“It’s okay, everyone,” Arthur tells the kneeling crowd. “It’s cool. Everybody up. C’mon, chop chop.” Everybody slowly rises to their feet. “Now, see, this is the kind of thing that happens when knights go out to have strange adventures. It … Continue reading →
Chapter XI picks up mid-conversation, as Malory keeps doing. Jerk. Arthur has Excalibur back and he’s looming over Accolon, who’s even more wounded than he is and not nearly so knightly. “Aw, man,” moans Accolon. “This whole Excalibur-wielding plan … Continue reading →
I asserted that the spell Nimue casts on Accolon cannot be found anywhere in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook. Paul Flanaghan provides a solution. Oh No My Sword! (Evocation) Level: 1? Range: 1 jousting field. Casting Time: When … Continue reading →
So Arthur’s badly wounded, and disarmed, and Accolon clearly has the upper hand. Accolon paces around Arthur, toying with him, flashing Excalibur at him. “Knight (whom I totally don’t know who really is),” he says, “you’re beaten! Surrender and I … Continue reading →
Today I finish up my survey of the issue, and make note on some trends. Warnings from Monday and yesterday still apply: they can be summed up as I’m terrible at this. “Chromatophores” by John Alfred Taylor. About 4000 words. … Continue reading →
Arthur and Accolon joust. Arthur doesn’t know it’s Accolon, because of course they’re both wearing face-concealing jousting-helmets and Accolon isn’t announcing his name all the time the way Arthur tends to. They joust, and they’re jousting, and a joust happens. … Continue reading →
I continue my story-by-story look at the most recent issue of Asimov’s! Warnings from yesterday still apply: I spoil and I’m extremely subjective in what I like or dislike. I’m sure Alan Smale can write circles around me, even if … Continue reading →
Meanwhile Sir Accolon also comes to. He’s neither back at Camelot nor in Damas’s prison. Instead he’s lying precariously close to the edge of a well. The well is artesian and there’s a lovely marble fronting and silver pipe and … Continue reading →
I bought myself a subscription to Asimov’s with birthday money this summer, on the grounds that I don’t read enough short contemporary SF. My vow: to read each issue as I get it, write a few thousand words about it, … Continue reading →
Chapter seven is where the story takes a turn. Arthur’s in this dark prison, surrounded by moaning knights. “Who are you and why are you moaning?” he asks. “We’re knights, twenty knights, that have been locked up here as prisoners,” … Continue reading →
