Madouc Author:Jack Vance The Princess Madouc of Lyonesse has never been like other girls. Despite her extraordinary blue eyes, copper-red curls and a face that hints of great beauty to come, little Madouc has a reputation-as the orneriest, oddest princess in all the land. But you would be, too, if your mother was the blue-haired fairy, Twisk, and your father was, well... more »...that's getting a bit ahead of the story.
King Casmir of Lyonesse, Madouc's grandfather, is conspiring to bring the whole of the Elder Isles under his far-from-beneficent control. His scheme for dividing and conquering includes marrying off Madouc to create desperately needed alliances. But the Princess isn't having any of it.
Instead, she undertakes a quest to discover her "pedigree"-that is, the elusive identity of her father. For her maidens have called her a "bastard," and it bothers her far more than she would let on.
Escaping their prying eyes with her trusty groom Sir Pom-Pom (alias Pymfyd)-himself in search of no less than the Holy Grail-she travels some of the more dangerous realms of the Isles. With stops along the way to Thripsey Shee-the fairy enclave-and Castle Doldil, she uses her considerable wits, and a touch of fairy magic, to vanquish the terrible ogres, devious trolls and sly vagabonds she and Sir Pom-Pom meet along the way.
But unknown to Madouc, her escape is only temporary. For, like it or not, she holds the key to victory in King Casmir's bid to destroy the fragile peace of the Elder Isles.« less