Customer Reviews

Under Heaven

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Guy Gavriel Kay's "Under Heaven" is perhaps his best exercise to date in creating a rich world in which characters, politics, and an intricate plot collide, in this case the tale of an empire on the brink in an alternate early dynasty China, Tibet, and Mongolia. Unfortunately, Kay's decision to rapidly unwind the masterful plot in 50 pages shortchanges the work he does in the previous 500. 4 stars.

"Under Heaven" is Kay's first venture outside of European-based alternate world history, and as you'd expect, the academic underpinnings are extraordinarily well done - an author's note at the end describes much his original source material, and is probably worth the price of the book itself. (One note as to how far out of his comfort zone Kay ventures: a common theme for many Kay fans is the occasional link to Fionavar running through his books, and there's only a marginal such one in this.)

In a sentence or two, the plot isn't terribly complex: a middle son of a good but not great family finds himself suddenly thrown into the heart of palace intrigue and power in an Empire on the brink of change, with all the resulting tragedy and drama one would expect from that setting. The difference with Kay is that while far too many fantasy writers would destroy the setting with cardboard characters, Kay's strength is making them and their actions not just believable but engrossing.

"Under Heaven" plays to this, where constant first person exploration of the motivation of almost all of the critical characters means that the villains are not merely black and white but human, and whatever that takes away in villainous tendencies is more than made up for by keeping the reader on edge as to what they'll do next. Other authors could take note of how Kay writes romance and even a bit of erotica, which is better done than most gooey fantasy writers, and nobody can do court life quite like the poet Kay is.

This works spectacularly for about the first 500 pages, up until (without spoiling things) the brink crests. Unfortunately, after that Kay seems content to wrap up the numerous plot lines that he's labored so hard to create without any sort of grand conclusion or exploration, and often quite abruptly. An example that doesn't give away too much is that a Governor who becomes a fascinating study early on and who has a major role with the main turning point later just, well, sort of disappears.

Part of this may be that Kay had been thinking about this novel for 7 years - he'd originally moved his family to France so as to flesh out ideas he had for a book on the Silk Road, and became so overwhelmed with his setting that he dropped it and instead wrote Ysabel - and just had too much material for a single novel. It's almost as if Kay was reminded by an editor when most of the way through his manuscript that an 800 page book wouldn't sell, so he reluctantly wrapped things up as quickly and as neatly as he could.

This is nitpicking to a degree given the richness of the material prior to this, and some will probably find the resolutions perfectly acceptable. But compared to Tigana or Al Rassan, it's a shame to have this amazing buildup end up leading to what feels almost like an epilogue. A reluctant 4 stars, but still a book that will keep you up well past bed time as a culture most don't know well is explored gloriously. Recommended.

I picked up this novel with some apprehension and great excitement also. GGK has honed some of my favorite novels, such as Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rasson. At the same time, his two most recent works have had much less impact upon me as a reader.

I am happy to say that Under Heaven harkens back to the former novels.

There are numerous strengths to this novel. The story is tightly written focusing on a central cast of characters. This is refreshing in an era where fantasy stories are told in trilogies, tetralogies, and even decalogies. In its scope, it is not epic fantasy. Rather it is fantasy that focuses on humanity. It focuses on the emotions, decisions, and experiences that define who we are. The characters are fully fleshed out, intimately written. Like GGK greatest works, he pulls you into the struggle of his cast of characters and then pulls on your heart strings as life and death bring change, for good or bad, to that cast. In this, I was reminded of the last chapters of Tigana, though this novel fell just short of that incredible standard for me.

It may even be incorrect to define this novel as fantasy. It has minor elements of fantasy, heavy elements of historical fiction, and above all is simply excellent literature. There is no magic and there are no non-human characters. However, the well written story should appeal to fans of any genre who are simply looking for a good read.

Are there weaknesses to the novel? Certainly none that are glaring or stood out to me. There are a few gritty scenes, but nothing that approaches that of modern fantasy standards set by GRRM or Joe Abercrombie. There are heavy undertones of sexuality throughout the book, but these are handled rather deftly by the author and are made to seem beautiful rather than banal. At times the story is slow, or rather the author takes the privilege of expounding on his world and adding background. In this, the story lacks some of the non-stop pacing that other fantasy novels employ. I did not find this to be a weakness, but others might. I have read enough GGK to trust myself implicitly to his capable hands when reading his novels.

There are many authors thriving in the fantasy genre. There are a select few authors pushing the boundries of the genre. Guy Gavriel Kay transcends the genre. If you like a good read, may I recommend Under Heaven.

Guy Gavriel Kay has built his (rightfully) strong reputation as a writer by melding together scrupulously researched history with just enough of the touch of the fantastic to bring his books into the realm of "fantasy." Some of his best books include re-imaginings of Renaissance Italy ("Tigana"), the Byzantine Empire (the two books of the "Sarantine Mosaic"), and Medieval Spain ("The Lions of Al-Rassan"). In "Under Heaven," Kay leaves medieval Europe behind but brings his unique approach to a re-imagining of Seventh Century Tang Dynasty China -- and this book is every bit as good as its predecessors!

In "Under Heaven," the action revolves around Shen Tai, son of a celebrated "Kitan" [Chinese] general. As the book begins, Shen Tai is on a quest to honor his deceased father's memory by burying some of the tens of thousands of bodies left from a titanic clash between the Empire of Kitai and its rival, the Kingdom of Tagur [similar to Tibet]. Here, Kay's trademark touch of the fantastic is initially provided by the fact that the tens of thousands of dead soldiers have left behind their very real--and very unquiet--ghosts, giving Shen Tai an aura of the holy man (or madman) in his quest to bury as many bodies as he can in an act of honor to his father. When his quest is honored with an extravagant gift of 250 legendary horses (when one such horse would be a fortune), Shen Tai does not know whether it is in fact a gift or akin to receiving "poison in a jeweled cup." The book revolves first around Shen Tai's efforts to stay alive (whether from assassins on the frontier or the civilized malice of Kitan bureaucracy) and navigate Kitan society in a new role, and then, as is often the case in a Guy Gavriel Kay book, Shen Tai's story is placed in the context of a larger upheaval involving a rebellion in Kitan.

As usual, Kay's writing is elegant and lyric; the plotting is intricate and absorbing; and the characterizations are genuine and captivating. There is indeed a bit of a rushed feel at the end, given the deliberate pacing that set the scene initially, but fans of Kay or even those willing to make the leap from "conventional" historical fiction will not be disappointed.

I love the work of Guy Gavriel Kay. He is without doubt the best fantasy writer working today, and I include Patricia McKillip, George R. R. Martin and Jacqueline Carey among those who are almost, but not quite, as good. That being said, Under Heaven was a disappointment. The reason is simple: the main character, Shen Tai, is peripheral to the main events of the book. Under Heaven is a re-telling of the An Li rebellion, before World War II, the bloodiest war in history, in which close to 40 million people died, more than 10% of the human race at that time. Shen Tai is built up as a heroic character, but he hangs around the action. He's not really part of it. If he did not exist, nothing would have happened differently. The fact that he is given 250 Sardian horses is almost irrelevant, despite the great worth of these horses, in an empire of millions of people and horses that are almost, if not quite, as fine. At one point, Roshan, the rebelling general, lets Shen Tai go, realizing that, in the end, the horses don't mean much.

Also, Shen Tai's great love, Spring Rain, a brilliant, beautiful courtesan, wanders off in the fighting. She makes no effort to find him. He makes no effort to find her. He then realizes that he is in love with another woman, and we see no build up to this second relationship. It all seems to happen in the background, but that's not the way great novels are suppposed to work. We're supposed to see the story, not find out about it after it's essentially over. In the end, this was a beautifully written book but a weak story.

Plot Summary: At its core, this is a story of a good man who is put in an impossible situation. When Shen Tai's father dies, he spends the two-year mourning period at the remote site of one of his father's great victories, burying the countless bones of the unconsecrated dead. Shen Tai's actions result in an unexpected windfall, when the royal family of a neighboring kingdom gifts him with a staggering number of Sardian horses. The gift is so extravagant that it puts his life in danger, and Shen Tai must travel to the court of the Emperor to report the gift, and find a way to stay alive.

It almost hurts me a little to read something this good, because it's the kind of achievement that few writers will attain within their lifetime. Guy Gavriel Kay has written a story that is weighty with importance, and yet, it's approachable and entertaining for the reader as well. I want to cite Under Heaven as an example of superb writing that does not try to achieve greatness through obfuscation or unnecessary complications. It's simple, elegant, and epic.

I'm a little hesitant to call Under Heaven a fantasy, only because hard-core fantasy fans could be misled. There is magic here, but it's subtle and it exists on the fringes of the main story line. Really, this is a piece of historical fiction that has no basis in fact, aside from the setting, which is borrowed from ancient China. I heartily approve of this style, and Mr. Kay is utterly convincing in his execution. The imagined history in Under Heaven could pass for the real thing, and I can think of no higher compliment for a historical fantasy.

I'm trying to recall the last time I read something that swept me away with the big picture, and yet, kept me grounded with the characterizations. I can only try to compare this to some of Pearl S. Buck's novels, but even her great stories are lacking beside Mr. Kay's creation. The way he put the scenes together was nothing short of brilliant, and little pieces of the puzzle were constantly being introduced, and each time it stunned me. Every single character comes to life, and yes, thank you so much for giving the reader characters we could love, and characters we could hate. It makes me reflect on stories that lacked this balance, and why that's such a big mistake.

The book wraps up with the benefit of hindsight, and I thought it was novel way to close this story. There is the history that is recorded, and then there's each individual's tale, and Mr. Kay satisfies on both counts.

I have read several of Guy Gavriel Kay's works. With that being said, I think it is important to first state that this book touched me so profoundly that I was compelled to write this review. I have NEVER taken time to write a review on Amazon.com. It is important to know, if you decide to read this book, that Kay writes in a very specific manner. I personally enjoy reading books for their plot. Nothing is better than a good plot twist, right? Kay writes his books for the characters. He is a master of developing characters and firmly attaching them to your emotions. He is the only author I make an exception for, trading my much loved plot development for character development. Sure, there is always a story to be told by Kay that involves a plot, as no amount of character development could keep a plot-less book afloat.

In this novel, Shen-Tai, of the Tang dynasty, is honored by a rival kingdom for his work burying the dead when no one else would. He is given 250 Sardian horses, a most extravagant gift. He is only allowed these horses if he collects them himself. I will go no further with the plot, but it is incredible how it plays out. Kay always seems to attach me to a certain idea and I hope it plays out the way he sets it in motion, but it never seems to happen in a neat, easy way like that. For a moment you are disappointed and sad that two people you were rooting for never end up together, or one of them dies doing something heroic, or stupid... or both. But in the epilogue he ALWAYS buttons everything up in a satisfying way that completely wipes your sorrow or missed opportunities away, offering you with an alternative you could never have dreamed up and it it ultimately just as satisfying, if not more-so, than what it was you had expected to begin with. READ THIS BOOK! I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed reading this. I DO NOT re-read novels, but I very well may be re-reading this one at some point in the future.

I always look forward to my second read of one of GGK's novels. The first time through you can enjoy the beautifully described world and the story, but it is hard to refrain from reading straight through in a single sitting. The second time you can linger and let the language roll around in your head and better appreciate the balance of joy and sadness that permeate all his stories.

This novel, a departure in some ways from previous works though reflecting elements of the Sarantine Mosaic, is well worth the long wait between novels. I wouldn't call it his best, but that would be an absurdly high bar to hurdle. Further, each work should really be viewed on its own and comparisons only muddle what should be a deeply satisfying experience. My only criticism is that it should have been at least two novels. The scope of the story and the characters truly needed an extra 400-600 pages to fully explore and at times too much of the action was "off-screen." Still, that is a quibble, based mostly on my desire to linger in the Tang dynasty a little longer.

Well worth your time and money. I am already thinking the proper wait before reading it again.

From the reviews of Under Heaven, it seems that most people are split into two camps. There are those who think this is a return to the top-notch form of Tigana, Al-Rassan, etc and those who think this is final confirmation that he's jumped the shark.
I'm definitely more in the former camp than the later, but it would be hard to describe this book as great or as a classic. It is surprisingly light and fun to read, and it's populated with characters drawn from history and infused with realism. The setting is of course the most memorable element, and enthusiasts of Chinese history (or any history really) will not be disappointed. Kay is very good at presenting values different from the 21st century in a plausible way. Ideally, this could have been amongst his best works. But there was a major flaw.

The pacing/voice issues are as puzzling as any I can remember. The beginning is a little slow, but we get a close third person narrator and it's initially an engrossing story. The problem is that as the events get grander, and the scope more dramatic, the narrative voice gets further removed and gains omniscience. It feels like a cop-out on the act of the writer, as though he couldn't be bothered to finish the tale the same way he started it. Or that it was the only way to avoid writing a trilogy. I wonder if he wasn't as successful if he would have been allowed to stick with this decision.

I feel quite strongly that this wasn't effective, that it almost never is going to be a useful narrative device, and that it failed to be an effective end to the story. It was like reading the first three-quarters of the book and having a friend describe what happened at the end. If you think this won't bother you, then there's no reason to not read this book right now. But for me, I feel so let down by the end of the shift, that my experience with Under Heaven is bittersweet.

This is an amazing book. Lyrical, complex, beautiful. It's Kay at his best in many ways; amazing, complicated, passionate, real characters. People richly developed and subtly portrayed. It's everything that makes Kay a great writer.

There's one problem though. After building the frame of a sweeping epic, he seems to rush to finish his story in the last third. As if he hit a deadline, or never quite found the rest of his plot, or as if his editors said 'no, we don't want a trilogy, cut it to 600 pages'. What ever it was made Kay decide to wrap up his story where he did, it just left me wanting more.

This rushed ending doesn't spoil the book by any means; I gave it five stars, because in truth, I loved it; but I want to give Kay more than five stars, and this book should have been deserving of more. It's a rare critique from me to want a book longer; indeed, I'm of the school that holds almost any book could be improved by double when cut by half. So when I find this book should have been twice as long, you *know* it truly needs it.

I hope Kay has a sequel in mind; at very least, I hope he revisits this land and these people. But sequels are a rarity for him, and this story felt over when I reached it's epilog.

I just wish I could ask the author *why*; why a book that built so slowly and carefully seems to discharge so awkwardly and abruptly. THis could have been Kay's greatest work, had he let the tale go on where it needed to go, but as it is, it winds up in the middle somewhere.

Under Heaven is a very impressive book. I am very much of awe of Kay's ability to create a rich and believable world. The characters are interesting and their motivations are completely understandable. If these are the things that drive your enjoyment of a novel, that you will love Under Heaven.

My problem is that the story never grabbed me. I kept reading because the world was appealing and the characters were interesting, but I never cared for the story. I wanted the story to engage me and pull me along, but that never happened. Some reviewers have complained about the ending, being a bit abrupt. The abruptness didn't distract me because I wasn't that invested in the story.

If you like a rich and believable world similar to reality, you will enjoy Under Heaven. Just don't expect a rollicking story. I'd give it three and a half stars.