History Literature / Merlin

%% * ADateWithRosiePalms: [[spoiler:Vivien]] and [[spoiler:Dame Pudicity]].

%% * HornyDevils: A recurring theme.

* UnreliableNarrator: CharacterNarrator Merlin, who admits he is telling this story while completely mad.

In Robert Nye's version of Myth/ArthurianLegend, Guinevere is a stutterer, Arthur suffers from pathological sadism, and the devil prefers choir boys to virgins. But this is not why this book is interesting.

If a novel contains refined allusions to medieval theology and alchemy, makes an eye to the readers of Milton, Dante and Malory, has dialogues in Latin and metafictional interludes, only explicit pornography can save it from being torn to pieces by critics -- and this is what happened to Nye's book. It presents a theory of conspiracy staying behind the Arthurian legend, at the same time offering a satirical interpretation of medieval culture based on Freudian psychoanalysis. Somehow, all this is done almost exclusively by the means of dialogues and pornography (and no, it really cannot be called erotica). If it had not been for the fact that if you recommended it to your friends they would know that you have read it, it would be much more popular than it is.

* AntiAntiChrist: Merlin. Actually, he is in between of this and Antichrist, though he struggles to remain on the good side.
* AsTheGoodBookSays: Usually in connection with devils.

In this book, Robert Nye's version of the Myth/KingArthur legend, Guinevere is a stutterer, Arthur suffers from pathological sadism, and the devil prefers choir boys to virgins. But this is not why this book is interesting.

!!Tropes:

* UnreliableNarrator: Merlin, who admits he is telling this story while completely mad.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/devilek_6839.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:300:A page from the medieval manuscript, depicting the personification of Naughtiness.]]

In this book, Robert Nye's version of the Myth/KingArthur legend, Guinevere is a stutterer, Arthur suffers from pathological sadism, and the devil prefers choir boys from virgins. But this is not why this book is interesting.

* AllMenArePerverts
* AllWomenAreLustful

* BrotherSisterIncest: As could be expected, but much more kinky than in most versions of the Arthurian legend.
* CasualKink: In this book, the lack of kink would be kinky.
* {{Confessional}}: Highly averted.
* CourtlyLove: VERY much averted.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: [[spoiler:Vivien]] and [[spoiler:Dame Pudicity]].
* DemonLordsAndArchdevils: Actually, two of them.
* {{Excalibur}}: Mentioned by name.
* ForegoneConclusion: With an important exception of Sleeve Job.

* HornyDevils: A recurring theme.
* HotWitch: Morgan le Fay.
* IronicHell: Cameo appearance.
* LoveRuinsTheRealm: As always in Arthurian fantasy.
* PerspectiveFlip: Not the main point of the story, but done in an impressive way.
* {{Satan}}.
* ShortTitleLongElaborateSubtitle
* SupernaturalAid: Blasphemously averted (and yet highly accurate in terms of theology).

[[caption-width-right:250:A page from the medieval manuscript, depicting the personification of Naughtiness.]]

[[caption-width-right:300:A page from the medieval manuscript, depicting the personification of Naughtiness.]]

-->- J.G. Ballard.

In this book, Robert Nye's version of the KingArthur legend, Guinevere is a stutterer, Arthur suffers from pathological sadism, and the devil prefers choir boys from virgins. But this is not why this book is interesting.

If a novel contains refined allusions to medieval theology and alchemy, makes an eye to the readers of Milton, Dante and Malory, has dialogues in Latin and metafictional interludes, only explicit pornography can save it from being torn to pieces by critics - and this is what happened to Nye's book. It presents a theory of conspiracy staying behind the Arthurian legend, at the same time offering a satirical interpretation of medieval culture based on Freudian psychoanalysis. Somehow, all this is done almost exclusively by the means of dialogues and pornography (and no, it really cannot be called erotica). If it had not been for the fact that if you recommended it to your friends they would know that you have read it, it would be much more popular than it is.

!!Provides examples of:
* {{All Men Are Perverts}}.
* {{All Women Are Lustful}}.
* {{Anti Anti Christ}}: Merlin. Actually, he is in between of this and Antichrist, though he struggles to remain on the good side.
* {{As The Good Book Says}}: Usually in connection with devils.
* {{Brother Sister Incest}}: As could be expected, but much more kinky than in most versions of the Arthurian legend.

* {{Demon Lords and Archdevils}}: Actually, two of them.

* {{Horny Devils}}: A recurring theme.

* Ironic Hell: Cameo appearance.
* {{Love Ruins The Realm}}: As always in Arthurian fantasy.
* {{Merlin}}: Obviously.

* {{Supernatural Aid}}: Blasphemously averted (and yet highly accurate in terms of theology).

* {{Horny Devils}}: A recurring theme.

* GenreBusting: While it is undisputably a fantasy novel, at times it has much more in common with fantasies than with fantasy.

* {{Freud Was Right}}: Could serve as a summary of the work.

* {{Casual Kink}}: In this book, the lack of kink would be kinky.

* {{Courtly Love}}: VERY much averted.
* {{A Date With Rosie Palms}}: [[spoiler:Vivien]] and [[spoiler:Dame Pudicity]].

* {{Foregone Conclusion}}: With an important exception of Sleeve Job.
* {{Genre Busting}}: While it is undisputably a fantasy novel, at times it has much more in common with fantasies than with fantasy.
* {{Hot Witch}}: Morgan le Fay. Who else?
* {{Ironic Hell}}: Cameo appearance.

* {{Perspective Flip}}: Not the main point of the story, but done in an impressive way.

* {{Spank The Cutie}}: [[spoiler:Vivien]].

* {{Genius Bonus}}: Numerous allusions to medieval literature.