- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Voyager (1 July 2009)
- Language Unknown
- ISBN-10: 0007334249
- ISBN-13: 978-0007334247
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 460,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘I’m not just impressed by THE SUMMER TREE – I’m overwhelmed’ Marion Zimmer Bradley
‘Engrossingly worthwhile’ Asimov’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine
‘A lovingly detailed work … a classic of the genre’ Fantasy Review
Product Description
The first volume in Guy Gavriel Kay’s stunning fantasy masterwork, now reissued with the beautiful original cover art by Martin Springett.
Five men and women find themselves flung into the magical land of Fionavar, First of all Worlds. They have been called there by the mage Loren Silvercloak, and quickly find themselves drawn into the complex tapestry of events. For Kim, Paul, Kevin, Jennifer and Dave all have their own part to play in the coming battle against the forces of evil led by the fallen god Rakoth Maugrim and his dark hordes.
Guy Gavriel Kay’s classic epic fantasy plays out on a truly grand scale, and has already been delighting fans of imaginative fiction for twenty years.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
My initial feeling on reading the synopsis was to think how unoriginal could you get - 5 people magically transported to another world to face an evil superbeing. Instead I got a book that was brilliantly written with complex themes. This was the first of Guy Gavriel's books that I read and along with all of his other books I have re-read it time and time again.
The other reviewer implies that the inclusion of so many themes from other sources means that the book itself is unoriginal - but I found that this gave a depth and grounding over which Guy Gavriel Kay has written his own very original story. The links to myths gave it a timelessness and feeling of reality, even when the story was at its most fantastic.
The characters are not cardboard cut outs - as the story develops so do they in ways that are not expected. I haven't read many fantasy books where the author has the courage to kill off major characters (mores the pity sometimes!) and it certainly wasn't predictable.
Read it and make up your own mind - but make sure you can quickly lay your hands on the last 2 books in the series as it ends on a cliff hanger. Why haven't I given it 5 stars? - because the next 2 books are even better!
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the few authors who credits his reader with intelligence and I have enjoyed all of his books. If you like alternate history try Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors. If you like magical themes try Tigana. If you like high fantasty read the Fionavar Tapestry. Or just read them all:)
The other reviewer implies that the inclusion of so many themes from other sources means that the book itself is unoriginal - but I found that this gave a depth and grounding over which Guy Gavriel Kay has written his own very original story. The links to myths gave it a timelessness and feeling of reality, even when the story was at its most fantastic.
The characters are not cardboard cut outs - as the story develops so do they in ways that are not expected. I haven't read many fantasy books where the author has the courage to kill off major characters (mores the pity sometimes!) and it certainly wasn't predictable.
Read it and make up your own mind - but make sure you can quickly lay your hands on the last 2 books in the series as it ends on a cliff hanger. Why haven't I given it 5 stars? - because the next 2 books are even better!
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the few authors who credits his reader with intelligence and I have enjoyed all of his books. If you like alternate history try Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors. If you like magical themes try Tigana. If you like high fantasty read the Fionavar Tapestry. Or just read them all:)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazing early work of a true minstrel! Well-known myths and legends, ancient, medieval and modern, are entwined with the lyric prose of a fantasy master. I have been touched to the core and have shed many a tear racing through the three books that make the Fionavar Tapestry and I would recommend having all of them at hand when you start reading!
I first read these books a very long time ago. They were original and addictive.
I have been amused at the assumptions by people finding them now that they are derivative. I suspect the converse is true.
The important point is that these books are well written and stand the test of time. I looked for them so that I can re-read them again - this time on my Kindle.
I have been amused at the assumptions by people finding them now that they are derivative. I suspect the converse is true.
The important point is that these books are well written and stand the test of time. I looked for them so that I can re-read them again - this time on my Kindle.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unoriginal idea executed with originality & imagination
Magic & mysticism. Wizards & dwarves. Witches & priestesses. Prophecy. War. Strange creatures. Gods & goddesses. First loves & bitter endings. Loads and loads of drama. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sars
Disappointing
An extremely immature early novel, which compares poorly to his later masterpiece, Tigana.
The principal annoyance is in the characters, which seem to be some kind of... Read more
The principal annoyance is in the characters, which seem to be some kind of... Read more
Published 23 months ago by fantamic
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