The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 1) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In the spaces of calm almost lost in what followed, the question of why tended to surface..." (more)
Key Phrases: lios alfar, svart alfar, first mage, Paul Schafer, Paras Derval, Summer Tree (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Five university students--Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin, and Paul--meet a wizard who takes them to the heart of all worlds, Fionavar, where they discover who they were truly meant to be. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who could take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds--Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need--the need of Fionavar and all the worlds--was great indeed.

And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods--and of the Unraveller and his minions of Darkness--Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin, and Paul discovered who they were truly meant to be. For the five were a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving when the Unraveller unleashed his wrath upon the world. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc Trade; Reprint edition (April 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451458222
• ISBN-13: 978-0451458223
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #213,693 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Fionavar Tapestry Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I WILL READ EVERY BOOK THIS MAN WRITES!!!, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry, Book 1) (Paperback)

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!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunningly underrated trilogy, March 21, 2003

By	david bowers (CO USA) - See all my reviews

I've read many - at least a thousand, certainly - fantasy books, and The Summer Tree (and the entire trilogy) is simply one of the very best. The 'Fionavar Tapestry' is so painstakingly crafted that it must have been a labor of love (and probably a first book), and I can never understand why I don't hear far more about it.

The language is frequently lyrical, far above the usual standard for fantasy writing; "words more strung with fire", to use one of Kay's own phrases, than any but the likes of, say, Bradbury's. The whole really IS a tapestry; a complex and intricate interweaving of different characters, plot strands, and fantasy elements. And so tightly and carefully woven that it's unbelievable - half a sentence in one book can subtly foreshadow a major event in another book three hundred pages later - yet it's never slow, as I'd expect given all the connections and resonances. You just don't normally find this level of plaited storytelling, even in the endless 300 pound series.

Obviously I was blown away by this trilogy - will probably read it every few years for life - but many of the Amazon reviews were negative and I'd like to address some of the comments. First, a number of the reviewers seemed to be giving Kay low marks mostly because he hadn't written some other book. For instance, some would have preferred a book in which all the characters came from the one world, not some from Fionavar and some from earth. Or some would have preferred a book that was more like Tolkien, or less like Tolkien, etc. I'd say that these are simply valid alternate choices as to the form, and he should be judged on the job he did, not downgraded because he didn't write another book entirely.

A few reviewers thought the plot cliche or even PREDICTABLE. I'll just flat-out claim that noone could have predicted his plot; it was simply too complex and detailed. It could only be honestly considered cliche or predictable if you simplify it to the level of Good vs. Evil; who's going to win? If that's the criterion then many, if not most, fantasy books just fail.

I do agree with some reviewers that it seemed like the 'earthlings' adapted amazingly well to an entirely new existence on another world and seemed to cut loose of their pasts with almost no remorse. Though I'd almost bet that Kay had that all worked out in his mind, not enough justification made it into the pages of the books. He did give us a few reasons(and hints)to think that some of the 'earthlings' had no strong personal ties back home, and that the one who did frequently thought about that tie, (his father), but I too think that he could have fleshed that out more.

And I agree that the two female main characters weren't
delineated well enough at the beginning. At first it was hard to really tell them apart, (though after a critical event in one of their lives that problem was taken care of).

There are some smaller imperfections as well, but compared to the vast majority of fantasy books out there...!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for fantasy fans, August 15, 2002

By	C. Quinn (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.