The Summer Tree (Fionavar Tapestry)

First the Fionavar Tapestry is not a new story. It is the old story of good against evil, light against darkness. So exactly what Tolkien wrote in his Lord of the Rings. And indeed there are many things very familiar. So is Loren Silvercloak Gandalf and the treacherous mages are Saruman (LOTR) and Metran (FT). In both books are a nation of riders and, of course, elves, even if they don't have that name. And Sauron himself is Rakoth Maugrim.
But in the LOTR are only two sides, good or evil. Not so in Kays works. There are usally more sides and more choices. In Fionavar are the good guys and the bad guys and some who stand in between. In Kays books always also grey, showing that not always the borders clear. And charakters which one cannot put to the good or bad I dearly missed in the LOTR.
Kay also adds people which one cannot find in another books. So you will not find somebody like Diarmuid, this reckless, dissolute and wonderful untamed prince of Brennin.
The Fionavar Tapestry is a story with breathtaking action, it is heart-breaking sad and is glowing with the beautiful and powerfuls words of Kays writing with true magic.
Just one thing I must admit as not so good. It is King Arthur and Lanclot and all the stuff from this legend. It is too much cliché and though Kays is doing what he can, this charakters remain plain and uninteresting.
I guess I love this book and the two other anyway. And I can just recomment it. Even if you don't like fantasy, these books can bring you to like it, really.
One more thing. I will take the chance and tell the world (well all the world which is interested) that I personally find Guy Gavriel Kay can write better than Tolkien and that the Lord of the Ring only almost matches the Fionavar Tapestry.

The Summer Tree, and indeed all of The Fionavar Tapestry, is a delightful fantasy, full of strange worlds, important events and vivid characters.

One gets the impression that Kay chose every word with care, rather than ripping through the story as quickly as he could write. A friend who recommended this series to me said, "It's kind of like Tolkien, but without the throw away Boromir characters."

Obviously, Kay and Tolkien will be compared and contrasted, since Kay helped compile The Silmarilion. Also, any writer who attempts a fantasy trilogy is bound to be compared to Tolkien at some point. I find his writing style remarkably dissimilar and enjoy both authors immensely.

What Kay does exceedingly well, is allow me to care greatly about his characters. I don't have to work at it, like I do with some writers. They have depth and unique personalities all their own.

Comparisons with Tolkien aside, I think The Summer Tree and its sequels are excellent reads for folks who want more from their fantasy than a rip-roaring hack and slash dungeon in literary form. These are GOOD books and they deserve to be enjoyed, savored and pondered.

The occasional overly romanticized situation between a couple of the characters, as well as an annoying writing tick (I won't give it away as it's most likely a pet peeve of my own) prevents me from giving this series five stars, but I'd give it 4.5 if I could.

This, the first volume of the Fionavar Tapestry, is my personal favorite among the books that Kay has written. Although each of his works is well-researched, with highly developed characters, believeable plots, and, most importantly, the most elegant and poetic writing this side of Robertson Davies, "The Summer Tree" surpasses them all for sheer heartbreaking loveliness.

The plot of "The Summer Tree" is often compared to that of Tolkien, and it is true that Kay uses many elements of Tolkien's universe -- but Tolkien himself was borrowing heavily from mythology, and I don't think the derivation of plot elements harms the book as a whole. Kay's main story -- that of the five grad students who are brought to a mirror world of their own free will and become its most important weapons in its fight against destruction -- is familiar in its themes of good vs. evil, outsiders saving the day, culture shock, etc. However, it is immeasurably enriched by the numerous subplots involving, among other things, a
clandestine visit to the nearby Garden Country which is tense, romantic, and hilarious all at the same time.
My strongest praise must be saved, however, for the characterization of three men. Kevin Laine, a law student from our world, is drawn with a fine hand. Kay's subtlety shows in the fact that a beautifully understated two-page scene -- Kevin drinking tea with his father -- at the beginning of the book permeates the reader's view for the rest of the book. Every time Kevin speaks or acts his relationship with his father is somehow there;
it is impossible to forget him. Yet Kevin is also a clear and independent person in his own right.

Diarmuid, the brilliant, brittle Prince of the realm the five students come to, is the second of the great characters here. He is a man who is always and never serious; his followers adore him but, although he makes a great show of public arrogance and is obviously deserving of his following, it quickly becomes clear that he does not think highly of himself. He is a man deprived of love from the sources he most desperately wanted it from, and a facsinating character study.

Paul Schaefer is the man you will reread this book for until it is worn out.

Paul is in such pain when this book starts that it hurts the reader to look too closely. His love, the beautiful cellist Rachel Kincaid, was killed a year ago in an car accident not five minutes after she told Paul -- the driver -- that she was leaving him. Now, heart, soul, and mind still raw, he makes himself listen over and over to the recording of her graduation recital and can't force himself to cry at the second movement of the Brahms, the one where she had told him to listen for her love coming through the music. Irony twines with heartbreak in this image of music, the all-important metaphor for Paul's story.

In despair, Paul finally offers himself up as a sacrifice to save a world he was not born into. Seeing the act as a penance, he hangs upon the titular Summer Tree for three days and three nights; if he can live through that time, the god whose charge the tree is in will send the rain which will save the land. Paul's catharsis is linked to the land's as he undergoes the final test of his courage: to delve into the twisted, wrecked recesses of his memories and discover the truth about what happened between him and Rachel.
The man who emerges on the other side, grieving but no longer despairing, is marked by the god. He has won both of his battles.

"The Summer Tree" is a dark fantasy, one which confronts head-on the pain, shame, and agony of its characters as well as the true evil of the dark force which would overcome the world of Fionavar, a force of which much more is revealed in the next two books. Yet the journeys of all the major characters show not only hardship but the growth it brings. The transformation of Paul Schaefer in particular demonstrates Kay's mastery:
in Paul we see a hard clear light of hope emerging
from the darkness of his life. And the writing, as I have said, is lyrical beyond almost anything I have ever read; this style in itself, with its descriptive force, points the way towards the fact that adversity only serves to strengthen the heroes' hearts.

"The Summer Tree" is a triumph which goes beyond the skill of words to describe. The only way to understand the true achievement of its author is to remember what is written on Christopher Wren's tombstone inside St. Paul's Cathedral: "If you would see his monument, look around you."

Guy Gavriel Kay first made his mark on fantasy by working with Christopher Tolkien on the legendary "Silmarillion." His SECOND mark was the Fionavar Tapestry, a flawed but prettily written fantasy trilogy. First book "The Summer Tree" is an entertaining read, but Kay was clearly still getting into the idea of writing an original book.

Five college students are chatting with a visiting professor, Lorenzo Marcus, who is accompanied by a peculiar dwarf. Suddenly the mysterious man reveals that he is a mage, Loren Silvercloak, and whisks them all into the world of Fionavar. He asks them to come stay awhile -- but none of the students know the strange destinies that bind them to Fionavar. Worse, one of them -- Dave -- vanishes during the crossing.

The four friends soon learn of the sinister political and supernatural problems in Fionavar. An evil wolf is lurking around, and the evil svart alfar are killing the beautiful lios alfar (elves). Suddenly sweet-natured Jennifer is kidnapped and tortured by the evil god, the Unraveller. And Paul offers his own life for the sake of Fionavar -- to be hung on the Summer Tree as a human sacrifice.

Take the world-crossings of Narnia, and the mythic qualities of Tolkien. That pretty much describes "Summer Tree." It's not terribly original, and the plot doesn't really work until about halfway through the book. But it hints at future grandeur, and makes good use of its old Celtic legends and customs in a typical fantasy setting.

The biggest flaw of "Summer Tree" is unoriginality -- Kay lifts ideas from Robert Zelazny and J.R.R. Tolkien, and combines them with a heavy dose of Celtic mysticism and a bit of Arthurian legend. Sure, these are hardly unusual -- but it's hard not to flinch at a lios alfar describing his people to Jennifer. It's an exact description of Tolkien's elves, down to a copy of the Undying Lands.

Kay's writing is exceptional, however -- lush, detailed, and rich. He can enspell you, or horrify you. Most compelling is Jennifer's rape -- Kay doesn't get graphic with the details, but her horror and violation are ghastly. At the same time, descriptions of the lios alfar, visions, spells and the strange creatures that populate Fionavar are almost intoxicating. The scenes were Paul hangs on the tree are stunning and powerful.

One small problem is that Kay seems to have a little trouble with his lead characters -- he's a little too eager to get them into their respective places. None of them seem very disturbed over being snatched into another world, and expected to become a part of it. And the college students are actually the flattest people in the whole book -- the kindly king, womanizing prince, stern wizard and vindictive priestess come across as much more real.

There are deep flaws in "The Summer Tree," but its luxuriant prose makes it a worthwhile read. But hopefully the second and third books can reach beyond the limitations of the first.

The Summer Tree is the first book in The Fionavar Tapestry series (continuing with The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road).
At Loren Silvercloak the mage's bidding, Kevin, Kim, Jennifer, Paul and Dave, five University students from Toronto, 'cross' into the Kingdom of Fionavar, the First of all Worlds, to help him in an oncoming war against Rakoth the Unraveller, and thus fulfil their destinies.
Like the five heroes, the reader is teleported into a land of magic and fantasy which the author only describes little by little. Although certainly used as a stylistic device, this sometimes makes it hard to understand the ins and outs of certain characters' actions. In the same vein, I also found the few sex scenes somewhat a bit out of place and unpoetic. Anyway, looking back upon it, I realize these were just details.
And indeed, as you turn the pages and learn more about the people and history of Fionavar and about the role the heroes have to play in it, the book really turns out to be enthralling and hard to put down. I particularly enjoyed the third part, where Dave is taken in by a tribe of hunters called the Dalrei, and learns about their customs and rites, to finally risk his own life for them.
Although at first I was a bit sceptical about the mixing of today's world with fantasy, in the end I really liked this book a lot and I'm looking forward to reading the next two. So don't let the first 150 pages or so get you down and read on, it's definitely worth it!

I read the Fionavar Tapestry series many years ago and absolutely loved it. I was utterly transported to another world. There are some books that you always remember. For me this is one of my top 5 along with 'Outlander' and 'Clan of the Cave Bear'.

I agree with the reviews that praise this effort. Well written, well plotted, and much more elegant than standard high fantasy, this series just seems a cut above other fantasies in almost all departments. We reread very few books in our house, but this set is kept on the the read-again shelf with Lord of the Rings and a few others.

One note. Some people love Kay's other work (like "Sarantium" or "Tigana"), and don't like this. Some like this and don't like the others. Understood. (I'm in the latter category.) They are just two different kinds of books. So, if you are familiar with other Kay books, just be warned that this trilogy has an entirely different feel. (And for what it's worth, "Ysabel" sort of falls in between the two bodies of work.)

I was astounded by this book (and series). Lyrically written and magnificently woven; it doesn't read like most modern works and so takes a bit of mental readjustment, but once I did that I found myself enthralled. The world created here wrapped me up until coming back felt like pushing up from underwater. I loved it.

Please accept my humble apologies. I did not like this book. I know that it is considered a fantasy classic, that thousands of fans adore it, and that Kay is one of the genre's all-time greats. But "The Summer Tree" just doesn't have it. Oh sure the writing is competent and the characters are above average but the overall work doesn't add up to anything. It's a hodepodge of elements collected from elsewhere that never justifies its own existence.
Just look at the fight scenes. Bad guy sends thousands of incompetent minions into battle. Good guys fearlessly march out to meet them. Despite being pompous fools who are vastly outnumbered, good guys somehow win without getting a scratch. Sound familiar? Maybe that's because we've already seen this happen thousands of times in countless other fantasy novels. Any good guy who's ever in danger gets rescued by a last-second magic trick. And some claim that the dialogue in this book is special. Not so. For instance, head villain Rakoth sounds so much like a comic book cliche bad guy that I almost laughed out loud.
Which isn't to say that the book is entirely bad. Some scenes, such as a character's internal reflections on a past incident during a moment of self-sacrifice do strike a genuine emotional chord. It's interesting to note that Kay's better works are the ones that focus on smaller personal stories rather than grandiose struggles between good and evil. Perhaps he should have skipped this trilogy entirely and gone straight to his later novels. Certainly Tolkien and Donaldson, among others, have done far better at classical fantasy than this freshman effort.

I enjoyed this book because it describes a fascinating world, but I agree with the other reviewers: there was no need to bring in the characters from Earth. Kay would have done well enough just talking about Fionavar. Also, I found it odd that the characters from Earth adjusted to life on Fionavar so easily, as if they hadn't lived their entire lives in a completely different dimension. Before the start of the action in the book, they are just like you and me, and they've certainly never imagined that there are any worlds other than Earth. But when Loren Silvercloak comes for them, they take him at his word and go with him with barely a murmur. When they're on Fionavar, there's hardly a hint that they were ever anything else. Kim, especially, who must have slaved for years to become a doctor, abandons her hard-earned skills completely to embrace her new calling as a wizard. But these are rookie mistakes. As Kay's masterpiece "Tigana" proves, he only got better with time, and even in this, his first book, he shows the promise of story-telling mastery that would later be realized.

I read these books the first time they came out. I had to special order The Darkest Road because my bookstore never got it in. From the first I found these books to be beautifully written, perhaps only a woman can understand the tortured beauty of Jennifer or the sacrifices Kim made to become a seer. To say that any of Kay's characters lack depth is to show yourself not well read or a bigot of some kind. I am an English teacher and every year I recommend these books to my students. Those who read them, come to me to thank me every time. I think these three books are more emotionally satisfying and adult than Tolkien. I read them at least once a year, myself. All of Kay's books are lovely and I await them anxiously. But, The Summer Tree trilogy is Kay's best and most satisfying work!!!!!

Nice story, a little too much like Donaldson in the sense of world traveling, but overall, a great little story that starts to pick up steam towards the later half of the book and into Wandering Fire, the sequel. Builds a nice little set of worlds, and uses the "overpowered evil entity" plot device pretty nicely. Again, it was 1984 when he wrote it, so it wasn't so overused then. You've really should read this series, however--a fantasy must read. Sometimes Kay can be a little pretentious, but overall, this is a great read and very accessible. There is one thing that Kay probably does better than anybody, and that is character development. This series is no exception

The most brilliant story of Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere told by a master. Anyone who doesn’t give Guy Gavriel Kay 5 stars is kidding themselves. His work Kristin is lyrical and magic with great human depth and compassion

Part of the beauty of this trilogy is the loosely fleshed characters that allow you to identify and empathize with them.

If you need three page descriptions of the table settings and a birth to present history of every character then you will hate this book.

If you enjoy a story that lets your imagination run wild and evokes a wide range of emotions then this is a must read.

In a library of 2000+ sci-fi and fantasy books this set is one of a dozen or so that is taken down and read time and again.

Strictly speaking, fantasy is never believable, but I do appreciate an internally consistent world that "makes sense" if one accepts certain premises. With The Finovar Tapestry trilogy, I didn't find that. I simply can't believe that just the right five people were assembled on just the right evening to get transported to an alternate reality where they *all* have mythic roles to fulfill and are *all* relatively happy to do so.

Worse, the tone and narrative voice of these novels alternates between the mythic (like The Silmarillion, in which Kay had a hand) and the pedestrian in an uncomfortable and somewhat bewildering way.

Still, I didn't give up until a little into Book 3, so these books do have something--certainly they have legions of fans other than me. But if you want to read this author, I would more highly recommend "Ysabel," which combines the modern and the mythic much more successfully--with an emphasis on the modern rather than the mythic--or the entirely fantastic Tigana.

Starting from a rather contrived premise of bringing 5 young adults from our modern world to the magical first of all worlds, Fionavar, you will quickly forgive as the plot deepens and we are captured in a growing myriad of events. There is room in this tale for many heroic acts and heart breaking events. When the five heros find in themselves their special talents and strengths, they are close enough to you that you will be able to share it. It is a epic told large, and Kay spares little effort to dig out the emotions of the reader.
I read this series back in the eighties, and it moved me to buy copies for my college friends. Everything I have read since I have compared with Kay's books for writing style. Remember when you read it that this is his first and least mature effort, and with confidence you will reach for his other novels.

I mean that whole-heartedly. This is one of those "how can you call yourself a fantasy buff if you haven't read The Fionavar Tapestry?" series. For those of you tired of the trite and specious plots in the fantasy great wanna-bes (Eddings, et al) these books ring with and plumb the depths of the true epic tone Tolkien first introduced. Kay uses traditional mythology--elves, the Wild Huntsman, etc--but adds his own perspective. I loved his use of the Summer Tree (the tree of life/knowledge) as his own take on the crucixion. My only great is that he doesn't write new book faster than he does--but if that's what it takes for novels of this quality, so be it!

I remember the first time I read this series. It took me four days (it would have taken three, but there was a delay in getting the last two from a friend). I was moved more deeply than any other work in fantasy I had read. I remember staying up until 6 AM (I was in theater at the time) reading them, and weeping my way through the last third of the last book in the series.

Without doubt, Kay invokes all that is deep in us as people who have created mythos and myths to carry us. He evokes all that is strong in us, while showing that even the mythic have their weaknesses. While later works of Kay's may be more polished, this is the raw material that he still works from.

As with every reading, when I finished my recent re-read I was almost traumatised to leave the world that had been so well crafted. The end leaves all satisfied, but there is a bittersweet flavor to it, since the people he has created are no longer accessable to the reader.

This is the series I would want while stranded on a desert island. And I cannot think of anything more to say than that.

"The Summer Tree" bears many similarities to "Lord of the Rings", perhaps not surprising, since Kay apparently helped Christopher Tolkien to edit "The Silmarillion". Still, Kay chooses the right aspects of Tolkien to imitate."The Summer Tree" is in a category apart from most epic fantasy, because Kay manages to maintain a lofty style similar to Tolkien's, while only occasionally becoming awkward. Kay also creates sympathetic characters, whose fates the reader really cares about.

Nothing about "The Summer Tree" is cliche. It successfully uses many common elements of fantasy in ways that are meaningful rather than laughable. Any reader of fantasy should read "The Summer Tree". Hopefully they will be convinced that high fantasy after the style of Tolkien is not dead, but rather can still be written and enjoyed.

Just be prepared to suspend your disbelief and accept the epic nature of the tale.

This book is the most haunting work of fantasy that I've ever read. The premise of the story--five university students get taken to a fantastic world--is a nice spin on children's fiction (like Eagar's Half Magic) and updates that classic genre for adults. I spent most of the book wishing that I was one of the five students!
The plot is brilliant, taking many twists and turns and it takes the reader on emotional highs, emotional lows, and adds a fair bit of dread into the story, as well.
I am haunted, however, by Kay's voice: haunting, lyrical, and otherworldly. The Summer Tree will make you want to read his other books, as well

I consider myself an intellectual reader who can't even stand to look at the pictures on most fantasy books, let alone read them!
Mr. Kay has changed my perception of the fantasy genre and his stories have increased my love for reading!
This book started it all for me with it's story of five college students who attend a lecture which ultimately changes their lives by offering them the opportunity to enter another world, where their personalities and previous life experiences combine with new revelations, ancient history, magical, mythological events and the oldest battle ever waged to give each a sense of their unique purpose and destiny.
Mr. Kay's book does not meander aimlessly down a narrow story path full of cliches, but keeps you constantly guessing, hoping, feeling and experiencing every unique and satisfying moment through the eyes of each well-developed character.
Though this book stands on it's own, you will cheat yourself if you don't read the other two books in the Fionavar Tapestry. I was overjoyed when I realized that this book was just the first of three! I have read the Trilogy four times myself and have loaned the complete set out to many friends of varied personalities and interests. Each one has had only positive comments. I never received one set back!!!
Do yourself a favor and indulge in every one of Mr. Kay's fabulous fantasies! This is just the book to start with!

Kay stumbled a bit after the Fionovar tapestry, at least with regard to sheer entertainment value. However, the slightly dry state of Tigana and A song for Arbonne does nothing to diminish the beauty of his first trilogy. I read it almost ten years ago and it is no less distinct in my mind today than it was the night I reluctantly turned the final page. This is and was the perfect fantasy saga, standing shoulder to shoulder with Tolkien in every way. By the way, if anyone has an original edition of any of these three books, especially The Summer Tree, I would be willing to pay a significant amount.

The author is one of my favourites, and this book is
what made him so. The plot draws you into the lives
of Jennifer, Paul, Dave, Kevin, and Kimberly. Similarly,
you are transported into the middle of a political and
magical battle of Fionavar. The story itself may not be
unique, but the fact that it can draw me back to read it
five times is a mark in its favor. In fact, the story was
so well written that it gives the readernew insights into
the way our world works. My hat off to Mr. Kay, as he has
earned a place in the annals of history.

I was looking for a story where the characters move back and forth between the mundane world and a fantasy world. I picked this one up, intrigued by the idea of five Canadian college students being transported to another world called Fionavar. (Although I was warned that this book was Kay's first, and not one of his best.)
A lot of elements in the story are derivative of Tolkien. Kay has his own version of Tolkien's creatures (orcs, elves, dwarves), characters (Gandalf, Sauron, Saruman), and plot elements (the return of the king, the war against Mordor, the riders of Rohan). If I let that bother me too much, I would really be limiting my enjoyment of fantasy literature in general. Besides, there was a good bit of originality here, too.
I found the characters and their situation to be somewhat unbelievable right from the beginning. They unquestioningly accept the existence of this other world, and, once there, fit right into their roles. They have an immediate grasp of the the mythology and politics of the place. Even though they are referred to as the "strangers", they might as well have been from Fionavar to begin with for all the difference it made that they were from Toronto. The female characters are especially weak - I had no feeling at all for their personalities, motivation, or relationship to the other characters. (I had trouble getting past their cutesy names, too. Spoils the mood.) I did like Dave, though. I understood what he was all about, and he was a very believable regular guy from the beginning of the book to the end. Those were the parts I liked best.
Some of the writing, especially the dialogue, is a little bit awkward. I sometimes found it hard to follow the frequently changing point of view. Although it is mostly delineated into separate sections, sometimes the point of view seemingly changes in the middle of a paragraph, making it difficult to understand whose thought you are reading now.
Based on recommendations, I do plan to read some of Kay's other books (maybe "Tigana" next), but I don't think I will finish the Fionavar series.

This is my all-time favorite Fantasy series. I was 12 years old when I first started reading these books; and I say "started" because I continued to read them over and over from then on. When it comes to books, I have few other loves besides Fantasy, so believe me when I say, I've read my share. This story is passionate, adventurous, magical, and exquisitely heartbreaking. Though admittedly this first book is not the best of the three. It is more of a stage setter for the all-important books 2 and 3. I also must admit that it can be a bit confusing in the begining, mostly because it is written in the hight of emotion and the writer clearly already knew everything that was going to happen when he started, whereas we the reader do not have a clue. But it is adoringly written, and you will find yourself quickly falling in love with various characters all too easily.

I grew to love each of the characters as though they were people I truly knew and felt concern and admiration for. The center focus being around 5 university students who suddenly find themselves swept up in a cause far bigger than anything they could have imagined. The fate of the world (and many more worlds, as they quickly learn) lies in the balance as an epic battle begins on the first of all worlds, Fionava. Kevin, Paul, Kim, Jennifer, and Dave soon dicover who they really are and what their lives have been heading towards since the day they were born. They are accompanied by many colorful characters, each with a story of their own and an important role to play in the fate of Fionavar.

The picture painted by Kay is one of beauty and emotion, with fastinating mythology and detailed character depth. To quote another of my favorite books (the Princess Bride), "it has fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love," and a few welcome additions such as magic, Gods, and legends.

I was passed this book by my mother, and I quickly passed it on to all my closest friends, to which it easily became their favorite fantasy series as well. You will laugh, and cry, and certainly cheer, long before the end of book 3. I promise.

I bought this book in Ireland, finished it in one day, and spent the next day scouring every bookshop in Dublin looking for the rest of the series. The plot is engaging and combines elements of Arthurian legends and Tolkien to great effect, but the real attraction for me is the prose. This book is beautifully written- each sentence seems to have been crafted and honed to perfection. I have since purchased all of GKK's books and each one has been a masterpiece. Although each of his books has been a joy to read, the three books of the Fionavar Tapestry remain my favorites. I have read the books countless times and yet they still have the power to move me to tears. This trilogy is without a doubt one of my most rewarding book purchases ever.

The first two hundred pages of this book are such a jumbled mess, I stopped reading it several times. But my husband promised me it gets better, and, thankfully, he was right. If you can get past the first half of the book, with its shifting point-of-views, poorly realized characterizations, and the "epic" presumption, a gem lies in wait. In the latter pages of the book, Guy Gavriel Kay's mastery comes to light. It's worth it!

That being said, Tigana is still my favorite... start there if you've never read anything by Kay. His Sailing to Sarantium (Sarantine Mosaic, Book 1)books are wonderful too. Then you'll be able to trust that this series will indeed live up to the recommendations.

Enjoy!

Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite authors and as such, I had very high hopes for this novel. Unfortunately, his Tolkien influence not only shows here, but it overwhelms the book entirely.

The plot is relatively straight-forward: five young people are led through a portal into another world by a mysterious mage and his sidekick. They're told they're only there for a celebration, a few days at the most, and then they can go home. But things go wrong from the very beginning. One of them doesn't make it through with the other four, and the plot just gets jumbled from there.

It sounds like standard fantasy fodder - and it should be. Unfortunately, the language is almost archaic, and the dialogue stilted. Sometimes entire pages are devoted to scenery. It may have worked well when Tolkien wrote, but in today's society, I expect a fast-paced story, full of intrigue and adventure.

At times, Kay offers glimpses of his talent by creating a character so wonderful (Sharra), and a culture so rich (the Dalrei), it takes my breath away. Unfortunately, those glimpses were few and far between. The main characters are bland and uninteresting, with the possible exception of Kim Ford, and they're all much too quick to accept this strange new world they've been thrown in (if a mage came up to you and plunged you through a portal, wouldn't you be a little more resistant to that kind of change?).

If you're a Tolkien fan, chances are good you'll enjoy THE SUMMER TREE. For the rest of us, this book is best left on the shelves.

Nice story, a little too much like Donaldson in the sense of world traveling, but overall, a great little story that starts to pick up steam towards the later half of the book and into Wandering Fire, the sequel. Builds a nice little set of worlds, and uses the "overpowered evil entity" plot device pretty nicely. Again, it was 1984 when he wrote it, so it wasn't so overused then. You've got read this series, however--a fantasy must read. Sometimes Kay can be a little pretentious, but overall, this is a great read and very accessible.

I really like this series. Kay has some real imagination and beauty to his books. His ideas are truly original and his world is on full of wonder.
Nonetheless, I found his writing style a hindrance to being fully immersed in this book, and the following books of the series. He is choppy and downright confusing at times. It is not that he is a complex writer - I don't mind that. It is that he seems to be trying to be complex and comes off being vague and confusing.
With that said, this book is one of the better ones of the fantasy genre. And, as a fellow Canadian with Kay, I wish him all the best!

I love the Fionavar Tapestry. In these books Kay has woven a beautiful, complex story. The setting is Fionavar, a gorgeous and enchanted world filled with magic and history--a world which reminds me of Narnia or Middle Earth. The story is filled with strong, compelling characters, both male and female, who sometimes have to make difficult choices. At times the story is sad but Kay's writing is so graceful that I enjoyed even the sad parts.
The Summer Tree, the first book in the trilogy, begins the story very nicely and draws the reader into the deep magic of Fionavar. The part of the story with Paul hanging on the Summer Tree was very beautifully written, and at many points reached the magestic feeling of an ancient myth or legend.
I would highly recommend The Fionavar Tapestry to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy with powerful magic and attractive settings.

This is what I finished yesterday whilst lying about in bed pretending to be sleepy. Which I was whenever I got up to do anything, but immediately wasn't as soon as I lay down to read. Make of that what you will. Re-reading this, I can hear the objections of my writer's group pals complaining about overwriting, too much description, unbelievable circumstances, not enough explanation of magic (like magic can ever be adequately explained), why do the characters do this, that or the other thing, too this, too that. But you know what? I think most of them would get hooked anyway. I always do.

This first book of the Fionavar Tapestry, as well as the second and third, are an interesting insight into a very talented author's earliest efforts, but not much more. It is only in light of Kay's later, superbly conceived and written books "Tigana" and "Song for Arbonne" that I am even able to rate this trilogy a 4.
It's fun to see Kay's early experiments with fantasy elements. The magician's inextricable bond to some source of power, so brilliantly brought to life in "Tigana", is shown in a simpler form in the mages of Fionavar. And although the historical references are rather muddled in this trilogy, one can feel Kay's fascination with real-world history, and see the seed that will eventually lead him to seamlessly blend history and fantasy in "The Lions of Al-Rassan" and "Tigana".
Overall, however, the most positive feeling I had from the trilogy was relief that mediocre writing at an early stage in one's career does not seem to be an impediment to brilliant writing later. The story line was overly intricate while lacking complexity, the plot and characters were one-dimensional and much too Tolkienesque, and the writing itself had none of the subtlety and power that one finds in Kay's later novels. Emotion was often conveyed through the use of italics, and the moments that are meant to give us insight into the characters are so stock that it's almost laughable.
If you've never read Kay before, please don't start with this trilogy. Start with "Tigana" and be amazed. If you've read some of his other work, you might find this an interesting look at a great writer's developmental period, but don't expect to be as satisfyingly enriched as you have come to expect from Kay.
Mr. Kay, if you are reading this, please grace us with another "Tigana".

Ordinarily, when I am reading a book that I realize I'm not going to like, I keep going. I want to give it all the chances I can, and I want to be able to tell people, in detail, why I don't like it, if none of the chances pan out. Every now and then -- one out of perhaps every fifty or more books that I've read -- I come across one that I just can't finish. This book is one of those. I can, in the end, realistically only review the first couple of chapters. But they were terrible, just terrible. The characters were cardboard, and not very interesting cardboard. They didn't even have the excuse of being classic fantasy or fiction archetypes or set pieces; they were just really boring people, and not very well written boring people, either. The wordsmithing itself was trite and hackneyed; and the imagery, by extension, was distracting rather than revealing. And, finally, we come to the premise itself: Earth is but a pale reflection of the Real, True World, that just happens to be the one the author created, and that we're going to go to. This was a pompous, arrogant, *terrible* idea when Zelazny did it in the Amber series, and it's a pompous, arrogant, and now cliched idea, this time around. If you want fantasy about parallel worlds and finding magic in them, try The Incompleat Enchanter (by L. Sprague de Camp), and leave this tripe wherever it lies.

Five people (three men and two women) from contemporary Toronto are transported to a parallel world called Fionavar by a mage and a dwarf. There they discover their place in the tapestry of worlds and history, in the fight against an ancient evil. Another great story, a pleasure to read.

The Summer Tree, along with the two other Fionavar Tapestry books, tops my list of all time favorite books. I found this book in a bookstore in London when I was 12. I didn't read it for another year, but when I did I quickly found the others in the trilogy and fell in love. Since that time, I have read every book written by Guy Kay and he is my favorite author.
What drew me in was the richness in detail and the relatable characters. The twists and turns in the plot kept me entranced, and I cried (and still do) in several places throughout the series. Kay's language is beautiful and he really seems to have a deep knowledge and passion for his creations. I felt that each of the main characters (and many of the supporting) were well created; with flaws and mysteries that continued to intrigue right until the end.
The Fionavar Tapestry is written in the High Epic fantasy genre, reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings. The themes explored can be seen in many of the greatest fantasy novels. Known myth is used in the classic 'good vs. evil' plot, but written in a way that makes it seem new and fresh. I enjoy discovering the parallels in myth used in such books as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Dark Tower Series.
If you enjoy discovering a new world, populated with characters you can love, hate, and ponder, then this book (and the entire trilogy) is a must read.

After reading TIGANA, I decided to read the first book in this acclaimed series. I did manage to read the whole book, which is one good thing, because the really bad books I stop reading as soon as they get boring. In short, the book does keep your attention. I think most of this is due to the book's originality. Sure, the OTHER WORLD apart from OUR WORLD may not be so original--Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber comes to mind--but there are other parts that ARE original. The hunter in the wild fields. The overall storyline about five young ones going to a world they don't understand. The summer tree itself. One thing that I noticed was that Kay used FAR too many commas in this book. Some sentences, sorta look, like this. In the end, this is only a mediocre fantasy novel, especially when compared to the works being cranked out by such heavy-hitters as Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, and George R. R. Martin.

I loved this book. I only really have one complaint. Kay's writing style is a little difficult to get into. He is writing in a high fantasy style for a high fantasy world. I really did appreaciate that, but it does make the book a little less accessable to the reader.
The characters are interesting and engaging. There are some true personalities in these books and they beg to be written about more and more. It's a great start to this series.

I have owned seven, yes, seven copies of The Summer Tree. Five of those copies were "borrowed" from friends, never to be seen again, and I didn't mind giving them up if it meant one more person could have read this magnificent work. The other copies were lovingly retired after the dog-eared, yellowing and occasionally tear stained pages started to fall out. I guess you could say I've read it a few times.

While the three books that form the "Fionavar Tapestry" are engaging, they all suffer, to varying degrees, from a loosely scripted, and at times, implausible plot, as well as the inclusion of Arthurian elements that remain contrived and unnecessary except as a "hook" pandering to the appeal the Camelot legend holds for many readers, and that has already elsewhere been overworked. Further, I question the plot device of characters that are transported by varying means from "our" world into parallel fantasy realms that appear popular with many fantasy writers: Effectively used to inform the story in Donaldson's "Covenant" series, other writers turn to its use solely as a clever artifice by which to move characters around.
Though better than most of the fantasy fiction about, this trilogy lacks the focus of Kay's later, more mature and individual works, such as "Tigana" or "Song for Arbonne." Read these if you are seeking serious and original fantasy tales. Save the "Fionavar Trilogy" for moments of simple, unexamined diversion.
(As "The Summer Tree" is the weakest book in the trilogy, I have only rated it individually two stars, whereas I have rated the series three stars overall in my review of "The Darkest Road.")

Other reviews express dismay at the "predictable" or "cliche" nature of the plot. This is however entirely necessary for the story as the story of the first world. Everything that occurs in Fionavar must ring of at least deja vue if not outright recognition. Fionavar, so the explanation goes, is the world of which ours is but a reflection. Kay does an incredible job of giving just enough to make the world recognizable without making it mundane. All the stories you have ever read are reflected here.
The Fionavar Tapestry is what Northrop Frye meant when he said "In myth we see the structural principals of literature isolated" and "Literature may have life, reality, experience, nature, imaginitive truth, social conditions, or what you will for its content; but literature itself is not made out of these things. Poetry can only be made out of other poems; novels out of other novels."
In the end this is an incredibly good read with moving characters, plot, emotion, and as much intelectual stimulus as you are willing to ask from it.
One of the best books ever written, and will stand for comparison against any other "hypothetical structure of words"

I read this series well after it was published, and am deeply sorry I didn't get turned to Kay earlier. The Fionavar Tapestry is awesome in its scope and heartbreakingly beautiful in its writing. Kay is truly a master of the art of the written word, with the power to draw you into the story like no author I have ever experienced, to make you laugh and cry and love with the characters, and to enable you to fully experience the bittersweetness of life as he describes it in his books. He is simply a brilliant writer, and one that should not be missed.

The Fionavar Tapestry left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, some of the writing is very well done and some parts of the story, particularly Dave's first meeting with the Dalrei, are moving and enjoyable to read. On the other hand, the story isn't very original and I never felt very involved with the characters. The women in particular seemed to be poorly drawn and weren't very likable.
The story revolves around five college students who have been brought to the fantasy land of Fionavar, a Middle Earth-like world which Kay tells us is the one true world. The world of the college students, which is our own world, is but an imperfect reflection. Kay tells us that problems in Fionavar will be reflected in all other worlds, including our own, but never gives any examples of this.
The biggest problem with the trilogy is that the students interact amazingly well with Fionavar and its inhabitants right from the start. I never understood why it was necessary to have the students originate in our world, because the story as a whole would change very little (and would make more sense) if they had been born and raised in Fionavar. The students never use the knowledge and skills they've gained in their own world to aid Fionavar. For instance, when they travel back home, why don't they take firearms and manuals on how to manufacture gunpowder and grenades with them on their return to Fionavar? Fionavar is a world at war with an ancient evil, and yet they never mention or express a desire for any modern weaponry or a modern means of communication or transportation. Furthermore, the students never get homesick, they never have trouble adjusting to this new and different culture, and oddly enough, when one of them is killed, no one ever wonders what they'll tell his family and friends back home.
After the students are taken to Fionavar, Kay also adds King Arthur and Lancelot to his tale. For some unexplained reason, Guinevere has been reincarnated but Arthur and Lancelot have to be resurrected. Once in Fionavar, Arthur and Lancelot don't actually do much and almost seem to be superfluous. Arthur's dog actually comes across as more heroic and has more personality Arthur does. It felt like Kay couldn't decide whether he wanted to write an Arthurian novel or a fantasy novel and so decided to blend the two, with results that are less than satisifying.
There is a subtle current of sexism running throughout the trilogy that made me uncomfortable. While some of the most powerful people in Fionavar are women, the women are all involved in either religion or mysticism of some sort. When it comes to battles, the women are either kept on the sidelines and expected to heal the injured or are left at home. Kay describes nearly every woman as being earth-shatteringly beautiful and seems to feel that a woman must be beautiful to be important. Part of Fionavar's history involves a woman called Lisen, who apparently never did anything more than look beautiful and act as an aid to her husband, yet the entire world still mourns her passing.
...

Guy Gavriel Kay is someone who can always be relied on to take any book above it's characters and plot, and make it far more than the sum of it's parts.

The three Fionavar Tapestry books do not compare especially well to some of Kay's other novels, but I have to ask myself, what does? Every author must have an 'off-series' now and again; it is a great credit to Kay that his worst set of books is better by far than the majority of works around.

Focusing on five 'real life' protaganists, and putting them into a fantasy world, Kay creates the out of place feeling that domintates most of his works. Each of these characters has their own personal problems, and each one is slowly exorcised over the course of the series. Some have accused the people in these books of being unreal and two-dimensional, but to me they worked well; combining both normal traits with a personality twisting slowly seeping in from the new world they find themselves in. Kay's storyline does not supply an 'everyone goes away happy' ending, something that goes rather in his favour concerning the unbelievable elemets to the book.

The book is pure fantasy, with virtually no basis in fact, something that Kay doesn't often try. In doing this, he has forced the issues he raises to become purely theoretical; unlike some other novels of his, actions here hold no relation or advice on the real world.

Critics have also decried the Aurthurian elements of the story, but I personally think they only add to it. In keeping with the philosophies of authorial giants such Stephen Lawhead, Kay does not transport ancient legends unabridged into his books, but adapts them to fit his own literary needs, with good result.

While not the best of his books, the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy is still a great series in it's own right, not merely a lesser work of an accomplished writer. A good suggestion for newer readers might be to read these books first, as an introduction, then proceed to those stories that highlight the real genius of the man.

I read Kay very early in my "initiation" into the genre of Fantasy, after classics such as "Lord of the Rings" and "The Narnia chronicles." No later work of any (still living) author I have read has ever come close to the greatness of Kay's books. The Summer tree is the first of the three books in the Fionavar tapestry, and in my opinion, this series is also his best.
Initially I was sceptical to the idea of modern, real-life people entering a fantasy universe (Fionavar - the first of worlds,) but this feeling soon evaporated through sheer reading bliss. The plot is grand, tragic, comic, romantic - everything you could ever hope for in a fantasy. What really lifts Kay above your average author, is his language - he writes more beautifully, poetic and complex than most. Also, his plots are always very strong and inspired, and his worlds are so realized as to contain an atmosphere unrivaled in anything bar J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis' works. Add to this immensely involving characters, and you have arguably one of the best fantasies ever written.

The Fionavar Tapestry deserves all the stars in the heavens! And perhaps the moon as well. This book, which I first read two and a half years ago, has become an integral part of how I view the world. It is full of beauty, love, and the things that build dreams. Loren Silvercloak and Matt Soren truly touched my heart, not to mention Yssane, Kim, Pwyll, and Sharra. Fionavar is a world so full and beautifully crafted that it is real to those who have read it. I have only one question: Why did Kay abandon this beautiful world to write Tigana (a good book but no where near as good as Fionavar) and Arbonne and Lions of Al-rassan (can we say boring?), when he could have been writing more about Fionavar?

I just recently recommended this series to a friend, and I couldn't help it. I reread it for the 5th time. It's so damn good. I can't get over it. This guy is EERIE...the way he can delve into emotions. I rarely cry over books but I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME when I read The Tapestry. Mr. Kay, hats off to you for the best damn literature I've ever read.

After reading all of the 5-star customer reviews, I thought that this book would be incredible. Well, I was disappointed, but not disappointed enough not to finish the other two books in the series. I enjoyed Kay's fantasy writing, but I found about a third of the book to be nothing but a big soap opera. This distracted me from the plot and I found myself skipping various passages or pages. I also did not understand how one of the characters translated his basketball skills into a professional axe-wielding warrior. On the whole I'm giving the book 3 stars which might be a bit generous. I'd recommend that readers try one of Kay's other books called "Tigana". I'm shocked at the level some people have placed The Summer Tree in their reviews, but The Summer Tree cannot compare to the Lord of the Rings trilogy or the Thomas Covenant series.

Guy Gavriel Kay does a wonderful job of blending many of the myths that we know today into a story that can only be called beautiful. As most Fantasy stories go this is good against evil however, the myths of Celtic lore are blended into the story with a cast of heros that you could find at the state university. Well done!