The Forever King by Warren Murphy
"The Forever King" is a fantasy narrative centered around a ten-year-old boy named Arthur Blessing, who discovers a magical cup historically linked to significant figures such as Christ and the legendary warrior Saladin. The cup, often associated with the Holy Grail, possesses the power to heal but tempts individuals to violence. As the story unfolds, Arthur faces challenges from Saladin, who seeks to reclaim the cup due to its ability to grant eternal life. Alongside characters like a disguised Merlin and a reincarnated Sir Galahad, Arthur navigates a blend of modern life and medieval legends. The plot intertwines themes of destiny, courage, and the moral dilemmas surrounding power. Ultimately, Arthur chooses to return to his childhood rather than embrace a life of royalty in Camelot, hinting at his future potential as a ruler in the next millennium. This story weaves together history, myth, and the journey of self-discovery, appealing to those interested in tales that bridge the past and present.
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The Forever King
First published: 1992
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—medieval future
Time of work: Primarily the early 1990s and medieval times
Locale: New York, England, the Middle East, and Hong Kong
The Plot
Arthur Blessing, a ten-year-old New Yorker, finds a magical cup once possessed by Christ, at the Last Supper, and by the evil Arab Saladin. The cups history is told by the centuries-old Saladin, who used the cup, often referred to as the Holy Grail, as a means of gaining eternal life. Saladin had lost this vessel three times. Saladin retrieved the cup the first time when he was told the story of Christ drinking from it at the Last Supper. The second loss occurred in the Middle Ages, when the cup fell into the possession of the wizard Merlin, who wanted to give it to his beloved King Arthur. Saladin loses the vessel the third time following the rebirth of King Arthur as Arthur Blessing. Arthur finds the cup after it rolls into sight. Although the cup can only do good, healing the sick and wounded, Arthur twice refuses to keep it, because it tempts men to kill for it.
Once Arthur possesses the cup, his troubles begin. Saladin and his followers attempt to retrieve it by breaking into the apartment where Arthur lives. Arthur is in another apartment, showing his new find to Mr. Goldberg, who is really Merlin in disguise.
Merlin also appears to former FBI agent Hal Woczniak, who actually is a reincarnation of Sir Galahad, a Knight of the Round Table. Hal is plagued by guilt and nightmares because he could not save a red-haired boy from a maniac. As a consequence of this guilt, Hal has become an unemployed alcoholic. Merlin, masquerading as Mr. Taliesin, gives Hal a ticket to a television game show. Hal is picked out of the audience and is asked five difficult questions on medieval history. To even his own surprise, he knows the answers and wins an all-expense-paid trip to London. In the meantime, Arthur goes to London to see property he unexpectedly inherited. The property turns out to be the site of Camelot.
In London, Hal meets Mr. Taliesin, who invites Hal out to the Camelot site. Coincidentally, Arthur is seated in front of Hal and Mr. Taliesin on the bus. Eventually Hal and Arthur go to the castle, where Saladin kidnaps Arthur. At the last minute, Arthur throws the cup to Merlin. Saladin tries to cut Merlin in half, but Merlin vanishes into the spirit world. When Saladin rides off with a struggling Arthur, Hal is left alone. A ghostlike castle appears, where Hal sees Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table. He is given the mission of saving Arthur.
Hal rescues Arthur from an estate not far from Camelot only to be hunted down by Saladin and his helpers at the Camelot site. Arthur finds a boulder concealing Excalibur, pulls out the sword, and calls for his army. Instead of a ghostly brigade, the army is real: Everyone is magically transported back to medieval Camelot. Arthur spares Saladin’s life, but Saladin challenges Hal to a swordfight. Lancelot, the legendary father of Sir Galahad, gives Hal his sword, but it is too big and heavy for him. Hal drops the sword but proves victorious when Arthur tosses Excalibur to him. Arthur then rejects a life in Camelot in favor of living out his childhood as a boy in the real world, where he is destined to rule in the next millennium.