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Summary: Mature development of Kay's talents
Review: "Sarantium" represents what I think is a new focus in Kay's writing. He's toned down the melodramatic elements of his storytelling to tackle the more sophisticated themes of art, beauty, mortality, religion, and fame through this examination of a pseudo-Byzantine Empire (the historical research is quite accurate in many places - e.g., Empress Theodora really was rumored to have been a dancing girl and patron of the blues before taking the throne). His protagonist is more concerned with the role of art and religion in his life, and his need to complete a great work, than with the usual fantasy quest of "saving the world." Kay's treatment of his usual emotional themes - sorrow, guilt, and grief - is more delicate in this novel and all the more touching. Poignant and thoughtful, I don't think this book is for anyone looking for a "slash and hack" cut-'em-up. I'm looking forward to seeing what turn Kay takes with the story in the sequel.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: What a beautifully written story! I am always struck by how elegant a writer Kay is. His characters are always strong, compelling and very human. Hope part two comes out soon!
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Summary: *HISTORICAL* fantasy
Review: This book was a pleasure to read. The 'history' is very easy to discern in this book...but I liked the fact that at least many of the names were changed. Obviously SAILING TO SARANTIUM does not have the texture that a true historical novel would, but it comes close. Some of the narrative got a bit long-winded...but it presents 6th century history pretty well. Anyone looking for a map should look at the one in LIONS of AL-RASSAN. If anyone hasn't picked up the history, Valerius II = Justinian, Alixana (Aliana) = Theodora, Leontes = Belisarius, Petrennius = Procipius, etc. etc. The historical parallels are *very* close
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Summary: Kay's best
Review: I have enjoyed and admired all of Kay's previous work. However, his writing has always seemed to verge on, and sometimes slip into, contrived melodrama and mawkish sentimentality (especially in "The Lions of Al-Rassan"). "Sailing to Sarantium" avoids these flaws while retaining the elegant language, character development, and intriguing ideas that always make Kay's work so enjoyable. I have to totally disagree with the reviewer that said that Kay didn't give a vivid picture of life in Sarantium - I think that is one of the best features of this book! While reading the section that describes the tavern where Crispus and his companions were watching the chariot race, I thought, "My god, it's a sports bar!" Any scene that provokes that kind of recognition/response is powerfully descriptive writing. I greatly look forward to the sequel.
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Summary: Kaye brings the past to life with his historical fantasy
Review: Guy Gavriel Kaye's unique skill is to take an existing template and use it to weave the most intricate and involving stories. In his first trilogy, the Fionavar Tapestry, it was Tolkien's Middle Earth. In his works since it has been history,from renaissance Italy to the Byzatine empire. 'Sailing to Sarantium' brings the past to life thanks to Kaye's concentration on beleivable characters and relationships. While other fantasy authors think their job is done when they create their fantasy world, Kaye uses his creation as simply the backdrop to the complex interactions of his characters. His speciality is the building up of intensely dramatic scenes which leave the reader breathless, (like Crispin's introduction to the Imperial court in 'Sailing...'). This Sarantine Mosaic, free from the contstraints of the single novel, promises to be Kaye's most fulfilling work yet.
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Summary: Kay's is a master at describing love.
Review: I am stuck with Kay's facility to move reader's with his descriptions of love. Not eros, although he does that well, and perhaps too often for my tastes, but the profound feelings shared by lovers and soulmates committed to a common purpose. Moreover, Kay's prose occasionally reaches a level where, as the reader, I have had to pause, put the book down, and savor both the beauty of the language he has employed, and the insight I have gained into life, love and faith. Sailing to Sarantium, although not as consuming as Tigana, continues this great tradition and is an excellent read.
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Summary: A magnificent journey of self-discovery
Review: This is perhaps one of the most realistic fantasies I have ever encountered. Kay weaves an intricate tapestry of characters and events, all culminating into a rich tale of humanity and faith. A masterpiece
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Summary: Another masterwork from the genre's master
Review: First, those who are thinking this is a trilogy may be wrong; all is pointing to a two book sequence by Kay.That being said, this book departed dramatically in areas from the usual Kay stylings. After I read the book, I had to sit back and think on what he'd accomplished in this book, and I then realized he'd fulfilled the promise of the theme, which is the book's title. Sailing to Sarantium means making the choice to move forward onto whatever stage one feels one must go. That the main character goes through healing and rebirth (metaphorically) in the book is a wondrous read. As to ranking Kay, I'd put Arbonne and Tigana in a tie at #1, followed by everything else at 2. :)
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Summary: A wonderful first act
Review: Kay writes the best heroic fantasy ever. One might argue that Tolkein remains the best heroic fantasist, but Tolkein's stories drag in places (say, in the middle bits of The Two Towers). All of Kay's novels except the Fionavar Tapestry have been set in worlds based on actual history, which means that they come out a lot more detailed and realistic than most worlds created from whole cloth. (Again, one might argue that there's something nobler about working from scratch; but I think the results speak for themselves. And it's not as if Kay's approach were a cop-out; good research is hard work.) Sailing to Sarantium is labelled, "Book One of She Sarantine Mosaic", which I presume is meant to be a trilogy. It's a good story in its own right, but it spends most of its attention on exposition, and does a marvelous job. Intrigue, gods, economics, art...a rich, well, mosaic of all the facets that make up a world. It's done a great job of making me hungry for the next book of the trilogy. Interestingly enough, it's set in the same world as The Lions of Al-Rassan, but several hundred years earlier, before the time of Ashar (though there are hints that it might not be too long before).
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Summary: Subtle and spiritual
Review: No, this book does not have that heart-wrenching, sweeping dramatic quality of the Fionavar series. The conflicts and dramas here are more personal, smaller scale but no less moving. The story here is not so much about Crispin's physical journey but of his rediscovery of his own humanity and of his faith. There are no cardboard cut-outs in Kay's worlds, and no-one functions in a vacuum. The world changes his people; they change each other and their world. This is Kay's genius and, for me, the reason that his books become more rewarding with each re-reading.
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