“All the Seas of the World”

I'd say that "All the Seas of the World", the newest novel by Guy Gavriel Kay, is a good starting point for those who'd like to get a taste of what his writing is like. It doesn't mean that I think it's an exquisite, unusual novel. An entry point to someone's work doesn't have to … Continue reading “All the Seas of the World” →

Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About

Over months, or maybe over years, I've been trying to listen. I've been trying to learn. I realized that sometimes, you need to look at somebody's set of works time-wise; because how they describe certain things can change too. Sometimes, having read other authors, you may appreciate that this one has made an actual effort … Continue reading Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Mediterranean Revisited, or The Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago

Having written about quasi-China, quasi-Saxon England and about contemporary Provence, Guy Gavriel Kay returned to the Mediterranean part of his Jadiverse. His newest books are: The Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago. They are both loosely connected and set in a quasi-Early Renaissance period. The first one is focused on many … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Mediterranean Revisited, or The Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Why “The Sarantine Mosaic” is the best

The Sarantine Mosaic, consisting of Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors, is quite a paradoxical experience in my reading life, and in my adventure with GGK's books. I find this duology his best work, even though as a feminist and as a socialist, I wish that some characters and events had been described differently. … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Why “The Sarantine Mosaic” is the best →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “The Lions of Al-Rassan”

How could I sum up this book? The author repeats himself. The creepy sex is present as usual. The style is stable. However, the whole historical background and references seem more real, the setting is captivating, and the commonfolk — in comparison to A Song for Arbonne — present again. So, I would say it's … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “The Lions of Al-Rassan” →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “A Song for Arbonne”

How is it possible? This book repeats the worst flaws of Tigana, adding Subtle Villains and Beloved Author's Womanizers in the manner of The Fionavar Tapestry. It follows also some previous worldbuilding patterns, sometimes looking like a self-plagiarism. And yet I don't like it less than Tigana; actually it doesn't irritate me as much as … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “A Song for Arbonne” →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Tigana, Or The First Italian Inspiration

The Fionavar Tapestry, irritating as it was, didn't move me deeply. Tigana was a different case. Sometimes I think I really like this book. Sometimes I think I hate it. Why? The setting, despite of several flaws, is very climatic. Dianora is a complex character, and so Catriana. Elessar Alessan... He is interesting even if … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Tigana, Or The First Italian Inspiration →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “The Fionavar Tapestry”

Oh, here are the GGK's books which I've found the most irritating! Here are almost all the flaws of his writing: too pathetic style, creepy sex, irritating protagonists and cardboard antagonists, stereotypical women characters, bitchy womanizers whom readers are supposed to like, and not efficiently used tropes from real cultures and myths. Do you think … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: “The Fionavar Tapestry” →

My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Preface

I didn't know how to start this post, because the books of Guy Gavriel Kay were always problematic to me. I've read them all except Ysabel, Under Heaven and River of Stars. And after reading, I've had almost always ambivalent feelings about plot devices, characters, style, creepy sex, stereotypes and worldbuilding. Usually I analize some … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship with Books of Guy Gavriel Kay: Preface →