From Publishers Weekly
In British author Holdstock's dazzling reframing of Arthurian myth and Greek legend, a wandering, youthful Merlin who ages only when he uses his "charm" encounters Jason and joins him on his quest aboard the Argo for the Golden Fleece. Known to Jason as Antiokus, Merlin is present when the enchantress Medea kills Jason's two sons and absconds with the bodies. The Argo slips her moorings and sails off into the night, a broken ship carrying a broken man to their mutual grave. Centuries later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a frozen lake. Divining that the screams come from Jason, still yearning for his lost sons, Merlin struggles north, for he has learned that Jason's sons are alive. Using his jealously guarded magic, Merlin raises the Argo and the still living Jason, who gathers new Argonauts-Urtha, Ullanna and Niiv-to search for his sons. Family and loss are central to this poignant new telling of Merlin's story. And even Merlin, who for so long considered himself a solitary traveler on the pathways of magic, realizes that he's not as alone as he once thought. With this remarkable work, Holdstock, a World Fantasy Award winner for Mythago Wood (1985), more than lives up to his billing as one of the finest living crafters of myth. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Holdstock's latest mythic fantasy launches the autobiography of Merlin. It begins long before the time of the Matter of Britain, when Merlin, already a powerful mage who has sailed with Jason on the Argo, is trying to help Jason find the old ship and his two sons, who may not have been murdered by Medea, after all. The quest takes king and mage to Scandinavia to bring the ship back to life, then to Alba--England, that is. There they become comrades of a warrior on a quest for vengeance, and that plops them in the middle of the historic invasion of Greece by Brennus the Gaul. Merlin has conflicts of interest, in that he and Medea are both members of the same order of mage. Readers may also feel conflicted over whether splendid individual scenes and fine, deep characterizations compensate for a narrative so laden with mythic and folkloric references that it is hard to follow. But Holdstock has justified staying with him before, and he has more of Merlin's adventures in the offing. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"Rob Holdstock's is one of the voices at the very heart of modern fantasy."--Guy Gavriel Kay

"Marvelous...Highly recommended."--Interzone

"Holdstock is the finest writer of metamorphic fantasy now working."--The Washington Post

"No other author has so successfully captured the magic of the wildwood." --Michael Moorcock

"A writer of both heart and fire."--Peter F. Hamilton



Review
"Rob Holdstock's is one of the voices at the very heart of modern fantasy."--Guy Gavriel Kay

"Marvelous...Highly recommended."--Interzone

"Holdstock is the finest writer of metamorphic fantasy now working."--The Washington Post

"No other author has so successfully captured the magic of the wildwood." --Michael Moorcock

"A writer of both heart and fire."--Peter F. Hamilton



Book Description
Centuries before he meets Arthur, Merlin wanders the earth, eternally young, a traveler on the path of magic and learning. During his journeys he encounters Jason and joins his search for the Golden Fleece. It is a decision that will cost him dear...

Hundreds of years later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a northern lake and divines that it is the Argo...that Jason still screams out for his sons, stolen by the enchantress Medea and thought dead. But death is not the end, and Merlin's trek to the north leads to the revival of both man and ship, and a new quest, with new companions-to find Jason's sons.

Roving from the frozen north to the blighted island that will become Arthur's realm, from the deep forests of ancient Britain to the sun-washed shores of ancient Greece, Merlin's journey is an epic tale of mystery and enchantment. Celtika begins a retelling of the Arthurian legend unlike any other.



About the Author
Robert Holdstock's novels include Mythago Wood, which won the World Fantasy Award; Lavondyss; and Gate of Ivory. He lives in London.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Centuries before he meets Arthur, Merlin wanders the earth, eternally young, a traveler on the path of magic and learning. During his journeys he encounters Jason, and joins his search for the Golden Fleece. It is a decision that will cost him dear... Hundreds of years later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a northern lake, and divines that it is the Argo ... that Jason still screams out for his sons, stolen by the enchantress Medea and thought dead. But death is not the end, and Merlin's trek to the North leads to the revival of both man and ship, and a new quest, with new companions -- to find Jason's sons. Roving from the frozen North to the blighted island that will become Arthur's realm, from the deep forests of ancient Britain to the sun-washed shores of ancient Greece, Merlin's journey is an epic tale of mystery and enchantment. Celtika begins a retelling of the Arthur tale unlike any other.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In British author Holdstock's dazzling reframing of Arthurian myth and Greek legend, a wandering, youthful Merlin who ages only when he uses his "charm" encounters Jason and joins him on his quest aboard the Argo for the Golden Fleece. Known to Jason as Antiokus, Merlin is present when the enchantress Medea kills Jason's two sons and absconds with the bodies. The Argo slips her moorings and sails off into the night, a broken ship carrying a broken man to their mutual grave. Centuries later, Merlin hears of a screaming ship in a frozen lake. Divining that the screams come from Jason, still yearning for his lost sons, Merlin struggles north, for he has learned that Jason's sons are alive. Using his jealously guarded magic, Merlin raises the Argo and the still living Jason, who gathers new Argonauts-Urtha, Ullanna and Niiv-to search for his sons. Family and loss are central to this poignant new telling of Merlin's story. And even Merlin, who for so long considered himself a solitary traveler on the pathways of magic, realizes that he's not as alone as he once thought. With this remarkable work, Holdstock, a World Fantasy Award winner for Mythago Wood (1985), more than lives up to his billing as one of the finest living crafters of myth. (Apr. 1) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

VOYA - Rayna Patton

This novel could have been called "Jason of the Argonauts and Merlin the Magician meet Conan the Barbarian." Although appearing young, Merlin is already old in years when he sails with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece. After the sorceress Medea slays Jason's children in revenge for his infidelity, Jason lives for twenty years more and then is borne away by the faithful Argo. Seven hundred years later, Merlin hears Jason's cries and finds him and the Argo submerged in a frozen northern lake. He raises the Argo and revives Jason, who was kept in a suspended animation by the goddess Hera. It turns out that Jason's two sons also are alive, hidden by Medea in time. In a rebuilt Argo, Jason and Merlin travel with twenty Northerner fighters in search of them, and eventually join up with a vast barbarian army invading Greece. Jason's son is in fact with the army, although Merlin does not reveal this information, and Medea is, as is the rest of her family, still very much around and still unforgiving. Jason finds his son, who influenced by Medea, rejects and stabs him. Merlin sails away on the Argo to Alba (Albion?), there to await the second volume in the trilogy. Although replete with magic, animal sacrifice, and gory combat, this muddled story lacks much in the way of a believable plot or characters. It is recommended for very dedicated fantasy readers only. VOYA Codes: 3Q 2P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2003, Tor, 368p,

KLIATT - Donna Scanlon

Holdstock's take on the Merlin myth casts Merlin as an itinerant magician living hundreds of years before his service to King Arthur. Taking the name Antiokus, Merlin was one of the Argonauts traveling with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece. More than that, he was one of Jason's closest friends and was a witness to the brutal murder of Jason's sons. But he is long gone when Jason finally perishes, still anguished over his loss. Still, that's not the end for Jason: 700 years later, Merlin travels to a frozen lake in the far north to investigate the stories that it screams and finds the Argo at its bottom still carrying the body of Jason, caught between life and death and crying out for his sons over all that time. Merlin learns that Medea stole the boys, faking their deaths, and what is more, they are still alive. Jason and Merlin gather a new complement of companions and set off in search of Jason's sons. Holdstock's story is dense and complex and is best appreciated when informed by a background in history or mythology (or both). The narrative is gripping in a slow and quiet way; this is a book for thoughtful readers. The characterization is equally subtle and quiet with characters built of complex multiple layers. Give this to serious readers for a challenging and worthwhile read. (Book One of The Merlin Codex). KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Tor, 370p., Ages 15 to adult.

Library Journal

Long before his fateful meeting with Arthur Pendragon, Merlin-then known as Antiokus-traveled with Jason aboard the Argo. Centuries later, the immortal Merlin investigates rumors of a screaming ship in a lake in the icy northern lands and discovers the Argo with a still-living Jason aboard. With Merlin's help, Jason restores the ship and embarks on a new voyage to find the sons he thought were dead by the hand of his treacherous wife, Medea. The author of Mythago Wood launches a new series that combines Arthurian lore with world myth to give a new and refreshing turn to the tale of Arthur and Merlin. Holdstock's graceful, literate narrative style makes this a good addition to most fantasy collections. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews