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Books for Christmas! Guy Gavriel Kay?

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Post subject: Books for Christmas! Guy Gavriel Kay?
Posted: Sun 16 Oct , 2005 10:20 am
of Vinyamar
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I always get my wife some books as part of her Christmas Present. Normally fantasy as we both love them. I was planning on a new author this year and having seen a lot of the women on the board praising Guy Gavriel Kay I was thinking of trying some of his.

Any recommendations?

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Estel
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Posted: Sun 16 Oct , 2005 4:34 pm
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Tigana is fantastic - my absolute favorite.

The Sarantine Mosaic duology is incredible, though probably not for a first time reader of Kay.

The Fionavar Tapestry is an amazing trilogy with the books "The Summer Tree", "The Wandering Fire", and "The Darkest Road" - very high fantasy.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is beautiful.

I loved The Last Light of the Sun

and A Song for Arbonne is probably the worst of his work, but his worst is something that other authors strive, and fail, to do.




If Kays books could be put in any sort of order, from favorite to least favorite, that is probably the order I would put them in personally. However, it's pretty much impossible to do. My favorite of his books is the one I'm reading - meaning, every time I pick a different one up, it heads to the top of my list until I read another one - then that one takes it's place. A persons all time favorite of Kays tends to be the first book of his that they read.


For a new Kay reader, I would say start with Tigana or Lions :) Preferably Tigana, cause it really is my all time favorite ;) As a lovers gift it is good as well, as it's main stories are themes on love and memory...

course, the love theme can be found in all of Kays books :blackeye:


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Eruname
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Posted: Mon 17 Oct , 2005 4:56 am
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What neat timing. I was at Half Price Books today and I bought The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy. I was coming in this forum to tell Estel. :D

I'd recommend Tigana as I've read that one. It does start out a little slow IIRC, but it gets really good! I enjoyed it a lot. It's definately high fantasy...not at all cheesy. I believe Kay helped Christopher Tolkien with The Silmarillion and is also compared to Tolkien quite a bit...as in he's an excellent fantasy writer as well.

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Estel
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Posted: Mon 17 Oct , 2005 4:12 pm
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Eru - he did help Christopher Tolkien, yes :) And I think he wrote the Fionavar Tapestry as a tribute to LotR - hence, some similarities. ;)

So glad for you that you bought it :hug:


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TheMary
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Posted: Tue 18 Oct , 2005 7:03 pm
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map, And knew that somehow I could find my way back; Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too - So I stayed in the darkness with you
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My library doesn't have his books :bawl:

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Eruname
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Posted: Tue 18 Oct , 2005 7:06 pm
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That sucks. You're telling me the libraries in Chicago don't have his books, yet a city in Texas does? :scratch:

The library closest to me doesn't have all of his books. I would have to drive around to different libraries (our city has 6 of them I think) if I wanted to check out each one.

But, Tigana was so good, I'm not checking them out. I'm buying them. Thank goodness for Half Price books! :D

I'm very much enjoying the beginning of The Summer Tree. I think this trilogy is going to be great! :)

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TheMary
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Posted: Tue 18 Oct , 2005 7:15 pm
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map, And knew that somehow I could find my way back; Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too - So I stayed in the darkness with you
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Just my town's library doesn't carry his books the town next to mine does! :D But if they are that good I just might skip the hassle of checking it out from another libaray and buy Tigana.

I am a sucker for a book recommendation....but I'm pretty sure my dream made that quite clear :oops: :)

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Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping


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TheMary
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Posted: Wed 19 Oct , 2005 3:32 am
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map, And knew that somehow I could find my way back; Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too - So I stayed in the darkness with you
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I did it! I bought Tigana and the Lion one!!! *is so excited* :banana:

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Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping


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Aglanor
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Posted: Sat 22 Oct , 2005 9:10 pm
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I need to buy a new book by GGK... Thinking of the Sarantine Mosaic or "Last Light"... :scratch:

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enchantress
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Posted: Thu 10 Nov , 2005 4:50 am
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Ditto to all Estelly said. Alatar, excellent choice. :D

*sw000ns* for Kay :love: :love: :love: ..... ( that felt good, I didn't formallly do that for a while!)


I need more Kay books... hurry up writing the next one dammit, Mr. Kay!!!!!!!!! :P

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Posted: Thu 10 Nov , 2005 9:52 am
of Vinyamar
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I've ordered the Fionavar tapestry. They called me to say books 1 and 3 have arrived but they haven't got book 2 yet. I'm hoping they get it in time for Christmas but you never know...

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