Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Mirror of Merlin
	Author:	Barron, T. A.
	Date Published:	1999
	Genre:	Fantasy
	Grade Level:	6 - 12
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
For most of humanity, time is like a river. Most of us float aimlessly down the river of time just as an ant on a leaf floats down a river of water. As the ant may, on occasion, affect the course of the leaf by moving from one side of the leaf to the other, we may, on occasion, affect the future flow of time by our actions, but always move forward through our limited time current. But, there are a few of us who travel through time as an otter travels through the river. Crossing over the river of time, or going ‘back’ in time as an otter travels up the river, to affect the flow and eddies of the time current. I remember the glory and the honor that was Camelot. I remember Lancelot, so noble, yet so flawed. I remember Guinnevere, so beautiful and tragic. I remember the sword who would crown a king. And, yes, I remember Arthur, the boy who would grow to be king. But, there was a time long before Camelot. A time when I was impetuous and selfish, self assured and unteachable one moment, languishing in self pity and insecurity the next. A time when I rushed headlong into whatever I felt was the most important action at the moment, without any thought as to the consequences of my actions. I had many friends who stood by my side, and no few who did not survive my adventures. Perhaps like many of you, I was young and brash and headstrong and untested. I was just beginning to learn of my powers and my destiny, just as you are now learning the skills and the abilities that will be with you through your life as you fulfill your destiny. It was a time when the sword Excalibur was my responsibility and my burden. It was a calm and peaceful day in Fincayra, the land between the mortal world and the world of the gods. My friend Hallia and I had just finished a refreshing run as deer and had changed back into our human forms. We were ‘relaxing’ with the young dragon, Gwynnia when we heard a sound like someone in the throes of death. We rushed to the source of the cry to find a severly injured seallike creature. I knelt down immediately used my fledgling healing powers to restore the creature to health amidst his continued protestations of pain and suffering. Once healed, however, he quickly slid into the water and disappeared. Only to return in short order, fleeing from Gwynniaon and still chattering nonstop. I was, as I say, young and impulsive. And, I had a somewhat short temper. I quickly tired of the ballymags and determined to return the creature to his home in the Haunted Marsh. Despite his and Hallia’s protestation, I decided to utilize a leaping spell which I was in the process of perfecting. I obviously had a long way to go, however, as I inadvertently transferred not only the ballymag but also myself and and Hallia as well to the area. Once there, it became evident that the spooky and dangerous Swamp was mysteriously extending its noxious borders. Further the marsh ghouls, who had always confined their antics to the interior area of the Marsh were organizing to drive neighboring Fincayrians from their homes. I determined to find the cause and put an end to their reign of terror. Hallia, as always, insisted on accompanying me, despite the risk. In the process, Excaliber is stolen and I am attacked by a bloodnoose that threatens to end both my quest and my life. We meet a young boy, Ector, who has been sent from the mortal world to Fincayra and is searching the swamp for the lost Seventh Treasure, the Key which will undo any spell, to save his master. Together we succeed in finding and securing the key. Despite Ector’s insistence that the key must not be used before he returns it to save his master, I impulsively use it to free the marsh ghouls from the influence of the evil Nemue who has been behind their reign of terror. Alas, we find that the key can be used only once and its powers are now exhausted, a fact which has resulted in impending tragedy, both for myself from the bloodnoose and for use in saving Ector’s master Well! I see that my time with you is about at an end. So, if you’re interested in the rest of the tale, you’ll have to read The Mirror of Merlin by my good friend T.A. Barrow.