Godwin is known for his novels of legendary figures placed in realistic historical settings, written in a lyrical yet precise prose style and sardonic humor. His retelling of the Arthur legend, Firelord in 1980, Beloved Exile in 1984 and The Last Rainbow in 1985, is set in the 5th century during the collapse of the Roman empire, and his reinterpretation of Robin Hood takes place during the Norman conquest and features kings William the Conqueror and William Rufus as major characters. His other well-known works include Waiting for the Galactic Bus and its sequel, The Snake Oil Wars, which is also known as The Snake Oil Variations, in 1989. These were humorous critiques of American pop culture and religion. His short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. His short story "Influencing the Hell out of Time and Teresa Golowitz" was the basis of an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. Godwin was also at various times a radio operator, a research technician, a professional actor, an advertising man, a dishwasher and a maitre d' hotel. In 2011, he was the Guest of Honor at the World Fantasy Con. He was placed in a close care facility in 2012 due to a decline in his long- and short-term memory. He died in 2013.
Reception
Reviewing Godwin's novel Sherwood, James Idema stated "Once into Parke Godwin`s absorbing and highly original account of the ancient story, an appealing new Robin Hood will come to life...With impressive skill and vivid imagination, he portrays a hero, from childhood to young manhood, who is altogether credible in human terms".
The novel A Cold Blue Light, 1983, is sometimes listed as the third volume of the trilogy, but is unrelated; the third volume, Singer Among The Nightingales, has been written but, unfortunately, was not published before his death.
Firelord series
Firelord, 1980
Beloved Exile, 1984
The Last Rainbow, 1985
The Firelord books deal with the Arthurian legend and events before and after the time of King Arthur. Firelord is about Arthur's rise and his relationship with his powerful wife, Guenevere. Beloved Exile follows Guenevere after Arthur's death as different factions fight for control of Britain. The Last Rainbow is set earlier, and revolves around a love story involving Saint Patrick. Godwin also published another book featuring Arthurian material, The Lovers: The Legend of Trystan and Yseult, published in 1999 under the pseudonym Kate Hawks.
Snake Oil series
Waiting for the Galactic Bus, 1988
The Snake Oil Wars: or Scheherazade Ginsberg Strikes Again, 1989
