The Crystal Cave: The Arthurian Saga, Book 1

Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, beginning with this book, is one of the greatest series ever written. It combines the interest of ancient historical fiction with the magic of fantasy brilliantly. There are passages in the story where I would swear I felt as though I were the one on a horse, traveling through the pristine forest. I have read it many times and would be thrilled to have a recording of it. This abridged travesty is disgusting. It is not the story. I would ask all people who love this story as I do to request that Audible attempt to aquire the rights to distribute an unabridged recording. You might also make a request at BBC America or Chivers Audiobooks as they have unabridged recordings that are "out of print".

Making it UNabridged!

I read this book many years ago and was anxious to do so before heading to England recently. I had little time so I decided to LISTEN to it. Unfortunately the recorded version was greatly abridged. The other reviews I read also spoke poorly of it, but I decided to try it anyway. Not really worth the effort. The heart and soul of the book seemed to no longer really be there.

He's a very fine actor, I just didn't feel he made it come alive... but that could have been due to the cuts in the story.

no

This has always been one of my favorite series. Mary Stewart does an excellent job of making Merlin human and placing the challenges and emotions of a man on his shoulders, but I didn't feel like the reader carried that emotion into the story. I ordered The Hollow Hills and I'm hoping that will be better.

This is one of my favorite books, and therefore one of the first books I purchased with my audible membership. Unfortunately, the abridgment takes so much out of the story that it is impossible to follow. Also, the production/sound quality is awful.

Hopefully, someone else will make an unabridged recording in the future

Absolutely! The third in this trilogy? The UNABRIDGED version of this epic and classic story by an outstanding author? I can't wait to see the complete, unabridged trilogy as a choice in Audible's catalog.

Mary Stewart is an author with the ability to weave a complex, unique, engrossing story. Even with something as familiar as the Merlin/Arthur mythology she managed to find a new angle in her full length books. Abridging it was a sad choice but it's better than nothing. The reader was excellent with a rich, nuanced voice.

One of my favorite books of all time. It makes the Arthur legend into history.

Mary Stewart's version of the Arthur legend comes across as how it really was. She incorporates all the myths and legends into one story that seems to be Truth. Her characters are flawless.

I have not listened to any other of Nicol Williamson's performances. This one is excellent.

The Crystal Cave is perfect for this book; no other title would suffice.

I wish Audible would remake Mary Stewart's Arther trilogy unabridged. So much is lost in this abridged version.

so much of the original book is missing in this abridged version that I missed it!

Mists of AValon if it is not abridged

don's sell abridged books!

I love the story of Merlin. I have read the book in the past and wanted to hear it. It was just as I remembered it, just wonderful. Thanks for making it an audible book.

Merlin

Most of them.

When he got his pony

A wonderful book.