Agyar (Tor Fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Steven Brust (Author) "It seems to be working..." (more)
Key Phrases: typing room, typewriting machine, Laura Kellem, Little Philly, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Brust has concocted a marvelous fantasy, a vampire novel in which the word "vampire" never appears. Jack Agyar is, if not quite immortal, very long-lived. He writes the story of his life on an old typewriter in the attic of an abandoned house in an Ohio university town where he lives with the ghost of an ex-slave named Jim. In Brust's world, vampires don't necessarily kill their victims, but, rather, feed off them for lengths of time. Through one of those victims, Agyar meets Susan, an enchanting young dancer with whom he is shocked to discover himself falling in love. Meantime, the vampire who made Agyar plans to set him up for a murder she commits and he finds himself less and less willing to do her bidding. The plot may seem elementary, but Brust is a master stylist who creates such intricate characters that plot is almost irrelevant. (Brust adds the initials P.J.F. after his name. They stand for Pre-Joyce Foundation, a group whose members, among them Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, and Jane Yolen, believe that James Joyce ruined modern literature.)
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
A mysterious young man appears in a midwestern college town, takes up residence in an abandoned house, and awaits his death at the hands of the woman who controls his destiny. As John Agyar attempts to reconcile himself to impending doom, he discovers another woman whose love for him leads to a dangerous revelation--and his only hope to escape his fate. The author of The Phoenix Guards (Tor Bks., 1991) and the "Vlad Taltos" series offers a fresh perspective on a popular theme of dark fantasy in this penetrating look at an individual caught between life and death. A good choice for fantasy collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (March 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812515218
• ISBN-13: 978-0812515213
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,707,478 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't hold on to a copy of this book!, November 23, 1999

By	Michael M. Mason (New York City) - See all my reviews

Agyar is absolutely the best written novel I have ever read. I think the clearest proof of this is that I have never gotten it back from anyone I lent it to. I have quite literally purchased this book 4 times, then lent it to friends, and never had it returned. Brust accomplishes so much without beating the reader over the head with too much imagery. The story seeps into you very organically. The thing I love about Brust's writing is that there is absolutely nothing unintentional about it. He crafts his words with precision and intent. I absolutely recommend this book (I won't call it a Vampire book, since the Word is never mentioned, besides, I hate the Horror Genre). Anyone with an interest in good writing and storytelling must read this. Oh, and If I could borrow your copy for a few days....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Read About It, Just Read It - Part II, October 16, 2004

By	R. Townsend - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Agyar (Paperback)

I second the opinion of Benny "B". The less you know about this book, the stronger the impact. This book is best discovered. Don't read other reviews, many give too much of the story away, and thus lessens the impact. If I remember correctly, Mr Brust had said that this was a literary experiment in writing, one in which he was personally satisfied with the result. I read this book first in high school and then again several months ago. It has aged relatively well, is well written, and should appeal to many peoples tastes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Vampire Stories ever written, December 12, 1997

By A Customer

Steven Brust has long been a favourite of mine, and if you read Agyar, you will understand why. I believe that there are very few vampire stories that are truly worth reading, perhaps it is something about the very nature of vampires that makes them so difficult to handle. However, John Agyar, even as a killer, comes across as a very well- rounded character who evokes the reader's sympathy. The story revolves around Agyar's fight to free himself from the machinations of his mistress, Laura, and his growing love for a talented young dancer named Susan. The ending, while not entirely completely rosy, is none the less very satisfying. A much- recommended read.