Knights fight for our nation

Perilous Times Thomas D Lee Orbit, £16.99

Most of the people awarded knighthoods these days probably wouldn’t be much use in seeing off dragons.

But if they don’t make knights like they used to, perhaps they don’t need to. Maybe the Arthurian knights are still with us.

That’s the premise of this deliciously dotty debut fantasy novel by Thomas D Lee. Thanks to magical “resurrection stones” given to them by Merlin, the brave and bold Knights of the Round Table can haul themselves out of their graves whenever England requires their help.

In the past, the Knights helped us out at Agincourt and at the Battle of the Somme. But now, England is in greater peril than ever. Half the country is under water thanks to climate change, with much of the population stuck in refugee camps and the government doing little to help.

A shadowy group of the country’s richest people are hatching a plot that will save their skins but make life worse for everybody else.

Happily, one of Arthur’s noblest knights, Sir Kay, is on their case, with the help of a well-meaning but inept and in-fighting collective of climate protesters. Fantasy novels are often earnest, and “cli-fi” (climate change fiction) even more so, but Lee is a very funny writer as well as a very thoughtful one.

His gay, motorcycle-riding Sir Lancelot and his loopy, floral-shirtwearing Merlin are wonderful creations.

Such is Lee’s skill that he makes you care about the predicament of the Knights – tired and lonely, they find immortality more of a curse than a blessing – as much as the pressing matter of imminent climate catastrophe.

It’s a chilling vision of the near future and a celebration of England’s inspirational folklore that doesn’t stint on thrills, spills and good gags.