- Paperback: 600 pages
- Publisher: Voyager; New Ed edition (20 May 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006480306
- ISBN-13: 978-0006480303
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 11.2 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 370,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Magnificent
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Booklist
An enormously rewarding novel
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First Sentence
Always remember that they come from the desert. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Always remember that they come from the desert. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of those rare books of near-transformative beauty and resonance. _The Lions of Al-Rassan_ is a densely-woven, hugely rewarding novel drawing on the themes of the Spanish Reconquista. The setting is an analogue of medieval Spain, as the Jaddite (Christian) and Asharite (Muslim) powers are pushed towards an apparently inevitable conflict by a mixture of piety, politics, and personal grievances. In between, caught as ever in the crossfire, are the wandering Kindath (the Jews).
At the heart of the story is a complex series of personal relationships, drawn with such clarity and emotional honesty that the reader never loses sight of the human consequences of the epic events. In particular, there is the emerging friendship (and love) between the three central characters: Rodrigo Belmonte, celebrated Jaddite war leader (the novel's El Cid); Ammar ibn Khairan, an Asharite poet, soldier and diplomat; and Jehane bet Ishak, a female Kindath physician. All three are unique and memorable creations, living, breating and believably conflicted people, showcasing Kay's talent for well-rounded characters.
In bringing these three together - exiled to a brilliant Asharite city-state as the peninsula moves to the brink of war - the novel provides not only a highly-involving (and extremely moving) read, but it also elegantly underscores the themes of the work. Demonstrating the impact of the coming war upon the main characters' lives and loves, Kay explores how religious and cultural fundamentalism fractures and polarises societies, shutting down the spaces in which people may interact simply as human beings. Wider political considerations put them on opposite sides of the conflict, with shattering results. What emerges is a lament for a lost world, for the dream of _convivencia_ - the peaceful and creative co-existence of cultures of which we are offered a tantalising glimpse in the figures of Ammar, Rodrigo and Jehane.
Ultimately, this is a poignant, intelligent, and profound work, a classic of historically-inspired fiction rendered in lucid, lyrical prose.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Guy Gavriel Kay was first noticed when he edited the Silmarilliion with Christopher Tolkien. Following this he wrote a trilogy called "The Fionavar Tapestry". These books established Kay as a truly talented writer. His lyrical writing style provided a wonderful antidote to the established "quest" style of fantasy novel.
After this trilogy he began to write novels that could be described as "Alternative History". Whilst set on "fantasy" worlds the novels were visibly based upon real-world events. For example, A Song for Arbonne is based upon Medieval France and the concepts of courtly love.
All this brings me to Kay's masterwork - The Lions of Al-Rassan. This novel is set in Kay's interpretation of a Moorish Spain (including a take on The Day of the Ditch). The three principal characters representing the three faiths involved in the struggle for freedom (from oppression and intolerance), for this is a novel about faith and humanity.
Ammar ibn-Khairan - poet, diplomat, assassin - represents the ruling class of Al-Rassan (based upon the Islamic faith). Rodrigo Belmonte - soldier - the Jaddite war-leader in exile (Catholic). And the woman at the centre of the conflict - Jehane, a Kindath (Jewish) physician. Events conspire to pull the characters together in the lakeside city of Ragosa where they overcome ideological differences in the cause of freedom.
This novel is Kay at his most poetic, it has a beauty that flows from the writing and makes you wish that this novel would not end. For you know, whilst reading, that this can only end badly. The characters have but a small time to live without conflict before they are ripped apart by religion and war. By providing such perfectly drawn characters Kay pulls you into their world and subtly highlights the dangers of religious intolerance. You care - and that makes you think - and that is something that not a lot of books can achieve.
In conclusion; read this novel and read everything else Guy Gavriel Kay has ever written. There is no author who is better at making you care so much about characters that you hurt alongside them.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is beautifully written. So much fantasy relies on covering its deficiencies as literature by sweeping the reader along with an exciting storyline. Here, every word is worth savouring. Characters are fully drawn, and the twists of the plot are satisfying as well as thrilling. The author creates vivid pictures of locales and action. This is a mature work that stands apart from most of its genre.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Kay's strongest tale
It's very hard for me to rate Guy's books comparatively, since I prize most of them equally highly. The Lions of Al Rassan is particularly impressive, though. Read more
Published 1 month ago by SJATurney
Powerful, beautiful and moving
I'm a 42 yr old man, just realising that I can still be moved to tears.
And the amazing thing about it, is that I would happily go through it all again. Read more
And the amazing thing about it, is that I would happily go through it all again. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hangerhead
A beautiful story
Well, this was a three Kleenex book and no mistake. That's three boxes of Kleenex, of course. Not a book to read on public transport, unless you have no embarrassment gene. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. Pauline M. Ross
A rich, character-driven alternative history
I am so glad I ordered this, on the strength of having loved "Sailing to Sarantium". It's now not only my favourite book by Kay, but has a strong claim to be in my top 10 of all... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Leander
Mesmerising
This is the second of Kay's novels that I've read. The first was Tigana which, although based on medieval Italy, still qualified as 'high fantasy'. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Steve D
Guy Kay on top form
I hesitate to say how many times I have read this book, probably because I have lost count. This re-telling of the expulsion of the Moors from Spain (though of course it's not... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. C. J. Eager
Kay's Seminal Work.
The Lions of Al-Rassan is, in many ways, the seminal novel in Guy Gavriel Kay's opus. Or at least it is to date. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jon Rosenberg
Guy Gavriel Kay can do no wrong
As far as I'm concerned, Guy Kay can do no wrong. In my view this is the best of them all - an emotional roller coaster of threads that come together for a great finale. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by D. Reeson
Brilliant!
The Lions of Al-Rassan
A great story, powerful, beautiful, and written with eloquence. I read it for the first time about ten years ago and it immediately became my... Read more
A great story, powerful, beautiful, and written with eloquence. I read it for the first time about ten years ago and it immediately became my... Read more
Published on 8 July 2009 by Miko
A fantasised retelling of the Reconquista
Al-Rassan was the stronghold of the western Asharite faith until Ammar ibn Khairan killed the last khalif, splintering the land into feuding city-states. Read more
Published on 5 May 2009 by A. Whitehead
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