Line #22 Literature/Merlin


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8	[[quoteright:258:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/merlin_1.jpg]]
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10	->''A widespread taste for pornography means that nature is alerting us to some threat of extinction.''
11	-->-- '''J.G. Ballard'''
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13	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.
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15	It 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. 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).
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17	Not to be somehow confused with ''Mad Merlin'' by J. Robert King, the first of a trilogy.
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19	----
20	!!''Merlin'' provides examples of:
21	%% * AllMenArePerverts
22	%% * AllWomenAreLustful
23	%%* AntiAntiChrist: Merlin. Actually, he is in between of this and Antichrist, though he struggles to remain on the good side.
24	%%* AsTheGoodBookSays: Usually in connection with devils.
25	%% * BrotherSisterIncest: As could be expected, but much more kinky than in most versions of the Arthurian legend.
26	%% * CasualKink: In this book, the lack of kink would be kinky.
27	* CharacterNarrator: The titular Merlin, also an UnreliableNarrator who admits he is telling this story while completely mad.
28	%% * {{Confessional}}: Highly averted.
29	%% * CourtlyLove: VERY much averted.
30	%% * DemonLordsAndArchdevils: Actually, two of them.
31	%% * {{Excalibur}}: Mentioned by name.
32	%% * ForegoneConclusion: With an important exception of Sleeve Job.
33	* GenreBusting: While it is undisputedly a fantasy novel, at times it has much more in common with fantasies than with fantasy.
34	%% * HotWitch: Morgan le Fay.
35	%% * IronicHell: Cameo appearance.
36	%% * LoveRuinsTheRealm: As always in Arthurian fantasy.
37	* OneWordTitle: CharacterTitle of the CharacterNarrator.
38	%% * PerspectiveFlip: Not the main point of the story, but done in an impressive way.
39	%% * {{Satan}}.
40	%% * ShortTitleLongElaborateSubtitle
41	%% * SupernaturalAid: Blasphemously averted (and yet highly accurate in terms of theology).
42	* UnreliableNarrator: CharacterNarrator Merlin, who admits he is telling this story while completely mad. One chapter involves Merlin facilitating [[BrotherSisterIncest Arthur and Morgana's relationship]]. The next chapter has him explain that it never happened, he just induced a hallucination in Arthur (and himself, hence the ExactWords "If this is a dream, lord, it is one I share with you") ... and then immediately reveals that this is what he ''thought'' happened, but Morgana had other ideas. There are a few other moments when Merlin hides what's going on, thinks he knows what is going on but doesn't, or both simultaneously. He has, after all, gone mad and is telling this story to a pig.
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Context Literature / Merlin