The Lost Years of Merlin

infobox Book |
name = The Lost Years of Merlin
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = T. A. Barron
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = U.S.A.
language = English
series = The Lost Years of Merlin
genre = Fantasy| publisher = Philomel Books
release_date = 1996
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 326 pp (hardcover edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-399-23018-1
preceded_by = First in Series
followed_by = The Seven Songs of Merlin

"The Lost Years of Merlin" is a work of children's literature by T.A. Barron, published by Ace. It tells the tale of the legendary wizard Merlin's youth, though mostly original to the author.

In it Merlin searches for his true being while overcoming perilous odds. One can watch Merlin as he learns to use his powers for good and discovers his strengths and weaknesses. Merlin is also given the task of ending evil in the land and finds out secrets of his past that change his life. A screenplay is reportedly being written. [ [http://www.killermovies.com/l/thelostyearsofmerlin/articles/3324.html Dimension In Talks For 'The Lost Years Of Merlin' ] ]

Plot summary

In the beginning of the book, we find that a young boy has just regained consciousness, and finds he, along with a woman with long blond hair and a tattered blue tunic, are washed up on a beach. Seeing as it is raining, the boy takes the woman and he tries to climb into a big tree to seek shelter. Halfway there, he is stopped by furious boar. With tusks like razor blades, it charges at the boy. A beautiful stag leaps from the forest and stands in between the two. The stag and the boar fight. Angrily, the boar retreats. The stag looks at the boy with a gaze he would never forget. The woman declares herself the boy's mother, an that her name in "Branwen", and his is "Emrys". Years later, Emrys finds out that he has magical powers and eventually uses them to defend Branwen against a terrorizing bully who is trying to burn her at the stake. Tragically, he accidentally sets a tree on fire that collapses on the boy whom Emrys decides to try to save and fails.

Emrys, attempting to save the boy, goes blind from this incident, but learns to see through a visual "second sight", after swearing never to use his powers again. After learning to sense well enough to be mobile, Emrys leaves Branwen at the monastery where he had been treated for his burns, and sets out to find his true home.

Emrys builds a raft and floats to the magical and mythical island of Fincayra, which is somewhere between heaven and earth, also called the "in between," place.

There he meets Rhiannon, a girl of the Druma, who agrees to help him find out who he truly is. He learns, from a wise Bard named Cairpre, that Branwen really was his mother, but her real name is Elen, and to his shame, his own father is the king: Stangmar, an evil tyrant who is trying to take over all of Fincayra. He then chooses to try and stop his father, who has caused, unknowingly, destruction to the magical realm. Merlin proves himself when he succeeds in this, with the help of Shim, a small giant, a trusty hawk, Trouble, and completing a prophecy of ancient times. Rhia tells him he should think of better name, so he then decides on Merlin, after his hawk that gave its life for him.

References