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jgrace 's review for:
Under Heaven
by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
<b>Under Heaven</b> – Guy Gavriel Kay
Audio performance by Simon Vance
5 stars
<i>“The world could bring you poison in a jeweled cup, or surprising gifts. Sometimes you didn’t know which of them it was.”</i>
Here is a truly epic adventure set in 8th century China of the Tang Dynasty. The story concerns Shen Tai, second son of a famous general. As the story begins Tai is coming to the end of the two year mourning period for his father. Contrary to custom, Tai has honored his father by taking on the great and impossible labor of burying the thousands of bones left from a catastrophic battle. This great labor has attracted attention in the Empire and beyond. Tai is about to receive a gift that will change the course of his life; 250 Sardian horses, from the hands of the enemy.
<i>“ It was never wise, Bystan had decided on his way here from the fort, to underestimate the influence of women at a court”</i>
There are some mild elements of fantasy or magical realism in two of the plot lines of this book, but overall the story reads like detailed, evocative, historical fiction. The characters are well developed and their relationships are complicated. Tai becomes a pawn within the convoluted and dangerous machinations of court politics. The story builds around the actions of four very different women. There are shattering consequences for Tai and the Dynasty.
This was definitely a work of historical fiction, but I was reminded of Frank Herbert’s <b>Dune</b>. Tai comes from the stark environment of the Steppes to be thrown into the opulence and deviance of court politics. There are battle scenes and hand to hand combat, betrayals and executions. There are those in power who are despicably evil and those with true honor and bravery. It was a wonderful story. There are parallels in the characters and the situations, but I think it reminded me of <b>Dune</b> mostly because of Kay’s amazing ability to build the civilization. I feel as if I've been there.
I had both the printed copy and the audio version. Simon Vance read beautifully as usual.
Audio performance by Simon Vance
5 stars
<i>“The world could bring you poison in a jeweled cup, or surprising gifts. Sometimes you didn’t know which of them it was.”</i>
Here is a truly epic adventure set in 8th century China of the Tang Dynasty. The story concerns Shen Tai, second son of a famous general. As the story begins Tai is coming to the end of the two year mourning period for his father. Contrary to custom, Tai has honored his father by taking on the great and impossible labor of burying the thousands of bones left from a catastrophic battle. This great labor has attracted attention in the Empire and beyond. Tai is about to receive a gift that will change the course of his life; 250 Sardian horses, from the hands of the enemy.
<i>“ It was never wise, Bystan had decided on his way here from the fort, to underestimate the influence of women at a court”</i>
There are some mild elements of fantasy or magical realism in two of the plot lines of this book, but overall the story reads like detailed, evocative, historical fiction. The characters are well developed and their relationships are complicated. Tai becomes a pawn within the convoluted and dangerous machinations of court politics. The story builds around the actions of four very different women. There are shattering consequences for Tai and the Dynasty.
This was definitely a work of historical fiction, but I was reminded of Frank Herbert’s <b>Dune</b>. Tai comes from the stark environment of the Steppes to be thrown into the opulence and deviance of court politics. There are battle scenes and hand to hand combat, betrayals and executions. There are those in power who are despicably evil and those with true honor and bravery. It was a wonderful story. There are parallels in the characters and the situations, but I think it reminded me of <b>Dune</b> mostly because of Kay’s amazing ability to build the civilization. I feel as if I've been there.
I had both the printed copy and the audio version. Simon Vance read beautifully as usual.