Once And Future Book Novels & Stories

I picked up 'Once Future' on a whim after seeing some buzz about it in a fantasy book group, and wow, did it surprise me! The blend of Arthurian legend with a sci-fi twist felt fresh—like someone finally mashed up my love for 'The Mists of Avalon' with 'Dune.' The protagonist, a queer, middle-aged Morgana, is such a breath of air compared to the usual young Chosen Ones. Her voice is sharp, funny, and layered with regret, which makes the stakes feel painfully human. The pacing stumbles a bit in the middle, but the last act’s payoff had me staying up way too late to finish.

What really hooked me, though, was how the book interrogates mythmaking. It asks: Who gets to be a hero? Who’s erased? The way it parallels modern politics without being preachy is masterful. If you’re into retellings that actually reinvent rather than rehash, this one’s a gem. Plus, the side characters—especially a grumpy AI Excalibur—steal every scene they’re in.

If you're jumping into 'The Once and Future' comics, it's less about strict order and more about understanding the two main series. The core is the 'Once & Future' run by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora. You start with Volume 1: 'The King is Undead'. After that, just follow the volume numbers: 'Once & Future, Vol. 2: The Last of the English', 'Vol. 3: The Parliament of Magpies', and so on. It's a complete, self-contained story.

Where it gets a little messy is the earlier stuff. There's a completely different prose novel series often called 'The Once and Future King' by T.H. White, which is its own classic Arthurian retelling. And sometimes people get that mixed up with the comics. But for the dark, modern fantasy comic, stick to the 'Once & Future' graphic novels in numerical order. The binding and pacing are tight, so you won't get lost.

If you loved the Arthurian legend twist in 'Once Future', you might enjoy 'The Sword in the Stone' by T.H. White. It’s a classic retelling with a whimsical yet profound take on young Arthur’s upbringing. The blend of humor and mythology feels fresh even decades later.

For something more modern, 'The Buried Giant' by Kazuo Ishiguro explores memory and myth in post-Roman Britain with a quiet, haunting beauty. It doesn’t have the same action-packed vibe as 'Once Future', but the way it questions the cost of remembered glory hits just as hard. I’d also toss in 'A Song for a New Day' by Sarah Pinsker if you’re into dystopian futures with a folkloric heartbeat—different setting, similar thematic depth.