Reader Question: Judith Tarr

[rolanni]

This question was buried in the comments of the last thread.  I can't choose my favorite Tarr book.  Who can suggest a good place for Claire to start?  It would probably be helpful to give a non-spoilerish synopsis, and/or why you particularly like this one, rather than just titles.

Question: What is your favorite Judith Tarr novel? I've never read any of her work. the one she's writing now sounds great.

Comments

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

I have two favorites, Alamut and Lord of the Two Lands. Both are historical fantasies.

Alamut follows the adventures of Aidan, and Elven prince who has gone to the Holy Lands to fight. It's set during the reign of Baldwin IV, aka Baldwin the Leper--yes, the same King Baldwin as in the film Kingdom of Heaven. There's tragedy and romance, and an immortal Elven assassin, all written in Judy's beautiful prose and with her eye for historical detail. There's a sequel called The Dagger and the Cross, but Alamut is my absolute favorite of the novels set in this particular universe.

If it helps pitch the book(s), you might say "Imagine the film Kingdom of Heaven, only historically accurate and with elves and magic." *g*

ETA: True story, I walked out of a movie in order to read Alamut the first time. It had just come out, and I picked it up from the local Waldenbooks before heading to see a movie with some friends. Read the first couple of chapters before the film started and was sucked right in. Then the movie started, and wound up boring me to tears. I remember thinking "Why am I sitting here watching this awful movie when I could be reading this fabulous book?" So, I told my friends I'd catch up with them after the film was over, walked out of the theater and sat in the lobby reading instead. *vbg*

Lord of the Two Lands follows the adventures of an Egyptian priestess named Meriamon who is sent on a quest to bring Alexander the Great to Egypt. I've read and reread it so many times since it was first published that my poor hardcover is looking seriously worse for wear. Again, there are battles and magic galore, and rich historical detail that never comes across as dry or boring. Good stuff, and Meriamon is pretty darned awesome.

[estara.livejournal.com]

Those three have already been re-released at Book View Cafe, by the way! Just to cut down on the wear of your copies ^^.

The other Hound and Falcon are supposed to become ebooks this summer. She also has released Ars Magica there - and a boatload of free short stories to read. And her non-fiction compilation Writing Horses.

[estara.livejournal.com]

OH right, and A Wind in Cairo - my favourite horse-based book of hers, even though the male protagonist starts as an entitled asshole of the highest order.

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

OMG, yes! I haven't read that one in ages, but it's so much fun.

BVC also has Death and the Lady, which is set in the same world as Alamut and the Hound & Falcon trilogy. LOVE that story, oh, so much! IIRC, the short story Persepolis is also set in that world ... and yep, it's up on BVC as well!

[saraidh.livejournal.com]

I would also highly recommend A Wind in Cairo, which has been one of my favorites for ages, and has the advantage of being a single book, so not a committment to a series.

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

I think that'd be my rec as well. Partly *because* the male protagonist starts out as an entitled asshole. The solution to his behavior is really well handled.

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

I still have the paperback reading copy of Lord of the Two Lands I bought years ago to spare my hardcover. Need to get a new one for Alamut, though.

[djonn]

I like nearly everything from the Tarr canon, but for "favorite" I really have to vote for A Wind in Cairo. I have a particular weakness for the "Arabian Nights" style and flavor, and Wind has that in spades...and hearts and diamonds and clubs besides. It is also, I think, a good entry point into her work, as for all the pitch-perfect prose style it's remarkably accessible, whereas in some of the books her narrative is dense enough that one simply can't race through it. (This is a Feature, not a Bug; it's just that Tarr prose can be so rich and complex, in the way that really good cheesecake is, that scarfing it down doesn't give you a chance to appreciate it properly.)

I'd also recommend the Tarr/Harry Turtledove collaboration Household Gods, whose classical Rome I found more entertaining and accessible than most. [Also, the framing device is amusing, and gives one a relatively rare look at a Tarr protagonist from the present day.]

[baobrien.livejournal.com]

Household Gods is one of my favorites, too.

[melinda-goodin.livejournal.com]

I'd nominate Wind in Cairo and Lord of Two Lands
Both are self-contained, beautifully written and even more tasty on re-read :}

Judith Tarr Favorite

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Wind in Cairo wins it. Thanks all. Will go order.
Just ordered Black Sheep by G. Heyer.
Appreciate all the reading tips.
C.