THE BROKEN SWORD

More modern Arthurian galumphing: a sequel to The Forever King (1992). Arthur has been reincarnated as ten-year-old Chicagoan Arthur Blessing; his protector, once Galahad, is former FBI man Hal Woczniak. The evil sorcerer Saladin's successor, artist/assassin Aubrey Katsuleris (he's sold his soul to the old, dark gods), seeks immortality through the Holy Grail, formerly held by Saladin. Now, the Grail surfaces in Marrakesh, where it heals the congenital blindness of young Beatrice; she begins to recall a past life as the Innocent, a druidic high priestess, a life that also involves Taliesin (Merlin—yes, he's still around, too) and Aubrey (as the destroyer Thanatos). Excalibur lies smashed by Aubrey's black magic, but the pieces allow Arthur's knights to step through a time warp into the present and provide comic relief. Eventually, in New York, Beatrice magically defends Taliesin against Aubrey's magical assault, and Arthur—after Aubrey obligingly gives him the pieces- -wields a magically refurbished Excalibur to finish Aubrey off. Preposterous twaddle, what with the phony backdrops, ramshackle characters rushing aimlessly about, and threadbare doings strung together on a whim.