Suldrun’s Garden

Lyonesse: Book 1

By: Jack Vance

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

The Elder Isles, located in what is now the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Old Gaul, are made up of 10 contending kingdoms, all vying with each other for control. At the centre of much of the intrigue is Casmir, the ruthless and ambitious king of Lyonnesse. His beautiful but otherworldly daughter, Suldrun, is part of his plans. He intends to cement an alliance or two by marrying her well. But Suldrun is as determined as he and defies him. Casmir coldly confines her to the overgrown garden that she loves to frequent, and it is here that meets her love and her tragedy unfolds. Political intrigue, magic, war, adventure and romance are interwoven in a rich and sweeping tale set in a brilliantly realized fabled land.

©1983 Jack Vance (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“(Vance) gives you glimpses of entire worlds with just perfectly turned language. If he’d been born south of the border, he’d be up for a Nobel Prize.” (Dan Simmons)

“Vance has the narrative force, the willingness to look very coldly at violence and cruelty, to not shy away…. He has an amazing ear and writes a beautiful sentence.” (Michael Chabon)

excellent

loved it, was a breeze too listen to Kevin t Collins does a great job.

Best book Ive ever read

It starts off a little slow but give it a chance. It turns inti the most engaging story and series Ive ever read. A few adult situations but this is basically an adult fairy-tale. If you miss this you will miss out on one of the best novels and series' to be written in the fantasy genre.

This entire series far exceeded my expectations.

I was expecting spending like Dying Earth, which would have been good. But this takes that writing style and dry wit and applies it to a much grander story with more complex characters and a more relatable (at least in a historical sense) world.

A masterpiece by a master

Vance was a master storyteller, and this is one of the best stories he told. It is filled with fairies, magicians, knights, villains, kings, war, love, hate, birth, death, anguish and triumph. Mix The Count of Monte Cristo with Grimm's Fairy Tales and you have some of the flavor of the book.

Vance's language is lackadaisically descriptive, and he takes his time to build situations and events, but once the stage is set the play that follows will have you on the edge of your seat.

This is a great introduction to Vance.

Great Story

Not sure what the complaints about the narrator are all about. I found him to be a fine talent and enjoyed the performance a great deal. I loved the writing and the form in which the story was told. Vance is a master.