Weekly Reader: WOAD by James Isaac; Return of The King is Not As Great As It Seems

 

Weekly Reader: WOAD by James Isaac; Return of The King is Not As Great As It Seems

By Julie Sara Porter

Spoilers: Many variations of the Arthurian legends say that King Arthur never really died. Instead, he was taken to Avalon to be healed and sleep until such a time when his country and his people needed him. This myth is written in various books, films, TV, and has been endorsed by various members of British royalty. The Plantagenet family used this legend as proof of their divine right to rule. King Henry VII was so enamored with Arthurian myth that he named his eldest son, Arthur so an eventual King Arthur could once again sit on England's throne. (That however was not to be since Prince Arthur died at a very young age and Henry VII was succeeded by his younger son, Henry VIII.).Of course there is the comparison of President Kennedy's administration to Camelot. Whether or not Arthur existed historically, his legend has proven greater than the reality.

Many believe that Camelot and Arthur represent a golden age and that if Arthur really could return, those cherished days of chivalry and heroism would also return. However, some adaptations suggest that maybe Arthur's return is not something to be celebrated. Instead, it might be something to be feared. That is the premise behind WOAD by James Isaac, a historical fantasy that takes a very critical look at how the alleged Once and Future King would act in a world that changed around him but he did not.

Isaac's version of King Arthur, called Artos, is more based on historical interpretation that he was a Celtic warlord in the 1st Century battling the Romans, rather than the Medieval king of the enchanted Camelot. Because he's based on the historical Arthur, we read nothing about the other usual Camelot cast of characters. So there are no mentions of Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgan LeFay, Morgause, the Lady of the Lake, Mordred and the rest.

Instead, Arthur fights alongside real life warriors such as Boudicca to fight off Roman legions. However, Arthur still has connections to fairy origins from the mythical land of Avalon.

During what should be a victory, Arthur fought against the fairies and creatures of Avalon. He also argued with the Celtic goddesses like Cerridwen and Andraste to the point of denouncing them. He then takes on the mantle of God himself, living an immortal life and plotting for centuries to gather an army that will obey, revere, and worship him and will fight his fairian enemies. 

Artos's ruthlessness and tyranny increases until by the Victorian Era, he practically runs a part of East End London that is next to a gateway into Avalon. His far reaching ambitions are threatened by Victor, a human who guards the entrance between the human and fairy world, and Sol and Shammy, a pair of street urchin con artists who have stronger ties to the fairy world than they originally thought.

Isaac's book is a brilliant deconstruction of the Arthurian myth, portraying the character as a harsh, arrogant, destructive tyrant. Artos is someone who is unyielding in his views that have been honed through centuries of interacting with humans and fairies. He is always in battle, looking for an enemy to fight and someone to defeat. Whether he is in the Middle Ages, the English Civil War, or the creation of the British Empire, Artos has seen plenty of battles and forces his leadership towards those around him. 

This outlook combined with the bitterness obtained over the centuries are enough to drive Artos insane and give him a self righteous tone that sees everyone who is not with him as being against him. 

He is not above using devious means to gain followers. He takes in orphans and unwanted children not out of the goodness of his heart, but to raise them to be his willing army that are practically brainwashed to follow his fanaticism.

 Artos has ceased to just become a warlord or king. He declares himself a god and demands total obedience and worship.

Suddenly, the return of an over 1,0000 year old king to fight for his people doesn't seem like a good idea when he plans to destroy the kingdom and everyone in it so he can rebuild it in his own image.

There are many who see through the image that Artos is trying to convey. The most prominent character to challenge him is Sol. Sol originally started out as a street kid who was involved in a gambling con game with Shammy, his partner and would-be girlfriend. Like many others in the East End, he sees Artos as a leader until he encounters Cerridwen who tells Sol the truth about Artos's motives and goals and Sol's own birth (none of which will be revealed in this review). 

Sol's conversations with Cerridwen seem to echo a brainwashed cult follower becoming deprogrammed to reject the life that he once followed without question. He sees the truth of his upbringing and questions his allegiance to Artos. However, he becomes more determined to fight against him when his friend Shammy's developing figure and maturity don't miss Artos's attention. 

WOAD tells us that sometimes what often makes myths is nostalgia. While many long for a return to a simpler life with larger than life heroes, we fail to account for changing times and attitudes. What may appear acceptable in one era can be cruel in another, and a hero in one time could turn into a villain in another. Perhaps instead of looking for a physical return to the past, perhaps we could embody those values of courage, honor, kindness, and devotion in our own lives. Sometimes the real hero is inside us.