Guy Gavriel Kay biography
Guy Gavriel Kay was born on the 7th November 1954 in Canada. He is still based out of Toronto. At the beginning of his career Gavriel Kay aided Christopher Tolkien (J.R.R. Tolkien's son) in the editing of Tolkien's great work, The Silmarillion. The pair met when at university together in Manitoba.
Guy Gavriel Kay incorporates real history into his fantasy books with the influences of medieval France, Moorish Spain and the Byzantium Empire all prominent in his novels. His first major and successful work was the Fionavar Tapestry which was first published between 1984 and 1986.
Guy Gavriel Kay is also an acclaimed author of poetry, his work being named Beyond This Dark House. He has twice won the Aurora award and has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award three times. His novels have been translated into 22 languages.
Kay's fourth novel, Tigana, was nominated for the World Fantasy Award whilst is also won the Canadian Aurora Award. The second book of The Fionavar Tapestry, The Wandering Fire also won this award.
Guy Gavriel Kay has gained himself the reputation of being a perfectionist, especially in regards to his meticulous research carried out in the process of writing his novels. In an interview Kay mentioned that the majority of his books can take up to a year of reading, contacting people, not-taking and travel before he starts the process of writing the novel itself. This is a process that he enjoys and leads to a broadening of his own knowledge and also the forming of friendships.
Kay still writes occasionally for radio and television but his main work consists of researching and writing the fantasy novels for which he is now world renowned. The film company, Warner Brothers, announced in 2005 that they were planning to make The Lions of Al-Rassan into a motion picture.
Authorised Guy Gavriel Kay website
Guy Gavriel Kay bibliography
The Fionavar Tapestry
The Sarantine Mosaic
Guy Gavriel Kay interviews
In an interview with Raymond H. Thompson in 1989, Guy Gavriel Kay discusses the reasons behind the Arthurian thread running throughout the Fionavar Tapestry. He also talks about his research and books that have influenced him in his life. A very in-depth interview. Guy Gavriel Kay interview with Raymond H. Thompson >>
Sandy Auden interviewed Guy Gavriel Kay in 2005 and it turned out to be a fascinating interview. In particular, in reference to his novel Tigana, Kay mentions that the books centre-point - erasing a people's name from history - was a metaphor for the well-known actions of tyrannies all through history. Sandy Auden interviews Guy Gavriel Kay in 2005 >>
Guy Gavriel Kay critical acclaim
"A fine, intelligent series. Probably the best of its kind" The British Fantasy Society on The Fionavar Tapestry
"A remarkable achievement. The essence of high fantasy" Locus on The Fionavar Tapestry
"I'm not just impressed by The Summer Tree - I'm overwhelmed" Marion Zimmer Bradley
