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The Last Defender of Camelot (short story)
Encyclopedia
"The Last Defender of Camelot" is a fantasy short story
by Roger Zelazny
. It was first published in the Summer 1979 issue of Asimov's SF Adventure Magazine. It was subsequently published as a chapbook
by Underwood/Miller for the May 23, 1980 V-Con 8
where Zelazny was guest of honor. The story was also the basis of an 1986 episode
of the television series The Twilight Zone
.
who has survived to the present day by means of magic. He must help Morgana le Fay confront Merlin
, who is half-mad and attempting to meddle in the affairs of the world.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
. It was first published in the Summer 1979 issue of Asimov's SF Adventure Magazine. It was subsequently published as a chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
by Underwood/Miller for the May 23, 1980 V-Con 8
VCON
VCON is a fantasy, gaming, and science fiction convention held annually in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It has been hosted by the West Coast Science Fiction Association since 1993, and by WCSFCCA before that.The first "VCON" was held April 9 and 10,...
where Zelazny was guest of honor. The story was also the basis of an 1986 episode
The Last Defender of Camelot (The Twilight Zone)
"The Last Defender of Camelot" is the second segment of the twenty-fourth episode of the first season of the American television series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:...
of the television series The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
.
Plot summary
The story concerns LancelotLancelot
Sir Lancelot du Lac is one of the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. He is the most trusted of King Arthur's knights and plays a part in many of Arthur's victories...
who has survived to the present day by means of magic. He must help Morgana le Fay confront Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
, who is half-mad and attempting to meddle in the affairs of the world.