Annal:1971 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature

The Crystal Cave: Book 1 of the Arthurian Saga

Mary Stewart

• 1971 Mythopoeic-Adult winner
• Score: 10.21

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys—or as he would later be known, Merlin—leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man’s-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon…and the conception of Arthur—king for once and always.

The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian

Lloyd Alexander

• 1971 NBA–Youth winner
• 1971 Mythopoeic-Adult finalist
• Score: 16.21

When fourth fiddler Sebastian loses his place in the Baron’s orchestra, he has to leave the only home he knows—which turns out to be the least of his troubles. He rescues a stray cat from a group of tormentors, who then smash his precious violin; and the troubled young boy he tries to help turns out to be the Crown Princess, on the run from an arranged marriage. Sebastian, Princess Isabel, and Presto the cat soon find themselves fleeing stuffy officials, hired assassins, furious guardsmen and sentries—and, in their journey, find out what is truly important in life.

The action and humor never stop in Lloyd Alexander’s classic novel, written on the heels of his famed Prydain Chronicles.

Deryni Rising: Book 1 of the Chronicles of Deryni

Katherine Kurtz

• 1971 Mythopoeic-Adult finalist
• Score: 6.21

In the kingdom of Gwynedd, the mysterious forces of magic and the superior power of the Church combine to challenge the rule of young Kelson. Now the fate of the Deryni—a quasi-mortal race of sorcerers—and, indeed, the fate of all the Eleven Kingdoms, rests on Kelson’s ability to quash the rebellion by any means necessary…including the proscribed use of magic!

Nine Princes In Amber: Book 1 of the Chronicles of Amber

Roger Zelazny

• 1971 Mythopoeic-Adult finalist
• Score: 6.21

Exiled to the Shadows for centuries, a man more than mortal awakens in an Earth hospital with no memory of his past—and is surrounded by enemies who hunger for his destruction. For Corwin is the rightful successor to the throne of the real world. But to rule, he must conquer impossible realities and demonic assassins…and survive the most insidious malevolence imaginable wrought by his own family.