The Singing Sword (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 2) Paperback – May 17, 2002

This book series is the best I've ever read, and am re-reading them 15 years after I initially did.I couldn't find my original book, "The Singing Sword," so I ordered this one, and the text/general formatting (even with the maps) looks like nothing more than a blown up version of the small, compact paperback books/formatting that the rest of the series uses, including book 1, "The Skystone".Is this normal? Were the people who actually put this book together professional publishers? It looks like it on the outside, but inside this looks like something I'd find from KDP select or something from someone who doesn't know anything about formatting. The text is readable, (albeit subtly half-blurred), and even the individual letters themselves seem to lack fullness, if you can imagine what I mean. It's a strain on the eyes and very surprising, if this indeed came from a legitimate, professional publishing company. Even the paper, it's so white it creates its own glare.All of this is due to the fact that the publisher took the small, compact formatting used in all the other books of this series (see Book 1, "The Skystone," and its layout/size as an example).But for Book 2 "The Singing Sword") it's clear it was originally meant for the same small text/formatting/size used in book one (and all the others) but for some reason the size of the book was made bigger (I got the traditional paperback), the text and maps appear magnetized and blown out of proportion.Please tell me, is this normal for Book 2 of this series? Did the actual, legitimate publishing company produce such shoddy work? Is the hardcover any different?Please let me know as I'd like to buy a replacement for this one.Thanks!

The Singing Sword is a really excellent beginning to a 9 volume saga of historic fiction (merging with mythology) which attempts to set the Arthur legend into what we can realistically know about Britain starting in the 5th century of the common era.The author has done his homework; there is great verisimiltude in the details of how the Roman legions (where we start) were organized and how they operated in the far reaches of the Empire. He obviously has closely studied much of the historical record regarding how the fall of the Empire impacted the complex nature of the polity in Britain at the time.But like good historical fiction, he interplays his research and narrative with interesting characters, each of whom have a political outlook which seems to represent major factions of the time.It's fast-paced, compelling, and a page turner. Before I was half-way through, I had ordered the sequal.

Jack Whyte does a superb job in this first book in his version of the Arthur legend. This is the way Arthur really could have come to power. I've read this series (9 books in all) at least 5 times front to back and plan to read them again often at least once per year probably. I can't say enough good things about this author and this series!The narrator of this story is Publius Varrus, and is the first of two books he narrates. They tell of the making of Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake among other elements. This is an historically based telling of the legend. The historical figures do and say the things they did and said in the 3rd century. Amazing read!

This is volume two of a series that puts the legend of King Arthur into an historical perspective. There are other books or groups of books that have attempted this, most notably Mary Stewart's Merlin Chronicles - but Stewart never painted her picture with as big a brush as Jack Whyte does, and (so far at least) Whyte has done it without a hint of magic or any other type of fantasy.This is not intended as a slap at Stewart; I think her series is fantastic. It's just that I never thought it was possible to tell the story of Arthur and Merlin from a "human" point of view, until now. Whyte has proved that it's possible. So far I've only read the first two books in the series ("The Skystone" and this one), and if the rest of Whyte's novels are as superbly intelligent and well-written as these two I believe that Mary Stewart has some serious competition on her hands.

I found the first book in this series by chance at the bookstore. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It isn't your typical King Arthur and Camalot novel but rather tries to fit the legend into reality by looking at the history of the region. This novel as the second in the series just reaffirmed what a great series this was and I bought every book in the series as a result. It isn't just another Camalot novel but gives you a good impression of the history of the region at the time when King Arthur would have lived and creates a wonderful basis for what would become the legend of King Arthur, the knights of the roundtable and Camalot.

This book, while not a stay up all night and read type of book, was enjoyable to read. I loved getting to know the main characters and going through their lives with them. I admit I was never curious about the Roman Empire history and I found the book, characters, and events interesting enough that I googled many topics. I wish it was Kindlized (which I requested) so I could google or use the dictionary while I read instead of waiting until I got home.

The book was in the condition stated however the cover was not the same as posted. Not a huge deal but for this set of books, I was hoping to have a complete set of matching covers

Yes I loved to read about how to divert a river in order to obtain the goal. Excellent description of time line and characters. Loved to read about how the Romans worked together to create their needed buildings.

I totally disagree with the comments made by other readers of this novel. It is a completely different twist to most of all the other Arthurian legends I have read. The story line follows on well from the first book. OK his historical issues in the book may not come up to the scale of Steven Saylor, but it still is pretty close to the mark. And why couldn't the colony have been missed in an England that at this time was in total turmoil. With the Legions being withdrawn from all major towns and cities in the country. If you knew your Roman history all but London and parts of Hadrian's wall where left with no or very little in the way of cover by the Legions.It is basically if you have got to grips with the story a lead up to Arthur with the two main characters in the story being Arthur's Great Grandfathers. I have found it well put together and far from a bad novel. The writer puts the story together well and the way he writes, you can visualize the places and the people so well. This is something that I like in a story I read and something that is lacking in lots of books. I have found it so good I have already ordered the next book in the series.

Well worth the read

Fast delivery, excellent condition. This is the second in a series started with The Skystone, a new and interesting look at the survival of civilized life after the Roman withdrawal from Britain, during the times attributed to King Arthur. The author explains the development of new techniques of metallurgy that led to the forging of the sword we call Excalibur, while detailing everyday life in, and the development of, the Colony

liked this a lot

I have never read any book(s) that totally en-captured me like this series has,this is the second time reading them and I am getting as much (or more) enjoyment out of them as the first. Jack Whyte has a way of making the people feel real, you really get to know them.