Guy Gavriel Kay The Lions of Al Rassan - Reading

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The Lions of Al-Rassan (Voyager)

Books : Fantasy : English

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Overview

The Lions of Al-Rassan is a work of historical fantasy by Guy Gavriel Kay. It is set in a peninsula of the same world in which The Sarantine Mosaic and The Last Light of the Sun are set, and is based upon Moorish Spain. The novel concentrates on the relationships between the three peoples: the Kindath (based on the Jews), the Asharites (based on the Muslims), and the Jaddites (based on the Christians).

The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan -- poet, diplomat, soldier -- until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.

Trivia

The Lions of Al-Rassan will be the new official novel for the World Scholar's Cup in 2010.

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Amazon user reviews:

Guy Gavriel Kay was first noticed when he edited the Silmarilliion with Christopher Tolkien. Following this he wrote a trilogy called "The Fionavar Tapestry". These books established Kay as a truly talented writer. His lyrical writing style provided a wonderful antidote to the established "quest" style of fantasy novel.

After this trilogy he began to write novels that could be described as "Alternative History". Whilst set on "fantasy" worlds the novels were visibly based upon real-world events. For example, A Song for Arbonne is based upon Medieval France and the concepts of courtly love.

All this brings me to Kay's masterwork - The Lions of Al-Rassan. This novel is set in Kay's interpretation of a Moorish Spain (including a take on The Day of the Ditch). The three principal characters representing the three faiths involved in the struggle for freedom (from oppression and intolerance), for this is a novel about faith and humanity.

Ammar ibn-Khairan - poet, diplomat, assassin - represents the ruling class of Al-Rassan (based upon the Islamic faith). Rodrigo Belmonte - soldier - the Jaddite war-leader in exile (Catholic). And the woman at the centre of the conflict - Jehane, a Kindath (Jewish) physician. Events conspire to pull the characters together in the lakeside city of Ragosa where they overcome ideological differences in the cause of freedom.

This novel is Kay at his most poetic, it has a beauty that flows from the writing and makes you wish that this novel would not end. For you know, whilst reading, that this can only end badly. The characters have but a small time to live without conflict before they are ripped apart by religion and war. By providing such perfectly drawn characters Kay pulls you into their world and subtly highlights the dangers of religious intolerance. You care - and that makes you think - and that is something that not a lot of books can achieve.

In conclusion; read this novel and read everything else Guy Gavriel Kay has ever written. There is no author who is better at making you care so much about characters that you hurt alongside them.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply a masterpiece, 3 Nov 2003

By N. Clarke (Lancs, UK) - See all my reviews

(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Lions of Al-Rassan (Paperback)

This is one of those rare books of near-transformative beauty and resonance. _The Lions of Al-Rassan_ is a densely-woven, hugely rewarding novel drawing on the themes of the Spanish Reconquista. The setting is an analogue of medieval Spain, as the Jaddite (Christian) and Asharite (Muslim) powers are pushed towards an apparently inevitable conflict by a mixture of piety, politics, and personal grievances. In between, caught as ever in the crossfire, are the wandering Kindath (the Jews).

At the heart of the story is a complex series of personal relationships, drawn with such clarity and emotional honesty that the reader never loses sight of the human consequences of the epic events. In particular, there is the emerging friendship (and love) between the three central characters: Rodrigo Belmonte, celebrated Jaddite war leader (the novel's El Cid); Ammar ibn Khairan, an Asharite poet, soldier and diplomat; and Jehane bet Ishak, a female Kindath physician. All three are unique and memorable creations, living, breating and believably conflicted people, showcasing Kay's talent for well-rounded characters.

In bringing these three together - exiled to a brilliant Asharite city-state as the peninsula moves to the brink of war - the novel provides not only a highly-involving (and extremely moving) read, but it also elegantly underscores the themes of the work. Demonstrating the impact of the coming war upon the main characters' lives and loves, Kay explores how religious and cultural fundamentalism fractures and polarises societies, shutting down the spaces in which people may interact simply as human beings. Wider political considerations put them on opposite sides of the conflict, with shattering results. What emerges is a lament for a lost world, for the dream of _convivencia_ - the peaceful and creative co-existence of cultures of which we are offered a tantalising glimpse in the figures of Ammar, Rodrigo and Jehane.

Ultimately, this is a poignant, intelligent, and profound work, a classic of historically-inspired fiction rendered in lucid, lyrical prose.

I had read some of Kays other books and was quite impressed but this is far better than any of the others.

The characters are realistic and have a lot of depth; the plot moves along at good pace while seeming to be easy going and relaxed.

The two main characters are superb.

They are likeable, intelligent and interesting.

There are nice flashes of humour which actually work and seem narural (normally the humour in fantasy novels comes across as forced and not at all funny) and the dialog is quick and smart.

The side characters are also given enough space to be memorable. The politics and action are well written and believable.

The ending a slightly overplayed, and that is the one criticism I have of the book.

There is enough in this book that most authors would have expanded it into a trilogy but it's brevity gives it an extra impact that might have been lost otherwise.

We are treated to a well-researched, historical fantasy inspired by Moorish Spain. As ever, Kay's prose borders on the poetic, but nothing is sacrificed to fluency. If you fail to be moved by the well-developed characters, the grand plot, the heroism, love, and sacrifice, then you've got some growing up to do.