The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars (1987)

This one felt like two separate stories - first, the one of a struggling artist as he goes through life learning, making friends, trying to keep his studio open, and trying to pay his bills solely through his art. The second, the one of three gypsies trying to put the sun, the moon and the stars into the sky.

While I really liked both stories, I don't really understood how the modern one connected with the fairy tale. I saw more parallels between the painting Greg was working and his current events than I did between Greg and the gypsies. ( )

I wish there was a 3 1/4 rating. This book, while interesting, was filled with annoying stereotypical types. The main character is too whiny about what art is, and is not. Also, couldn't the narrator get a part time job to help with bills, instead of relying on his girlfriend to pay for everything?

I also found that the Hungarian folk tale doesn't really match the story of the starving artists, although I enjoyed this secondary story is quite wonderful.

So, to conclude. Interesting premise. Solid writing. Annoying characters. That is all. ( )

This is the first of Brust's books I've read, although it certainly won't be the last. He's a prolific writer, mostly in the sci-fic/fantasy genre, and I understand this book is a bit of a departure for him. It succeeds. It's an innovative and informative novel that weaves together an examination of how five emerging artists (who share a studio) work together and perceive the creative process, as well as a Hungarian fairy tale concerning Csucskari, a taltos (priest-magician) on a journey to find the sun, moon and stars and place them in the empty heavens.

The art-studio tale is narrated by Greg, and the voice is lovely -- funny and candid and sincere. We follow his thoughts as he works on a huge classicaly-inspired painting. He ponders what makes art what it is, technique, and authenticity. He maps the mental stages of creativity with a delightful lack of pretension.

Both characters, Csucskari and Greg, are on quests and each battle their own dragons. It's wonderfully told and thought provoking. Brust's voice is fluid and engaging. Recommended. ( )

A book from Mount TBR read and off the list. Hurrah! I was motivated by a book challenge, but I've been meaning to read this fairy tale retelling for quite some time. I bought it as part of a series of retellings called "The Fairy Tale Series" because some of the other books in that series were so compelling. I didn't really know what to expect, as the original fairy tale was based on a story from Hungary with which I was unfamiliar, and the synopsis was brief. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel.

This is one of those retellings that sets a very modern tone, rather than trying to be similar to the original, or setting it in a typical fantasy landscape. In fact, the fairy tale portion of the story is a symbolic underpinning of the main action of the story, which is completely realistic. Normally this might disappoint me, because I like fantasy, but the plot was compelling enough that I didn't mind.

The story is about a group of struggling artists that are experimenting on whether or not they can support themselves while doing their art. Five of them own a studio where they work on their individual projects. The narrator, Greg, is one of these brave souls, a painter, who lives with his girlfriend and also lives on her support. At the start of this novel, things aren't looking too good for the artists. They can barely afford rent for the studio, much less their own homes and bills, and no one is having any shows or selling any of his or her work. Greg decides on one last grand gesture and takes out "the Monster", a huge sheet of canvas that he hasn't braved before.

The format of the story is unusual, and I liked it. Each chapter is divided into six sections. The first is a flashback from Greg's personal life, the second is a little philosophical rambling on Greg's part about different aspects of art theory, the third is the piece that is happening in present day with Greg and his artist buddies in the studio. the fourth is specifically all about the painting work that is being done on the Monster, the fifth is the fairy tale, and the sixth is another look at art, usually a metaphoric reflection on his life and the fairy tale and how they are intertwining. With such a layout it takes a few chapters to grasp the story and start to piece it together; Brust builds his story up in layers just like Greg builds up his painting in brush strokes. The first person narration is personable and engaging enough that I didn't mind taking a few chapters to sort through the plot line.

How does the fairy tale figure into all of this? The artists take turn entertaining each other on art breaks, and Greg's form of showmanship is telling stories. The Hungarian fairy tale is his current story (which I was really glad to find out when Greg finally revealed that information, as I was very curious about the connection) and its influences creep into his painting of the Monster. I love the way the story has a lot of symbolic crossovers between the fairy tale, his painting, and his life. A complex web Brust weaves for us.

The writing is tight and the dialogue is crisp. The descriptions are concise and sensuous. It reminded me of literary short stories, in the sense that you get the feeling that every line has a purpose, every description has its place in the story. His style grabbed my attention right away. When I read, I felt like I was involved in the artistic process. This book is as close to painting as the written word can come. While this may not be like most fairy tale retellings, it is a great novel, and well worth attention. ( )

Very typical Steven Brust work, especially if you enjoyed Brokedown Palace, or To Reign in Hell. Well written, as always. ( )