Inspired by the glory of Tang Dynasty China in the eighth century, Guy Gavriel Kay melds history and the fantastic into something both powerful and emotionally compelling. Under Heaven is a novel on the grandest narrative scale, encompassing the intimate details of individual lives in an unforgettable time and place.
Shen Tai is the son of a general who led the forces of imperial Kitai in that empire's last war against their western enemies from Tagur, twenty years before. Forty thousand men on both sides were slain beside a remote mountain lake. General Shen Gao himself has died recently. To honour his father's memory, Tai has spent two years of official mourning alone at the battle site among the ghosts of the dead, laying to rest their unburied bones.
One spring morning, he learns that others have taken note of his vigil. The White Jade Princess in Tagur is pleased to present him with two hundred and fifty Sardian horses, given, she writes, in recognition of his courage, and honour done to the dead.
You gave a man one of the famed Sardians to reward him greatly. You gave him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.
Tai starts east towards the glittering, dangerous imperial capital and gathers his wits for a return from solitude by a mountain lake to his own forever-altered life.
"Kay says he wants his readers to keep turning pages until two a.m. Under Heaven should certainly help him achieve that goal. The plot is intricate, including fascinating by-ways and characters as real as they are numerous. Yet the main thread—Tai's journey to court and the resolution of who gets the horses—is never lost."
—Booklist
“If you read only one fantasy novel this year, make it Under Heaven - Kay's take on the cost of war will stay with you, as will his brilliant characters and outstanding story.”
—Bookloons
"Inspired by the Tang Dynasty of 8th-century China, Kay beautifully blends historical fiction with fantasy in his latest novel, Under Heaven...This novel has everything: power, politics, war, sex, love, concubines, warriors, ghosts, shamans, poetry (yes, poetry!), and how thin the line can be between friends and enemies...Fabulous historical fiction is the main focus here, with a few fantasy moments thrown in, so historical fiction fans take notice. You will love this novel, and you may even add it to your favorites of 2010." —Minnesota Reads
"Despite all the adventure, the real charm of the book is the subtlety of the characterizations, the evocation of a quasi-real landscape, and the fluency of the prose. Undoubtedly this will be one of the best fantasies of the year."
—Critical Mass
"Kitan is based on Tang-dynasty China, and you don't have to look too hard to see Shaolin monks and Mongol warriors among the parade of characters. Kay has clearly done his homework, and the world he has created feels completely real. He is equally strong with characters, putting together wildly varied people whose actions always make sense in the context of their world. You feel for these people, and I don't just mean the good guys. Kay also shines in depicting the intricacies of the Kitan court... Kay skillfully weaves all of these threads together... Whether you prefer sword fights, romance, or intrigue, you'll find something to enjoy in Under Heaven."
—Revolution SF
"Under Heaven" has two awesome qualities that make it a worthwhile read by themselves: beautiful writing and exquisite world building. The ornate author' style works perfectly in the context of the peak of culture that was the Tang dynasty in the early to mid 700's and the book is a pleasure to be read and savored. The world of Kitai in its variety—from the barbarian borders and even beyond, to crude soldiers' camps, to the well developed Imperial roads and canals and to the splendor of the main cities, especially of the capital Xinan—is marvelously recreated by the author with hints of subtle magic that take the book into the realm of fantasy."
—Fantasy Book Critic
"[A]n unusual blend of history and fantasy that both thrills and delights... this is another work by Guy Gavriel Kay to cherish as it inspires the imagination."
—The Star Phoenix
"He speaks with a confident tongue, just like you'd expect, given the tonality and elegance of his work, and, during the reading of Under Heaven, brought his characters to life with a verve that my inner voice is unable to achieve."
—A Dribble of Ink
"Guy Gavriel Kay is a truly outstanding author. From our initial exposure to Under Heaven, he captures our eager attention upon the story of Shen Tai and his traditional time of mourning and honouring of the ancestors...Few novelists can claim the a reputation as solid, and through his work exhibit a passion for historically, culturally accurate writing. It is clearly obvious that Under Heaven benefits from such effort. Truly, Under Heaven is a pleasure to read, a treasure to hold, and filled to full measure with enjoyable, compelling characterization."
—Tim Lasiuta's "Comic Fan 42"
"Under Heaven is a master-work of epic proportions, which at once captures the essence of an entire people and society, and delves into the lives of the individuals who populate his story...Kay's literary style, too, evokes the cultural legacy of imperial China; his descriptions of politics, his poetry...and his command of the full spectrum of human emotion echo the Four Great Classics and the preeminent scholars and poets of the Tang dynasty."
—Stanford Daily
“This is a hell of a novel. Guy Gavriel Kay chooses a time and place in history, then makes it his own. The names change, and fictional characters join real ones, but the historical background is real and thoroughly researched... this is thrilling historical fiction with a mere shimmer of the otherworldly. There's nothing remotely ethereal about it. We careen along the Silk Road to Wall watchtowers, warrior monasteries, imperial capitals, Mongolian steppes, elite courtesan dwellings and the private sedan chair of the most powerful woman in the world. It's riveting and tremendous fun, but it would be wrong to call it a romp—it's moving and profound, and in the end it's about trying to find some kind of life in this world. It's also appealingly complex and a fascinating portrayal of court intrigue when the wrong phrasing of a compliment could mean death. You won't read many books more enjoyable than this one; the fact that you'll suddenly find yourself an expert on mid-Tang history is a considerable bonus.”
—That's Shanghai Review
“[A] magnificent new history-based fantasy ... Kay says he wants his readers to keep turning pages until two a.m. Under Heaven should certainly help him achieve that goal. The plot is intricate, including fascinating by-ways and characters as real as they are numerous. Yet the main thread—Tai's journey to court and the resolution of who gets the horses—is never lost.”
—Frieda Murray, Booklist (starred review)
"Like [Kay's] previous works, this novel is filled with beautiful imagery and the most delicate dialogue you'll find in current fantasy... It's a gorgeous balancing act, and a rare pleasure to read... Expect to see Under Heaven on the short list for all the major awards next year, and do yourself a favor: pick up a copy."
—Stefan Raets, FantasyLiterature.com (5/5 stars)
"Under Heaven is vintage Guy Gavriel Kay, another elegant, captivating work by a master at the height of his powers... The result is sweeping, intoxicating storytelling at its finest... It's simply a beautiful and epic tale."
—Robert Rhodes, FantasyLiterature.com (4.5/5 stars)
"Simply put, Under Heaven is one of the most exhilarating novels I've read... a novel so beautiful, so carefully imagined, so elegantly constructed as to dwarf any efforts to explicate, expound, or analyze.
—Jared Bland, Walrus Magazine
"[Under Heaven is] Kay's meditation on the nature of mortality and ephemeral longing in an imperfect world... Fans of historical fiction and fantasy will not find a more perfect blending of the two genres than Under Heaven. This is a novel by a master storyteller whose gift for creating richly imagined universes that reflect our own is truly unparalleled."
—C.W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen
“Under Heaven is virtually everything a reader could want in a book: a thrilling adventure, a love story, a coming-of-age tale, a military chronicle, a court-intrigue drama, a tragedy and on and on. It is a sumptuous feast of storytelling, a beautifully written tale with a beating, breaking heart at its core that will have readers in tears by its final pages.”
—Globe and Mail
“An engrossing read, filled with well-drawn characters who live in a richly detailed world.”
—Winnipeg Free Press
“Meticulously researched yet seamlessly envisioned, the characters and culture present a timeless tale of filial piety and personal integrity.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“Guy Gavriel Kay has the ability to bring worlds and people alive on the page in a way that few authors today seem capable of. Although he uses the same repertoire as other authors — characterization, plot, atmosphere, etc. — somehow they are employed in such a manner that we're not aware of them as individual components. Like dancers and music they move together in such harmony we can enjoy the image they create without noticing the steps taken to bring it about. In Under Heaven he not only reaffirms his reputation as a storyteller par excellence, but as a master of bringing people and cultures alive. This is a magnificent creation that you will want to read over and over again for the joy of reading it brings you.”
—Blog Critics (Richard Marcus)
"Guy Gavriel Kay has written the speculative fiction book of the year. He is at the top of his game, and Under Heaven could well be the very best work he has ever produced. I'm quite speechless...books don't get much better than this." —Fantasy Hotlist
"Kay is a genius. I've read him all of my life and am always inspired by his work. You will love Under Heaven."
—Brandon Sanderson, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Guy Gavriel Kay, hunting in the twilight zone between fact and dream, has written a shimmering novel, a fantasia on T'ang China, the epitome of Chinese civilization, as beautiful and as alien as the rings of Saturn & a beautiful, compulsive read..."
—Locus Magazine
"...exquisitely detailed...a fascinating, sometimes bloody, and entirely believable tale."
—Publishers Weekly (starred)
"This is an astounding book. Inspired by Tang dynasty China, this novel is a complicated puzzle, beautifully rendered. The cast is as epic as the story and each plays an integral part—there is no waste here. This is a poetic and thought-provoking novel that will stick with readers long after they're done reading the story."
—4+ Star 'Gold' (highest rating), Romantic Times Book Reviews
"I loved, loved, loved Under Heaven. It had everything in it that made me such a fan of Guy Kay in the first place. I thought the new one was perfect."
—Nancy Pearl (http://www.nancypearl.com)
"What a lush and expansive world Kay has created here. What textures and nuances are called up by his prose. Under Heaven is a magisterial work, the rare kind of story that absorbs you completely into itself. Written with Kay's signature sense of awe towards the grandeur of civilization and the forces that shape it and the lives of those with roles, large or small, to play in the drama of history, this is an unforgettable and essential epic from one of the field's titans…. Great literature is that which provides the greatest entertainment, because it not only lights up your brain's pleasure centers, but the rest of the brain as well. Under Heaven is literary and supremely entertaining, and it may be Kay's very best."
—5 STARS SFreviews.net
"Kay's writing takes place on a different world, but he focuses much more on people and the effect that individuals have on events and history. In that way, they're fascinating. Kay makes a point of showing how people can be skewed positively or negatively by historians and poets. And how some people who are so vital to the outcome of events can become so obscure in history."
—Booklust
"Fans of historical fiction and fantasy will not find a more perfect blending of the two genres than Under Heaven. This is a novel by a master storyteller whose gift for creating richly imagined universes that reflect our own is truly unparalleled."
—Historical Boys
"Under Heaven is a superb historical epic that builds off an ancient Chinese dynasty to tell a beautiful tale of power abused, betrayal, honor and love. The secondary characters enhance a strong sense of what the hero is going through as the audience will feel we accompany Shen Tai on his travels. Guy Gavriel Kay provides a deep saga of a hero rewarded and consequently assaulted for honoring his father by interring the remains of valiant soldiers from both sides to their ghosts can silently rest forever."
—Genre Go Round Reviews
"One of the things that Kay's books have in common is their way to leave the reader breathless. There is so much emotion in some parts of Under Heaven that it's almost like his signature for me to read it with my heart at my throat. But the myriad of emotions, honour, pride, love, lust, loss, sorrow, are not merely told covered by shiny paints to be seen, they are distilled in the words, in the phrases... Under Heaven may well be Kay's best book ever... [and] is, without a doubt, one of the best books of 2010."
—Speculative Book Review
"Guy Gavriel Kay is, simply, my favorite living author, and few writers, living or dead, have so consistent an effect upon me... His characters are people who elicit emotion. Some, we care deeply about what happens to them; others, we hope they meet a terrible end... That emotional involvement with the characters...makes possible one the most deeply satisfying endings to a novel Kay has written yet. Under Heaven is, simply, a great book.”
—Greenman Review
"Canadian superstar Guy Gavriel Kay's latest rich blend of history and the fantastic... Under Heaven evokes the Tang dynasty of 8th century China.”
—Toronto Star
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