels

• Aurelia (prequel; forthcoming January 2025)

1. Taliesin (1987)
2. Merlin (1988)
3. Arthur (1989)
4. Pendragon (1994)
5. Grail (1997)
6. Avalon (1999; AKA Avalon: The Return of King Arthur)

The series proceeds as told in the following descriptions:

Taliesin

Tells simultaneously the story of the fall of Atlantis, the subsequent travel of Princess Charis and her family to Ynys Prydein (Britain), and the discovery and training of Taliesin as a druid/bard. The two eventually meet and marry, and Myrddin (Merlin) is born just weeks before a tragedy brought about by Charis' jealous half-sister, Morgian.

Merlin

Narrated by Myrddin. Tells of Myrddin's dual upbringing among the druids and Christian priests, his capture and mystical training among the Hill Folk, and his brief time as a king of Dyfed. He experiences a doomed romance with Princess Ganieda and long years of madness as a wild man of the woods before finding his destiny.

Arthur

Narrated by Pelleas (first third), Bedwyr (second third), and Aneirin (last third). Tells of Arthur and Myrddin's attempt to create the paradisaical "Kingdom of Summer". Arthur is made Duke and Battlechief of Britain after drawing the Excalibur from a stone, but must fight back the Saecsens and other barbarian invaders and unite the peoples of Britain before he can be accepted as High King.

Pendragon

Narrated by Myrddin. Tells of an invasion of Ireland and Britain by the Vandal army of Twrch Trwyth, the Black Boar, and a subsequent plague that sweeps across Britain, threatening Arthur's Kingdom of Summer while it is still newborn.

Grail

Narrated by Gwalchavad (majority) and Morgian (short narration at each chapter's beginning). Tells of Arthur building a shrine to house the Holy Grail and how the beautiful and mysterious Morgaws joins his court. When treachery follows, Arthur's warriors brave the Wasteland of Lyonesse to retrieve the sacred relic.

Avalon: The Return of King Arthur

In Portugal, the reprobate King Edward the Ninth has died by his own hand. In England, the British monarchy teeters on the edge of total destruction.

And in the Scottish Highlands, a mystical emissary named Mr. Embries—better known as "Merlin"—informs a young captain that he is next in line to the throne. James Arthur Stuart is not the commoner he has always believed himself to be; he is Arthur, the legendary King of Summer, reborn. The road to England's salvation is dangerous, however, and powerful enemies wait in ambush. Arthur is not the only one who has returned from the mists of legend, and Merlin's magic is not the only sorcery that has survived the centuries.

Characters

Many historical personas (some already included in the Arthurian legend) exist in the cycle, alongside less "factual" characters: Taliesin, Magnus Maximus, Theodosius, Ambrosius Aurelianus, Vortigern, Constantine III, Myrddin Wyllt, Clovis I, Gwyddno Garanhir, Elffin ap Gwyddno, Horsa, Hengest, Cerdic, Aelle, Gildas, and Aneirin (in the series, it is revealed that the last two are the same person; born with the name Aneirin, he changes it to Gildas after Arthur's death).

Locations

A listing of the locations and place names used in the series, and their modern equivalents (see also List of Roman place names in Britain):

Television series

In November 2022, The Daily Wire announced its intention to produce an adaptation of the series.

In July 2023, it was announced that The Daily Wire Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing would be taking a leave of absence from the company, to co-direct the seven-episode television series. Additionally, it was revealed that the series would outsource its filming and production abroad, namely Italy and Hungary, and would premiere on DailyWire+ in 2025. In September, British actor Tom Sharp was announced to have been in the series' lead role as Merlin, as filming began in Europe. Later that month, the series' main cast was revealed, which includes Brett Cooper as Ganieda, Rose Reid as Charis and James Arden as Taliesin.

References

1. "The Daily Wire Plans "Most Ambitious" Project to Date with Arthurian Fantasy Series 'The Pendragon Cycle'". 21 November 2022.
2. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668072343/
3. Wiseman, Andreas (21 November 2021). "The Daily Wire Plans "Most Ambitious" Project To Date With Arthurian Fantasy Series 'The Pendragon Cycle'". Deadline.
4. Wiseman, Andreas (28 July 2023). "Daily Wire Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing to Take Leave Of Absence to Direct Fantasy Series 'The Pendragon Cycle', Filming Due to Begin in September". Deadline.
5. Wiseman, Andreas (19 September 2023). "The Daily Wire Drama Series 'Pendragon Cycle' Reveals Lead Actor, Filming Underway In Europe". Deadline.
6. Wiseman, Andreas (21 September 2023). "Conservative YouTuber Brett Cooper Among Cast Revealed fr Daily Wire Series 'The Pendragon Cycle'". Deadline.

• Book series introduced in 1987
• Modern Arthurian fiction
• Fantasy novel series
• Historical novels by series
• Atlantis in fiction
• Works based on Merlin
• Novels set in Roman Britain
• Novels set in sub-Roman Britain
• Series of books
• Taliesin