My dad tried getting me to read this as far back as high school, but I generally hate it when real world characters are put in fantasy worlds. It's really not doing anything too. Undoubtedly the influence of Tolkien is palpable in the story, in regards to worldbuilding and some of the tropes, but, Kay's mythos has more depth, poignancy, and a tragic feeling that subdues Tolkien's bitterweet nostalgia. YA Fantasy series. Later, when the vengeful princess tries to assassinate the prince for her loss of honor, he ends up, (This will serve as my review of the entire Fionovar Tapestry- Spoiler pearl clutchers beware- there be dragons of plot and theme reveals here! Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid. Or, just because she’s pretty and he doesn’t have a grander concept for it? There are three books that make up the Tapestry: The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Darkest Road. If he's willing to waste his time like that, he doesn't seem so intimidating to me. Lord Of The Rings? The trilogy revolves around the story of five young adults who are transported from our own world into Fionavar to help in an epic struggle against the … Guy Gavriel Kay is just a good writer. Let's be straight here- Kay knew how much he was borrowing from Tolkein and I think the matching arcs of the books were quite intentional. Their lack of reaction cued me in pretty early on that I wasn’t going to like this book. Firstly, the characters in this tale are three dimensional with real feelings and conflicts. April 1st 2001 Partly because Guy Gavriel Kay is a writer of such a high caliber that writing about his writing feels more than a little ridiculous. In The Fionavar Tapestry, Guy Gavriel Kay has spun an epic composed of a variety of threads. Now they must bring all the strength a ISBN 13: 9780007217243 . by HarperCollins Publishers Canada, The Summer Tree / The Wandering Fire / The Darkest Road. open/close all folders . All the stories and people created in here are beautiful, I can't recommend this one enough to anyone who loves fantasy. Kay. I read this book for one of my group challenges and I’m so glad I did as it was awesome!! This specific ISBN … I've read other Kay (and loved it all), but for some reason I just kept putting this one off. There is a strange dichotomy to writing a review to this series. The author's writing style, like Tolkien, is very poetic. The author's writing style, l. At first glance, this trilogy seems to be nothing more than another Tolkien clone. Advertisement: The Five . [ Like, also, when they’re all out hunting in the fields and glorying in their manhood and then the kid gets the best spirit-animal EVER and it’s a unicorn/Pegasus? Firstly, the characters in this tale are three dimensional with real feelings and conflicts. The Fionavar Tapestry (The Fionavar Tapestry #1-3). There are so many things one could say that can be construed as negative. As a reader, I found myself drawn into the world of Fionavar and its struggles, in its people and their lives. From elves, dwarves, goblins and an all powerful evil one, this book uses everything Tolkien invented and more. I love all kinds of books, but the ones that hold the most special place in my heart are the kind where people struggle against a seemingly insurmountable evil and yet find a way through to the light. one has guilt! Kay is a natural storyteller and he shows it in this tale. We've been telling these kinds of stories as long as we've known how, and Kay draws on that fact by including strands from Tolkein foremost, but also the King Arthur stories, Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and so Wikipedia tells me though I did not know, Chinese literature. I think I'd rather give this one a 3.5 on sheer enjoyability, having the reaction that I'd read this all before, and it's pacing was slow, slow, slow, but after having read it and having some thoughts as to what Kay was trying to accomplish, I'm revising it up to a solid 4. I’m sure there were previous books that didn’t get published, because you don’t become such a skilled writer without plenty of practice. The first book was pretty wondrous. I have no idea why I waited so long! In fact, given how shicking that last statement may sound, I intend to re-read LOTR in the not too distant future just to confirm for myself the accuracy of the above. There is a intriguing connection that grows between reader and book the deeper one gets into it. Select Your Cookie Preferences . Tolkien. It's inferior to Kay's later work, but worth reading nonetheless. Most of the readers tend to dismiss this as a imitation of the great master, and to do so is not fair at all. In the first book, The Summer Tree, five college students from Toronto are carried over to Fionavar by a mage of Brennin for that country’s celebration of its monarch’s fiftieth year on the throne. sometimes you get to know people who seem automatically awkward, whose social style is stilted, composed of quotes from movies or off-putting attempts to be clever, insisting on repeating tired tales, who seem eager to please yet incapable of easy connection. I felt compelled to read the entire trilogy as a result, when I knew I should just stop after the first book. They change, just like that? I don’t know how to explain my confusion better than that. Fresh from reading most of Tolkien's work, and writing a gigantic essay on it too, I have a different perspective on Kay's work. I read this book as a middle schooler in Toronto, having no idea what I was in for. There are so many facets to this story and Kay manages to balance them all and keep them active and interesting. and so it is with The Summer Tree. I mean, who else would you choose when you’re Canadian? Liked the use of "the weaver" as a creator and associated language. He has a lot in common with Tolkien, really: the synthesis of a new mythology (though not done as history, and therefore lacking all the little authenticating details that Tolkien put in) using elements of an old one (though Kay used Celtic and Norse mythology, and goodness knows wha. The one dimensional aspect of almost every character. Another complaint will be how so much in this series is a complete rip off from older ones. I still don't like the ending. This is one of those five star books that I've always been reluctant to actually review. “most hated by the dark, for their name is light.”, “This was not a beauty that warmed one. But the language and style of the 1980's were the ones that I first learned and that stuck with me. I wonder if everyone has their favourite era of fantasy, and whether that era corresponds to when they first truly became enthralled with the genre. The Fionavar Tapestry is a high fantasy trilogy by Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay (GGK), set in the fictional world of Fionavar. It had a pretty dragon on the cover and couldn't be that bad, right? Wow, I am in awe of the breadth and scope of this extraordinarily layered masterpiece. 1995 THE WANDERING FIRE (FIONAVAR TAPESTRY #2) by Guy Gavriel Kay narrated by Simon Vance By cynthiasallyhaggard on May 27, 2020 In order to appreciate this volume, it is REALLY IMPORTANT to read (experience) the first volume first. To be fair, I have previously read two of his more recent novels (set in Ancient China) which are masterful and The Summer Tree is very obviously an early entry in his oeuvre. I love books like treasured friends, so I prefer to accept the enjoyment they give me without analyzing them too closely. On my list of "All Time Favorite" novels. But also partly because Kay's writing has always sort of defied description. The original part was noteworthy because, as he did in many novels since, the basic elements of his story ... Read full review. But like some of the best folk music, I cannot help but love when a familiar story is enriched by a new kind of telling- one that adds a different perspective. Welcome back. The Fionavar Tapestry is a tale of travelers from our world to the world of Fionavar, which is the first world from which all other worlds emanate. There's even a flying pink unicorn for gosh sake. Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. your own Pins on Pinterest It is hard to be original in this well-worn genre, but Kay pulls it off and makes his characters and the world-setting unique and fresh. Then there is the eventual conversion where everyone from Earth talks like a Fionavarian. ), Summer Reading from Sci-Fi & Fantasy Authors. At first glance, this trilogy seems to be nothing more than another Tolkien clone. (It's definitely not a kid's book, but I'd almost rather my fictional progeny read this than Narnia.) This book has been on my to-read list for a long time. Especially when reminded that Kay worked on The Silmarillion with Christopher Tolkien. However, the author surpasses Tolkien on a number of points. “There are kinds of action, for good or ill, that lie so far outside the boundaries of normal behavior that they force us, in acknowledging that they have occurred, to restructure our own understanding of reality. next to the actual book. It was a really good read and the closing of a large circle that gives me hope for the future. I don’t like that, to be totally honest. Kay is undoubtedly one of the Canadian masters of high fantasy, and The Fionavar Tapestry is one of his most enduring works. It's still a unicorn that flies.) (Okay, not pink, blood red, but close enough. Though predictable, the plot holds a certain intrigue that meant that I did pick the book up again each time I put it down and thus read it to the end. The dialogue, for example. While most of Kay's other novels are set in the same multiverse as the Fionavar tapestry, Ysabel (published in 2007) is an actual sequel. I'm rereading it now, and am far less impressed. [I thought the use of the Christ story was really lovely. We’d love your help. If you were stalked by some dudes who claimed they're a mage and a dwarf who wanted to take you to their fantasy kingdom through a magic portal, would you receive their invitation immediately? Gay Gavriel Kay is an incredible writer and his world building as fantastic. Kay tells about things lost, the sacrifice that behooves us all of joy, but gives a beauty washed in tears of sorrow, of the things that never might be or rather could have been. Definitely not my favourite Guy Gavriel Kay, I could certainly tell it was one of his older books. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I just finished re-reading this book and was blown away by it. In the three novels that make up the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy collected in this omnibus edition (. I confess that I teared up at several points throughout the tale - which is a rare occurrence for me. It's been too long since I read a good fantasy novel (or novels, I guess). Refresh and try again. The creativity in this book lies less in its newness but rather in its skilled borrowing and "weaving." To see what your friends thought of this book, Whereas WoT borrows a lot from Eastern philosophies: renewal, rebirth, opposites-create-balance, The Fionavar Tapestry (of which The Summer Tree is th. Kay makes me realize that I feel that way because most authors assume that such real world characters would be overly credulous/idiotic/skeptical, though, and in fact the characterization here is one of the biggest strengths of the Fionavar books. Wow! This is a great read-- a totally consuming fantasy novel with all the typical light against dark themes. Those works are published and marketed as historical fantasy, though the author himself has expressed a preference to shy away from genre categoriz. The trilogy is a grand homage to J.R.R. This is Guy Gavriel Kay’s earliest published novel. Happily stripped of the awkward, stilted ‘real world’ situations and dialogue that occasionally marred the preceding novels, The Darkest Road takes place entirely in Fionavar and is all the stronger because of it. Good doesn’t always win; a win isn’t always. The story is divided into 3 books: The Summer Tree; The Wandering Fire; The Darkest Road; It is also available in a collected edition. Everything fantasy is in there - dragons, gods, magic, swords and more. Also, there’s something about her getting tortured that seemed really blunt. He writes epic fantasy of the highest order but getting into how affecting his writing is, how its often brought me to tears, that's harder to get down somehow. It cut, like a weapon. I'm going to start my review of this book with some, at least slightly negative comments, so...before I do so let me say that I liked the book pretty well and am giving it 4 stars (I'd probably go 3.5+ if I had that option, but I don't). They have been called there by the mage Loren Silvercloak, and quickly find themselves drawn into the complex tapestry of events. Buy The Wandering Fire (Fionavar Tapestry) New edition by Kay, Guy Gavriel (ISBN: 9780048233622) from Amazon's Book Store. This was pretty good, if a little over complicated, and the Camelot backstory was a lot with the whole Fionavar mythology as well. We have to make room for them.”, “We salvage what we can, what truly matters to us, even at the gates of despair.”. Goodreads. [s], The Summer Tree -- May 2019 -- no spoilers, The Summer Tree -- May 2019 -- spoilers allowed, Fionavar Tapestry--The Summer Tree: Roll call and first impressions (NO SPOILERS! Those works are published and marketed as historical fantasy, though the author himself has expressed a preference to shy away from genre categorization when possible. Five men and women find themselves flung into the magical land of Fionavar, First of all Worlds. Arthurian inclusions are messy and contribute only weakly to plot development. However, the author surpasses Tolkien on a number of points. 5.0 stars. Fresh from reading most of Tolkien's work, and writing a gigantic essay on it too, I have a different perspective on Kay's work. THE SUMMER TREE: The Fionavar Tapestry Book One. If yes, then this book might be suitable for you. I did find the writing a little weird at times as Mr. Kay likes to use lots of comma's and I also found the writing at the start to be a little choppy, but otherwise the first book was good fun. Start by marking “The Fionavar Tapestry (The Fionavar Tapestry #1-3)” as Want to Read: Error rating book. I also like the characters and the interweaving of mythology (especially Celtic--the cauldron, the horn, etc.). --Jeffrey Canton. The first volume in Guy Gavriel Kay’s stunning fan… More. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid. it was really interesting and the world building was incredible. He writes epic fantasy of the highest order but getting into how affecting his writing is, how it. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid. next to the actual book. I feel like I would have enjoyed this series more if I hadn’t finished reading Lords of the Rings recently. Where do you go for fantastical, must-read book recommendations? Had I known this series was essentially a beat-for-beat reinterpretation of the Lord of the Rings (with Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere thrown in for good measure) I may have put it off for awhile until the tropes wouldn’t feel so overused to me. I can see where this is his first novel but it's a novel of an author finding his sea legs and I'm looking forward to how the rest of the series develops. I particularly liked the disagreement as to whether the sacrifice on the Summer Tree was for good or evil. None of these characters felt like real people to me; the students are pretty interchangeable (one’s a bit crankier! Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, but while the echoes of Tolkien's masterwork are very real, the books offer the wonderful taste of a new fantasy writer cutting his teeth at the foot of a master. The story rates 5*. Seriously? I confess that I teared up at several points throughout the tale - which is a rare occurrence for me. Another complaint will be how so much in this series is a complete rip off from older ones. With all the various situations occurring and escalating, Kay manages to keep the story moving forward in such a way that the excitement escalates. See 1 question about The Fionavar Tapestry…, Best Fantasy Series, Trilogies, and Duologies, Group Read April-June 2016: The Fionavar Tapestry, Fionavar Tapestry - whole trilogy (SPOILERS FOR ALL THREE BOOKS! I want to check these out, but I do have one question - these stories aren't childish or anything, are they? Like anything I have to say is going to sound like "duhhh dis wuz real good!" I really enjoyed this story. It knits together everything from Arthurian legend to the old fantasy standby of the epic, across-the-ages battle between good and evil in richly detailed and breathtakingly moving way. Part I of this story is in many ways a grown-up. This is one of those times where borrowing the omnibus edition from the library because it's easier to get all three books that way is a bad idea. Good doesn't always triumph, and when it does it is laced with sorrow in this tale. Really a 3.5. Kay tells about things lost, the sacrifice that behooves us all of joy, but gives. Read 1,365 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Of the three I’ve read (Tigana — his masterpiece — and The Lions of Al-Rassan being the other two), this is by far written in a style that is most traditional to the tropes of High Fantasy, and that’s where some of its occasional creakiness lies; there are lots of mysterious names and a ton of info dumping about Fionavar’s ancient history that calls to mind the excesses of J.R.R. He has been awarded the International Goliardos Prize for his work in the literature of the fantastic, and won the World Fantasy Award for Ysabel in 2008. Kay takes touchstones from mythology and weaves them together in a haunting opener to this trilogy about the first world and the impact five people from our own world have on it, in the midst of an epic struggle between good and evil. Secondly, the author's ability to make you feel alongside with the characters has touched me perhaps more so than any other series. But there is a hint in the five stars, Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. This one reflects on the nature of fate. For example, characters congratulating each other by saying, "Brightly woven." Saved from goodreads.com. But the language and style of the 1980's were the ones that I first learned and that stuck with me. It's not that fantasy was better in those days; in fact, I'll bet any number of literary scholars would argue earlier works were more innovative and more recent ones more sophisticated and inclusive. I wonder if everyone has their favourite era of fantasy, and whether that era corresponds to when they first truly became enthralled with the genre. Written in some wild mix of omniscient and third person limited with more head hopping than a jackrabbit on the run it has moments where you get lost on who the POV belongs to. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid. Jun 27, 2019 - The Summer Tree book. If it's a high fantasy cliche, it's in there. A disappointment after reading Ysabel, but then this was Kay's first book. The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry #1) by Guy Gavriel Kay Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The concluding volume of Fionavar Tapestry is a perfect fantasy novel. He has been awarded the International Goliardos Prize for his work in the literature of the fantastic, and won the World Fantasy Award for Ysabel in 2008. I do appreciate, though, that the leader of the CBS Orchestra for the Late Show with David Letterman is the Christ figure in this. It's been too long since I read a good fantasy novel (or novels, I guess). See what your friends are reading. Refresh and try again. The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1) by Guy Gavriel Kay | Goodreads Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Satisfying for fantasy readers. [I was disappointed that all he could think of to torment Jennifer was overwhelming sexual assault. Kay is a natural storyteller and he shows it in this tale. But also partly because Kay's writing has always sort of defied description. 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