What do You think about Suldrun's Garden (2015)?
I think this fantasy trilogy may well be my favourite. It's one I still reread with pleasure, probably because it is so clearly written for adults, though when I first read it as a teenager the violent indignities inflicted on Christian missionaries and the fate of poor Suldrun scared me off after the cosy safety of Middle Earth and Narnia. Luckily I went back to it. The dangers and cruelties of the Elder Isles anticipate the modern hard-boiled fantasy epics of Martin, Abercombie et al, yet the language is that of high chivalry, arch wit and sharp irony. Even the most horrible monster is highly articulate and argues with logic and reason. For every danger and cruelty, however, there is wonder and kindness and joy. The books, also, are unashamedly drenched with magic and crowded with fey personages, possibly the best fictional representation of fairies I have ever read, wonderful creatures utterly without conscience.The story is long and strange and always unexpected. Our protagonists suffer sudden changes or reversals of fortune at every turn, and it's only about halfway through before a narrative begins to take proper shape. Vance's evocation of a fantasy landscape is unparalleled. For the first time, I noticed that there was something missing from the detailed descriptions of meals and feasts and scavenged scraps and quick repasts: no potatoes. Because, of course, they haven't been brought back from the Americas yet. I don't know why, but that little detail made me unaccountably happy.
—Nigel
Jack Vance is the best writer you've never heard of.You can get lost in his tales whilst still believing that you are looking into the lives of real people. They may be people 10,000 or 100,000 years in the future; or further back, in some Ur-Common myth. His characters are what make his stories.Lyonesse is a distant memory. I sought these books many times in yesteryear. The world has caught up a bit. What I remember from the first time is: being impressed with the way Vance did fantasy. I was moved in a way I have never been with Tolkien or C.S. Lewis, Martin, or whomever. He made it seem lie history. So, this is no ordinary fairy tale, it's adult. There are shades of grey (and not in the BDSM sense, either**). There's politics, dirt (even in fae land), and a truly wonderful human-ness*.This is a good read. If I count a series as one book this somewhere around 7 or 8 on my top 10.Hey, if anyone wants to send me the original first run hardcovers for Christmas, (or just because it's Tuesday), I would gladly accept them and mail you kisses back. (They are mine, now.) * (Shut-up spell check, that is not a misspelling, neither is humany or humanish.)** updated for 2013.
—Ian Farragher
This is a bit of a bittersweet review for me, in light of Vance’s passing away only a few days ago. This man’s back catalogue comprises literally hundreds of books, and the Lyonesse series is one of his most lauded works; I had simply never yet got round to reading it.Suldrun’s Garden is the first part in this trilogy, and it’s Vance at his most classic. The book begins in the palace chambers of Queen Sollace as she is giving birth to her first child. King Casmir is nearby to keep an eye on the proceedings, but loses all interest when the child turns out to be a daughter, who is named Suldrun.In any other book, this would set the scene for Suldrun to be the protagonist, but Vance doesn’t work that way. We follow Suldrun for a while as she grows up under the indifferent eye of her father – who is much more interested in expanding his reign beyond the borders of his own kingdom of Lyonesse – and her equally indifferent mother. Casmir only pays attention to Suldrun when she might be of use to him, ie. as a pawn to tempt rivals into a politically advantageous marriage. Suldrun herself simply wishes to be left alone, and defies him in every way she is able to.Often, without warning, the book moves on to a completely new character in a different part of the world and follows that person for a while. This happens several times, and gradually it starts to become clear how the various storylines are interwoven. This doesn’t happen in an all-encompassing, tie-your-threads-together climax ending like you might expect in Hollywood movies, no, it simply all starts to make sense. The story is ultimately a meandering tale of ambition, betrayal, love, adversity and intrigue, encompassing kings, magicians and fairy creatures.Vance’s writing style is unique, and will not suit everyone. His prose is intricate, with lots of obscure words which are used by the characters as easily as if they were part of everyday language. Characters and scenes are described concisely, yet all descriptions are strangely evocative. Conversations are unlike anything you would hear elsewhere, yet they are not stilted, just unusual. Things often feel a little detached, but then something happens which stirs your passion as a reader when you least expect it. Overall I would describe the book as melancholy – in me it evokes feelings of sorrow for things and times long past, which left you with nothing but fond memories.Maybe it is best to use an example paragraph to demonstrate Vance’s style:“Dame Maugelin trudged up the circular stone steps to Dame Boudetta’s apartments, hips rolling and thrusting under her dark brown gown. On the third floor she halted to pant, then went to an arched door of fitted timbers, bound with black iron straps. The door stood ajar. Dame Maugelin pushed it somewhat more open, with a creak of iron hinges, so that she could pass her amplitude through the gap. She advanced to stand in the doorway, eyes darting to all corners of the room at once.”If that speaks to your fancy, give this book a go. It may not always be easy going, but if any book will take you away to far fairy shores on winds of imagination, it is this one.More reviews on Silk Screen Views.
—Erica
