Night's Master (Tales from the Flat Earth #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

May 16, 2018 Joseph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

One night, Azhrarn Prince of Demons, one of the Lords of Darkness, took on him, for amusement, the shape of a great black eagle. East and west he flew, beating with his vast wings, north and south, to the four edges of the world, for in those days the earth was flat and floated on the ocean of chaos.

Another one of those I'm not even going to pretend to be objective about. This has been one of my favorite books (and favorite series) ever since I first read them in the distant days of 1990 (when ...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Derek rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Readers insisting upon a strong central plot and defined set of characters will find little to enjoy here. Lee draws from fairy tale and mythology for a drifting, dreamlike experience where each "book" (Light Underground, Tricksters, and The World's Lure) is independent aside from theme, and each of which is subdivided further, into "parts" and chapters. The time table is that of demons, especially the demon lord Azhrarn, and an ephemeral mortal existence can easily fit into a single chapter. So ...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

First in the Tales of the Flat Earth series, this book is often compared to the 1001 Arabian Nights. While a collection of exotic stories, each linked to its predecessor, the stories are not nested and don't have a particularly Arabian flavor. I was reminded more of classical mythology and Grimm's fairy tales than the Middle East. This is a minor quibble, however, as the stories are enchanting and lush.

"Lush" has always been the best word to describe Tanith Lee's melancholic and erotically-tinge ...more

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Apr 28, 2022 Jason Koivu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

Gorgeous stuff! These wonderful tales read like a rich tapestry. The language is exquisite. Others have likened Lee's Flat Earth stories to the Arabian Nights tales and I can't disagree. Definitely moving on to the next volume in the series! ...more

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Oct 26, 2024 Jim Kuenzli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This book is a collection of loosely related fable like fantasy stories with dark themes. Tanith Lee—sometimes called the queen of horror fantasy or some such title, to me she can write pretty much anything and make it magical. People say this has an Arabian Nights feel, which is really very minimal. The loose collection of tales and some of the vices and hideousness of humanity and demons are a loose connection. Lee said herself Oscar Wilde’s fantasy work inspired this series more than anything ...more

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