May 1st 2010 12:42 am
Under thrall of Under Heaven
I’m 18 chapters, 375 pages in to Guy Gavriel Kay’s latest novel, Under Heaven, and I have a slight flaw in my comprehension. I’ve read his other books enough to have their story-paths embedded in my brain, so I can’t rightly say whether my reaction to his latest is unique, but I think I’ve never been as unsure of a GGK novel’s direction as I am now.
Over sixty percent done with the story, and I have no idea what the trajectory of the story should be. I’m not sure what kind of story I’m going finishing over the next two hundred pages. Will it be one of dynastic change? Growth of an empire? Pruning corrupt, venal officials from the bureaucracy? There will be sex and poetry and romance, and with all three likely to be used as weapon and reward, both.
I’m also not sure what will cause an impulse towards tears. It’s an impulse that will come, as it always has before with his stories. The crying is always a surprise, though. I never know when or why that’s going to come.
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