Tigana in The Sword and Laser

Jul 29, 2012 RogueHireling rated it did not like it

I like books by Guy Gavriel Kay, so I was looking forward to reading this one. And I tried to like it, I really did, but I'm not sure I ever had much of a chance since my biggest problem with the book was essentially the entire premise of the story.

Tigana is a place that has been conquered, but they fought back and killed the tyrants son. Conquering tyrant comes to seek vengeance but doesn't stop at just slaughtering everyone and leveling the place. Nope he casts a spell to make everyone forget I like books by Guy Gavriel Kay, so I was looking forward to reading this one. And I tried to like it, I really did, but I'm not sure I ever had much of a chance since my biggest problem with the book was essentially the entire premise of the story.

Tigana is a place that has been conquered, but they fought back and killed the tyrants son. Conquering tyrant comes to seek vengeance but doesn't stop at just slaughtering everyone and leveling the place. Nope he casts a spell to make everyone forget that Tigana ever existed. Name, history, accomplishments, and all. Everyone except the people born in Tigana before the name forgetting spell was cast.

Really? I'm expecting sharks with lasers at this point.

So our 'heroes' are on a mission to restore Tigana to its glory. Yup, they seek to bring back a leveled city and reinstate a name that no one remembers save them. And I couldn't care a bit.

Meanwhile tyrants are tyrants and people are suffering. Not a single word from the heroes about saving the people or freeing them from tyranny, nope its all about Tigana and how it must be restored. This lame excuse is used over and over to excuse the heroes committing horrible atrocities. Yes I said the heroes. In fact they cause more direct death in the book then either of the tyrants and they seem to have not a single ounce of remorse.

But like I said I tried, and then I got to this passage. Alessan has just set into motion a plan that will sacrifice tons of innocent lives and finally (this is half way through the book btw), finally someone calls him on it. And this is his response:

"I did not ask to be born into this time, charged by my birth with trying to set it right," Alessan said, his voice held tightly again as if under a leash. "I was the youngest child. This should have been my brothers' burden, either or both of them. They died by the Deisa. Among the lucky ones."

After that disgustingly selfish bit of self pity I closed the book and have since put it in the abandoned pile. No remorse, no taking responsibility, no owning it, nothing.

I am also quite disappointing with the way women are treated in the story. The only matriarchal society in the book is over thrown by a king almost instantly and then degraded, while the typical cold fish female character gives up her virginity under duress. And we are supposed to like the guy who took advantage of her. Again really low on the remorse.

UGH. ...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Brad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, lost-reviews, canadian-lit, personal-mythology

This review was written in the late nineties (for my eyes only), and it was buried in amongst my things until recently when I uncovered the journal in which it was written. I have transcribed it verbatim from all those years ago (although square brackets may indicate some additional information for the sake of readability or some sort of commentary from now). This is one of my lost reviews.

I loved being surprised like this. Every once in a while someone out of the ordinary suggests a book to me ...more

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May 16, 2012 Kristen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, kindle, favorites, sword-and-laser

I immensely enjoyed this book. It was also quite a big lesson in patience for me. In the beginning, I was somewhat frustrated, because I was in a rush for "something" to happen, and for me to just instantly understand the world and know who all of the characters were. I think that's more of a reaction caused by the books I've read leading up to this one than anything else.

I finally told myself to just relax and enjoy it, and I'll get there when I get there. Once I did that, I found myself comple ...more

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May 17, 2012 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: epic-fantasy, sword-and-laser

I really enjoyed this book. Its major theme was rebelling against tyranny, although there were other issues in it as well, including homosexuality, vengeance, and love. I'm looking forward to watching the Sword and Laser video to hear a bit of the discussion (I was a little behind on the book this month so didn't really get to participate in the discussion on the forum, unfortunately). ...more

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Jun 05, 2009 Zen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, the-alternate-reality

This book was well established but lost something to it as the author tried to grapple with some very complex issues concerning national identity and pride. Some sections of were a wonderful read while others made me want more. A valiant effort but, for me, it fell short.

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