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 books

The Fionavar Tapestry

• The Summer Tree
• The Wandering Fire
• The Darkest Road

Tigana

A Song for Arbonne

The Lions of Al-Rassan

The Sarantine Mosaic

• Sailing To Sarantium
• Lord of Emperors

Beyond This Dark House

The Last Light Of The Sun

Ysabel

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

Latest news: Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven's print run increases more than 35 percent
As Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven hits bookshelves this week, Penguin/Roc announced that they have increased the print run by more than 35% in anticipation of increased demand from readers and following rave reviews from major media outlets. Fantasy Book Review recently reviewed Under Heaven and sa [...]

Fan bids $535 to secure first copy of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven
A Guy Gavriel Kay fan has won, at auction, the first copy of the novelist's new title for $535. The auction coincided with the worldwide launch of Kay’s much anticipated new novel Under Heaven, and Penguin Group (Canada) auctioned the first book off the press anywhere in the world, autographed by [...]

Win THE first copy of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven at auction
To celebrate the worldwide launch of international bestseller Guy Gavriel Kay’s much anticipated new novel Under Heaven, Penguin Group (Canada) is auctioning the first book off the press anywhere in the world, autographed by the author. Signed and verified by the printer and the publisher, this firs [...]

Coming soon: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of Fantasy Book Review’s favourite authors and widely regarded as the fantasy writers’ writer. Tigana, The Lions of Al-Rasan and Ysabel (2008 World Fantasy winner) and the The Fionavar Tapestry and The Sarantine Mosaic series are all wonderful examples of fantasy, often based [...]

Fantasy Book Review: Book of the Month
Every month a book comes along that is just that little bit special, a book that stands head and shoulders above the others that have been read and reviewed. This book becomes our Book of the Month and below can be seen the winners since the award began in June 2009. September 2010 – Once Walked wi [...]

John Jarrold interview (September 2009)
John Jarrold is a name that is respected throughout the publishing world. Working predominantly with new and established science fiction and fantasy authors, John uses his extensive knowledge and skills to help guide writers on the road to publication. Amongst those full of praise for his work are [...]

August 2009 edition of Locus Magazine now available
This month’s edition of the excellent Locus Magazine is now available and there is much to be found in there for the passionate fantasy fan. The highlight is a roundtable discussion on history and fantasy with one of Fantasy Book Review’s favourite authors, Guy Gavriel Kay. He will be j [...]

Isobelle Carmody interview
By Joshua S Hill A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit down with one of Australia’s most beloved authors. Isobelle Carmody is author of the critically acclaimed Obernewtyn series, as well as a veritable cornucopia of books for young and adult alike. Nominated for more than a dozen awards [...]

Penguin Celebrations: Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Tigana is the internationally celebrated epic of a beleaguered country struggling to be free. It is the tale of a people so cursed by the dark sorceries of the tyrant king Brandin that even the very name of their once beautiful home cannot be spoken or remembered. But, years after their homeland's [...]

Guy Gavriel Kay comments on George RR Martin
A writer's engagement with readers via blogs and websites creates a real relationship and unleashes the demands – sometimes angry demands – that go with it. George RR Martin is the hugely successful purveyor of an ongoing, seven-volume fantasy series called A Song of Ice and Fire. Four books are do [...]