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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it, can't wait to read the next one,
This review is from: Sailing to Sarantium (Sarantine Mosaic, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the third novel I've read by Kay. The first two were "Tigana" and "A Song for Arbonne" (which was one of the better books I've read in a long time, in any genre, not just fantasy). "Sailing to Sarantium" gave me no reason to doubt the impression I received from reading those two books, which is that Kay is a great novelist, not just a great writer technically. His characters are psychologically deep, his worlds politically complex; he does not shy away from such topics as a culture's religious philosophy and tolerance; his history is obviously well-researched, even if the reader is not familiar with the historical period or place. He makes his readers think. And the way in which he infuses his novels with his widsom about life makes him a rarity in today's literary world. One of the things I liked best about this novel was Kay's theme of the artist wanting to have his name remembered in history in some way; though this is only one of several themes in the book. I also admired his knowledge of the visual artist's perception of the physical world; how he must learn to be conscious about seeing and observing everything. Kay's breathtaking depiction of a chariot race (the writing of which can't be an easy task) made me reflect on how little the gambling and gaming nature of man has changed over the centuries (yesterday chariots; today, the Daytona 500!). The unique idea of Zoticus's birds is a beautiful one; their characters provide some of the book's most poignant moments. And one other quality I admired, which seems to be a Kay trait, is the way he presents different view points of a single event through several characters' eyes. It is akin to the way a film camera revolves around an object to give an audience a 360 degree view of it, not just a straight-on, linear one. A very effective way to develop character. (The only concern I have about this technique is that it could potentially fragment a story too much.) One other minor criticsm is the way in which Kay seems to overuse, a bit, a device of saying such things as, "later, so-and-so would realize that had things happened differently..." to create, perhaps, a sense of mystery and try to intrigue the reader into further interest. It is sometimes effective in that way, and in the sense that it proves Kay has the characters' futures, and the plot, mapped out, but was generally used too often, in my opinion. I also found myself wondering, in the final pages, what happened to the characters Carullus and Kasia. Was their absence deliberate, or just a loose thread? By no means let these small flaws (if I may be so bold) stop you from immersing yourself in this detailed, beautifully-written historical fantasy. Kay is fast becoming a favorite of mine, and has already rated two places in my "favorite books" bookcase. I can't wait to read Lord of Emperors; it seems Kay just gets better with each book.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A strong beginning,
By
This review is from: Sailing to Sarantium (Sarantine Mosaic, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
I found this book to be exceptional, because of what it was, and was not destracted by what it wasn't. Guy Gavriel Kay in Sailing to Sarantium creates a captivating story of an artist, without it flowing quietly into the depths of cliche. The characters are multifaceted, and he captivates you with the beauty, love, and power that flow from his writing. He takes a story that in most author's hands would have come across very boring, and the fact that Kay pulls it off is a testament to his ability. He even managed a rather frustrating cliffhanger at the end of the book, what a place to pause the story. It almost made me wish that I had waited until all the volumes were out, before I started reading them. In STS Kay's court intrigue is so complex that at times the monarchs seem almost psychic with their ability to reason out what is going on in the shadows of their palace. In most cases this would have made the story seem unrealistic. Guy Gavriel Kay manages it very well and to astonishing effect.Instead of a feeling of unreality, I was struck wondering how long Crispin could exist in such a hostile and duplicitous environment. This book is recommend to fans of Kay's past work. If you are new to Kay, however, start at the beginning with The Fionavar Tapestry, and work your way to the present.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Luscious language, lazy storyteller,
By
This review is from: Sailing to Sarantium (Sarantine Mosaic, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have such mixed feelings about this book. It's language is intoxicating, subtle, and quite pleasurable to read. I wish there was as much a story to go with such gorgeous wordsmithing.I picked up this book, Sailing to Sarantium, while visiting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in May 2000, at an outlet mall near Ashland, Oregon. I had heard so much about Kay that I just had to find a book by him, so when I saw this book on the shelf, I picked it up. Ah! the sights, sounds, and smells he describes are so real - Guy Kay is able to take you there to see what the characters see, smell what they smell. But I felt there was no there there. The characters barely move through this detailed world. This book also didn't seem to stand alone: it's waiting for its sequel to be published (which of course has happened). I must say, though, that I will buy the sequel, and hope that the story moves along a wee bit better than this one.
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