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Available
Call number
Series
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Collection
Publication
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (1985), 232 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mythology. HTML:Taken to a realm of magic and war, five men and women from our world embark on an epic journey in the first novel in Guy Gavriel Kay�??s classic, critically acclaimed fantasy trilogy, The Fionavar Tapestry. It begins with a chance meeting that introduces the five to a man who will change their lives: a mage who brings them to the first of all worlds, Fionavar. In this land of gods and myth, each of them is forced to discover what they are and what they are willing to do, as Fionavar stands on the brink of a terrifying war against a dark, vengeful god
Media reviews
Une idée de départ intéressante (cinq étudiants terriens partent dans un monde de fantasy, ce qui permet de s'identifier aux personnages) pour une série qui louche plus ou moins habilement du côté de Tolkien...
Mais tout cela est finalement assez lourd, justement à cause de cette façon de
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raconter l'histoire de façon dramatique, comme si elle était rapportée bien plus tard sous forme de légendes... Il y a des moments très poétiques, d'autres terrifiants, d'autres drôles, pas mal de bonnes idées, mais les personnages ne parviennent pas à se rendre attachants, et l'histoire, avec son côté "inexorable", semble très pesante par moment 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
User reviews
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
This my third read of this series. I read it when it first came out when I was in my twenties. I read it again in my thirties and now a third time in my forties. It's been a great read every time.
The Summer Tree is the opening book in the trilogy that makes up The Fionavar Tapestry. This is a book
In the opening book, Kay brings together the characters. There is Kimberly Ford - an intern who is recognized by a visitor from the other world of Fionavar as a Seer. Jennifer - a young woman of some beauty, Kim's roommate - cool, reserved, somewhat undefined. Kevin Laine - handsome, charismatic, good at everything, studying for the Bar. Paul Schaefer - intelligent, musical, haunted by the death of his beloved Rachel. Dave Martyniuk - the outsider, a law student and athlete. These five are brought together to journey to Fionavar - there to save the world.
Who doesn't love a book like this? Who doesn't wish for an adventure like this? To be drawn out of your own life and into another world where your actions matter and where you can be heroic.
Kay is an amazing writer and in this book he weaves together many mythologies, although most prominently featured here is the sacrifice of the ruler for the replenishing of the land. It's in Odin hanging from Yggdrasil (the World Tree). It's in the Celtic tales of the wicker man and in the Christian story of Christ's crucifixion. Fionavar, you see, is experiencing a drought and the King has forbidden his son from hanging on The Summer Tree.
The other old story that is threaded through here is that of Prince Hal, who would become Henry V. Despaired of by his father for his wastrel ways and friendship with Falstaff, his story is mirrored in that of Prince Diarmud, the younger son, who like Prince Hal turns out to be more than he appears.
There is such great storytelling here and such beautiful writing. There is adventure and tragedy, horror and sadness, and always rebirth.
The Summer Tree is the opening book in the trilogy that makes up The Fionavar Tapestry. This is a book
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that manages to be high fantasy without being overshadowed by Tolkein, although it's interesting to note that its author, Guy Gavriel Kay, helped to edit The Silmarillion. Both Tolkein and Kay (and most good fantasy writers) are weaving together older stories in new ways.In the opening book, Kay brings together the characters. There is Kimberly Ford - an intern who is recognized by a visitor from the other world of Fionavar as a Seer. Jennifer - a young woman of some beauty, Kim's roommate - cool, reserved, somewhat undefined. Kevin Laine - handsome, charismatic, good at everything, studying for the Bar. Paul Schaefer - intelligent, musical, haunted by the death of his beloved Rachel. Dave Martyniuk - the outsider, a law student and athlete. These five are brought together to journey to Fionavar - there to save the world.
Who doesn't love a book like this? Who doesn't wish for an adventure like this? To be drawn out of your own life and into another world where your actions matter and where you can be heroic.
Kay is an amazing writer and in this book he weaves together many mythologies, although most prominently featured here is the sacrifice of the ruler for the replenishing of the land. It's in Odin hanging from Yggdrasil (the World Tree). It's in the Celtic tales of the wicker man and in the Christian story of Christ's crucifixion. Fionavar, you see, is experiencing a drought and the King has forbidden his son from hanging on The Summer Tree.
The other old story that is threaded through here is that of Prince Hal, who would become Henry V. Despaired of by his father for his wastrel ways and friendship with Falstaff, his story is mirrored in that of Prince Diarmud, the younger son, who like Prince Hal turns out to be more than he appears.
There is such great storytelling here and such beautiful writing. There is adventure and tragedy, horror and sadness, and always rebirth.
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LibraryThing member atimco
The Summer Tree, the first in Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry, is high fantasy in the order of The Lord of the Rings and tells the story of five people brought from our world to the realm of Fionavar, which is "the first of all worlds." Our world is just a shadow of Fionavar, and if Fionavar
Kay mixes a lot of mythologies and traditions into this story. Paul's sacrifice on the Summer Tree is unmistakably an echo of another sacrifice on a Tree two thousand years ago in our world. And like Christ, Paul gets to return from death, his sacrifice complete and effective. Arthurian legend also gets some attention in this story and is developed further in the next two books.
Apparently Kay is a much better known figure in the realm of modern fantasy than I suspected; he helped Christopher Tolkien edit his father's sprawling work to posthumously publish The Silmarillion. How do you get that job?
I had high expectations going in, especially for Kay's prose that has been so highly praised by fellow fantasy lovers. And so I was disappointed at some of his odd stylistic choices in this book. Kay certainly has a way of turning a graceful phrase, but I can't stand his habit of fragments. "So and So did this. Which was just what So and So intended." This is okay very occasionally for effect, but on almost every page? It gives me the impression of a ploy for profundity and gets annoying really fast. And yet there are powerful moments in the prose, where Kay really does plunge his reader into the story. Some of his descriptions are lovely.
I could have done with a lot less of the sleeping around that Kay's characters engage in. They move in and out of sexual encounters with no residual effects, no regrets or emotional repercussions. Sorry, I just don't buy it. And while we're on the subject, there is a graphic rape scene that is not appropriate for younger readers.
Other readers cautioned me that the Fionavar Tapestry is not Kay's best work, and although I enjoyed it, I am looking forward to reading more of his work and seeing him improve.
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ceases to exist, all the worlds will fail. Loren Silvercloak, the mage who brings the five University students—Kevin, Dave, Paul, Jennifer, and Kim—to the kingdom of Brennin, is fearful of the return of Rakoth Maugrim, who has been bound under the mountain for centuries. When the vigilant rituals fail, he will return to wreak his vengeance on a world that has rejected him. Only the five outsiders can resist him.Kay mixes a lot of mythologies and traditions into this story. Paul's sacrifice on the Summer Tree is unmistakably an echo of another sacrifice on a Tree two thousand years ago in our world. And like Christ, Paul gets to return from death, his sacrifice complete and effective. Arthurian legend also gets some attention in this story and is developed further in the next two books.
Apparently Kay is a much better known figure in the realm of modern fantasy than I suspected; he helped Christopher Tolkien edit his father's sprawling work to posthumously publish The Silmarillion. How do you get that job?
I had high expectations going in, especially for Kay's prose that has been so highly praised by fellow fantasy lovers. And so I was disappointed at some of his odd stylistic choices in this book. Kay certainly has a way of turning a graceful phrase, but I can't stand his habit of fragments. "So and So did this. Which was just what So and So intended." This is okay very occasionally for effect, but on almost every page? It gives me the impression of a ploy for profundity and gets annoying really fast. And yet there are powerful moments in the prose, where Kay really does plunge his reader into the story. Some of his descriptions are lovely.
I could have done with a lot less of the sleeping around that Kay's characters engage in. They move in and out of sexual encounters with no residual effects, no regrets or emotional repercussions. Sorry, I just don't buy it. And while we're on the subject, there is a graphic rape scene that is not appropriate for younger readers.
Other readers cautioned me that the Fionavar Tapestry is not Kay's best work, and although I enjoyed it, I am looking forward to reading more of his work and seeing him improve.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
This is a classic of the fantasy genre that wallowed in my to-read pile for several years. I found it highly readable once it got going, but events at the end have discouraged me from reading onward.
At the start, I found the book rather confusing with five Canadian young adults to keep straight,
This is very much a "getting ready for the quest" book. The five from Earth each go through terrible ordeals as they mature, come into their powers, and confront this new world as it falls into turmoil. The ordeal with Jennifer at the very end turned me completely off. I just don't like books that go there as a plot device.
At the start, I found the book rather confusing with five Canadian young adults to keep straight,
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plus the visitors from Fionavar. As this book was written in the 1980s, it tended to head-hop a lot and that made it even more confusing. Once they landed in Fionavar, however, it became much easier to follow, though the sheer number of mythologies that overlap in the book made it daunting at times. Still, it was fun and fascinating.This is very much a "getting ready for the quest" book. The five from Earth each go through terrible ordeals as they mature, come into their powers, and confront this new world as it falls into turmoil. The ordeal with Jennifer at the very end turned me completely off. I just don't like books that go there as a plot device.
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LibraryThing member MyopicBookworm
An excellent book, which I review before getting very far into the next volume. (Like Lord of the Rings, this is not a trilogy of novels but a single novel in three parts.) The high hopes I had (rating Kay's Tigana among my favourite fantasies) were not disappointed.
Of course the influence of
Like Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, Kay brings Tolkienian fantasy into the late 20th century, and draws aside the veil of courtly romance in favour of unabashed sexuality.
The most direct comparison is with Joy Chant's Red Moon, Black Mountain (I'm not sure which came first*, but there is uncanny similarity in the plot device of losing one character between worlds and having him end up with the nomad riders of the plains).
There are occasional infelicities: the style is sometimes too self-consciously formal, aiming too deliberately for effect, though when it does work the result can be poetic and evocative. I am looking forward to part two. MB 26-xi-2007
* I checked: Chant's book came out in 1970, so it's much earlier. MB 25-i-2008
Of course the influence of
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Tolkien is undeniable, and indeed undenied. Kay was writing under the shadow of The Silmarillion, on which he had worked with Christopher Tolkien. He aims to give his setting a mythological past, and its comparative lack of depth is forgiveable in any author who has not, like JRRT, spent over three decades in world-building. Kay takes some Tolkienian motifs and scenarios (a fading race of of semi-immortal elves, a diversity of human kingdoms, a last-ditch war against a resurgent evil god), but does very different things with them. Tolkien was steeped in the heroic literature of Beowulf and the sagas: Kay pulls in some much darker (dare I say chthonic?) elements of European myth, and dives deeper into pagan religion, as presented in Frazer's Golden Bough, than the Catholic Tolkien might have felt able to, adding threads such as the sacrifice of the king and the tension of God- and Goddess-focused religion. Unlike Tolkien (but like many fantasists, including C. S. Lewis) he also uses real-world characters as his bridge; once I got over trying to identify with a bunch of Canadian students, this worked well enough for me. Like Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, Kay brings Tolkienian fantasy into the late 20th century, and draws aside the veil of courtly romance in favour of unabashed sexuality.
The most direct comparison is with Joy Chant's Red Moon, Black Mountain (I'm not sure which came first*, but there is uncanny similarity in the plot device of losing one character between worlds and having him end up with the nomad riders of the plains).
There are occasional infelicities: the style is sometimes too self-consciously formal, aiming too deliberately for effect, though when it does work the result can be poetic and evocative. I am looking forward to part two. MB 26-xi-2007
* I checked: Chant's book came out in 1970, so it's much earlier. MB 25-i-2008
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LibraryThing member Clurb
Five friends from Toronto are transported into another world where dark forces are massing at the edges of civilization, setting forth a chain of events which will lead to an inevitable battle between good and evil.
The blurb on the back of my copy of this book suggests that this is the only
On the positive side, for the first book of a trilogy this is actually quite action-packed. It doesn't feel like a set-up book. In between establishing and exploring characters, enough happened in the few parallel storylines to make me feel that there was always something worth reading on for. Part 4 also went a long way towards finally, properly grabbing my interest and making me want to carry on with the series.
The blurb on the back of my copy of this book suggests that this is the only
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fantasy work which 'does not suffer by comparison with the Lord of the Rings' (Interzone). Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. The important point, I think, is that it is so easy to relate this work to LotR. The mythology and general feel of the world (Fionavar) Kay creates smacks of Tolkein. It's a big, deep and very ambitious undertaking but there's something lacking which makes it all not quite as believable as LotR. Kay's flowery, poetic writing doesn't click for a good portion of this book and it wasn't until Part 4 that I thought he'd got into a rhythm. On the positive side, for the first book of a trilogy this is actually quite action-packed. It doesn't feel like a set-up book. In between establishing and exploring characters, enough happened in the few parallel storylines to make me feel that there was always something worth reading on for. Part 4 also went a long way towards finally, properly grabbing my interest and making me want to carry on with the series.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
If you ask me what my favorite epic fantasy book is, it's between this and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien may have a more completely realized world, but he doesn't touch Kay's ability to create characters, or to write--I've reread some of the scenes in this book over and over simply to enjoy the
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prose. Show Less
LibraryThing member Strangie
Every couple of years I come back and read this series again. Every time, it makes me cry my eyes out.
LibraryThing member Pompeia
I was a bit disappointed with the book. The plot was very cliched and the characters were mostly dull and boring. Also, I found it myself completely unable to relate to the way they reacted in surprising situations. If somebody told me he was going to transport me to another world I might be a bit
The language used in the books annoyed me. English is not first language, so I don't know if native speakers would be annoyed by this but it felt as if the author was trying very, very hard to sound epic but just managing pompous, incoherent ramblings like the following:
"There had been light, now there was not. One measured time in such ways. There were stars in the space above the trees; no moon yet, and only a thin one later, for tomorrow would be the night of the new moon."
So, great, it was getting dark. However, his way of saying it sounds completely fake to me. Also, I can't help it that while reading I keep contantly replacing the names of races and characters with their more well known counterparts. I mean, if you have to have elfs, why call them lios alfar? And the old mage is such a cheap Gandalf rip-off...
The book wasn't all bad though. After the confusion at the beginning, a plot started to form and, addict to plots that I am, I just might have to get the next book to find out what happens next.
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suspicious, shocked, scared and curious, but these guys offered some token questions and went along. The language used in the books annoyed me. English is not first language, so I don't know if native speakers would be annoyed by this but it felt as if the author was trying very, very hard to sound epic but just managing pompous, incoherent ramblings like the following:
"There had been light, now there was not. One measured time in such ways. There were stars in the space above the trees; no moon yet, and only a thin one later, for tomorrow would be the night of the new moon."
So, great, it was getting dark. However, his way of saying it sounds completely fake to me. Also, I can't help it that while reading I keep contantly replacing the names of races and characters with their more well known counterparts. I mean, if you have to have elfs, why call them lios alfar? And the old mage is such a cheap Gandalf rip-off...
The book wasn't all bad though. After the confusion at the beginning, a plot started to form and, addict to plots that I am, I just might have to get the next book to find out what happens next.
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LibraryThing member ferebend
If Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia got together and had a child, it would be The Fionavar Tapestry. Fortunately, this child inherited the strengths of both parents and the weaknesses of neither.
LibraryThing member heidilove
classic high fantasy done very well indeed
LibraryThing member oracleofdoom
I've had this author recommended to me, but I can't remember by whom. When I first started the book I was a little wary. The characters initially came across a little bit, um, flat. But as the story progressed, they became more and more colorful and gained depth. At that point I fell right into it.
There are things about it that I'd call very classic fantasy. Things that could be seen as very like Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. They have their dwarves, and the lios alfar... well, if those aren't elves by another name, I'll never believe it. And the evil is as evil as evil gets. But if you enjoy good old-fashioned epic fantasy, I think this is an excellent read. And unlike SOME epic fantasy authors (Goodkind and Jordan, I'm looking at YOU!), this author doesn't get overly wordy and drag the series out indefinitely.
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Immediately upon finishing it I drove out to the book store and picked up the next two.There are things about it that I'd call very classic fantasy. Things that could be seen as very like Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. They have their dwarves, and the lios alfar... well, if those aren't elves by another name, I'll never believe it. And the evil is as evil as evil gets. But if you enjoy good old-fashioned epic fantasy, I think this is an excellent read. And unlike SOME epic fantasy authors (Goodkind and Jordan, I'm looking at YOU!), this author doesn't get overly wordy and drag the series out indefinitely.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
The Summer Tree begins with a fairly common fantasy theme of a small group of people from our Earth sent to a fantasy world to fulfill a destiny. After that, while it still is fairly common fantasy, there are some unique elements, and the characters are very well done. It isn't tremendously
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original, but is well written and just unique enough to be a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member willowcove
A WONDERFUL series. Something I believe will be considered a classic.
LibraryThing member hjjugovic
In the first book of the Fionavar tapestry, Kay introduces an intricate world, complicated plot, and a whole cornucopia of characters. This is pure fantasy, in the style of Tolkien, yet unique in the elements it brings together. I have a particular fascination with world myths - the stories that
Normally, since this is a series book, I'd put an in-depth plot summary to help myself remember what happened, one book to the next. This plot is simply too complicated for that. I highly recommend reading all three parts of the trilogy back-to-back.
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humanity tells in every place, in every age, over and over - and the Fionavar tapestry weaves and layers many of the most powerful, showing the depth of overlap and the consistency of theme. Kay's language is not always easy to follow, and the book's complexity demand attention and effort from the reader. The reader will be rewarded by an aborbing plot, complex emotion, and a stunning picture of humanity against the backdrop of our most deeply held beliefs.Normally, since this is a series book, I'd put an in-depth plot summary to help myself remember what happened, one book to the next. This plot is simply too complicated for that. I highly recommend reading all three parts of the trilogy back-to-back.
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LibraryThing member briandarvell
This book started out very strongly but by two-thirds of the way through it was resembling a Tolkien copy far too much for me. By the end of the novel the story was so very much like Lord of the Rings that I'm not sure I will continue to read the sequels. I can see how some fantasy readers would
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absolutely love this novel but having been saturated with so many Middle Earth clones over the years I cannot find much praise for another. At least it wasn't as bad as Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara. Show Less
LibraryThing member xicanti
I've got to admit, I was initially very disappointed in this book. I was expecting quite a lot from it, and I felt pretty let down when it failed to instantly engage me. I think there was just a bit too much going on in the first half; all sorts of ideas were thrown out there without quite enough
But then, a little more than halfway through, something clicked. Things started to come together. The story slowed down as Kay focused in on Dave's experiences among the Dalrei, and I found that things gained a much more human tone. I really started to enjoy the book. I felt for these people, and I wanted to see where they were headed.
By the end of the book, I was truly engrossed. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series now; The Wandering Fire just got bumped up to the top of my reading list.
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background to them, and I didn't find the archetypes in play to be particular engaging. The characters were rather interesting, but there were so very many of them that I had difficulty keeping track of them all in such a short work. I didn't find that there was really enough build-up for me to gain a good sense of who everyone was... but, at the same time, there seemed almost too much build-up overall. It took a while for things to really get going.But then, a little more than halfway through, something clicked. Things started to come together. The story slowed down as Kay focused in on Dave's experiences among the Dalrei, and I found that things gained a much more human tone. I really started to enjoy the book. I felt for these people, and I wanted to see where they were headed.
By the end of the book, I was truly engrossed. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series now; The Wandering Fire just got bumped up to the top of my reading list.
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LibraryThing member iayork
Super Reader: A Canadian academic tells a small group of students that is a bit more than they thought he is. He lets them know he is a mage from another world, and offers them the chance to journey with him back to this place, for a celebration.
Dave, one of their number, is a little suspicious
There is a bit of a Wounded Land thing going on, because their king, clinging to power, doesn't want to present himself as the usual ritual sacrifice to keep things going.
Paul, one of the students, does the whole tree ordeal thing in his place.
Dave, one of their number, is a little suspicious
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and breaks away, ending up being transported to another place, and learning to be an axe-wielding warrior type. There is a bit of a Wounded Land thing going on, because their king, clinging to power, doesn't want to present himself as the usual ritual sacrifice to keep things going.
Paul, one of the students, does the whole tree ordeal thing in his place.
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LibraryThing member nkmunn
Didn't draw me into the story like [book: Tigana] . I like the parallel story lines and the if the character development were more fully realized it would be terrific. Instead, [author: Julian May]'s [book:Golden Torque] remains my favorite of this genre, but I am moving on to [book:wandering
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fire], the next in the Fionavar Tapestry series and so far enjoying it a little more than the beginning of [book: Summer Tree] . Jury's still out! Show Less
LibraryThing member alwright1
I had a hard time getting into this one at first. The 5 modern-day, Canadian college students were barely introduced and were never really fleshed out as individuals, so I had a hard time caring about how they reacted to the fantasy world into which they are transported (which seems to be no big
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deal to them somehow). However, the situation in the fantasy world gets exciting pretty quickly and introduces a fairly interesting set of characters. I ended up really enjoying the middle part of the book which takes place in a nomadic tribal area. I am also pretty curious about what will happen next and the outcome of the great war that is brewing at the end of the book, but the author chose to end the book with a brutal rape scene, which doesn't exactly make me want to hurry on to the next. If I come across the next book, I still might pick it up, but probably not if I have something else I'm looking forward to. Show Less
LibraryThing member PollyMoore3
One of the very few fantasy series to bear comparison with Tolkien.
LibraryThing member comixminx
Three and a half stars - kinda overblown in many parts (I prefer my fantasy understated and practical in style) but even knowing that in the next book the author brings in Arthur, for god's sake, I still went and found the next in the trilogy on finishing this one. So there's definitely something
I think it's partly because I like the Dalrei - plains riders - best. They only turn up towards the end but pep the whole thing up when they turn up.
Also, there's ridiculously large numbers of extra-powerful, extra-special characters. I would normally see that as a fairly dodgy sign of weak writing, but almost he's larded it on so much that he can get away with it. Still, though. Arthur, for god's sake. Dude.
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there.I think it's partly because I like the Dalrei - plains riders - best. They only turn up towards the end but pep the whole thing up when they turn up.
Also, there's ridiculously large numbers of extra-powerful, extra-special characters. I would normally see that as a fairly dodgy sign of weak writing, but almost he's larded it on so much that he can get away with it. Still, though. Arthur, for god's sake. Dude.
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LibraryThing member Yarrow
I enjoyed this book, and read it all through one sunny afternoon as I wanted to know what happened. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a natural end to the story at the end of the book, so I felt a bit manipulated to order book 2! Despite being not the most original fantasy book I've
My edition, despite the lovely cover, was of very poor print quality.
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ever read (5 students from our world are whisked off to save another...) there were some really nice touches, and I enjoyed following the individual characters growing away from each other. There was also a nice mix of myths from different cultures, mainly Norse but others too. When I've read the rest of the trilogy I would read more by this author.My edition, despite the lovely cover, was of very poor print quality.
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LibraryThing member allthesedarnbooks
This is the first book in Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry series and I really enjoyed it. I know this was his first published novel, and it does draw from a lot of the Celtic and Nordic lore seen in Tolkien and other popular fantasy novels of the time. I read Tigana a few years ago and it blew me away
Oh, right, what's the book about? Five college kids who are transported by a mysterious man to another world, Fionavar, which is the first of all the worlds. Sounds simple enough and I'm sure you know if you like that trope, but even if you don't and you're still a fantasy fan, I'd say give Kay a try, but maybe not start with this one.
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and I can definitely see that Kay's writing is younger and less developed here. Nonetheless, the book is pretty fabulous fantasy. The start is slow but towards the middle the book really starts to build momentum as the characters, the mythology, and the worldbuilding become clearer and the action picks up.Oh, right, what's the book about? Five college kids who are transported by a mysterious man to another world, Fionavar, which is the first of all the worlds. Sounds simple enough and I'm sure you know if you like that trope, but even if you don't and you're still a fantasy fan, I'd say give Kay a try, but maybe not start with this one.
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LibraryThing member mausergem
This is the first book of the Fionavar Tapestry series. Five people of our world go to the first of all worlds, Fionavar, on the invitation of the High King Ailell. This is their adventure. There are five regions of Fionavar who have control over the evil god Rakoth who is in captivity. In this
The book is a bit slow to start but on it gets going it just flies. The author builds up the suspense beautifully in places but sometimes lets it go. The subsequent parts will be easier as you have all the characters already in place. So go read it if you like fantasy and like books in series form.
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part Rakoth is freed and the regions prepare for war.The book is a bit slow to start but on it gets going it just flies. The author builds up the suspense beautifully in places but sometimes lets it go. The subsequent parts will be easier as you have all the characters already in place. So go read it if you like fantasy and like books in series form.
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LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Five students are invited to a parallel world full of magic and pagentry for a few weeks. But the dark lord that was defeated a thousand years ago is stirring.
This is somewhat flat, without the richness of Kay's later work. I will finish the trilogy, but I doubt it will go on my re-read pile.
This is somewhat flat, without the richness of Kay's later work. I will finish the trilogy, but I doubt it will go on my re-read pile.
Subjects
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — 1987)
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Finalist — 1987)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1984-10
Physical description
232 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0048232572 / 9780048232571
Local notes
Duplicate. Hardback.
Other editions
Fionavar Tapestry, Book 1: The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (Paperback)
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (Hardcover)