And when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she decides her future lies at his court. She grows up in the wild wood, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake drift to her on the spring breeze, scented with promise. She left all she knew to find who she could be. It's a new story with very old bones, a strange place that feels like home.' -Alix E. 'If Le Guin wrote a Camelot story, I imagine it would feel like Spear: humane, intelligent, and deeply beautiful. “Spectacular-I've been waiting years for this book to exist.” -Maria Dahvana Headley, author of Beowulf: A New Translation 'A pleasure to follow a lovely flexing of Griffith’s strengths in short form.' - The New York Times Book Review ' queer Arthurian masterpiece for the modern era.' - Los Angeles Times Nominated for the 2022 Nebula Award for Best Novel Even though shorter than a novel, it's rich in detail: a fly is 'hurrying by ' there are 'skeins of geese' in the sky midges that 'darn the air.'

The magic here is unlike anything else, it's fresh and sweet. In her own words, Griffith calls this Camelot ' queered six ways from Sunday' yet, that is largely 'peripheral.' Griffith is a local author, and clearly enjoyed her research - there are some wonderful words: gralloched, geas, bog butter, shaving coins like a thief, skystone. This epic is set in the 6th century, following our hero, Per, all the way to the court of King Arthur. She loved Griffith's novel Hild as much as I did and said that Spear is a substantial novella. Spear is the Arthurian tale I have been longing for since the legends of Camelot and Albion first called to me: queer and beguiling and beautiful, offering a promise of belonging.Ī customer told me about Spear.

With lush writing, sharp characters, and a clear affinity for her source, Nicola Griffith has spun anew a story steeped in ancient lore. More than a mere retelling, this is a stunning reweaving.

State Tectonics by Malka Ann Older