Lee, Tanith Books

Biting the Sun

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 38 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Familiar theme, done in a totally new way 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I was surprised that no one saw the connection between the theme of this book and the theme with Dostoevsky's "The Underground Man". Whereas Dostoevsky takes the idea that man is inherently lazy, selfish, and easily bored and illustrates it in subtle ways in what was the present for him, Tanith Lee basically magnifies everything Dostoevsky has to say in a way that you can't ignore it, and puts it waaaaay into the future.

For those of you who haven't read Dostoevsky, as it isn't common with teenage sci-fi lovers, Dostoevsky was basically a conservative in the 1800s when communism was just begining in Russia. Russian communists beleived that through communism, man would live in a paradise, with all needs met, and do work for the sake of work and his love for his neighbor. Communism placed way too much trust in the goodness of human beings. Dostoevsky knew that no matter what, humans would never be content with what they had, and "The Underground Man" was a sort of warning against this idea.

Anyways, Tanith Lee understood all of this, and in her book takes us into a future where everything runs on the power of human emotion, and the need for human workers has completely vanished. Because human emotion is vital to make the city run, humans are encouraged to indulge in their every whim, to unleash all their restraints and do whatever it is they beleive will produce emotions within themselves--happiness being the preffered emotion, for when one is happy one does not question or think or ask for more. Death cannot touch the citizens. You can do anything you want without risk.

Initially, the reader may be confused, because the psychology of the citizens seem reversed. They actually enjoy in some way feeling unhappy, but soon the reader realizes why--in a world where you are pampered and all your desires met, the only way one can really feel anything is to experience a bit of dissappointment.

Anyways. It's a fabulous book, a good introduction to these deeper questions of humanity for the seeking teenager, but I think readers of all ages might enjoy it, if one can only relax themselves into the story and put their faith in the author.

Editorial Review:

Tanith Lee, winner of the August Derleth Award and several World Fantasy Awards, is best known as a fantasy and horror writer, but she has written several fine SF novels, two of which, Don't Bite the Sun and Drinking Sapphire Wine, form a duology now available in the single volume Biting the Sun.

The far future has brought freedom not only from material want but also from rules, responsibilities, and risk. You can change bodies and genders like clothes, make love with whomever you want, live forever, and kill yourself as often as you like. You can have everything, except a meaningful life. Then one day a restless soul discovers an act so shocking and terrifying that human society has forgotten its existence. --Cynthia Ward

The Silver Metal Lover

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 100 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Silver Metal Lover is a classic tale of transforming love. It's a keeper, a book that gets reread 'til it falls apart. Fans petitioned to get it reprinted, and after 10 years of waiting, here it is. Oddly, the book is seldom mentioned when Tanith Lee's work is discussed, perhaps because Lee's usual milieu is horror, and The Silver Metal Lover is a poignant romance requiring at least two hankies before the end.

Robots have replaced human labor on earth, causing massive unemployment in a world devastated by pollution and natural disasters. Then Electronic Metals releases a new line: performing artists and sexual companions designed to entertain human partners. Jane, a rich, lonely, and insecure 16-year-old, meets one, the minstrel Silver, and falls passionately in love, despite revulsion at the idea of preferring a mechanical man to a human. She gives up everything she has known for him, and discovers herself. Silver becomes more and more "human" in loving her--a clever illusion created by his programming. Or is it? This unstable society can't afford any evidence that some robots might be indistinguishable from humans. Tragedy is inevitable. Read it and weep--and don't forget to put it on the keeper shelf. --Nona Vero

Wolf Wing: The Claidi Journals IV

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

"I've Had the Courage to Call my Sons Back to Me..." 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.

"Wolf Wing" is the forth and final book in the Claidi journals, a quartet of books that narrated the young heroine's journey from slavery to freedom, and her untangling of the many mysteries and conspiracies around her, all in diary form. After many adventures in the first three books, Claidi is finally reunited with her beloved Argul, and together they plan their marriage and the return to Claidi's previous home, the House, in order to release the slaves.

But once again, nothing is what it seems. On returning to the House Claidi and her new husband find that the slaves do not need their help - on the night of Claidi's escape, the slaves overthrew their former masters and now live in relative peace and harmony. The spoilt Jade Leaf, who once threatened Claidi with a vicious whipping, is now servant to those she once bullied mercilessly. But the Old Lady Jizania Tiger, who instigated the whole thing seems to have something more up her sleeve: calling Claidi, Argul and another slave Dengwei (who led the revolt) to her, she reveals that the famous Ironel - matriarch of the Wolf Tower - has summoned them to her home, promising to reveal more information concerning the enigmas surrounding them.

Once there, readers are treated to a reunion, as major characters from all the previous books turn up: Nemian, Winter Raven, Venn and Ngarbo arrive in order to hear Ironel's news. And the news she reveals is shocking: Venn and Argul's mother, the famous sorceress Ustareth that has meddled in these characters lives from beyond the grave with her plans and charms...is in fact alive. Astonished by such a fact, these characters (with the exception of Nemian) decide to travel in Yinyay (the moving tower) to her land in order to confront her...

For the final book in the series, it's a satisfactory conclusion - giving us wrap-ups to all the main characters, and finally letting us meet the figure that's been behind all their confusion and grief. Tanith Lee continues to create vivid, interesting and beautiful settings as well as intrigue in the form of the (quite spooky) moving statues and the way in which all six characters separately approach Ustareth's citadel. The diary entries are once more realistic, thoughtful and poignant and you can tell Claidi herself has grown as a character when compared to her writing in "Wolf Tower" - the changes were never obvious, but are definitely there.

Throughout the entire series I was often frustrated with the lack of coherence and grandeur in the plots concerning Claidi and those around her: rather than any dark and deep meaning to them, the `bad-guys' do what they do out of pettiness, personal gain and family issues. My grievances that these plots weren't clearly drawn out or explained remain, but my feelings on the fact that the reasons behind the ongoing `mystery' were somewhat shallow have changed. Tanith Lee is a wonderful author, and I have to admire the originality in creating a fantasy series that wasn't about good or evil, world domination, tragic romances or myriads of fantasy races. This was simply about a young girl who was caught up in the selfish designs of others. Once you understand this, I think you'll be able to appreciate these books better.

Which is not to say these four books are completely without their flaws - they can get quite confusing at times and it's tricky keeping track of all the clues and mysteries that Lee gives us, and some of the revelations (concerning Ustareth's decisions and Claidi's powers) at the end didn't seem to make much sense. I also dislike the way they are divided into separate volumes - it makes it immensely difficult to track down all the books in order to get the complete story (and rest assured, you cannot read them out of order). The Claidi quartet does not have my highest recommendation - if you have too much trouble understanding or even finding these books, then don't get too worked up. However if you want a light, but interesting read, then you could do worse than "Wolf Tower", "Wolf Star", "Wolf Queen" and "Wolf Wing."

Editorial Review:

At last, Claidi and her beloved Argul are free to get married. But before they can start their life together, Claidi must face her past. They return to her birthplace, the House, to rescue the other slaves—and find that there has been a revolution, sparked by Claidi’s escape. Then the two are urgently summoned by Ironel Novendot of the Wolf Tower, who tells them that Ustareth is alive. Ustareth, the mother of Argul and Venn, the science-sorceress, who has perhaps manipulated each of them for their entire lives. Now she wants them all to visit her—but to what end?

White As Snow (Fairy Tales)

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

After a hiatus of some years, the Fairy Tale series of novels by various authors, edited by Terri Windling, has made a welcome return. The first post-hiatus book is fantasist extraordinaire Tanith Lee's White as Snow, a retelling of Snow White darkly intertwined with the myth of Demeter and Persephone. If you're familiar with both Lee, winner of the August Derleth Award and several World Fantasy Awards, and Windling, also winner of several World Fantasy Awards, and the premier fantasy editor of modern times, then you would expect White as Snow to be a terrific novel. And you would be right.

In an alternate-history medieval Europe, the noble maiden Arpazia, raised in an isolated castle, finds herself the captive of the conquering general-king Draco. The only remnant of her former life is an exotic glass mirror possessed of witchy powers. She feels no connection to Coira, daughter of her forced marriage to the brutal Draco. She becomes the lover of a woodsman, Klytemno, who embodies the divine Hunter King in pagan rituals. Then Klytemno requires her to send her black-haired, snow-pale daughter Coira into the woods as a sacrifice.... --Cynthia Ward

The Claidi Collection: Books I-III - Wolf Tower; Wolf Star; Wolf Queen

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Claidi Journals 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

These books are a wonderful collection of stories. They are written in the style of a diary. The stories are about 'Claidis' adventures through an unknown world. Power, love and magic all play major roles in this story. Definitly worth a read if you like fiction. Try it!

Awesome 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This excedingly predictable series no matter how origional it was, is amazing, the amazing ideas the author put into this book make you want to read it around twenty more times and you will still notice something new, when I first started reading them I was up until 3'am reading and comprehending, the new worldy idea makes every reader want to live there and the main charector is highly relatable, so, read them or be square.

Editorial Review:

The first three novels in Tanith Lee's popular Claidi Journals series are now available in this handsome hardcover three-in-one omnibus volume, which includes the complete texts of Wolf Tower, Wolf Star, and Wolf Queen. Fantasy fans can immerse themselves in Claidi's adventures as she unlocks the secrets of her past and finds the love of her life.

Firebirds Rising: An Anthology of Original Science Fiction and Fantasy

Francesca Lia Block, Kara Dalkey, Charles de Lint, Alan Dean Foster, Emma Bull, Patricia A. McKillip, Sharon Shinn, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Alison Goodman, Carol Emshwiller, Diana Wynne Jones, Pamela Dean, Tanith Lee, Ellen Klages, Kelly Link

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Good Collection 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I read the first collection, The Firebird, and feel in love all over again with Megan W. Turner and for this book, in addition to my already favorite authors, it introduced me to more of authors whose styles I like very much.

First of all is Ellen Klages, with 'In The House of the Seven Librarians'. I love her prose and all the words make a nice song in my head. It was almost like a poetry.

Second is Tanith Lee. I haven't had the chance to read her books but I like her story 'The House on The Planet'. The title reminds me of Laura Ingalls' :) It has the taste of pioneering adventure in it but of course, with a surprise at the ending.

Editorial Review:

Here is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning anthology Firebirds! Firebirds Rising takes readers from deep space to Faerie to just around the corner. It is full of magic, humor, adventure, and—best of all—the unexpected. The one thing readers can count on is marvelous writing. Firebirds Rising proves once again that Firebird is a gathering place for writers and readers of speculative fiction from teenage to adult, from the United States to Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Winter Moon

Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, C.E. Murphy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Mercedes Lackey
"She'll keep you up long past your bedtime." --New York Times bestselling author Stephen King

In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected . . . at a price that might be too high . . .

Tanith Lee
"Few writers today can match the sheer beauty and inventiveness of Tanith Lee's writing." --Millennium Science Fiction and Fantasy

Struggling under the curse of a dead comrade, Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, must face "The Heart of the Moon" to reveal what has been hidden . . .

C.E. Murphy
"A swift pace, a good mystery, a likeable protagonist, magic, danger -- Urban Shaman has them in spades." --Jim Butcher, author of the bestselling series The Dresden Files

In "Banshee Cries," ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she shouldn't ignore -- because the next life she has to save might be her own!

Wolf Tower: The Claidi Journals I (Claidi Journals, 1)

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Potential Wasted 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 9 people found this review helpful.

When I first opened the book in Borders, I found the opening pages interesting - I liked Claidi's character and her style of writing, in a journal. These aspects were enough to push me into buying the novel.

Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the book had no plot.

It's true; after the first few pages, the ones that had hooked me, the story totally fell apart. Claidi's character became less and less likeable; her naivete, quaint at first, became progressively more annoying. The writing style became nothing like a journal. And as I said, there was no plot. The tale meandered meaninglessly across the Waste, meeting people of different cultures, until finally returning to Nemian's home, the Wolf Tower. During all this, Claidi demonstrates her remarkable depth of character (less than a puddle's worth).

I rarely rate books this low, but this one left me wondering how it could have possibly been published. If you thirst for good fantasy, read Tamora Pierce (The Immortals Quartet), Vivian Vande Velde (Heir Apparent), Hilari Bell (The Farsala Trilogy) - or even a cookbook, which has a better plot than Wolf Tower.

Editorial Review:

All her life, Claidi has endured hardship in the House, where she must obey a spoiled princess. Then a golden stranger arrives, living proof of a world beyond the House walls. Claidi risks all to free the charming prisoner and accompanies him across the Waste toward his faraway home. It is a difficult yet marvelous journey, and all the while Claidi is at the side of a man she could come to love. That is, until they reach his home . . . and the Wolf Tower.

The Secret Books of Paradys

Tanith Lee

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Paradys--the city--was a place of decadence and decay, of luxury and lasciviousness, and, after the revolution, a graveyard peopled by the insane and the dead... and by those who preyed on both. The strange and the tormented dwell in Paradys - prowling its dark streets and twisted alleyways, passing the endless hours in the city's elegant mansions and smoke-tarnished inns, wandering in moldering graveyards and the stark surrounding countryside. For the land here is bound by a timeless, soul-chilling magic, and that power has cast its spell over all who have ever lived in this foreboding and dangerous place.

All who came to Paradys were forever touched by its dread magic. The City was not one place but three, bound together by a labyrinth of ice yet separated, perhaps by time, perhaps by some long-forgotten enchantment, into Paradise, Paradis and Paradys--each cursed in an entirely different way...

Witness the city of Paradys' life and history through theeyes of its provocative and perverse citizens - a darkly fascinating odyssey as only World Fantasy Award winner Tanith Lee could imagine it.

Wolf Queen: The Claidi Journals III (The Claidi Journals Book 3)

Tanith Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Wonderful!!!!!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you liked the first 2 books, then you'll LOVE this one!!! The one thing about Tannith Lee, is that she sometimes gets too deep in her descriptions, and makes it harder to see things. Especially in describing places and clothes. I love the plot, though, and the characters. The places in all the books are amazing, and I love the way Claidi is learning things as she goes, and expresses her inquisitive nature.
I was somewhat sad about the matter with the Hulta, though. The way they welcomed her was simply astonishing, and the thing about leaders and Argul.....it was a WOW thing. At the end, the book came together and was wonderous as a whole. I can't wait to read the 4th, and hopefully 5th, book!!!!!

Editorial Review:

Claidi is eager to reunite with her fiancé Argul-but when she finally reaches his camp, she finds that someone has been spreading ugly lies about her, and Argul is nowhere to be found. Undaunted, Claidi sets out to search for him. Her quest brings her to the icy threshold of a tower, and within it she encounters another shadow from her past-a powerful woman Claidi believes is her mother. But the truth is far more complicated, and Claidi once again finds herself at the dark center of conspiracy and intrigue. Claidi's third journal will hold readers to the very last page.