Book: Under Heaven
ISBN-13: 978-0451463302
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release: April 27, 2010
Length: 592 pages (Hardcover)
Rating: A- (95 / 100)
Verdict
Under Heaven is an atmospheric epic of political intrigue set against a panoramic historical back drop that almost renders the storyline almost superfluous. Though it’s very light on action sequences, it is nonetheless a compelling tale that should top the reading list of any historical fiction lover.
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Pros: Excellent world building. Fascinating historical backdrop. Poetic prose.
Cons: Slightly protracted ending. Long on political intrigue, short on action.
Synopsis
In Brief: When the second son of a famed general receives a gift men would kill to attain while abroad, the journey home becomes fraught with perils. In order to survive, he must discover who has hired assassins to kill him and unravel the tangled politics of Imperial Court in order to decide where the horses will gain him the greatest advantage. But an older brother whose career is on the rise and an old rivalry complicate matters even further.
Official: 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…
Review
Under Heaven is an exquisite piece of character-driven epic set against a panoramic backdrop of 8th Century China that gently blurs the line between fantasy and history.
For those familiar with Guy Gavriel Kay’s work, it will suffice to say that Under Heaven is quite possibly Kay’s best historical fiction yet – quite a feat, coming in the wake of Tigana and The Sarantine Mosaic, as it does. For those not familiar with Kay’s previous work, it should be said that, though it’s light on action, Under Heaven is written with the sort of poetic prose that inspires readers to pause in their reading to savor what they’ve just read.
The book’s plot starts off simply, with a man at work, far from home, burying those who died in a long-ago battle. Then, the story takes off with a bang, when news of a life-altering gift and an assassin apear on the same day. From there, the story grows increasingly complex, layering the obsticles and intrigue to form a deeply satisfying read.
What sets this book apart from other works of historical fiction (and even other Kay novels) is the surprisingly authentic depth of its setting. Under Heaven isn’t just beautifully written, it’s immersive, opening a window through which readers can experience the everyday minutia of life in the 8th century.
Because, while Kay sets his story in Ninth Dynasty Kitan, a fictional empire, he’s laid the groundwork for an amazing story with years of research into life in the 8th century Tang Dynasty, on which Kitan is based. From start to finish, the book is littered with small historical details that breath life into the narrative.
For instance, Kay l frequently makes historical allusions, such as mentioning one character’s penchant for Lychee fruit, which were historically the favorite fruit of Emperor Li Longji’s favored concubine. He bases his story around real historical figures and events (so far as my own brief internet research could uncover). And the entire book is punctuated with Tang-era poetry. The myriad of small details Kay weaves into his book distinguish Under Heaven as a master work.
The fantasy elements of the novel, though distinctive, are few and far between, making it difficult to decide whether this book even belongs in the fantasy aisle. The fantastical elements of the story are only prominent enough to breath life into the very real superstitions of the people of 8th century China. Kay uses what might be termed “magical realism” to illustrate how such people believed the dead interact with the living, and how such beliefs shaped their way of life. It’s tastefully done and fairly subtle.
To the negative, the third act of the book does drag on a bit, feeling more like a second book than a conclusion. Kay dramatically slows the pacing of his narrative two-thirds of the way through in order to give all of its characters happy endings, which feels antithetical to the carefully constructed atmosphere of historical realism he so carefully nurtures through the rest of the book.
Still, Under Heaven comes highly recommended both for fans of the fantasy genre, as well as for fans of literary fiction. Though it may not be action-packed, its poetic language makes this a great novel for a quite night in.
Disclaimer: The Great Geek Manual did receive an (unsolicited) advanced reader’s copy of Under Heaven, compliments of the good folks at Penguin Group. It didn’t effect the truthfulness of this review, though.
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