Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
First time published: 1984, McClelland & Stewart
THE FIONAVAR TAPESTRY #1
Synopsis
In 'The Summer Tree' five young professionals and students are dramatically precipitated out of their lives in this world into the realm of Fionavar, the true world, of which our own is only shadow. Led by Silvercloak, the wizrd, the five are caught up in the opening forays of a devastating war as the renegade god, Rakoth Maugrim, breaks free from his thousand-year imprisonment.
Maugrim, gathering his evil forces, begins a subtle invasion of the High Kingdom of Brennin, where generations of kings have affirmed their bond to the benign powers of earth and sky on the limbs of the Summer Tree. Now, a new time of sacrifice is at hand.
In a world gripped by the timeless war between the forces of Light and Dark, a rich tapestry is woven as the five are confronted by wood and water spirits, dwarves, supernatural animals and the titanic magics of the gods, against which the strengths of humans seem weak and small.
Reviews of this book
By Rune Tønnessen
from Tau, Norway
Date: 19.05.2003
This is my first Guy Gavriel Kay novel, and I’ve got to say, that man can write!
The beginning of the story – five young people from our world goes to another – is a well known concept, and it often implies (in my experience, at least) either a certain lack of imagination concerning the plot, or the story is strong on allegory. (An example of the last category being the Narnia chronicles). But in this book neither is the case. No, this looks to be the start of a real grand epic!
What there certainly is, is a “heaviness”, almost to the extent of overkill. There’s DESTINY written in real big letters, SACRIFICE in even bigger ones, and all burdens seem to have to be carried utterly alone by the characters. Wide gulfs (resulting from the outcome of various events) separates the protagonists from each other emotionally – and some of them feel separated from the rest of the world(s) as well.
The book is – at least if one compares to fantasy novels in general – super ambitious, both in plot and in writing style. The story draws heavily on the legend of Arthur, it borrows elements from the Bible, and it also reminds me a little about the way Robert Holdstock writes his stories (Mythago Wood, Lavondyss). The atmosphere is somewhat similar to Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.
It’s heavy. Real heavy. There’s sorrow, there’s pain, there’s sacrifice. In heavy doses.
But there’s also a lot of action. And there’s humor as well, if usually quite somber. And the language is quiet in a way…
This is real ambitious stuff. And the author succeeds totally. A masterpiece!
