Series
Genres
Description
Guy Gavriel Kay has earned three nominations for the World Fantasy Award. In The Wandering Fire, college students Dave, Paul, Kim, Kevin, and Jennifer return to the magical land of Fionavar to battle the minions of Rakoth Maugrim. But this time, Jennifer is pregnant with a god's baby-one destined to "take the longest road" of any child ever born.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986-05
Physical description
395 p.; 18 cm
Publication
Toronto : Harper Weekend, 2012, c1986.
Pages
395
ISBN
9781443409612
Library's review
After a first volume somewhat lacking in drive and direction, The Fionavar Tapestry comes out of the gate swinging in the second, capitalizing majorly on all the set up the first book has provided. A great and powerful read, with Kay's signature ability to merge depth of character with enormity of
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situation on full display. Show Less
Similar in this library
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — 1987)
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Finalist — 1987)
Prix Aurora Award (Winner — 1987)
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
The Wandering Fire, the second installment in the Fionavar Tapestry, picks up six months after the events of The Summer Tree. Jennifer is pregnant with the child of Rakoth Maugrim and insists that she will have the baby if it kills her, because Rakoth did not want the child to live. The others are
The Arthurian element is much stronger in this story and we find out that Jennifer is actually Guinevere, born into this time and place to carry out the endless tragic tale of her love for both Arthur and Lancelot. Kim, who is now Brennin's Seer, summons Arthur to fight with their armies against Rakoth. There are so many threads in this complex weave of a tale, but everything is slowly moving into place for the final battle in the last book.
Kay's writing seemed to smooth itself out a bit in this story, though he still indulges overmuch in fragments for effect. I noticed them less, however, as the story pulled me in. The world-building continues to be strong, and again Kay uses the theme of personal sacrifice effectively. Overall this was more than passable fantasy, maybe even an improvement on the first book, and I eagerly moved on to the next in the series.
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waiting for their summons back to Fionavar, and when it finally comes they find themselves caught up in the politics of the Brennin court and the order of priestesses who worship the Mother. The Arthurian element is much stronger in this story and we find out that Jennifer is actually Guinevere, born into this time and place to carry out the endless tragic tale of her love for both Arthur and Lancelot. Kim, who is now Brennin's Seer, summons Arthur to fight with their armies against Rakoth. There are so many threads in this complex weave of a tale, but everything is slowly moving into place for the final battle in the last book.
Kay's writing seemed to smooth itself out a bit in this story, though he still indulges overmuch in fragments for effect. I noticed them less, however, as the story pulled me in. The world-building continues to be strong, and again Kay uses the theme of personal sacrifice effectively. Overall this was more than passable fantasy, maybe even an improvement on the first book, and I eagerly moved on to the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member xicanti
The second book in The Fionavar Tapestry adds greater emotional depth to the series. I enjoyed it far more than the first volume.
Kay's pacing is excellent. There are some truly tense, exciting moments here as the characters struggle to return to Fionavar, then to aid the land they love. Each event
More archetypes are introduced this time around, including some heavy Arthurian themes. I sometimes find that these sorts of things bog books down, but here they work beautifully. As many of the characters discover their ties to various mythical figures, their reactions fit perfectly with their personalities and with the story's needs. Kay is able to incorporate larger, recognizable themes from Celtic mythology without sacrificing his own story or detracting from the characters he's developed. The blend isn't quite seamless, but it's close enough to it.
As a final note, the Arthurian/Celtic themes do play a large role here. I'm sure some prior knowledge of these things would help the reader out, but it's not absolutely necessary. I know very little about King Arthur and general Celtic mythology, and I had only a little trouble following certain portions. I think this book - and the series as a whole - could be a good jumping-off point for anyone interested in looking at Celtic mythology in general or its role in modern literature.
Kay's pacing is excellent. There are some truly tense, exciting moments here as the characters struggle to return to Fionavar, then to aid the land they love. Each event
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flows smoothly into the next, effectively drawing the reader in and forcing her to read just a little bit more... then just a little more after that... The result is an absorbing and engaging fantasy with a great deal of heart to it.More archetypes are introduced this time around, including some heavy Arthurian themes. I sometimes find that these sorts of things bog books down, but here they work beautifully. As many of the characters discover their ties to various mythical figures, their reactions fit perfectly with their personalities and with the story's needs. Kay is able to incorporate larger, recognizable themes from Celtic mythology without sacrificing his own story or detracting from the characters he's developed. The blend isn't quite seamless, but it's close enough to it.
As a final note, the Arthurian/Celtic themes do play a large role here. I'm sure some prior knowledge of these things would help the reader out, but it's not absolutely necessary. I know very little about King Arthur and general Celtic mythology, and I had only a little trouble following certain portions. I think this book - and the series as a whole - could be a good jumping-off point for anyone interested in looking at Celtic mythology in general or its role in modern literature.
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LibraryThing member hjjugovic
The Fionavar Tapestry continues and I start to get annoyed. Let me explain why and go into reasons why it's still a three star book worth a read, if not a hearty recommendation. Guy Gavriel Kay (GGK)'s central premise in the story is that there is one first world, and all other worlds are connected
That said, I'm beginning to find one of the authors techniques annoying. Since he's telling the story of a "weaving" GGK will often pick up the "threads" of different characters to tell a piece of action from their point of view. Which is all well and good, but it means that sometimes I have to hear the same story told 3 different ways, and then summarized again at various points because of the complicated plot. Sometimes its interesting, but often the additional perspectives don't add much and feels like he's milking one piece of creative storytelling more time than he should.
Also, GGK is constantly insisting that a particular bit is "the saddest story ever" "the bravest act ever" "the boldest hero ever". Is he writing a novel, or the Guiness book of world tragedies? It grates on my nerves and feels pretentious.
Finally (SPOILERS) he picks up the Arthurian myth. It feels like a cheap way to add more resonance to the story. I'm a huge fan of Arthurian legend, and I feel like he misses the point. I disagree with his treatment of the mythology, and that definitely affects my review here. If you feel less strongly about Arthur, you may feel differently.
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to that one. As a result, the battle of good vs evil in this trilogy will affect all the worlds, which are part of a greater "tapestry" watched over by the "weaver." Also, all myths are related. I think GGK does a very good job of showing archtypal relationships between many of the world's myths. There are also some great characters (Diar is my favorite) and moments.That said, I'm beginning to find one of the authors techniques annoying. Since he's telling the story of a "weaving" GGK will often pick up the "threads" of different characters to tell a piece of action from their point of view. Which is all well and good, but it means that sometimes I have to hear the same story told 3 different ways, and then summarized again at various points because of the complicated plot. Sometimes its interesting, but often the additional perspectives don't add much and feels like he's milking one piece of creative storytelling more time than he should.
Also, GGK is constantly insisting that a particular bit is "the saddest story ever" "the bravest act ever" "the boldest hero ever". Is he writing a novel, or the Guiness book of world tragedies? It grates on my nerves and feels pretentious.
Finally (SPOILERS) he picks up the Arthurian myth. It feels like a cheap way to add more resonance to the story. I'm a huge fan of Arthurian legend, and I feel like he misses the point. I disagree with his treatment of the mythology, and that definitely affects my review here. If you feel less strongly about Arthur, you may feel differently.
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LibraryThing member MyopicBookworm
Unexpectedly, I found this less persuasive than its predecessor, though it is hard to pin down why. Perhaps it is something to do with the plot device whereby the characters from this world turn out to be, not mere Canadians, but incarnations, reincarnations, or divinely elect figures of
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mythological significance. This undermines their narrative status as 'bridges' for the reader. There is also something vaguely unsatisfactory about importing Arthurian figures into the narrative, suggesting that the author has run out of original ideas, or at least, cannot find a way of integrating the Arthur myth into his own subcreation. I'm going to go on to part 3 but I don't feel that keen compulsion to do so: my sympathy with characters lessens as their mythic status overwhelms their humanity. MB 27-xii-2007, rev. 31-xii-2007 Show Less
LibraryThing member willowcove
A WONDERFUL series. Something I believe will be considered a classic.
LibraryThing member jharlton
Everyone says this one gets good and you just have to be patient. I never found it got good enough to keep me interested. The characters felt inconsistent and unreal and, personally, I never felt transported to Fionavar.
LibraryThing member Karlstar
Somehow this book manages to be both amazing and flawed at the same time. The writing is a bit choppy and curt and strained at times, but while reading it you are absorbed into the world and the characters and forget all about that.
Unlike more recent fantasy novels, this is short and to the
Unlike more recent fantasy novels, this is short and to the
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point. There isn't a lot of time wasted on minor characters or lengthy side plots, nor words wasted on endless explanation. It is mystical and mythical and fascinating. Not tremendously original at times, but still excellent. If you enjoy Tolkien style fantasy, you'll enjoy this. Show Less
LibraryThing member heidilove
cllassic high fantasy done very well indeed.
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
This is the second book in Guy Gavriel Kay's trilogy, The Fionavar Tapestry. The five students we meet in the first book are drawn back to Fionavar where the land is shrouded in a deadly winter. Each of the five has an important part to play in the story of this land and of the fight of the Light
As in the first book, Kay is playing with older stories and patterns. Everyone in these books is caught up in these patterns and they may break them or end them.
To begin there is the summoning of Arthur Pendragon, the Warrior, doomed to fight for the light for all eternity and equally doomed to play out the love triangle that dominated his life. Once he is summoned, Jennifer discovers she is Guinevere and the threads of her life become more clear. It is also discovered that the third part of the triangle, Lancelot, does not appear to be there and there is hope for a change in the story.
The Wild Hunt makes an appearance here, as well, threading their wild magics throughout the tapestry and the night. The Wild Hunt is mythology that appears throughout Northern, Western, and Central Europe and into North America. There is the huntsman and the men that follow along with one child who rides the silver horse. Susan Cooper plays with this mythology wonderfully well in The Grey King and Kay does it equal justice as the subplot here haunts everyone it touches.
This is a book with few resolutions. It is a middle book. In it we learn more about the characters and more about the evil that will lead to the final battle. In it we begin to care a little more.
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against the Dark.As in the first book, Kay is playing with older stories and patterns. Everyone in these books is caught up in these patterns and they may break them or end them.
To begin there is the summoning of Arthur Pendragon, the Warrior, doomed to fight for the light for all eternity and equally doomed to play out the love triangle that dominated his life. Once he is summoned, Jennifer discovers she is Guinevere and the threads of her life become more clear. It is also discovered that the third part of the triangle, Lancelot, does not appear to be there and there is hope for a change in the story.
The Wild Hunt makes an appearance here, as well, threading their wild magics throughout the tapestry and the night. The Wild Hunt is mythology that appears throughout Northern, Western, and Central Europe and into North America. There is the huntsman and the men that follow along with one child who rides the silver horse. Susan Cooper plays with this mythology wonderfully well in The Grey King and Kay does it equal justice as the subplot here haunts everyone it touches.
This is a book with few resolutions. It is a middle book. In it we learn more about the characters and more about the evil that will lead to the final battle. In it we begin to care a little more.
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LibraryThing member WintersRose
Too many characters. Difficult to follow.
LibraryThing member readinggeek451
The story continues. It's a middle book: lots of movement, some gains, some grievous losses, no resolution.
LibraryThing member faganjc
Kay does a great job building off The Summer Tree and deepening the connections with other mythos, such as the Arthurian legends. In this second book of the series, he shows readers that the Earth characters' backstories really were important and relevant as The Summer Tree indicated. That is, he
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doesn't leave their backstories behind but continues to exploit them as an additional (if less epic-seeming) "mythos." Show Less
LibraryThing member justine
My favorite fantasy series. The Celtic-tinged world created here is filled with heroes, magic and myth and best of all modern people thrown into the mix.
LibraryThing member kenzen
A good second book in this series. My review of the first book could be copied here. I can see why people enjoy it, but for me there is something missing to completely enjoy it. But that's just me, so go on and read the series. Language and writing keep on enjoying me.
An example, in this book
An example, in this book
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there is a surprise attack on some of the characters. The author described it in a way that really relayed the confusion and shock the characters must have felt in this situation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Vinjii
After falling head over heels in love with The Summer Tree, I was more and more disappointed reading The Wandering Fire. Everything seemed a bit less clear. By the time I was halfway through I began mixing up characters, some of them seemed unnecessary. Kay threw Arthur Pendragon into his
If you're looking to dive into Guy Gavriel Kay, please do so, because he's a brilliant author, but start with The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana.
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tolkienesque world, which seemed like just one thing too many. And even the prose came across as less lyrical.If you're looking to dive into Guy Gavriel Kay, please do so, because he's a brilliant author, but start with The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana.
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LibraryThing member rrainer
The end of this one almost pushes it up to a four--and maybe upon further reflection it will--because it is a truly spectacular last forty pages or so, but this is the one book in the series that I always found just a little too disjointed.
LibraryThing member JohnFair
Like most middle books in a trilogy, this book is a bit of a drag as people's motivations are explored in near exhausting detail though there were some fun elements, particularly in the attempt of the King of Cahal's attempt to upstage the new High King of Brennin as it was disrupted by the new
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King and his brother. We're also introduced to the greatest Warrior in all the Worlds of the Weaver and hi Queen. Show Less
LibraryThing member stpnwlf
Second volume of an excellent fantasy series
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
This is a reread (again). The Fionavar Tapestry is Mr. Kay's first series and is worth going back to again and again. The story of five college students drawn into the first world to save all the worlds is epic fantasy at its best.
I admit I cried at parts of this book (again). It's a story of
I admit I cried at parts of this book (again). It's a story of
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sacrifice, love, evil, and heroism - one I truly love. Show Less
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Although it isn't readily obvious, Wandering Fire takes place six months after The Summer Tree. All of the humans are back. Kim is in desperate need of a dream to tell her the plan while Jennifer and Paul are chased by the wolf, Galadan. Paul is able to save them by pulling them back into
Like The Summer Tree before it, Wandering Fire, relies heavily on familiarity to keep non-fantasy readers engaged. This time the legends of King Arthur and Lancelot are front and center, with Jennifer as Guinevere from another lifetime.
After hundreds of years of imprisonment, Rakoth Maugrim, the Unraveller, has finally escaped the confines of his mountain jail. To punish the inhabitants of Fionavar he subjects them to a never-ending winter. Needless to say, the cold confuses the calendar. Midsummer's Eve is upon the people of Fionavar, but they have lost track of time because the weather is anything but summer-like. It takes a great deal of back and forth magic that I can't even get into in order to break the spell.
Meanwhile, there is the birth of Darien, half human and half demigod. He was born of darkness and light; of good and evil...you get the point. The real question is where will he end up when he is old enough to chose a side?
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Fionovar....and so begins the next installment of the Tapestry trilogy.Like The Summer Tree before it, Wandering Fire, relies heavily on familiarity to keep non-fantasy readers engaged. This time the legends of King Arthur and Lancelot are front and center, with Jennifer as Guinevere from another lifetime.
After hundreds of years of imprisonment, Rakoth Maugrim, the Unraveller, has finally escaped the confines of his mountain jail. To punish the inhabitants of Fionavar he subjects them to a never-ending winter. Needless to say, the cold confuses the calendar. Midsummer's Eve is upon the people of Fionavar, but they have lost track of time because the weather is anything but summer-like. It takes a great deal of back and forth magic that I can't even get into in order to break the spell.
Meanwhile, there is the birth of Darien, half human and half demigod. He was born of darkness and light; of good and evil...you get the point. The real question is where will he end up when he is old enough to chose a side?
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LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
A continuation of the saga of the Fionavar Tapestry, and a sequel to The Summer Tree. I wanted to read a continuation of the story of the college students drawn into the first world "to save all the worlds". This is vintage epic fantasy. And besides, there was a chilling development that I
In this second part of the trilogy, the plot development felt glacial, partly due to too much detail. It was easy to get lost in the Arthurian tropes which kept appearing in a chronicle that didn't feel right to include the Pendragon myth. I missed that in an earlier reading. In this re-reading, I was struck by the Winter-death narrative which I guess complimented the Summer-Tree setting.
Fans of classic fantasies with a Tolkien or Arthurian underpinning will enjoy this book, especially as the characters resolve more clearly into their traditional counterparts in well-known legends.
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thoroughly disliked with one character in Book 1 which I hoped to see evolve into a less chilling outcome.In this second part of the trilogy, the plot development felt glacial, partly due to too much detail. It was easy to get lost in the Arthurian tropes which kept appearing in a chronicle that didn't feel right to include the Pendragon myth. I missed that in an earlier reading. In this re-reading, I was struck by the Winter-death narrative which I guess complimented the Summer-Tree setting.
Fans of classic fantasies with a Tolkien or Arthurian underpinning will enjoy this book, especially as the characters resolve more clearly into their traditional counterparts in well-known legends.
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LibraryThing member wishanem
This book is the sequel to "The Summer Tree", part of the Fionavar Tapestry series, and should not be read by anyone who hasn't finished the first book.
I enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as the first one. The way that the certain events are similar to the first book is reminiscent of
Overall, I didn't like this book as much as the first one in the series. I'm still going to stick around for the end though.
I enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as the first one. The way that the certain events are similar to the first book is reminiscent of
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real-world historical myths, which is appropriate for a series that borrows heavily from them. However, I would have preferred a little more difference in this book's plot compared to the first book. The most satisfying element of this book was the way that the characters from earth continue to grow and become more heroic without losing their differentiating qualities. They remain relatable even when they're deciding to placate a nature spirit or command the sea to do their bidding. Another change from the first book was that the book was a little bit sillier than the first one. Characters from mythology appear in a slightly incongruous way, even considering that this is a High Fantasy novel.Overall, I didn't like this book as much as the first one in the series. I'm still going to stick around for the end though.
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LibraryThing member jsabrina
This is at least the fifth time I’ve read this book, and it continues to be compelling and moving.
LibraryThing member JimDR
The follow-up to The Summer Tree continues the weaving begun so beautifully in the first book, and indeed soothes some (not all) of the concerns at the portal-world trappings of the book by connecting the "real world" to Fionavar more directly, thus offering some stronger reasons behind the
This book also cranks the heartbreak up, as the pain of the first book is bound tighter into the weave, and the losses become more permanent, and more unexpected. There is real pain here, but Kay makes sure to leaven it with love and joy, and above all with striving against a Darkness that seems beyond defeat.
A worthy sequel, indeed.
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transport of the five characters. This book also cranks the heartbreak up, as the pain of the first book is bound tighter into the weave, and the losses become more permanent, and more unexpected. There is real pain here, but Kay makes sure to leaven it with love and joy, and above all with striving against a Darkness that seems beyond defeat.
A worthy sequel, indeed.
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LibraryThing member wanderlustlover
This one I liked better than it's predecessor. The beginning was rough and really had nothing more than tidying up loose ends from the last, creating a time line jump, and then getting everyone back where they had to be.
I still find myself only interested at all in two of The Five, Paul and then
There's a whole lot of loose ends in this one. Where the first book could stand alone, so much is left unattended to, or pushed to the side, that I feel I wanted to see more of, whether person or place or event or happening. And certain other things happens so fast looking back I wonder if they were supposed to have mattered more to me.
Of course, you know I loved it when they brought Arthurian Legends into it. (Finally. Something to cling to hard until Ysabelle.) I really, really like what they are doing with that legend here, how it blurs, how everyone loves everyone, and hopefully book three won't have me eating these words.
I still find myself only interested at all in two of The Five, Paul and then
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Jennifer, but I am massively in love and rapt with a whole lot of the secondary characters and large swags of certain Finoavar races. I do feel that the first book portrayed the Evil vs. Good sides more clearly and evenly, while this one had a whole lot on what was happening on The Good Guy's Side. There's a whole lot of loose ends in this one. Where the first book could stand alone, so much is left unattended to, or pushed to the side, that I feel I wanted to see more of, whether person or place or event or happening. And certain other things happens so fast looking back I wonder if they were supposed to have mattered more to me.
Of course, you know I loved it when they brought Arthurian Legends into it. (Finally. Something to cling to hard until Ysabelle.) I really, really like what they are doing with that legend here, how it blurs, how everyone loves everyone, and hopefully book three won't have me eating these words.
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Media reviews
Ce deuxième livre de la saga a les mêmes qualités... et les mêmes défauts. Mais on retrouve effectivement une poésie à la Tolkien, qui, si elle est parfois trop appuyée, se révèle assez intéressante. Et l'arrivée d'Arthur et de Lancelot ajoute une nouvelle dimension à l'histoire... Ce
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sont d'ailleurs les personnages les plus intéressants, avec le Prince Diarmuid et sa dulcinée... Show Less
Phenix
Auteur canadien, Guy Gavriel Kay aime les mythes, la fantasy et l'histoire médiévale. Sa merveilleuse Chanson d'Arbonne en a fait rêver plus d'un avec son mélange de magie et d'amour courtois. Avec cette série, il se lance plus dans la fantasy que dans son pendant historico-merveilleux, avec
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délice et humour.
Cinq jeunes gens d'une petite ville américaine reçoivent la visite d'un étrange personnage (et même de plusieurs) qui les entraîne dans un monde dont ils n'ont pas la moindre idée, monde de magie et de contes où leur présence est nécessaire à l'avènement d'un nouveau roi. Un par un, nos cinq contemporains se découvrent un destin étrange qui les éloigne encore plus de leur histoire et de leur monde. La tapisserie du monde est complexe, alignant côte à côte des histoires et des univers que tout sépare, que rien ne lie mais qui pourtant s'interpénètrent et se rejoignent par intervalles. Dans cette complexité, les personnalités de nos jeunes gens vont s'affirmer, révélant des traits qu'on n'aurait pu imaginer, leur ouvrant des perspectives inconnues en nous faisant rêver. Les différents peuples de ce monde étrange qui semble être au centre du nôtre, sont attachants et pourtant différents... Une fantasy mythologique et médiévale rare. Show Less