With ‘Last Man to Avalon’, L.A. Wilson brings ‘The Silurian’ the great epic saga of King Arthur, to a conclusion of devastating beauty. Just the title kills me, but I had to read it as soon as it was published, even though we all know that Arthur dies in battle, betrayed. The death of heroes is awesome and resonates through time. The magic of Arthur is ongoing and the marks of his deeds lie buried in the landscape of Britain. If only I knew where to look.
Even when I’d finished it, in tears, this passionate and astounding story kept whirling round in my head. For me, Arthur is forever accompanied by his greatest warrior Bedwyr, whose words give us the eight books of ‘The Silurian’ series and who has the intense destiny of being the ‘Last Man’ of the title. I treasure Bedwyr’s words, beautiful, poetic, passionate and often full of wild humour.
I also had sympathy for Medraut. I've suffered from Romani Christians myself and the damage is incalculable The Snake, Medraut, is too damaged, too broken inside to resist the glittering lure of treachery.
The description of the final battle and Arthur’s death is awe inspiring as well as heart breaking. The powerful images flew into my mind with visionary intensity, a waking dream. The final one being, unbearably, Bedwyr the Fox, stunned by grief. But there is hope. The certainty that Arthur and Bedwyr are together forever in Avalon. I have to believe this.
The beauty and wonder of this book is impossible to describe in a review. It has to be experienced. ‘Last Man to Avalon’ is so much more than writing. It is love manifested. L.A. Wilson must have gone to the limits of endurance to create it. I don’t want to leave Arthur and Bedwyr, ever. So, there's only one thing for me to do. To read this awesome saga again, from the beginning.
Last Man to Avalon