Book Review - The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 1) by Guy Gavriel Kay

Synopsis:  It all begins with a lecture that introduces five university students to a man who will change their lives - a wizard who will take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds:  fionavar.  And take them Loren Silvercloak does, for his need - the need of Fionavar and all the worlds - is great indeed.

And in a mysterious land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods, five young people discover who they are truly meant to be.  For they are a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accept their destiny will the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving the wrath the Unraveller and his minions of darkness intend to unleash upon the world.

First Line:  "After the war was over they bound him under the Mountain."

Random Quote:  "The day crawled forward webbed in heat.  A dry, unsettling wind rose in the north and slid through the High Kingdom, stirring the dust in the streets of Paras Derval like an uneasy ghost."

Review:  This my third read of this series. I read it when it first came out when I was in my twenties. I read it again in my thirties and now a third time in my forties. It's been a great read every time.

The Summer Tree is the opening book in the trilogy that makes up The Fionavar Tapestry. This is a book that manages to be high fantasy without being overshadowed by Tolkein, although it's interesting to note that its author, Guy Gavriel Kay, helped to edit The Silmarillion. Both Tolkein and Kay (and most good fantasy writers) are weaving together older stories in new ways.

In the opening book, Kay brings together the characters. There is Kimberly Ford - an intern who is recognized by a visitor from the other world of Fionavar as a Seer. Jennifer - a young woman of some beauty, Kim's roommate - cool, reserved, somewhat undefined. Kevin Laine - handsome, charismatic, good at everything, studying for the Bar. Paul Schaefer - intelligent, musical, haunted by the death of his beloved Rachel. Dave Martyniuk - the outsider, a law student and athlete. These five are brought together to journey to Fionavar - there to save the world.

Who doesn't love a book like this? Who doesn't wish for an adventure like this? To be drawn out of your own life and into another world where your actions matter and where you can be heroic.

Kay is an amazing writer and in this book he weaves together many mythologies, although most prominently featured here is the sacrifice of the ruler for the replenishing of the land. It's in Odin hanging from Yggdrasil (the World Tree). It's in the Celtic tales of the wicker man and in the Christian story of Christ's crucifixion. Fionavar, you see, is experiencing a drought and the King has forbidden his son from hanging on The Summer Tree.

The other old story that is threaded through here is that of Prince Hal, who would become Henry V. Despaired of by his father for his wastrel ways and friendship with Falstaff, his story is mirrored in that of Prince Diarmud, the younger son, who like Prince Hal turns out to be more than he appears.

There is such great storytelling here and such beautiful writing. There is adventure and tragedy, horror and sadness, and always rebirth.

Reading Challenges:  Once Upon a Time IV Reading Challenge, Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge 2010, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge