[Asraloth]

Has anyone read his books? Ive seen them in the bookstore, and they look interesting, but does anyone know what i should start with.

[Shadowen]

I think GGK is a wonderful authour - I envy you if you're just about to read him! I would start with 'The Fionavar Tapestry' - this is a trilogy with The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and book 3, the name of which escapes me for the moment! He wrote a couple of stand-alones too; Tigana; A Song for Arbonne and the Lions of Al-Rassan. I loved the first 2 but was not so impressed by Lions.. although I think I'm alone in that opinion! His last 2 books were a return to form (for me) with The Sarantine Mosaic, a duology which consists of Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors. Enjoy!

[Lady Fox]

Book 3 of The Fionavar Tapestry is titled The Darkest Road. I agree with Shadowen; GGK is a wonderful author. The Fionavar Tapestry is my fav fantasy trilogy - and it's a true trilogy. No sequels, no prequels, just three great books that begin and end a story...with a special plot element that is absolutely wonderful. Can't tell you what it is because that would be a big spoiler. I've not read any of his stand alone novels, but The Sarantine Mosaic duology is really good too.

[JohnH]

I have to say that Guy Gavriel Kay is essential reading for any who like fantasy.
He is easily one of the best authors around.

I would like to point out that his trilogy is very formulaic. Deliberately so. It is wonderful. However it has a very different pacing and measure than the rest of his work.

If you read the trilogy an are not very impressed, I would still suggest reading of the standalone novels. Many of his most ardent fans despise Fionavar. I, however, love all of his work. Lions of Al-Rassan is easily my favorite. Incredibly moving and thoughful.

Kay utilizes little magic in his books outside of Fionavar. By this I mean, there is little hocus pocus, spells or wielding of power. Instead his magic is in his words, the ability to create such vivid pictures in the readers eye.

You should definitely try this author. I would suggest Lions as the first of the standalones as I think it is the most accessible to a reader to introduce themselves to Kay's style.

But the trilogy is the very first thing you should try. It is kind of like Kay 101.

[Rob B]

I really loved The Fionavar Tapestry at times dark and disturbing at times wonderful and fun-a very pleasing read.

Tigana was not bad either, but I think the high praise for the book set me up for a bit of a disappointment.

Not sure what else I should try by him.

[Caly]

I've only read a couple of GGK books (Tigana and Lions of Al-Rassan), but thought I should join the Praise GGK bandwagon. Tig and LoAR are two of the finest pieces of fantasy literature I've read, and I've read a heck of a lot of fantasy.

I would like to give a brief warning. His books are NOT easy to get into. I don't know how to explain this well, but every word of every sentence on every page must be read. If you skim you may miss a sentence that has import to the whole plot. He packs a lot of information into complex sentences, making the books a little intimidating at first. Once you get the hang of his writing style it is no problem, but for me it always takes a couple of chapters. I wouldn't recommend reading his books if you have a lot on your mind though. I bought his latest duology a month or so ago and tried to start it, but I am studying Swedish 3 hours a day and my brain feels like it is going to explode and I just can't handle such a dense book. When Christmas break arrives I plan on trying to forget about Swedish (though that will be hard since we are visiting my new in-laws and they don't speak much English), and soaking up the GGK books while I have a chance.

Caleyna

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

What kinda books does he have?
What serry has he written?

[mundanemies]

Hejsan Caleyna, hur står de till?

I'll join here to the GGK Appreciation Society. Wonderful writer.

Kay tried to tie evetything he knew and had learned about myths into Fionavar. It's far more complex that it appears on the surface, but a good read anyhow. I'm not too sure about Arthur though. And the fact that the magical sword (and several other words) is called Onion Valley... http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif (Lökdal)

Tigana is a real beauty. Essentially it tells a tale of such loss and monstrosity that troubadours are crying. Setting has a feeling of renessaince Italy.
Magnificent characters and a truly ingenious fantasy-ideas. Ygrath is one of the Largest Larger-than-Life incarnations of Evil. And yet, so human...

A Song for Arbonne - very good, if not my favourite. It's a book about the age of troubadours and the Song of Roland. An extremely good portrayal of the power of women in a society where they so not rule.

Lions of Al-Rassan... Yes! Like with John H, this is it. Minimal use of magic and a grand re-telling of the story of El Cid. Bravo!

Sarantine Mosaic was well worth the wait. I was most impressed. It's Byzantine in the age of Theodora and Justinianus. Except that it isn't, but much more. And mosaics.

Kay is a poet, a writer who can put more emotion, life, meaning and idea into single sentence than the likes of No-Goodkind, Brooks or Salvatore into a whole trilogy. No contest. He knows his history. He has the sense just right. Though he is educated as a lawyer (like Brooks, btw) he writes with such understanding about days of old that never were. Master!

[Shehzad]

(Jumps on....)

I really liked The Fionavar Tapestry and it was one of the first series i read which deviated from standard fantasy norms. Of course, i followed it up with Donaldson, so it might have got a little overshadowed...

(Jumps off...)

[This message has been edited by Shehzad (edited December 30, 2001).]

[estranghero]

Here, here! I second that.

Of course, I have to be the dissenting opinion on Fionavar trilogy, which is kinda weird since I'm usually open-minded about what I read.

Or mebbe it's because I started GGK with Tigana, which is the best stand-alone fantasy novel for me. I mean, who else would have thought of writing about a quest for a name? From there, I went to Song of Arbonne (okay though I expected more after Tigana) and then Lions of Al-Rassan (which blew me away). After that was when I read the Fionavar, which is unfair since it's an earlier work. The Sarantine Mosaic was okay, though I still preferred Tigana and LoAR.

Every fantasy reader has to have copies of his book in their shelves...