Rating: 
Summary: A Pleasurable Read
Review: First of all I have to be honest and admit that I am totally prejudice in my rating of this book as Mr. Kay is hands down my favorite author of things Fantastical. READ THIS BOOK, and do me a favor read it for enjoyment not for analysis or anything else. Be prepared to be transported to another time and another place, filled with characters that remind of yourself or someone you know or wish you were or did. This story will make you laugh and make you cry. You'll find yourself thinking about it after you've read it and like me it may even appear in your dreams. It is said in this book, that a person who sails to Sarantium is on the cusp of new and wonderous things. If you read this book, you will experience new and wonderful worlds through it's pages and perhaps be as entertained as I have been. I have almost completed the second reading of this story, in anticipation of the sequel, "Lord of Emporers", and I can honestly say it was as good if not better the second time around. For me, it is a rare story that can entertain again and again. This is such a story. I wish you fair winds on your journey.
Rating: 
Summary: My favorite
Review: I've read Song for Arbonne, Lions of A.R., and Tigana, and I enjoyed Sailing to Sarantium most.
Rating:
Summary: The worlds powers hanging on by wits
Review: No great battles, although the 'necessary' violence is not shunned is used by the rulers in this book but an intricate and astonishing scheming is used to strenghten positions and destroy opponents, and the main character caught in this whirlwind of politicil struggle for power is played out by different fractions. On the large epic scale this book lacks the grandeur of many other but that is made more than up to by the reality and believability of characters and occurences and of course Kay's literary style.
Rating:
Summary: A quite welcome return to historical parallel
Review: This story takes us back to the alternate Mediterranean basin first described in 'The Lions of Al-Rassan'. (I strongly recommend reading 'Lions' first, for background on the Jaddite and Kindath religions.) What I have enjoyed so much about these two books, and anticipate most about 'Sarantium''s sequel, is the way that this historical parallel enables Kay to explore some of the fascinating cultural issues arising from religious and political nexus. The stunningly clear historical research only makes Kay's cultural considerations the more believable. He captures true historical environments (even incidents, down to the Empress's quote against fleeing the Victory Riots), with the subtle changes that allow him to define the setting to his own liking. These books are marvelously engaging. While they represent a departure from the more fantastical (although still based on easily recognized cultures) 'Tigana' and 'A Song for Arbonne', I greatly appreciate the cultural issues raised in them. Mr Kay - have you considered a greater exploration of Muscovy? Perhaps under Ivan III and Ivan IV?
Rating:
Summary: slow but rewarding historical fantasy
Review: I've read *all* of Kay's previous works, more or less as they came out. Verdict: He's tending more and more toward the distant and verbose, which I think is a shame; even as his wordcraft improves, the prose loses some of its wrenching passion.That being said, I enjoyed the book--it grew on me as I read. It's nice to read a story for once that isn't centered on world-shattering events. It's also fun to chart historical parallels, even with my scant knowledge (I *thought* Leontes might be Belisarius, but wasn't Belisarius a eunuch? or was that someone else?). Flaws: Too many minor characters cluttering the action; not enough action; not quite enough development of the really interesting characters. The culture felt a little thin; perhaps he was relying on the history to carry it, a dangerous assumption. It's slow--if your attention wanders easily, this book will be a chore for you. Virtues: As before, Kay's prose is lovely, and he makes mosaics quite, quite interesting (though I contend that L.E. Modesitt, Jr. in his descriptions of carpentry in _The Magic of Recluce_ did better).
Rating:
Summary: The Master is Back!
Review: After the exercise in tedium that was "The Lions of al-Rassan" and the unmitigated mess that was "A Song for Arbonne," Kay is back near the top of his form. "Sailing to Sarantium" is not quite on a level with "Tigana," his masterpiece, but he's definitely gotten his literary groove back, so to speak, with this tale of adventure and intrigue. Minor complaints -- the book doesn't really end, it just sort of stops; a key event involving a bird near the middle of the book doesn't pack nearly the wallop Kay obviously thinks it does; there doesn't seem to be any reason for the use of magic, the two places it shows up; and Kay's habit of attempting to create immediacy by abruptly switching to the present tense is mostly just distracting. Still, it's his best work in years. I'm looking forward with enthusiasm to the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Skilled Writer
Review: Guy Gavariel Kay really deserves to be one of the authors selected for Legends II, if Robert Silverberg ever find the time and determination again to compile it. And no author can marry history and fantasy with such balance and skill as Kay. A truly magnificent result - Sailing to Sarantium.
Rating:
Summary: Fine historical conceit tinged with unashamed romanticism.
Review: Guy Gavriel Kay is one of those authors that, when perusing through your local bookstore, you are are always slightly disappointed to see just his back catalogue sitting on the shelves.He has always, in my mind, been able to blend an almost Tolkienish appreciation of the Fantasy genre with an unashamed romanticism, quite reminiscient of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is the brilliant exposition of his characters that facilitates this combination.He shy's away from normal fantasy caricature and enlivens his characters with a depth of emotion and complexity,creating scenario's which fully examine a character's motivation. He couples this with an inspired sense of the political and social dictates which shape a society, whether fictional or historically based."Sailing to Sarantium" is no exception.It's Byantine world is a marvellous invention, plucked unerringly from our own history and brought to life through extensive research and perfect prose. It is a fine setting for a intricate story,an artist's quest for emotional and spiritual renewal set against the political intrigue of the time. Do yourself a favour and buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Boldly going where Kay has never gone before . . .
Review: This book suffers from being the first part of a series, but Kay continues to deliver in his explorations of artists relating to their work. Further, this book covers spiritual matters in a sophisticated manner that he has never touched on. The problem with the book - I hate ones that don't have appropriate endings. Two major secondary characters finish their storyline with minor plot points (Kasia goes shopping ala pretty woman, and Vargos gets to play hard-boiled detective). The other big problem -- the cover is dreary and uninteresting. This isn't Kay's fault, it's the publishers, but it sure wouldn't entice me to pick the book up if I were browsing.
Rating:
Summary: Another brillantly written novel.
Review: Once again, Guy Kay has given us a masterful novel, managing (unlike so many of his contemporaries) to wed great writing with a powerful story. Unlike his two best novels, Tigana and Song for Arbonne, the setting of this novel is more historically nuanced, a change which points to Kay's maturity as an author. But, he still communicates the heart of his cast of characters. The incident with the god in the forest stayed with me for several days afterwards, it was so profound and mysterious. My only complaint: what's with the man on the cover? What happened to the distinctive Kay cover art, which never indulged in such a romance-novel look?
|
