Arthurian cycle

The Arthurian cycle (aka "Arthurian fantasy", the "matter of Britain") is loosely those works centered around King Arthur, Guinevere (of many spellings), and so on. The classic works were written over the last few centuries, but Marion Zimmer Bradley inaugurated a spate of modern retellings, often from the perspective of female characters, with The Mists of Avalon.

Works

• Cherith Baldry, Exiled from Camelot (2001) ("Authors use the legend to explore patriarchal definitions of masculinity and femininity and the gender roles encoded in notions of chivalry.")
• T. A. Barron, The Lost Years of Merlin
• Alice Borchardt series, "The Tales of Quinevere", The Dragon Queen (2001); The Raven Warrior (2003).
• Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon and sequels
• Gillian Bradshaw, Hawk of May (1980), Kingdom of Summer, In Winter's Shadow (1982)
• Vera Chapman, The Three Damosels: A Trilogy (1978)
• C. J. Cherryh, Port Eternity (1982) (King Arthur in space)
• Catherine Christian, The Pendragon
• Susan Cooper, Dark Is Rising series (modern protagonists encounter Arthurian)
• Janice Elliott, The King Awakes and The Empty Throne (post-nuclear war reawakening of King Arthur)
• Marie de France, Lais (12th century anarrative poetry)
• Esther Friesner, Excalibur (1995), comedic Arthurian fantasy.
• Lady Charlotte Guest, translated Mabinogion from the Welhs, 1838-1949
• Courtway Jones, Dragon's Heirs
• Mary J. Jones, Avalon (lesbian Arthurian, narrated by Guinevere's daughter)
• Phyllis Ann Karr, "Galahad's Lady" in Chronicles of the Holy Grail (1996); "Two Bits of Embroidery" in Invitation to Camelot (1988) ("Authors use the legend to explore patriarchal definitions of masculinity and femininity and the gender roles encoded in notions of chivalry.")
• Welwyn Welton Katz, The Third Magic (1988) (modern protagonists encounter Arthurian)
• Anne McCaffrey, Black Horses for the King (1996)
• Nancy McKenzie, The Child Queen (1994); The High Queen (1995)
• Patricia McKillip, The Tower at Stony Wood (2000)
• Patricia Kenneally Morrison's Keltiad series (King Arthur sort of in space)
• Sharan Newman's Guinevere trilogy: Guinevere (1981), The Chessboard Queen (1983), Guinevere Evermore (1985)
• Andre Norton, Merlin's Mirror (1975)
• Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (1871-1883, Arthurian short stories and poems)
• Fay Sampson, Herself (1992)
• Susan Shwartz, The Grail of Hearts
• Nancy Springer, I Am Mordred (1998), I Am Morgan le Fay]] (2001)
• Mary Stewart Merlin series: The Crystal Cave (1970); The Hollow Hills (1973); The Last Enchantment (1979); The Wicked Day (1983); The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995).
• Rosemary Sutcliff, Sword at Sunset
• Jo Walton, The King's Name and The King's Peace
• Elizabeth Wein, The Winter Prince
• Joan Wolf, The Road to Avalon
• Persia Woolley, Child of the Northern Spring (1987); Queen of the Summer Stars (1990); The Legend in Autumn (1991).
• Jane Yolen, The Acorn Quest (1981 picture book); Merlin and the Dragons (1995 picture book); Camelot (editor, 1995); The Dragon's Boy (1990); Young Merlin trilogy (1996-97); Sword of the Rightful King (1993); "Evian Steel"
• "King Arthur" (2004 film)

Further reading

• From Avalon to Tir Na Nog discussion group at LibraryThing