[Pixie]

I just finished reading this book and I have to say that it was superb. Kay is an excellent writer. I felt that he easily could have stretched this book into a 5 part series if he wanted to. Instead, he produced one perfect novel.

I canot wait to read the rest of Kay's work.

Have you read this book? Do you agree with my assessment?

http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Shadowen]

Couldn't agree more, Pixie. I'm a huge fan of Kay's. Have you read Tigana or the Fionavar Tapestry? If not, fo - if you liked a Song for... you'll love these. the new duology, the sarantine mosiac is also great. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Pixie]

Hi Shadowen

No I have not read anything else by Kay. But you can be sure that I am going to.

To everyone else... read this book!

[Duke_Sandre]

Pixie if you like Kay please read Tigana. It is a wonderful, wonderful book, one of my favourites.

[Sarra]

Actually, he produced more than just one perfect novel... http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif
I read Song for Arbonne first too but Tigana is just heartbreaking.. the new duology is also excellent, but I'd leave the Fionavar Tapestry unless you love Tolkein-esque writing.

[e-Morgana]

I loved the Fionavar Tapestry and Tigana but no-one has mentioned The Lions of Al-Rassan. It was a while ago now, but I enjoyed this one too.
I must admit that, while I seem to be in the minority here, The Sarantine Mosaic duology left me cold - the only ones of his I haven't really enjoyed.

[Maya]

i hated Song for Arbonne. it was a complete waste of time because i hated every single one of the characters. Fionavar Tapestry was wonderful though.

[Sarra]

*is shellshocked*
Why? All of them? As in every single-
*returns to gibbering wreck*

Just read my last post.. of course Fionavar's wonderful too, no-one should leave it out completely. I just think it's Kay's weakest.

[Miriamele]

I just finished reading A Song for Arbonne last night and I must say that I loved it.

The only other GGK book I've read is The Last Light of the Sun, and while I can see how his writing has improved over the past decade or so (in terms of the quality of his prose) A Song for Arbonne is still an excellent book. (Even a book half as good as TLLotS would still be great).

I admit that the book started out a little bit slowly, as action was frequently interrupted by characters musing over the past. But once the back story was sufficiently explained and the story really began, I couldn't put the book down. Kay completely surprised and delighted me many times, and the battle scene towards the end of the book was simply one of the best I've ever read--so emotionally charged and unpredictable, as battle truly is.

As I mentioned, the prose in the book wasn't quite up to snuff with his most recent work, but even so many sentences were pure poetry.

The ending of the book was utterly delightful and made me laugh out loud before closing the book with a smile on my face.

I'm glad that there are a few more GGK books on my shelf that I haven't yet read, because I look forward to it. I simply love this author. :)

[DearEvette]

I love Song for Arbonne. I make sure to reread every once in awhile. I think Kay is absolutely fabulous. I think it is probably because I love his archetypal character, the warrior/artist hybrid. Alessan from Tigana, Ammar from The Lions of Al-Rassan, and Bertran from Arbonne are three characters pretty much cut from the same cloth. I think in another author I'd be annoyed with this thinking it was repetitious and a sign of laziness, but since I am half in love with this type of character and Kay tells a heck of a good story, I give him a pass.