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

... for The Fionavar Tapestry

A fine, intelligent series. Probably the best of its kind. The British Fantasy Society

A remarkable achievement. The essence of high fantasy. Locus

I'm not just impressed by The Summer Tree - I'm overwhelmed. Marion Zimmer Bradley

... for Tigana

An enchanting, colourful fantasy adventure. Time Out

Tigana is so perfect I don’t think I could bear it if Kay wrote a sequel. Interzone

One of the best fantasy novels I have read. Anne McCaffery

Kay shows why he’s the heir to Tolkien’s tradition. Booklist

All Guy Gavriel Kay Reviews