Looking for the King Review

Shiny, unlike an old spear.

David C. Downing is an English professor and C.S. Lewis expert. His recent novel, Looking for the King, combines mystery, romance, and favorite quotes from the Inklings, a small group of men who met regularly for fellowship and included C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and J.R.R. Tolkien. In the book, the main character, an American named Tom who is visiting England to write a tour guide on King Arthur, ends up meeting with each of these men and attending an Inklings meeting. Tom and his assistant Laura visit King Arthur hot spots thoughout England, eventually looking for the Spear of Destiny, which supposedly was the spear used to pierce Christ's side on the cross.

I enjoyed this novel and found the story interesting. When real quotes are mixed with fiction, it's difficult to sort out the truth from fabrication, but Downing includes a list of references in the back of the book to let the reader know where the real quotes originated. Many of the themes from C.S. Lewis were familiar, and I enjoyed several of his witty quotes. Because I just don't care, I glossed over the King Arthur lore without committing it to memory. If you're interested in King Arthur or want to know more about the Inklings, it's a fun read. (PG for dramatic action, recommended)