Ahira's Hangar

At Danlo's request, I have started a GGK topic. I , personally have read all of his books, aside from Silmarillion, which he GREATLY assisted(read:pretty much wrote) Christopher Tolkien with, and his new book of poetry.Ummm... list..
The Fionavar Tapestry, a trilogy:
1)The Summer Tree
2)Wandering Fire
3)The Darkest Road
The Sarantine Mosaic, a duo:
1)Sailing to Sarantium
2)Lord of Emperors
And a Trio of Stand-alones
Song for Arbonne
Lions of Al-Rassan
Tigana

These books are *ALL* worth reading, and I noticed that alot of people listed them as favorites in other threads, so there should be plenty to talk about, no?

One thing I will say about GGK: I like the way he uses magic.
It is definately present, but not over-used. It can help the story along, but isn't used as a crutch or to explain away discrepancies in plot. you know? I suppose it has been rather convenient to plots on occasion.. I'll site Lions of Al-Rassan, for example, but for the most part, it is used more subtly, and sparingly, so that it makes the stories believable.

That's all for now...
~Lyndz~
<i>Edited by: tenetty at: 5/15/03 5:09:07 pm
</i>

I read his Fionavar Tapestry and thought it to be extremely well done.
Someday maybe I'll have a chance to read some of his other work. How does it compare?? Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
****Tavern Wench of DOGMA, the Defenders of George Martin's Art****<i></i>

The rest of his work is a bit different, almost... deeper. Heavier, really. It is all sort of like historical fiction, based on ancient civilizations from our world, but set in a fantasy universe.Tigana, I believe is rathe like ancient italy, if I recall, Arbonne like france, Lions like spain.. and the sarantine mosaic is like byzantium... his other books are more.. mature maybe? I think Fionavar was his first foray. I think I would suggest Sailing to Sarantium to start. <i></i>

What is The Fionavar Tapestry all about? (p.s. PLEASE tell folks about Guy helping 2 write Silmarillion in the Tolkien forum...I'm sure that would spark a bunch of interest in his work! Thanks VERY much 4 posting this topic! ) And now Danlo looked in that direction, too. He remembered that snowy owls mate in the darkest part of deep winter, and so along with this beautiful white bird perched in a tree a hundred feet away, he turned to face the sea as he watched and waited.

Ahira, Ahira, he called out silently to the sky. Ahira, Ahira<i>Edited by: danlo60 at: 5/17/03 5:51:43 am
</i>

Fionavar is the first and real world and the rest of the worlds are Shadows, sort of like Amber, only in this case there is a huge Celtic/Norse flavor to it, and real gods take a hand in things...and I know I'm not doing it justice in such a brief description. Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
****Tavern Wench of DOGMA, the Defenders of George Martin's Art****<i></i>

I just loved the Sarantium Duo and Arbonne! Very poetic and intriguing. These are more alternate history than fantasy, as the fantastic element is more in athmosphere than in actual magic. "Don't believe anything you hear, but don't disbelieve anything,either"<i></i>

I've only ever read Tigana, and to be honest, it was so difficult to get into that it languished on my shelf for 10 years.

When I finally managed to get through the first 80-100 pages though, the rest of it rapidly became an excellent read.

But OH, those first 100 pages...

--A ____________________________________

A sense of the sardonic preserves a man from believing in his own pretensions. -The Sayings Of Maud'Dib<i></i>