Rating: 
Summary: wonderful modernization of Camelot in Manhattan
Review: It is time to fulfill the medieval prophecy as Arthur Pendragon has returned to the mortal plane. However, instead of ye olde merry England he lands in modern day Central Park making Belvedere Castle his home. Arthur struggles to adjust to Manhattan especially with the dysfunctional assistance of his mentor Merlin.Once Arthur becomes a little more acclimated to the city that never sleeps, he decides that the best way to fulfill his mission is to become mayor so he throws his helmet into the ring as a candidate for the mayor of the Big Apple. Besides Merlin, Guinevere and Percival assist Arthur on his maiden political run. An atrophied couch potato living in exile in New Jersey, the return rejuvenates Morgan Le Fay who enters the city to challenge her long-term foes. Worse than the sorceress for Arthur is that Modred has also been reincarnated, but this time as the deadliest of opponents, a public relations professional working for the dreaded competitor. Renowned comic book and fantasy novelist Peter David has rewritten his wild mid-eighties -Camelot in Manhattan tale, retaining the humor and the personae of the cast, but tightening the plot. The story line is fun for more than just the Round Table crowd as Arthur struggles with almost everything about contemporary New York even as he runs for the job of mayor. Mindful of Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland's Camelot 3000 series (also originating in the 1980s), but less graphic and more amusing, KNIGHT LIFE is a wonderful modernization of Camelot. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth your time
Review: It takes a fresh take on Arthur to grab my interest (Jack Whyte's series is hard to beat), but having enjoyed Stephen Lawhead's "Avalon" which is remarkably similar in plot structure and even events (written well after this book's original appearance,with a reincarnated Arthur and long-waiting Merlin staking a lineal claim to the English throne these days) and another author's "Arthur, King" placing a returned Arthur helping turn the tide of the WWII Battle of Britain against Mordred-assisted Luftwaffers (certainly a great need for Arthur then), I picked up this first taste of Peter David's take. David disparages his own research but has done a credible job with it (his Arthur's a little recent as a 10-11th century ruler when scholars guess more 4th-6th century)but the story, characters, and especially the dialogue and scenes make this both quite fun and still thought-provoking. His Arthur is both a born leader but a real human with foibles, weaknesses, and fears as is his inspired Gwen deVere, Moe Dreskin, Percival, etc. with fresh and brilliant takes on the characters that ring true and modern instead of everyone still having Old English sensibilities. The action's lively and quite unpredictable, the plotting makes sense, the scenes are quite visual and memorable (something David comments he's focused on in the rewrite), and the dialogue's outstanding in both naturalism and wit-it's far too good for most film screenplays.) This is a book you'll recommend to any friend who enjoys a lively read and anyone who enjoys Arthurian tales will want to own it.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing, different fable for modern times
Review: King Arthur has reappeared to run the modern world's new Camelot: New York City. As a natural leader running against the New York hierarchy, aided by Merlin and hindered by halfsister Morgan and her son Mordred, he faces a campaign that questions his integrity and abilities. An intriguing, different fable for modern times.
Rating:
Summary: King Arthur Meets the Big Apple, Original Version
Review: Knight Life is another of Peter David's almost unclassifiable works. It is a small scale epic drama, with comedic overtones, of King Arthur running for mayor of New York while opposed by Morgan Le Fay. Morgan is a couch potato watching sitcoms while consuming large quantities of beer. She is contemplating suicide but first she tunes in to her favorite channel: a view of Merlin's resting place. But, wait, the stone has been moved. Thus begins the show. Arthur Pendragon is back! Of course, his first stop is Arthur's Court, a men's clothier, to exchange his armor for something a little more comfortable, like a three-piece suit, bought with an American Express card, don't leave Camelot without one. After a local cop suggests a political career, Arthur retrieves Excalibur from Central Park lake and allows Chico and Groucho, two spaced out muggers, to swear undying allegiance to the man with the Day-Glo sword. He finds Merlin and gathers a campaign staff, including Gwen DeVere as his secretary, Gladys, a basilisk -- just kidding -- as receptionist, and Percy, an old drunk with a CPA -- no kidding -- as treasurer. The Big Apple meets King Arthur and New York loves him, especially when he saves two children from the fire caused by the fire elemental. This original version has some rough spots, but is still very funny. Recommended for fans of Peter David and anyone else foolish enough to subject themselves to such zany humor. You have been warned; if you bust a gut, its your fault.
Rating:
Summary: King Arthur Meets the Big Apple, Original Version
Review: Knight Life is another of Peter David's almost unclassifiable works. It is a small scale epic drama, with comedic overtones, of King Arthur running for mayor of New York while opposed by Morgan Le Fay. Morgan is a couch potato watching sitcoms while consuming large quantities of beer. She is contemplating suicide but first she tunes in to her favorite channel: a view of Merlin's resting place. But, wait, the stone has been moved. Thus begins the show. Arthur Pendragon is back! Of course, his first stop is Arthur's Court, a men's clothier, to exchange his armor for something a little more comfortable, like a three-piece suit, bought with an American Express card, don't leave Camelot without one. After a local cop suggests a political career, Arthur retrieves Excalibur from Central Park lake and allows Chico and Groucho, two spaced out muggers, to swear undying allegiance to the man with the Day-Glo sword. He finds Merlin and gathers a campaign staff, including Gwen DeVere as his secretary, Gladys, a basilisk -- just kidding -- as receptionist, and Percy, an old drunk with a CPA -- no kidding -- as treasurer. The Big Apple meets King Arthur and New York loves him, especially when he saves two children from the fire caused by the fire elemental. This original version has some rough spots, but is still very funny. Recommended for fans of Peter David and anyone else foolish enough to subject themselves to such zany humor. You have been warned; if you bust a gut, its your fault.
Rating:
Summary: Camelot 2002: A Satiric Fantasy
Review: Peter David has re-worked and re-issued his first novel Knight Life. In this updating of the Arthurian legend Arthur Penn (real last name Pendragon, get it?) returns to New York City to run for mayor as an independent. His Republican opponent is a gritty, profane prosecutor (hmmm....). The Democrat is a handsome actor who has played a big city mayor in a tv series. Too funny... Much of the rest of the legendary cast joins Arthur. Merlin looks like an eleven year old (remember, he lives and ages backwards) who dresses as a prep schooler. Morgan is here: dark, evil and sexy as ever. Mordred is a p.r. agent (ha!). Lancelot is a failed writer into s. and m. while Guinivere is initially an abused woman who grows mightily as the book progresses. Galahad is passingly refered to (he doesn't make the modern cut) as the whiny virgin. The book is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Luckily Arthur is outfitted with plastic credit when he arrives in NYC so he is able to trade his armor in for Brooks Brother-like duds. His first speech on a street corner is clever. His dismay during a televised three-way debate when his opponents evade all the questions using them as set pieces for a pre-written riff is painfully funny. This is a funny, satiric and, oddly, profound book. The melding of Arthurian honor and modern poitical opportunism is unsettling and yet by the end hopeful. Read this book for a fun time and a strangely compelling affirmation of man's basic goodness.
Rating:
Summary: Knight Life Is A Charmer
Review: Peter David, well known in sci-fi and comic circles, updates one of his very first books with some newer material for the modern age, as well as an overhaul of the writing style to reflect his more mature and developed style. This book tells the "what if" story of King Arthur and his band of confidants in the modern age as the great king reappears in 21st century New York City after being bound in a magic cave for the past few centuries. If you like fanciful fiction and witty writing, you'll like this. Yeah, it's kind of a sily concept, but it works, and you won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: The (Pen)Dragon Swallows the Big Apple
Review: The legend of King Arthur and Camelot has fascinated and captured the hearts of more people than perhaps any other legend. It has been endlessly retold in all types of media, from musicals to film to cartoons. And here we have a very modernized version, one where King Arthur arrives in modern-day New York, clad in traditional armor, which causes an almost immediate plunge down the subway steps, an image which sets the tone for this tongue-in-cheek, sometimes hysterical tale. Of course Arthur can't continue to clank around in thousand year old armor, so he trades it in for a traditional 3-piece suit, courtesy of the American Express card Merlin so thoughtfully provided. But when Arthur looks for something worthy of his talents, the real fun begins as he enters the race for mayor of the city. This is probably the best part of the book, as Arthur pokes large holes in his opposition by coming up with common sense answers to the political questions of the day and by not side-stepping and obfuscating the questions and issues. This is good satire, exposing just how empty the standard political campaign is. Arthur's campaign stance really should be taken up by a live politician - he might be surprised by the voter reaction. Some other pieces of this work are not quite so good. The initial image of Morgana Le Fey as an obese, broken-down maudlin old woman is a scream, but the later scenes after her rejuvenation that attempt to portray her as evil personified don't come off so well. Moe Dred (Mordred) never seems to become more that a stick figure. There are inconsistencies in Arthur's level of understanding of both English and modern ways of living, sometimes missing an intended meaning or uttering an unintentionally hilarious line, quite understandable given his lack of experience with the New York of today, at other times showing more knowledge of how things work than even Merlin. Arthur's political opposition is not portrayed with any depth, basically an attempt at a caricature of the 'standard' political hack, but it would have been better if they had been portrayed with more depth, intelligence, and political savvy. In concept and satirical level, this is an excellent book that will provoke many grins and an occasional outright laugh, but with a few too many false steps to be unabashedly great.
Rating:
Summary: I Love the Knight Life; I Love to Boogie!
Review: This book is a fascinating read and honest, good fun. In it, the legend of King Arthur is turned on his head as Arthur, Merlin and other characters from the time arrive after ten centuries of hiding into the modern craziness of the twentieth century. Once there, Arthur hopes to regain the fame and power he once had, but he'll have to do something he's not used to --- starting relatively small. Thus does Arthur Penn's (Pendragon's) campaign for mayor begin. However, he'll have to face many old foes from the past, as well as the opposing candidates for mayor --- the second being something not nearly as much to worry about as one would think.
"Knight Life" is full of Peter David's typical off-beat humor and is a wonderful first offering from him. This version is an updated version of the original release, offering Peter David's improvements to an already great story.
I'm not completely familiar with the Arthurian legend, but still found it quite easy to get into this book. Sure, some hardcore fans may find things to nitpick, but overall I thought this was a really great read and it's also made me curious to check out more of the legend. It also had a surprise ending that I didn't expect.
Rating:
Summary: Arthurian legend made modern and fun
Review: This was the first book by Peter David that I had the pleasure of reading. David takes all the old arthurian cliches and brings them into modern day Manhatten and in so doing makes it accessable to the tv generation. The characters are fully developed and the plot is interesting and fun. Lots of humor here, mixed with a healthy dose of drama. I highly recommend this book to both those familiar with the legend of Arthur and especially to those who have stayed away from Arthur, because they felt that the legend was too heavy. David maintains the grandeur while making the story and characters accessable. A real page turner of a read.
| 
