Thank you, Phyllis Ann Karr. This guide, a dictionary of Arthurian literature, is both well written and comprehensive. It has been compiled by one of the most reliable and well-informed authors of modern Arthurian fiction (with Idylls of the Queen and The Follies of Sir Harald to her credit), a writer with a scholarly knowledge of medieval romantic literature. This is the second edition of a tome originally published by Chaosium in 1997, its extra entries only adding to the value of what was even then the finest reference book on the world of King Arthur that I have ever read.
The Arthurian Companion is primarily a dictionary of people, places, and things (artifacts, concepts, creatures) culled from a vast array of Arthurian literature, including Malory, The Vulgate, and Chretien. Anyone who has ever tried to wade through these works, let alone make sense of them, knows well the truly prodigal effort that went into making this book.
Character entries range from a few lines for obscure individuals to several pages for those of importance. Besides a "biographical sketch", these entries also include lists of known relatives, a thoughtful touch when you consider the tangled web of Arthurian bloodlines, as well as heraldic devices.
For their part, location entries cover all the significant kingdoms, cities, castles, monasteries, geographic features, and magical sites mentioned in the sources. Where possible, Karr places these locations in the real world, an often difficult task to put it mildly. I took great pleasure reading along with as the author explains in detail how and why she placed each site where she did; more often than not, it was an educated guess based upon solid deductive reasoning. For example, she manages to identify the likely site of Galefort, the first British castle visited by Joseph of Arimathea, on the Isle of Man. In a stroke, she has clarified a puzzle that had perplexed me for several years.
The Arthurian Companion is much more than just a dictionary. It includes a complete chronology of important events, though those familiar with Greg Stafford's Pendragon timeline, as detailed in the sourcebook The Boy King, will note several diversions----for example, Karr places the Battle of Badon in about 515, while in the game suggests 518 as a likely date. For dramatic effect, I refer to The Boy King; for literary references, I would suggest Karr's timeframe is on more solid ground.
There are also some brief entries on classes and roles in Arthurian Legend, excellent for aiding to understand the works themselves and why individuals might act in certain ways. She illuminated me on several matters, including the role of dwarves and contemporary views on sorcerers.
Other interesting topics briefly touched upon include the concept of the Blood Feud, individual combat, courtesy, magic, and tournaments. Of special note is the appendage on date and time. Karr points out the important feasts of the day, important for dating events as holy days were major reference points in the medieval calendar, as well as demonstrating the church's liturgical hours, the principal way by which an Arthurian character would relate time.
While obviously of immense interest to fans of Arthurian literature, and to be sure, I have already begun to go back through previous Green Knight Publishing novels to cross-reference people and places with this remarkable book to give me a greater insight, the Arthurian Companion is equally valuable as a resource for role-players. Pendragon gamers will find it absolutely indispensable, and numerous adventure ideas will literally jump off the pages. Gms of high fantasy rpgs should check it out as well; just as the Arthurian legends were a major source of inspiration for modern fantasy literature, so too will it inspire you.
Don't overlook the Arthurian Companion in other gaming genres, either. One of the elements (among many) which George Lucas leaned on while creating Star Wars was medieval literature, and you will find it of use while creating your own Star Wars sagas. Imagine an evil Sith Giant who wears a coat woven from the hair of slain Jedi, an idea inspired by the Coat of the Giant of Saint Michaels Mount! The pulp genre is another which would benefit from this book: intrepid archeologists might search for The Black Cross or The Broken Sword, while the Port of Perilous Rock sounds like an excellent pirate haven. There are endless possibilities. After all, the Arthurian legends were among the most richly textured works of fiction ever created.
It is a pleasure to read Karr's un-dictionary-like prose, and constantly startling to discover new pieces of information. One hopes that she continues to expand upon this excellent reference book, as she hints is her intention. As it is, the Arthurian Companion is the most complete mass-market source of Arthurian information I have yet encountered. A stellar job.
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