The Once and Future King

T.H. White's tetralogy «The Once and Future King» (plus the posthumously published «The Book of Merlin») is not only significant in science fiction but in literature as a whole. It is enough to mention the names of writers who have... openly spoken about the influence T.H. White had on them, to be convinced of this. Michael Moorcock, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman - the list could go on for a long time. The source of the cycle is, of course, Sir Thomas Malory and his «Le Morte d'Arthur». On the other hand, White resonates so well with his era, having infused these books with thoughts about good and evil, and concern for the modern world (the first books of the cycle were published in the pre-war years), that regardless of the source, their value and originality is beyond doubt. On the gravestone at T.H. White's grave, the inscription reads: «To the writer who brought joy to people from the depths of his tormented heart and praised life». And this is indeed true.