Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Digital Publications
In addition to standard eBook publishers, there are now multiple sites where authors and poets post their own writing. It takes a lot of web browsing to uncover these student projects, self-publishing sites, and personal websites. My husband collects these writings because they represent popular culture and the evolution of the legend. Initially he printed out each writing but now that the titles number in the hundreds we will store the works as electronic files. If you want to add eBooks and files to your collection there are a few things you want to consider:
1. Unless otherwise stated, the writings are protected by copyright law.
2. The works are fleeting, transient publications. What you find one day may disappear or change addresses the next. 3. These stories, poems and cartoons are often written by amateurs so the quality of writing is mixed.
Enjoy these links while they last:
Andrealyn’s Archive on King Arthur http://www.andrealyn.like-neon.com/arthur.html
Arthur, King of Time and Space by Paul Gadzikowski http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/1557.htm
Arthur, the Rightful King http://www.lundyisleofavalon.co.uk/arthur/arthur.htm
An Arthurian Miscellany http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/index.htm
Arthurian Myth. Calvin College student project http://www.calvin.edu/~ksaupe/arthur/projectdir.html
Arthurian poetry by Graham http://www.geocities.com/grahamps15/poemsindex.html
At Camelot by Robert Crawford http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-camelot/
The Camelot Project http://www.lib.rochester.edu/Camelot/cphome.stm
Celtic Twilight http://www.celtic-twilight.com/camelot/poetry/index.htm
The Death of Llaccheu ap Arthur by Jo Walton http://www.zorinth.net/bluejo/poetry/myths/llacheu.htm
FanFiction (search each Arthurian character to uncover additional writings) http://www.fanfiction.net/search.php?field=text&plus_keywords=%22king+arthur%22&minus_keywords=&categoryid=0&languageid=0&censorid=0&statusid=0&sort=0&genreid=0&subgenreid=0&characterid=0&subcharacterid=0&words=0
Falling for Lancelot by Gwen Knighton http://www.gwenknighton.com/lancelot.html
If King Arthur had known the Internet by Christian Unfried http://homepage.mac.com/juggle5/fun/Arthur.html
Internet Medieval Sourcebook http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html
Kidpub http://www.kidpub.com/search/node/%22king+arthur%22
King Arthur and the Enchanted Sword by G. Pitchford http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/kingarthur.swf
A King Arthur Story: “The Half Man” http://hazel.forest.net/whootie/stories/half_man_england.html
Mystic Realms Arthurian eBooks http://www.mysticrealms.org.uk/eboox.htm
A Passing Fair Lady by Debra A. Kemp http://www.coachlightpress.com/bygone/passingfairlady.shtml
Shaggy Sir Lancelot http://www.awpi.com/Combs/Shaggy/028.html
Stories of King Arthur’s Knights http://manybooks.net/titles/keithmar2565425654.html
The Sword in the Stone http://www.4to40.com/story/index.asp?id=511
Taliesin: Epyllion in Anamnesis A Cycle of Poems by Michael R. Collings http://arachnid.pepperdine.edu/humteachered/faculty/collings/taliesin.html
Three Arthurian Poems by Urgyen Sangharakshita http://sangharakshita.org/p-arthurian.html
When Mallory Met Arthur: Sex and Magic in Camelot by Jack Fritscher http://www.jackfritscher.com/Non-Fiction/Malory%20Met%20Arthur/MortDarthur.html
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Gift Shops
Camelot Wines
http://www.camelotwines.com/
Chalice Well Shop in Glastonbury http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/index.cfm/glastonbury/Window.Home
English Heritage Gift & Book Shop
http://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/
The Franklin Mint
http://www.franklinmint.com/search.aspx?Keywords=arthur
Glastonbury Abbey Shop
http://www.glastonburyabbeyshop.com/
Great Hall, Winchester
http://www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home.php?cat=263
King Arthur Flour (rather “fringe” material, but ….)
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/landing.jsp?go=Home
King Arthur’s Great Hall in Tintagel
http://www.kingarthursgreathalls.com/page4.htm
Merlin’s Cave in Tintagel
http://www.merlinscave-tintagel.co.uk/
The Nobel Collection
http://www.noblecollection.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?catid=55
Noble Wares
http://www.iloveswords.com/ME_GIFTS.html
Spamalot Shoppe
http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/spamalot_shop.php
The Tudor Mint
http://www.xystos.co.uk/TudorMint/
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Some Favorite Book Dealers
Austin Books & Comics located in Austin, Texas. This store does not have a searchable online inventory but is well worth a personal visit. The huge collection of graphic novels and backstock comics will make it worth your while. The store has recently expanded which gives you more room to browse their very well-organized inventory. http://www.austinbooks.com/index.html
The Book House in Dinkytown – Minneapolis, Minnesota. As with most university towns there is one great used bookstore near the campus. This bookstore is in a congested area close to the University of Minnesota campus but it is worth the effort to find parking – except in January when you may want to browse their online inventory from the warmth of your own home. http://www.bookhouseindinkytown.com/
Book People is one of those all-too-rare independent bookstores that includes small press publications among their new book inventory. You won’t find used books here, but if you are looking for a new hard-to-find release stop by their web site. If you are fortunate enough to live nearby you can also take in one of their frequent book events. http://www.bookpeople.com/
Booked Up is co-owned by Larry McMurtry and is located in Archer City, Texas. The Booked Up web site does not provide a searchable inventory but you can submit a search request or keep up with the inventory by viewing their “New Arrivals”. No matter where you live, Archer City is not likely to be on any travel itinerary. However, if you are passionate about bookstores this is one (actually five) worth going out of your way to see. They have a large collection of chap books that surely holds some treasures if you find the time to search their “Erratically/ Impressionistically/ Whimsically/ Open to Interpretation” arrangement. http://www.bookedupac.com/
Charles E. Wyatt is a name familiar to anyone who has a history of collecting Arthuriana. Before the Internet became available, we used to wait in anticipation for a catalog to arrive from Camelot Books. Charles no longer owns his store in Vista, California but he does maintain a presence on Ebay. http://stores.ebay.com/Charles-Wyatt
Lulu.com is a web-based service for the growing market of self-published books. You will find a large selection of Arthurian titles available here. The quality of some of the writing is dubious but if you are a collector after new and unique publications this is a place you will want to check out. If you are interested, be sure to purchase the title while it’s available. If you wait too long, you will find book dealers charging three times the original Lulu price. http://www.lulu.com/
Powell’s Books is a little piece of heaven on earth. Their inventory is searchable through their web site or any of the online book search engines. But do yourself a favor - this bookstore is definitely worth traveling across country to see. Oregon is a perfect vacation destination, so when you make your plans allow at least one day to browse the multiple levels of their Burnside location. http://www.powells.com/
The Poetry Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom often carries hard-to-find items. We found them to be one of the best dealers among the overwhelming number of stores in Hay-on-Wye. The staff is helpful and shipment has never been a problem when items are shipped directly from them rather than a book search engine. http://www.poetrybookshop.com/
The Steinbeck Collector’s Club is the perfect place to look for that signed first-edition Steinbeck. The club “is an educational non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to share information and educate its members and others regarding John Steinbeck”. They publish an e-newsletter titled the “The Steinbeck Collector’s Gazette”. In it you will find items for sale as well as want lists. A web site is coming. Until then you can contact steinbeck.collectors.club@gmail.com for further information.
Thorn Books has one of the best selections of rare Arthurian material available in the U.S. It is a joy just to look at the images of featured items posted on their web site. For those with a large budget and the ability to properly care for rare items, this is the place for you! http://www.thornbooks.com/cgi-bin/thb455/index.html
Three Geese in Flight specializes in Celtic and Arthurian material. We have not had the privilege of visiting their shop in Somerville, Massachusetts but we have taken advantage of their online sales. The prices can be a bit on the high side so browsing their inventory on Abebooks.com will be helpful to those beginning their book collection. http://www.threegeeseinflight.com/
Willis Monie Books located in Cooperstown, New York is a smaller used bookstore that provides an excellent inventory and great service. We were told to visit this bookstore on a trip through New York State and we were glad we stopped. Additions were made to the collection and several purchases have been made since. You will find the staff at this quaint bookstore to be friendly, courteous and very prompt in filling your orders. http://www.wilmonie.com/cgi-bin/wmb455/index.html
Thursday, August 7, 2008
New items to add to your wish list
Among the new books to be released:
A Companion to Arthurian Literature by Helen Fulton (Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009). This books is part of “Blackwell Companion’s to Literature and Culture” series. Amazon.com lists a release date of March 27, 2009 with a price of $149.95. ISBN-10: 1405157895
ISBN-13: 978-1405157896
http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=ti%3Acompanion+to+arthurian+literature+au%3Afulton&fq=dt%3Abks+%3E&qt=advanced
Daily Life in Arthurian Britain by Deborah Shepherd ( Greenwood Publishing Group, 2009). An addition to Greenwood Press “Daily Life Through History” series. Amazon.com lists a release date of February 28, 2009 with a price of $49.95. ISBN-10: 0313332959 ISBN-13: 978-0313332951
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/166388171?tab=details#tabs
The Grail, the Quest and the World of Arthur edited by Norris J. Lacy (D.S. Brewer, 2008). A collection of Arthurian essays by noted writers: Norris J. Lacy, Antonio Furtado, Will Hasty, Richard Trachsler, Marianne E. Kalinke, Martine Meuwese, David F. Johnson, Phillip Boardman, Caroline D. Eckhardt, P.J.C. Field, James P. Carley, Richard Barber, Kevin J. Harty. Due to be release November 20, 2008. ISBN-10: 1843841703 ISBN-13: 978-1843841708
http://www.boydell.co.uk/43841703.HTM
Here Lies Arthur by Phillip Reeve (New York: Scholastic, 2008). A young-adult story first published in England in 2007. Amazon has a release date for the 1st American Edition as November 1, 2008. ISBN-10: 0545093341 ISBN-13: 978-0545093347
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/77540798?tab=holdings#tabs
Illustrating Camelot by Barbara Tepa Lupack and Alan Lupack (Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer, 2008). Arthurian authorities, Barbara and Alan Lupack have compiled this study of Arthurian book illustration. Release date is October 16, 2008 with a publisher list price of $60.00. ISBN-10: 1843841835 ISBN-13: 978-1843841838
http://www.boydell.co.uk/43841835.HTM
King Arthur’s Raid on the Underworld: the Oldest Grail Quest by John Matthews, Caitlin Matthews and Meg Falconer (Glastonbury, UK: Gothic Image Publications, 2008). Prolific Arthurian authors, John and Caitlin Matthews have prepared another study of Celtic tradition based on the 9th century Welsh poem “The Raid on the Underworld”. Amazon.com lists a release date of November 10, 2008 ISBN-10: 0906362725 ISBN-13: 978-0906362723
http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/
The Well Between the Worlds by Samuel Llewellyn (New York: Orchard Books, 2009). According to Amazon.com this children’s book has a release date of February 1, 2009. ISBN-10: 0439934699 ISBN-13: 978-0439934695
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/232390616&tab=holdings?loc=Illinois
Comic and Graphic Novel collectors will want to check out this Superman series:
Superman: Camelot Falls, Volume 2 by Kurt Busiek and illustrators Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino (DC Comics, 2008) was released in hardback January 2, 2008. A new paperback edition is due to be released February 3, 2009. ISBN-10: 1401218652 ISBN-13: 978-1401218652
Game enthusiasts may want to purchase the expansion game for Shadows Over Camelot produced by Days of Wonder:
Merlin’s Company introduces Merlin and seven new knights to Shadows Over Camelot. The list price is $25.00. To complete the game set, A Company of Knights (painted plastic characters) are available for $20.00. Watch for these on Ebay as well.
http://www.daysofwonder.com/shadowsovercamelot/en/content/merlin/
So many more to come….
Monday, August 4, 2008
To begin Collecting Camelot
The Arthurian Annals: The Tradition in English from 1250 to 2000 by Daniel P. Nastali and Phillip C. Boardman (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004). This large two-volume bibliography is expensive (currently listed at $708.00 from the publisher or around $200 for a used copy) but worth it. Within the chronological arrangement you find annotated entries arranged alphabetically by author. Complete citations are included along with references to reprints and varying editions. But this work is not limited to books. It includes art, comics, music, video and everything in between. The second volume in this set includes indexes sorted by people; titles; forms and genres; characters; cultures; places; themes, motifs, artifacts, and events; and source languages.
Collectibles and ephemera will also be covered in this blog. Have you ever wanted a piece of the movie action? Through The Prop Store of London you can purchase an original prop from the film King Arthur. As of this date they had Guinevere’s wedding dress and petticoat (worn by Keira Knightley) , swords, armour and helmets. http://www.propstore.com/
Web links (lower-right coumn)will be added as new ones appear or favorites are updated. One of the best, if not the best, site on the Web for Arthuriana content and bibliographies is The Camelot Project. The site was designed by Alan Lupack who, along with his wife Barbara, have authored and edited numerous Arthurian publications. If you are looking for an obscure, rare or out-of-print title this is the place to begin your search. The full text of many public domain items can be found here.