Merlin

"Yggdrasil appeared, revealing herself as an intelligent being, and asked Merlin to be her intermediary with humanity."
-- Booklet 030

Merlin, also referred to as Merlin III and in his spectral form as Merlin II, is one of the most extraordinary figures in Die Terranauten. He is an ancient Druid who served King Arthur in 6th-century England, was imprisoned in a cave by enchantment, and was awakened centuries later by Yggdrasil -- the sentient cosmic tree at the heart of the saga -- to serve as her guardian and intermediary with humanity. He raises David terGorden from infancy, protects Myriam during her pregnancy, and ultimately sacrifices his physical life to save the Drivers from annihilation. Even after death, Merlin's spirit endures in Space II, continuing to guide David and shape the destiny of the Terranauts across the stars.

Merlin is the saga's bridge between Arthurian fantasy and interstellar science fiction -- a figure literally plucked from medieval legend and placed at the heart of a 26th-century struggle for cosmic survival.

Biography

The Druid of King Arthur (6th Century AD)

Merlin's origin lies in the mists of 6th-century England. He served as a Druid in the court of King Arthur, a period he would later describe to David terGorden as a time of dreams and illusions. Arthur's kingdom, Merlin reveals, was "merely a dream" -- a noble vision that could not withstand the Norman oppression of the age. At some point during or after Arthur's fall, Merlin was imprisoned in a cave by enchantment, his body locked in stasis while centuries passed around him (Booklet 030).

In Space II, David later witnesses PSI-echoes of this era: Caesar's legions, Arthur's fortress, and Merlin himself imprisoned and waiting. It is here that Yggdrasil first appears to Merlin as an intelligent being. The primeval tree explains that humanity has been misusing her gift of the mistletoes and asks Merlin to serve as her intermediary -- a bridge between her alien consciousness and the human race. Merlin agrees. Yggdrasil breaks the spell imprisoning his body and sends him forward through time, reborn into the distant future (Booklet 030).

Guardian of Yggdrasil in Odrodir (c. 2475)

Merlin materialises in Odrodir (Holy Valley), the sacred valley in Greenland where Yggdrasil grows. He takes up residence in a cave -- henceforth known as Merlin's Cave -- and assumes the role of Guardian of the Holy Valley. He is discovered by Myriam, the brilliant biologist and secret Terranaut working on the Yggdrasil Project for the Biotroniks Corporation. When Myriam has a vision of Merlin near Yggdrasil, the ancient Druid appears before her in physical form, declaring that Yggdrasil sent him to protect her and guide humanity (Booklet 030).

Myriam introduces Merlin to Growan terGorden, General-Manager of Biotroniks and her husband-to-be. Growan is deeply sceptical of the old wizard but tolerates his presence. Merlin requests a tunnel connecting Odrodir to the palace -- a request Growan denies, though he would later order its construction after Myriam's death. Merlin warns the Terranauts about the treachery of Clint Gayheen, Growan's security chief who secretly works for Max von Valdec of the Kaiser Corporation (Booklets 030, 031).

Protector of Myriam and Saviour of the Drivers

When Hados, a scientist working covertly for Valdec, arrives at the research centre and attempts to inject Drivers with a lethal substance disguised as a PSI-enhancer, it is Merlin who receives a warning directly from Yggdrasil. Together with Mar-Estos and Shadow, Merlin intervenes, saves the Driver Elko from death, and exposes Hados's true allegiance. Hados is killed, and his death is covered up as an accident. This episode demonstrates Merlin's unique connection to Yggdrasil -- she communicates with him directly, trusting him as her sole human conduit (Booklet 031).

Throughout the turbulent final months of Myriam's life -- her increasing isolation under Growan's control, the machinations of Gayheen, and the growing threat from Valdec -- Merlin remains a steadfast guardian in Odrodir. When Myriam retreats from the palace to the Holy Valley, Merlin protects her as she deepens her bond with Yggdrasil, injecting herself with a distillate from the tree.

Raising David terGorden (c. 2475-2478)

When Myriam dies giving birth to David terGorden, she declares with her last breath that David is not Growan's son but the child of Yggdrasil, destined to free humanity. Growan, devastated and suspicious, rejects the infant entirely. It is Merlin who takes the newborn boy and carries him to Odrodir (Booklet 031).

Merlin raises David in the Holy Valley for approximately three years, until Growan reluctantly agrees to take custody. Even after this handover, Merlin continues as David's teacher and mentor. David later remembers hunting with Merlin as a formative experience of his youth. Merlin's tutelage develops David's latent PSI abilities and instils in him a reverence for Yggdrasil and the natural world that will define his entire life. In this relationship -- the ancient wizard raising the prophesied child in a hidden valley beside a cosmic tree -- the saga most openly channels its Arthurian roots: Merlin raising Arthur, transposed to the 26th century.

The Insurrection and the PSI Inferno (2499-2500)

When the saga's main action begins, Merlin is an old man living in his cave in the Holy Valley, still serving as its guardian. As David terGorden returns to Terra and the conflict between the Terranauts and Max von Valdec's Council of Corporations erupts into open war, Merlin is drawn back into action.

In Booklet 003, Merlin is described as "an old magician and David terGorden's former teacher," a member of the Terranauts who resides in Odrodir. His daughter Lithe is introduced alongside him, initially cold toward David but ultimately aiding his escape.

When David crashes his Schweber while fleeing the Gray Guards, it is Merlin who rescues him, providing the vehicle from which David destroys the pursuing Ringo with his psionic powers (Booklet 004). Merlin's glider hangar in the cave becomes a critical Terranaut asset -- the escape route David and his companions use when they flee the Holy Valley.

Death: The Summoning of the Round Table (January 2500)

Merlin's death is one of the saga's most powerful and mythologically resonant moments. After the Drivers' desperate crash-landing in Greenland, the Gray Guards advance on the Holy Valley. The Drivers are exhausted and unable to form a Super-Lodge. Lithe seeks her father's help.

In his cave, Merlin performs a final, devastating ritual. Drawing on the collective PSI powers of the Drivers, he summons the life energy of twelve ancient warriors -- the knights of King Arthur's Round Table -- and projects a terrifying illusion that drives the Gray Guards away in fear and confusion. The effort kills him (Booklet 006).

This is the saga's most direct fusion of Arthurian legend and science fiction: a 6th-century Druid, awakened by a cosmic tree, uses the psychic ghosts of the Round Table to defend humanity's future in the 26th century. Merlin's death is not merely physical sacrifice but the final act of a guardian whose duty spans fifteen hundred years.

Afterlife in Space II

The Spirit of Merlin (Booklets 029-092)

Merlin's physical death does not end his role in the saga. His spirit persists in Space II, the alternate dimension that is home to Banshees (lost souls), the consciousness of Yggdrasil, and echoes of all history. In this spectral form, he is sometimes referred to as Merlin II -- a Banshee, but one with purpose and agency rather than the aimless wandering that afflicts most souls in Space II.

Booklet 029 -- Invasion of the Soulless: On Rorqual, David is contacted by the spirit of Merlin II after encountering the Varnha (Thought-Masters of the Green Flyers) and witnessing the attack of the Banshees. This is the first confirmation that Merlin endures beyond death.

Booklet 030 -- Glimpse of Yesterday: In the saga's most extensive Merlin episode, David is fleeing Green Flyers on Rorqual when he is possessed by a soul that reveals itself as Merlin III. David finds himself in a forest reminiscent of ancient Earth, then is drawn to a cave in Odrodir. There, Merlin -- "not dead as he believed, but returned to Space II" -- explains that David has traveled over a thousand years into the past. Merlin shares his own history as a Druid of King Arthur, his imprisonment, his awakening by Yggdrasil, and his appointment as her intermediary. He then sends David's consciousness through his own memories, allowing David to witness his mother Myriam's entire story -- her recruitment, her Terranaut allegiances, her marriage to Growan, and her sacrificial death. This vision is transformative for David, shaping his understanding of his destiny and his mother's sacrifice.

Booklet 039 -- The Gravity Trap: When the Gravitron malfunctions in the Walhalla System, creating a black hole that threatens to consume everything, David is trapped aboard the doomed THOMAS ALVA. Merlin appears and rescues David from certain death, transporting him to the safety of the LASSALLE. The text describes Merlin as "a mysterious wizard who exists in both the normal universe and Space II" -- emphasising his liminal nature as a being who transcends the boundary between life and death, between dimensions.

Booklet 059 -- A World for Yggdrasil: On Adzharis, as David undertakes the trial to plant a new Yggdrasil seedling, he is guided by apparitions of both Merlin III and Lithe. The old guardian, even as a spirit, continues to steer David toward the fulfilment of his cosmic mission.

Booklet 066 -- In the Light of the Murder Sun: Merlin II appears alongside Scanner Cloud in a journey to Kaisergrad on Lancia to destroy a Threshold Field Generator that is causing catastrophic spatial distortions. In a transcendent act, Merlin merges with the space lanes themselves -- the cosmic pathways through Space II -- while Scanner Cloud merges with the rainbow vortex. This suggests that Merlin's spirit ultimately becomes part of the infrastructure of interdimensional travel, woven into the very fabric of Space II.

Booklet 092 -- The Secret of the Genessans: Scanner Cloud collapses aboard the JAMES COOK and experiences visions of Merlin II urging a return to Genessos to investigate the Tafelberg and contact Lineasker, the Hermit of the Mountain. Even at this late point in the saga, Merlin's spirit remains active, guiding key events from within Space II.

Key Actions (Chronological)

• Serves King Arthur as a Druid in 6th-century England (030)
• Is imprisoned in a cave by enchantment; body locked in stasis for centuries (030)
• Is awakened by Yggdrasil, who asks him to serve as her intermediary with humanity (030)
• Sent forward in time to Odrodir, assumes the role of Guardian of the Holy Valley (030)
• Appears to Myriam in Odrodir, claiming Yggdrasil sent him to protect her (030)
• Warns the Terranauts about Clint Gayheen's treachery (030, 031)
• Receives a warning from Yggdrasil about Hados's lethal experiment; intervenes to save the Drivers (031)
• Takes the newborn David terGorden after Growan rejects him; raises David for approximately three years (031)
• Continues as David's teacher and mentor through his youth (003)
• Rescues David from a Gray Guard pursuit, providing the Schweber from which David destroys a Ringo (004)
• Aids the escape from the besieged palace of Ultima Thule (004)
• Summons the life energy of King Arthur's Round Table to create an illusion that drives away the Gray Guards; dies in the process (006)
• Leaves a video message guiding David to the Omega Program (006)
• Contacts David as a spirit on Rorqual (029)
• Possesses David and transports his consciousness through time, revealing the full history of Yggdrasil, Myriam, and the Terranauts (030)
• Rescues David from a black hole in the Walhalla System (039)
• Guides David as an apparition during the planting of a new Yggdrasil on Adzharis (059)
• Merges with the space lanes of Space II alongside Scanner Cloud on Lancia (066)
• Sends visions to Scanner Cloud urging a return to Genessos (092)

Relationships

Appearances (13 booklets)

The Naming Convention: Merlin, Merlin II, Merlin III

The saga uses multiple designations for Merlin, which can be confusing:

• Merlin and Merlin III: Used interchangeably for the living, physical Merlin -- the Druid who guards the Holy Valley, raises David, and dies in Booklet 006. The "III" may suggest he is the third in a line of guardians or Druidic successors, though the saga does not elaborate on Merlins I and II in this context.
• Merlin II: Used for Merlin's spirit form in Space II after his physical death. As a Banshee -- but one with purpose and agency -- he continues to influence events from within the second dimension. This designation appears from Booklet 029 onward.

The overlap in numbering (the living Merlin called "III," the spirit called "II") likely reflects the saga's treatment of Space II as a realm where normal sequence breaks down. In practical terms, all three names refer to the same individual at different stages of his existence.

Themes and Significance

The Bridge Between Fantasy and Science Fiction

Merlin is the single character who most explicitly connects Die Terranauten's science-fiction universe to the Western fantasy tradition. He is literally the Merlin of Arthurian legend -- a Druid who served King Arthur, was imprisoned by enchantment, and was reborn into the far future. The Round Table knights he summons in Booklet 006 are not metaphorical; they are the PSI-echoes of real warriors from 6th-century England. By placing this figure at the heart of a 26th-century saga about corporate tyranny, space travel, and cosmic ecology, the authors declare that the mythic and the scientific are not opposed but continuous -- that the same forces that animated Arthurian Britain animate the galaxy.

The Guardian Archetype

Merlin occupies the classic role of the wise old guardian who protects the chosen one and then must step aside. He raises David as the Arthurian Merlin raised Arthur, instilling values and abilities that will be needed when the time comes. His death -- sacrificing himself so the young hero can survive -- is the archetypal mentor's exit. But the saga complicates this trope: Merlin does not truly depart. His spirit remains active in Space II, rescuing David from a black hole, possessing him to share vital knowledge, and ultimately merging with the cosmic infrastructure itself. The mentor never fully lets go.

Nature's Emissary

Merlin is not merely an ally of Yggdrasil; he is her chosen voice. She awakens him, appoints him, and communicates through him. In a saga where the central conflict is between organic, PSI-based space travel (the mistletoes of Yggdrasil) and destructive artificial technology (Kaiser Force), Merlin stands as nature's ambassador to humanity. His cave in Odrodir, surrounded by the roots of the cosmic tree, is the spiritual centre of the entire saga.

Death as Transformation

Merlin's trajectory -- from mortal Druid to imprisoned sleeper to reborn guardian to sacrificial death to transcendent spirit merged with the space lanes -- is the saga's most complete arc of transformation through death. He demonstrates that in the universe of Die Terranauten, death is not an ending but a change in the mode of existence. This idea, central to the saga's treatment of Banshees, Entities, and Space II, finds its purest expression in Merlin's story.

The Fifteen-Hundred-Year Duty

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Merlin's character is the sheer span of his commitment. From 6th-century England to the 26th century and beyond, across physical life, death, and spiritual existence, he never abandons his duty to Yggdrasil and the humanity she has chosen to nurture. He is the saga's most faithful servant -- not to a king, a corporation, or a political cause, but to a living, cosmic tree and the promise he made to her in a cave fifteen hundred years before the story begins.

Merlin appears in 13 of the 99 booklets of Die Terranauten, spanning from Booklet 003 to Booklet 092. He is the saga's oldest character by far and its most enduring guardian.