UNDER HEAVEN

If Guy Gavriel Kay wanted to write a trilogy or adapt a novel for a TV miniseries, this was his chance. This great book is similar to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, except it occurs during the eighth century in a country presumed to be China, and its only one book instead of four or five. Why Kay decided to wrap-up this historical/fantasy novel in only 573 pages and then end it quickly in the last 60 or so pages is a mystery to me. Even with these flaws, this book is a sensational page-turner with incredible character development and never-ending drama.

Under Heaven is set in the imaginary country of Kitai that's bordered by the empires of Tagur and Bogu, which seem to be Mongolia and Tibet. All the rules of oriental honor, social class, and justice are in vogue throughout this epic novel, spiced with many sexual situations and astonishing intrigue. The Kitai empire is ruled by Taizu, the Son of Heaven, Emperor of the Imperial family, who is aided by his beautiful consort, Wen Jian and his first minister, Wen Zhou.

The novel begins with our protagonist Shen Tai of Kitai mourning the death of his father for two and a half years at Kuala Nor, the site of his father's last battle. He spends the time alone, burying the bones of the thousands of soldiers that died during the last war between Kitai and Tagur twenty years earlier. In the evenings in a makeshift cabin, he listens to the ghosts of the dead screaming. At the end of his second year, he is visited by Bytsan sri Nespo, a Taguran army officer and is informed that the White Jade Princess of Tagur has rewarded him with 250 Sardian Horses in honor of his efforts burying the dead of both countries. Now this might not sound like much, but each Sardian horse is worth a fortune alone and is far superior to any other horse in battle. Now, Shen Tai must make his trek to the the Ta-Ming Palace of the Emperor Taizu to decide what to do with the gift. Along the way, he picks up a Kanlin Warrior, Wei Song, to help him thwart many assassination attempts.

I'm not going to use any spoilers, because I'm don't want to reveal the ending, which is exciting to say the least. As the plot progresses, Shen Tai wonders if the Sardians are a gift or a death warrant. The political opponents in the Ta-Ming court vie for the horses and empirical favor, resulting in upheaval of the government and eventual war. To find out who wins the war, or how Shen Tai and his friends fare, you will have to read this moving novel.

This is the first book I've read by Guy Gavriel Kay, and it will not be the last. If you like historical/fantasy fiction, I highly recommend this book. It seems to me that this genre of writing is gaining momentum and bringing us new and exciting authors. It is also noteworthy that the author provided a map and a list of principal characters in the front of the book. Since a lot of the given names were very similar, it was very helpful as you read the book.

RATING: 5 stars out of 5

Comment: The Tang period in China ran from 618 to 907 A.D., which is the time period of this book. The Tang Dynasty was famous for its poets and painters along with a thriving trade business via the Silk Road. Lastly, it was also known for the hundreds of thousands of ferocious troops that protect its borders.