Under Heaven
Apr 2010 · Penguin
4.6star
38 reviewsreport
Ebook
608
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About this ebook
Award-winning author Guy Gavriel Kay evokes the dazzling Tang Dynasty of 8th-century China in an masterful story of honor and power.
It begins simply. Shen Tai, son of an illustrious general serving the Emperor of Kitai, has spent two years honoring the memory of his late father by burying the bones of the dead from both armies at the site of one of his father's last great battles. In recognition of his labors and his filial piety, an unlikely source has sent him a dangerous gift: 250 Sardian horses.
You give a man one of the famed Sardian horses to reward him greatly. You give him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, propel him towards rank, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal jealousy. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.
Wisely, the gift comes with the stipulation that Tai must claim the horses in person. Otherwise he would probably be dead already...
It begins simply. Shen Tai, son of an illustrious general serving the Emperor of Kitai, has spent two years honoring the memory of his late father by burying the bones of the dead from both armies at the site of one of his father's last great battles. In recognition of his labors and his filial piety, an unlikely source has sent him a dangerous gift: 250 Sardian horses.
You give a man one of the famed Sardian horses to reward him greatly. You give him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, propel him towards rank, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal jealousy. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.
Wisely, the gift comes with the stipulation that Tai must claim the horses in person. Otherwise he would probably be dead already...
Ratings and reviews
4.6
38 reviews
A Google user
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April 17, 2011
GGK offers us a view on the asian culture with this story of court intrigue. The story is light in the way of fantassy or magic but does include the fine characterization and plot twists Kay is known for. The author employs poetry as the creative or artistic theme common to his books. Additionally there is some discussion of history and how it is recorded, interpreted, etc. The book could benefit from a bit of comedy but otherwise it is good to note the brooding quality of some previous books by the author is lessened in this story. This book, while not perhaps the authors best easily measures up against his other works and does not dissapoint. Overall I would recommend it to anyone.
Joanne Blessing
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November 13, 2015
This is my favorite book by this author. If you're fascinated by history and love great fantasy, this is the author for you, and this is his best work to date.
4 people found this review helpful
Jim Alexander
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May 24, 2014
Another wonderful read from Guy Gavriel Kay.
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
Guy Gavriel Kay is the international bestselling author of numerous fantasy novels including The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, Tigana, The Last Light of the Sun, Under Heaven, River of Stars, and Children of Earth and Sky. He has been awarded the International Goliardos Prize for his work in the literature of the fantastic, and won the World Fantasy Award for Ysabel in 2008. In 2014 he was named to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. His works have been translated into more than twenty-five languages.
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