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museoffire 's review for:
The Summer Tree
by Guy Gavriel Kay
This is one of those five star books that I've always been reluctant to actually review. Partly because Guy Gavriel Kay is a writer of such a high caliber that writing about his writing feels more than a little ridiculous. Like anything I have to say is going to sound like "duhhh dis wuz real good!" next to the actual book. But also partly because Kay's writing has always sort of defied description. 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.
The Fionavar Tapestry is Kay's magnum opus, his [b:The Dark Tower|5091|The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372296329s/5091.jpg|6309701] or [b:The Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1156043001s/33.jpg|3462456]. Which is interesting because the premise of the series is predicated on the idea that the land of Fionavar is the source of every other fantasy world ever created, it is the heart from which all the others are born. There's a gravity to it, a holiness and a reverence that makes you want to talk about its legends and history in a hushed voice. You are speaking of something sacred when you speak of Fionavar.
The basic story is a simple one that many other fantasy novels and series have used. A group of college friends are taken by magic to Fionavar and tasked with helping quell the darkness that threatens to destroy it and thus all other worlds. Kevin, Paul, Dave, Kimberly, and Jennifer all have their roles to play in the coming wars and they each have their private struggles with fear and anger and regret before they can realize their destinies.
This is probably the most elegant series I've ever read and has always sort of defined "high" fantasy for me. The language helps. Kay is a poet and is able to have his characters, modern day 20 somethings, proclaim their love for each other in the style of epic poets or make huge declarations of war and it never feels cheesy or remotely out of place and I've never, ever encountered another author who could pull that off. They think beautifully, their inner monologues all have a depth of feeling that should be melodramatic but somehow isn't. Its like those rare moments in really great musical theater where the actors sing because they have no other choice. I can't imagine Kay's characters speaking in any other way.
There's a solemnity to this series that I just adore. And everything is built on a foundation of love, a theme that runs through virtually all of Kay's writing. Even the epic battle being fought between the forces of good and evil is founded on a broken heart.
This is a series to be savored. Take it from an expert in the art of skipping through to the end when the going gets tough. You will want to read every word. I haven't even touched the epic quests, star crossed love, or magical battles. If I got into the elves and the dwarves and gods we'd be here for a year.
But Fionavar is best discovered on your own the way I did. That's how most magical journey's start anyway isn't it? With a wrong turn or a chance encounter or the moment when your hand touches the spine of a beautifully bound book and you take it home without even reading the title because you just have a feeling about this one.
1/8/2019 Just a quick addendum having now listened to this one through Audible. The only thing that could have made the experience of reading these books better was a really terrific narration. This was indeed delivered in spades by Simon Vance (who also does a very fine Jonathan Harker in Audible's "Dracula" which I will one day finish) who reads the story like some kind of legendary bard out of a fantasy epic. Which is of course entirely appropriate. He's got a sonorous, rich voice that floats effortlessly between stalwart kings, world crushing demons, and cold high priestesses. His voice seems as thought it was made to speak Kay's words.
The Fionavar Tapestry is Kay's magnum opus, his [b:The Dark Tower|5091|The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372296329s/5091.jpg|6309701] or [b:The Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1156043001s/33.jpg|3462456]. Which is interesting because the premise of the series is predicated on the idea that the land of Fionavar is the source of every other fantasy world ever created, it is the heart from which all the others are born. There's a gravity to it, a holiness and a reverence that makes you want to talk about its legends and history in a hushed voice. You are speaking of something sacred when you speak of Fionavar.
The basic story is a simple one that many other fantasy novels and series have used. A group of college friends are taken by magic to Fionavar and tasked with helping quell the darkness that threatens to destroy it and thus all other worlds. Kevin, Paul, Dave, Kimberly, and Jennifer all have their roles to play in the coming wars and they each have their private struggles with fear and anger and regret before they can realize their destinies.
This is probably the most elegant series I've ever read and has always sort of defined "high" fantasy for me. The language helps. Kay is a poet and is able to have his characters, modern day 20 somethings, proclaim their love for each other in the style of epic poets or make huge declarations of war and it never feels cheesy or remotely out of place and I've never, ever encountered another author who could pull that off. They think beautifully, their inner monologues all have a depth of feeling that should be melodramatic but somehow isn't. Its like those rare moments in really great musical theater where the actors sing because they have no other choice. I can't imagine Kay's characters speaking in any other way.
There's a solemnity to this series that I just adore. And everything is built on a foundation of love, a theme that runs through virtually all of Kay's writing. Even the epic battle being fought between the forces of good and evil is founded on a broken heart.
This is a series to be savored. Take it from an expert in the art of skipping through to the end when the going gets tough. You will want to read every word. I haven't even touched the epic quests, star crossed love, or magical battles. If I got into the elves and the dwarves and gods we'd be here for a year.
But Fionavar is best discovered on your own the way I did. That's how most magical journey's start anyway isn't it? With a wrong turn or a chance encounter or the moment when your hand touches the spine of a beautifully bound book and you take it home without even reading the title because you just have a feeling about this one.
1/8/2019 Just a quick addendum having now listened to this one through Audible. The only thing that could have made the experience of reading these books better was a really terrific narration. This was indeed delivered in spades by Simon Vance (who also does a very fine Jonathan Harker in Audible's "Dracula" which I will one day finish) who reads the story like some kind of legendary bard out of a fantasy epic. Which is of course entirely appropriate. He's got a sonorous, rich voice that floats effortlessly between stalwart kings, world crushing demons, and cold high priestesses. His voice seems as thought it was made to speak Kay's words.