Avalon Series facts for kids

The Avalon Series is a collection of fantasy novels. They were first written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and later by Diana L. Paxson. The books tell stories about the mysterious island of Avalon. They also focus on the important women who shaped its history and the history of Britain.

The World of Avalon

The Avalon series retells the famous legends of King Arthur and his time. But it does so from the viewpoint of the powerful women involved. These stories cover many centuries. They explain how the magical island of Avalon came to be. They also show life in Britain when the Romans were in charge. Finally, they describe how Avalon's ancient traditions slowly faded as a new religion, Christianity, grew stronger.

All the tales are told by strong women. Examples include Eilan, a High Priestess, and Helena, mother of a Roman Emperor. You'll also meet Morgaine, a High Priestess of Avalon, who is later known as the sorceress Morgan le Fay.

Themes in the Series

The series explores the King Arthur stories through a special lens. It highlights the roles and power of women. It also blends in real historical figures and events. You'll find elements of ancient Celtic beliefs and modern pagan traditions. A big theme is the clash between old pagan ways and the new Christian faith. The books suggest that both traditions hold important wisdom.

The novels are connected by the island of Avalon itself. The stories also hint that some characters might be the same souls reborn through reincarnation.

Bradley's Vision of Avalon

In this series, the legendary island of Avalon is unique. It's different from other stories, but it builds on old legends. Like in some ancient tales, Avalon is ruled by women. These women are priests and priestesses of an old, pre-Christian religion.

The author, Marion Zimmer Bradley, linked Avalon to the town of Glastonbury in England. In her books, Avalon is like a parallel world to Glastonbury. It exists in the same place but can only be reached through a magical mist.

The main leader of Avalon is the Lady of the Lake. This is a title passed down through generations. So, different characters like Viviane and Nimue all hold this important role. The series also treats Merlin as a title for a series of powerful Arch-Druids.

The main focus of Avalon's religion is the Mother Goddess. Bradley connects this idea to several Celtic gods and goddesses. The author was inspired by modern pagan traditions. These traditions often link similar ancient deities and focus on a female-led religious structure.

Connections to Other Stories

The Avalon series shares its world with Bradley's earlier novel, The Fall of Atlantis. That book describes an ancient pagan religious group. This group influenced how Avalon's priests and priestesses were imagined. Some characters from The Fall of Atlantis are even hinted to be reborn as characters in the Avalon series. Diana L. Paxson made these connections clearer in her later books.

The Novels

The Mists of Avalon

This book (1983) started the whole series. It's set in Sub-Roman Britain, after the Romans left. The story mainly follows Morgaine, King Arthur's half-sister and a priestess of Avalon. Morgaine wants to protect her people's ancient religion. This puts her against Christianity, which is growing in Britain. It also causes conflict with her brother, King Arthur. The book also tells the stories of other important women, like Arthur's mother Igraine, the High Priestess Viviane, and Arthur's queen, Gwenhwyfar.

The Forest House

Set in the first century CE, during the Roman rule of Britain, The Forest House (1993) is about an older pagan group. This group existed before Avalon was founded. It tells the love story between Eilan, a British priestess, and Gaius, a Roman soldier. Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson wrote this book together.

Lady of Avalon

Lady of Avalon (1997) is a collection of short stories. It shows different times in Avalon's history and features the women who were High Priestesses. Stories include Caillean, who cast the spell to hide Avalon in mist, and Dierna, who tried to make peace between Britons and Romans. Viviane, a character from The Mists of Avalon, also appears. Diana L. Paxson also helped write this book.

Priestess of Avalon

This book (2000) is set in the third century. It connects the real historical figure of Empress Helena to Britain. It tells of Helena's love story with the Roman officer Constantius and the birth of their son Constantine. Constantine later became a famous Emperor. Bradley started this book, and Paxson finished it after Bradley passed away.

Ancestors of Avalon

This book (2004) is the earliest in the series' timeline. It tells the story of people who escaped the lost continent of Atlantis. They settled in Britain and helped create the area known as Glastonbury and Avalon. They were also involved in building Stonehenge. This was the first book written only by Diana L. Paxson.

Sword of Avalon

Set in the Bronze Age, Sword of Avalon (2009) focuses on how the legendary sword Excalibur was made. It tells of Mikantor, the rightful king of British tribes, who is sold into slavery. Meanwhile, a cruel warlord named Galid takes control. Anderle, the Lady of Avalon, stands against him. Mikantor has many adventures before returning to claim his destiny.

Series Order

The Avalon books cover many centuries of ancient British history. They were not published in the order of the stories. Each book tells a tale from a different historical time.

Publication Order

• The Mists of Avalon (1983)
• The Forest House (1993) (with Diana L. Paxson)
• Lady of Avalon (1997) (with Diana L. Paxson)
• Priestess of Avalon (2000) (with Diana L. Paxson)
• Ancestors of Avalon (2004) (by Diana L. Paxson)
• Ravens of Avalon (2007) (by Diana L. Paxson)
• Sword of Avalon (2009) (by Diana L. Paxson)

In-Universe Chronological Order

• The Fall of Atlantis
• Ancestors of Avalon
• Sword of Avalon
• Ravens of Avalon
• The Forest House
• Lady of Avalon
• Priestess of Avalon
• The Mists of Avalon

Main Characters

The Mists of Avalon

• Morgaine - The main character; Priestess of Avalon, King Arthur's half-sister.
• Gwenhwyfar - Arthur's queen.
• Igraine - Arthur and Morgaine's mother.
• Viviane - High Priestess of Avalon.
• Taliesin, the Merlin of Britain - A powerful Druid and poet.
• Morgause - Igraine's sister, aunt to Morgaine and Arthur.
• Uther Pendragon - Igraine's husband, a High King of Britain.
• King Arthur - High King of Britain.
• Lancelot - Arthur's best friend and warrior.
• Mordred - Son of Morgaine and Arthur.

The Forest House

• Caillean - A priestess.
• Eilan - A priestess, later Lady of the Forest House.
• Gaius - A Roman soldier and Eilan's lover.
• Ardanos - A powerful Druid.
• Cynric - Eilan's adopted brother.
• Dieda - Eilan's cousin, a priestess.
• Lhiannon - Lady of the Forest House.

Lady of Avalon

Part I

• Caillean - High Priestess of Avalon.
• Gawen - Son of Eilan and Gaius.
• Sianna - Daughter of the Faerie Queen.
• Joseph of Arimathea - Leader of the Christians in Inis Witrin.
• Paulus - Joseph's successor.

Part II

• Dierna - High Priestess of Avalon.
• Allectus - A Roman officer.
• Carausius - A Roman commander.
• Teleri - A princess training as a priestess.

Part III

• Viviane - Future High Priestess.
• Ana - High Priestess of Avalon, mother of Viviane, Igraine, and Morgause.
• Vortimer - Son of the High King Vortigern.

Priestess of Avalon

• Eilan (Julia Coelia Helena) – Daughter of Prince Coelius, wife of Constantius, mother of Constantine, and a priestess.
• Constantius – The Roman noble she marries.
• Constantine – Helena's son, who became Emperor.
• Crispus – Constantine's son.
• Dierna – Helena's cousin, later Lady of Avalon.
• Fausta – Wife of Constantine.
• Ganeda – Helena's aunt, Lady of Avalon.
• Helena the Younger ("Lena") – Wife of Crispus.
• Maxentius - Son of Maximian.
• Minervina - Constantine's partner, mother of Crispus.
• Quintillus - Constantius's great uncle.
• Severus - A Roman leader.
• Victorinus - A rebel Emperor.

Ancestors of Avalon

• Damisa - An acolyte (student) from Atlantis.
• Tiriki - Guardian of the Temple of Light, future priestess of Avalon.
• Micail - Prince from Atlantis, husband of Tiriki.
• Chedan - An acolyte from Atlantis.
• Tjalan - Prince from Atlantis, Micail's cousin.
• Deoris - Tiriki's mother.
• Domaris - Micail's mother, Deoris's sister.
• Micon - Micail's father.
• Reio-ta - Deoris's husband, Tiriki's stepfather.

Ravens of Avalon

• Boudica - A Celtic warrior queen who fought against the Romans.
• Prasutagos - Boudica's husband, king of the Iceni.
• Lhiannon - A priestess and Boudica's friend.
• Ardanos - A Druid.
• Caratac - A British leader who resisted Roman rule.

Sword of Avalon

• Anderle - Lady of Avalon.
• Galid - A warlord who took over Britain.
• Mikantor - The rightful king, kidnapped and sold into slavery.
• Tirilan - Anderle's daughter, who becomes a priestess.
• Velantos - A smith who forges a legendary sword.