Merlin related advice concerning my fantasy

[AnyaKimlin]

Watching Merlin last night I had an oh crumbs moment with my fantasy world and story.

My world is set inside a crystal and has Merlin as a time traveler. Until last night I had not heard of Merlin and the crystal cave - just Merlin's Cave which gave me the idea. Myrrdin the name of character also apparently means falcon (I found that out searching for information on the book) and my Merlin is the start of the bird-shifters they come from him. Admittedly his form is a raven or rook in my story but one of the major birdforms is a falcon.

I know ideas are not copyrighted but could I have problems with this or am I tired and tipsy worrying for nothing?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

No, not if you are using Merlin as a basis, the crystal cave has had many different guises. If you are doing something on merlin, though, it might be worth picking up a reference book as there is so much mythology, inc. english/saxon, Irish, breton and welsh that crosses into the myth, it is useful to have an overview.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Your idea doesn't sound enough like the Mary Stewart book, The Crystal Cave (which inspired so many other works) to be any problem so far as I can see.

Myrddin, in the original Welsh, meant sea fort. But the anglicized Merlin is the name of a small falcon.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I have just read that up thanks. Sea Fortress makes more sense with my story than falcon. My knowledge of Merlin is a little limited and I planned on reading up on him for the next story when he makes his first appearance. He kind of ends up as Alice in Wonderland at the end of the series.

It was the idea that the cave was the entrance to the crystal planet which is where all energy in the universe begins.

OK I will press forward with the story. (Pardon for any bad writing I am slightly further down the Martini route than I was with the first).

 

[Abernovo]

Myrddin, shape-shifting and caves have been linked for years, going back, possibly, to the oral tradition. I don't think it should be a problem.

As to a rook, that's also one of the messenger birds and holders of wisdom in many traditions. Notably, they were the messengers of Odin, but also a form taken by at least one of the major goddesses of Celtic belief. So, all in all, it sounds like you're on safe ground.

 

[Kaldonian Mage]

Watching Merlin last night I had an oh crumbs moment with my fantasy world and story.

My world is set inside a crystal and has Merlin as a time traveler. Until last night I had not heard of Merlin and the crystal cave - just Merlin's Cave which gave me the idea. Myrrdin the name of character also apparently means falcon (I found that out searching for information on the book) and my Merlin is the start of the bird-shifters they come from him. Admittedly his form is a raven or rook in my story but one of the major birdforms is a falcon.

I know ideas are not copyrighted but could I have problems with this or am I tired and tipsy worrying for nothing?

You're worrying for nothing.

Even if you were to step on any toes your publisher would advice you to make small edits.

 

[cybermike]

It is common folklore, so I dont see how it can be copyrighted.

... There was a huge bird perched calmly eyeing him .... Never had Arthur seen such a creature on Titangel ... He heard a shrill burst of laughter.

A bird that laughs ... He stalked towards the bush and to his surprise it made no sign of flying away. - He stopped dead in his tracks . The bird was perched on the shoulder of a tall man in blue.

My name is Arthur he said to the man
Yes I know, and men call me Merlyn of Iona
What of the black bird on your shoulder? Does it belong to you?
No no, it might well be that my crafty friend here owns me.

After the meeting, Merlyn walked behind a tree and vanished into the Earth.
Arthur looked for a cave entrance as the Raven (whose name was Solomon) watched him, the with a burst of laughter, vanished after Merlyn.

The first meeting of Merlyn and Arthur.
Chapter 1. A boy to magic born
The 21 lessons of Merlyn
A study in Druid Magic and Lore
By Douglas Monroe

I dont see a problem.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

You're worrying for nothing.

Even if you were to step on any toes your publisher would advice you to make small edits.

That's the trouble by the end of my second story it becomes a major rewrite not a small edit and the whole premise of the world/series would need rethinking. So thank you for all the advice so far.

(I am now more sober than the original slightly panicked post).

Main issue seems to be not the birds or the basic of a cave (as both are very much linked to the legends) but the crystal cave where magic began which seems to be a more recent invention in a novel.

At present I have a time machine (more Narnia than Dr Who) that Merlin uses to more or less create the world and father the man that goes onto father the elemental tribes and begin the part birdfolk etc I have had the entrance to it based in Merlin's cave. The planet is the origin of all the energies (and magic) in the universe.

The world itself is a flat world inside a crystal (I don't call it a crystal it is an ore) sphere.

I am thinking it is different enough.