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Sailing to Sarantium
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8/10 Sailing to Sarantium- Part I: The Journey to Sarantium
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Good questions, Chris! I will try not to go on and on. Very strong characters, Zoticus and Crispin. Both pursue their craft with enormous passion and take big risks to create their art.
Of all the many plot elements that I enjoyed about StS, the numinous experiences that Zoticus and Crispin each had was one of the most memorable to me in the 10 years between readings. The zubir was an image that has stuck with me ever since! One of my favorite quotes comes out of Crispin's mouth as he tries to explain what he thinks all of it means for understanding what is true in the world:
"We worship…the powers that speak to our souls, if it seems they do. We do so knowing there is more to the world, and the half-world, and perhaps worlds beyond, than we can grasp. We always knew that. We can’t even stop children from dying, how would we presume to understand the truth of things? Behind things? Does the presence of one power deny another? [p. 176:]"
Great quote, Ellen. I was also struck by that one. That's exactly what I always wanted to say to fanatic relgious zealots.
That is a great quote, Ellen. Part of Kay's genius, I suppose. Beautiful.I loved both Crispin and Zoticus. I also loved Linon - a great alter ego cynic who shoved Crispin to look twice or even three times at things. The journey was a powerful part of the tale. It amazes me that I read the book a while ago and I still remember them in vivid detail.
The country of Varena intrigued me. More like Greece to Rome - Rome being Sarantium. A more ancient, fallen empire that the emperor wanted to restore. The queen was a very brave girl, moving in her loyalty to her country.
The Day of the Dead was clearly a numinous time and I was grateful that they all survived it, and that the zubir was on their side. I was sorry, though, that we heard no more from Linon. Throughout, however, Crispin showed a remarkable courage and integrity.
The treatment of women in the countryside was pretty appalling.
If you liked Varena, read up on Ravenna, its historic antecedent. Better yet, visit it if you get the change. The mosaics alone are worth the trip.
I'm nervous about saying this... but was anyone not in love with this book?There were definitely exciting parts that I got swept up in, but there were also many parts that dragged for me.
I think the many switching characters was part of it, though that doesn't usually negate books for me. For example, I loved Game of Thrones series, and the whole series was written in that style.
For this book, it was like I would finally be swept up into a character's story... and then I wouldn't hear about them. Like Kasia, or Linon.
I did like the cleverness of so many of the characters, like the emperor, emperess, Crispin etc. I also enjoyed reading about the competing religions.
But...since I had to force myself to read through parts...I probably won't read the sequel.
Was I missing something? Were you guys engaged the whole time? What did you like/dislike?
Good for you, Lisa. It is entirely possible the emperor has no clothes.The first book sort of rambles. For tighter plotting, try Kay's Under Heaven
Kay likes subplots and extraneous characters to add richness to his tapestry. Some of it doesn't come together until the second book. Some is never integrated to the rest of the story.
Book Two is better, though it's opening comes from left--make that, right--field.
Lisa, I gave this book 3 stars, Lord of Emperors 5. In the beginning the many characters were very hard to keep track of and there didn't seem to be much buildup to a climax. The second one, on the other hand, had dramatic tension, tight plotting, and a great great chariot scene. And I loved the ending.
I felt much the same way at times, Lisa. But I think much of that will be unveiled in the second book (which I still need to read). So I'm holding off on negative judgment until I see the whole mosaic.It was rather slow in parts, but to me the parts weren't very long. And even slow parts in a Kay novel work because his writing style is so well crafted. I didn't love this book as much as A Song for Arbonne, or even Tigana, but I'm hoping that by the time I read the second book, I'll rank the whole sequence right up there. We'll just have to see.
Ron wrote: "Kay likes subplots and extraneous characters to add richness to his tapestry. Some of it doesn't come together until the second book. Some is never integrated to the rest of the story."Hrm.... I might just investigate his sequel then... but why would an author write a piece that isn't good until you read the second book? Like Sandra, I gave this book a 3, so I might agree and rank the next higher. Also, why is some never integrated? Sigh lol.
I fully acknowledge that sometimes it takes time to get into a book... but once I am in it, I shouldn't have to work to get into it again!
I read Black out by Connie Willis this summer, which is also a part 1 of two... but I loved it start to finish and am dying for the sequel! That's what a part one of two should make me do! Right?
What characters are featured in Lord of Emperors?
I do concede that his writing style is unique and there were parts that as I read I was thinking to myself how well written it was (can't think of the times now... but there were some). But, writing style isn't always the most important thing. I thought that the Eragon series wasn't the best writing I had ever read... but I was very interested in the story.
What do you guys think? Is brilliant writing worth being bored at times, or can sub-par writing be forgiven because of an action packed story? For me, although I read both, I think I would choose the second.
I prefer quality writing hands-down. Action will turn pages, but leave me feeling used and abused.
Great question, Lisa! Brilliant writing gets my enthusiastic vote, but the story and the characters in it must be much better than boring. My idea of "action-packed" involves the internal journeys of the characters at least as much if not more than the action in the external world. From that perspective, Crispin was on a major roller coaster ride in the first book. His reactions to assaults on his understanding about how the world worked were so interesting to me. I watched the drama of this man, emotionally broken by the losses in his life, gradually come to life again and reconnect with his humanity and his art and his place in the world.
Kay writes about these internal events in a way that is as compelling to me as his ability to plot and describe the tumultuous events in the external world that the second book concentrates most on.
I am really happy that Sailing to Sarantium was picked for this month. The only other novel I've read by Kay is Ysabel, and I was impressed enough to hunt down some of his previous work, including this novel. But, it got stuck in my to read pile because I've been reading mostly e-books.I can see how some readers would have a problem with the "rambling", but it worked for me. It did take a bit to get to Crispin, but by that time I had been introduced to the world he was living in, and I was able to appreciate his journey.
Lisa wrote...What characters are featured in Lord of Emperors?Lisa, all of the old main characters are in Lord of Emperors plus a new one - Crispin, the Queen of Varena, the two chariot drivers from the beginning of the first book, the cook for the Blues, his protege, the soldier that accosts Crispin on his journey. The new one is a doctor from a more primitive desert country, sent there by his king to spy on Sarantium. The Emperor and Empress are new in Lord of Emperors - was he the son of the one crowned in book I? They're all very well characterized and sympathetic.
I finished part I today. So far my favorite part was the scene at the forest on The Day Of The Dead with the zubir.I like Vargos and his story about his father and brothers.. I really didn't care for the talking bird, I am glad they left her behind :)
I am very intrigue with the story.
What did you think of Varena? Far to the west of Sarantium, this is the outlying area of the empire. It is close to the "barbarian" areas and in fact had been the center of the empire until those northern barbarians conquered it in centuries past. The culture there is a definite mixture of Sarantine religion and worship of the pagan gods.
What did you think of Zoticus the alchemist and his strange birds? I actually came to like Linon more than any of the other characters.
What do you think of Crispin as this story's hero/protagonist? He learns a lot during his journey, such as how to let go and live his life after suffering tragedy.
The events around the Day of the Dead were pretty central to the story. What did you think of all of that? He picked up some cool traveling companions as a result.