Questions About The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, #1)

by Guy Gavriel Kay (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (6)

Saul the Heir of Isauldur Whereas WoT borrows a lot from Eastern philosophies: renewal, rebirth, opposites-create-balance, The Fionavar Tapestry (of which The Summer Tree is th…moreWhereas WoT borrows a lot from Eastern philosophies: renewal, rebirth, opposites-create-balance, The Fionavar Tapestry (of which The Summer Tree is the first book) borrows more from Celtic mythology.

WoT is large in scope, the very definition of epic, from the main villain to its length (seriously, 14 books). I'm not saying that Fionavar isn't epic (believe you me, Kay is a master on par with his mentor Tolkien).

To an outsider, all fantasy is similar, and most fantasy books have more or less the same themes. If you like epic fantasy, I'd recommend you read them both. (less)

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How well does this book work as a standalone?

Lorie Thomas Depends on how you handle cliffhangers.
…moreDepends on how you handle cliffhangers.
(less)

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I'm a bit confused by the characters' ages; they all seem a bit old to be university students (isn't Kim twenty-four?), and while Dave's a third-year student, Kevin Laine is two years ahead of him and was having a relationship with Jennifer several years earlier. Are Canadian degrees very, very long ones?

George A few words: Medical intern. Studying for the Bar. Gap years. Postdocs.

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What is the content warning for this series? Thanks!

George In this novel, The Summer Tree, there is an illusory and real sequence of rape and torture. I do not find it gratuitous, but it is arguably a mistake …moreIn this novel, The Summer Tree, there is an illusory and real sequence of rape and torture. I do not find it gratuitous, but it is arguably a mistake by Kay. See Beth K's answer to https://www.goodreads.com/questions/1... here for one strong opinion. I certainly wouldn't offer it to anyone who couldn't adequately dissociate from it, which implies adult enough to be pre-scarred.

In The Wandering Fire there is a brief but explicit coupling of Osiris/Adonis with Aphrodite/Gaia (not under those names).

That's as far as I've gotten, but I think quite enough to break the deal, or not.

On the other hand, these people are literate enough not to depend on taboo words, unlike many adult and YA novels these 4 decades later.(less)

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I've just finished reading Under Heaven, which I absolutely loved. I loved how the fantasy never overshadowed the human aspects. And I loved how there were no "evil" villains. From cannibalistic savages to murderous rapists, everyone had plausible and sympathetic human motives. Reading the back of this book, though, it sounds more fantastical and more geared towards a younger audience. Am I correct in that?

George See https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., Mark Monday's review, for a different opinion. I certainly wouldn't offer it to anyone not able to disso…moreSee https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., Mark Monday's review, for a different opinion. I certainly wouldn't offer it to anyone not able to dissociate from it, meaning at least old enough to be pre-scarred.(less)

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