Guy Gavriel Kay and Magic

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Guy Gavriel Kay and Magic

#1 firvulag

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 04:09 PM

Once I've finished my current book (Baneblade if you're interested) I'm hoping to start reading the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. I've never read any of his stuff but it's always getting recommended in must read fantasy lists.

My question is, apart from the Fionavar books how much magic is actually present in his Historical series. From what I've read on forums the books seem more like alternative history, similar to the Kushiels dart novels (another series on my to be read list).

Thanks for your time

#2 Abyss

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 04:20 PM

firvulag, on 17 December 2013 - 04:09 PM, said:

Kay's books generally keep the magic to a minimum.
TIGANA has quite a bit more, SARANTINE has almost none at all, the others tend to fall somewhere in the middle and leave it open to be more potentially mysticism than actual 'magic'.

Fionavar is entertaining, but that's Kay in his post 'Tolkien's assistant' days, and his style changes quite a bit in subsequent books.

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#3 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 04:59 PM

Eh, SARANTINE has magic and gods. And the little inhabited clockwork birds ect. It's backburnered, but it's there if I recall.

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#4 Abyss

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 05:02 PM

QuickTidal, on 17 December 2013 - 04:59 PM, said:

Eh, SARANTINE has magic and gods. And the little inhabited clockwork birds ect. It's backburnered, but it's there if I recall.

Could debate the point but we'd get into spoilers territory.

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#5 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 05:46 PM

Abyss, on 17 December 2013 - 05:02 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 17 December 2013 - 04:59 PM, said:

Eh, SARANTINE has magic and gods. And the little inhabited clockwork birds ect. It's backburnered, but it's there if I recall.

Could debate the point but we'd get into spoilers territory.

Truth.

It's certainly the least of the magic used in his series that I found in SARANTINE...but I think it's still present to a degree. I only noted it because it stood out glaringly to me against the rest of the narrative which feels like straight-up Alt-historical fiction.

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#6 Tsundoku

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 08:40 PM

What was magical in Lions of Al-Rassan?

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#7 Catherine

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Posted 17 December 2013 - 11:21 PM

The Last Light of the Sun has an undertone of magic throughout, Viking and Celtic but it does not take away from the story. I am a big Kay fan and have read his books several times.

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 12:05 AM

Sombra, on 17 December 2013 - 08:40 PM, said:

What was magical in Lions of Al-Rassan?

Spoiler

worrywort, on 14 September 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

I kinda love it when D'rek unleashes her nerd wrath, as I knew she would here. Sorry innocent bystanders, but someone's gotta be the kindling.

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 12:45 AM

D, on 18 December 2013 - 12:05 AM, said:

Sombra, on 17 December 2013 - 08:40 PM, said:

What was magical in Lions of Al-Rassan?

Spoiler

Yeah, I think that's one of the underlying magics in most of his work.

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#10 firvulag

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 09:01 AM

Thanks for the response guys

#11 Abyss

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Posted 18 December 2013 - 03:04 PM

QuickTidal, on 18 December 2013 - 12:45 AM, said:

D, on 18 December 2013 - 12:05 AM, said:

Sombra, on 17 December 2013 - 08:40 PM, said:

What was magical in Lions of Al-Rassan?

Spoiler

Yeah, I think that's one of the underlying magics in most of his work.

re magic in his books, generally... no major spoilers but some details...

Spoiler

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#12 Una

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Posted 22 December 2013 - 07:33 AM

With the exception of Tigana, where the main baddie is a sorceror, there's very no formal magic in Kay's books. No detailed magic systems and wizard schools or anything like that.

But I think it's fair to say that his books are set in a world where magic exists. Gods still have power, ghosts can haunt the living, people have premonitions, and there are fairies in the woods.

Fionavar is sort of in a different category, as you appear to be aware. It's a magical alternate world. Like Narnia in the wardrobe, Wonderland down the rabbit hole, or Oz at the end of a tornado. I have heard some disparage it at being too traditional. But I think it's a beautiful series and well worth a read. I've read it at least 3 times. Enjoy!

#13 Catherine

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Posted 22 December 2013 - 12:32 PM

totally agree with the above remarks about Fionavar which like Erickson's boks get better with easc reread

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Posted 24 December 2013 - 12:37 AM

Una, on 22 December 2013 - 07:33 AM, said:

The Fionavar Tapestry has some of the most beautiful writing; the prose is very evocative and has a lot of power to incite emotion. I re-read these books at least once a year.

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