The Cup contains a sparkling and refreshing well thought out mix of short stories full of thought-provoking bubbles that stimulate the palate.
The Cup is fast flowing and really gives the impression that it is going somewhere. It is intellectually stimulating and is well written with intelligent dialogue. It is informative geographically and historically (even with the poetic licence!) – and the stuff in it about King Arthur is intriguing and credible. It marries the ancient with the (almost) contemporary; showing the emptiness and futility of the whole 60’s worldview thing. It shows the corrupting influence of drugs and drink upon the young, vulnerable and easily misled – not to mention its corrupting influence upon older people too.
The Brian Jones postscript brings us back to naked reality from the realm of fiction, and reminds us that The Cup story is an allegory – that fame and fortune is a grasping at the wind, that the “Holy Grail” is not a solid object, but spiritual. Like Geraldine in the story, we naively leave ourselves exposed to lust and evil in others when we are too trusting of smooth-talking strangers with hidden ulterior motives. Like the Heir in the story we need to be careful that we do not abuse whatever power we have over others on account of our own corruption. It was good to read a story that points the reader to the Bible for the answers. Quite brilliant!
I could go on and on praising individually the other stories included in this book. I really liked and enjoyed reading The Cup along with its collection of short stories by Alexander Tait (a.k.a. William Scobie). See also his Whisky in the Jar; Upon This Rock; Mightier than the Sword; Song of the River.
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