Guy Gavriel Kay‘s latest fantasy on a theme of history, The Last Light of the Sun, is centered around King Alfred’s establishment of the Anglo-Saxon realm, with significant subplots in Wales and Scandinavia.*
Although there is the usual theme of loss and sorrow, it’s on a smaller, more personal scale than in Kay’s other books. The significant events of the book do not involve large-scale political or cultural events — these have all taken place in the past of the book, and the events we see are more personal, focused on the younger generation coming into their own to consolidate their parents’ accomplishments.
Even the requisite climactic duel is not as immediately affecting as usual in a Kay work, because the characters are part of the older generation, and the “good guy” is at best ambiguous and not a central character.
The characterization in this book is a refinement of Kay’s mosaic technique, with a few central characters whom we follow throughout, but many little sketches — glints and subtle reflections — of the other beings who live in Kay’s world.
A major thread is the “half-world” and the decline of magic and the Fay as Christianity (the Jaddite faith) spreads. I haven’t yet figured out how Alun’s action at the end of the book fits into the rest of the story, though.
The writing is fuller — less crystalline, perhaps — than in Sarantium, and the emotion is subtler and less raw — some would say manipulative — than in Kay’s older works. I guess this is a good thing, though the early work can be a fun roller-coaster ride.
So perhaps less immediately affecting than some of the older work, but certainly a worthwhile read.
* Kay reworks people’s names, places and events so he can tell his own story, but the broad outlines are taken from history. Light is set in the world of Al-Rassam and Sarantium, to which there are references. Anyone with a little grasp of history should be able to figure out the major places and cultures.