Judith Tarr
Author of Household Gods
About the Author
Judith Tarr was born in Augusta, Maine on January 30, 1955. She received a B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College, an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Medieval studies from Yale University. She is the author of more than twenty novels including show more The Golden Horn, The Hound and the Falcon, Avaryan Rising, Alamut, The Daggar and the Cross, The Lord of Two Lands, Pillar of Fire, The Throne of Isis, White Mare's Daughter, Queen of Swords, Arrows of the Sun, and Spear of Heaven. She also wrote a juvenile book entitled His Majesty's Elephant. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Judith Tarr
Uncanny Magazine Issue 24: September/October 2018 (Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction) (2018) — Editor — 53 copies
Mending Souls [short fiction] 4 copies
Them Old Hyannis Blues {short story} 3 copies
"Signs and Stones" (in Whatdunits) 2 copies
I Sing of a Maiden [novelette] 2 copies
Piece de Resistance 2 copies
Finding the Grail 1 copy
The Hermit and the Sídhe 1 copy
The God Of Chariots 1 copy
The Revenants 1 copy
Al-Ghazalah 1 copy
Penthesilea 1 copy
Nine white horses (short) 1 copy
Collected Short Fiction 1 copy
Silver Stone And Steel 1 copy
Dealing In Futures 1 copy
In The Name Of The King 1 copy
Dame A La Licorne 1 copy
Kehailan 1 copy
Remedia Amoris 1 copy
Classical Horses 1 copy
Associated Works
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighth Annual Collection (1995) — Contributor — 331 copies, 6 reviews
Out of Avalon: An Anthology of Old Magic & New Myths (15-in-1) (2001) — Contributor — 322 copies, 3 reviews
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixth Annual Collection (1993) — Contributor — 219 copies, 1 review
What Might Have Been, Volumes 1 & 2: Alternate Empires, Alternate Heroes (1990) — Contributor — 185 copies, 2 reviews
Nevertheless, She Persisted: A Book View Cafe Anthology (2017) — Contributor — 48 copies, 18 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Brennan, Caitlin
Bryan, Kathleen - Birthdate
- 1955-01-30
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Mount Holyoke College
University of Cambridge
Yale University - Occupations
- novelist
horse breeder
historical novelist
science fiction writer
fantasy novelist - Organizations
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Book View Cafe - Short biography
- Judith Tarr received her undgergraduate degree in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College. She went on to earn an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and PhD in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin at Wesleyan University from 1990 to 1993.
At Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona, she breeds Lipizzan horses. She's the author of more than 20 acclaimed fantasy novels, including The Throne of Isis (1994), Queen of Swords (1997), and White Mare's Daughter (1998), and five volumes in the Avaryan Chronicles, in addition to historical and science fiction novels. The romance novels she produces under the pseudonym Caitlin Brennan for Harlequin feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Augusta, Maine, USA
- Places of residence
- Vail, Arizona, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
A solid but flawed outing from Tarr, with a satisfyingly different take on the Norman-Saxon dynamic, sympathetic characters and a couple of rip-roaring battle scenes. In addition to this, the courtship between William and Mathilda was rather delightful; I hadn't realised that they were one of the "great love matches of the Middle Ages", and Tarr certainly did them justice here (without it ever becoming epically overwrought as such romances tend to). However, the plot frequently skittered show more around too much, skipping over some of the more interesting stuff it should have focused on, and I felt that the magical aspects of the story, which worked well for the Normandy/France settings, tendered to founder somewhat when it came to England. show less
I didn’t expect to fall into this story the way I did. I'm not normally a historical fantasy reader. But I crossed paths with Judith Tarr and she made a big impression.
The Isle of Glass takes place in a richly imagined medieval England. This world is one still shaped by church power, royal ambition, and the presence of Fair Folk. But for me, the heart of the novel isn’t the world building. It’s Brother Alfred (Alf), a monk who’s lived seventy years in an abbey, yet still looks like show more a teenager and hasn’t aged a day.
That detail hit home for me. As the author of the Immortal Rising series, I’ve spent years writing characters who stop aging in their mid-twenties, so discovering Alf (who looks seventeen at seventy), was a delightful surprise. I actually came to this book after finishing the first novel in my own series, and it felt like finding an unexpected literary cousin.
When Alf brings an injured stranger (the Traveler) into the abbey and nurses him back to health, it sparks more than a mission, it begins Alf’s journey out into the world, away from the cloistered life he’s always known. Along the way, he’s forced to confront what he truly is, what he believes, and what it means to belong. Themes of self-discovery and belonging are huge wins with me.
What stayed with me most was Alf’s quiet strength. He wasn't flashy or heroic, but rather he was rooted in care, integrity, and a deep sense of wonder for the world. Tarr balances political intrigue, spiritual reflection, and personal discovery in a way that works. This book feels timeless. I mean, this was written in the 1980s and I just found it all these years later - and I loved it.
And on a personal note: Judith Tarr once edited a chapter of mine and gave me a lesson I’ll never forget: what belongs on the page, and what doesn’t. I’ll always be grateful for her words. show less
The Isle of Glass takes place in a richly imagined medieval England. This world is one still shaped by church power, royal ambition, and the presence of Fair Folk. But for me, the heart of the novel isn’t the world building. It’s Brother Alfred (Alf), a monk who’s lived seventy years in an abbey, yet still looks like show more a teenager and hasn’t aged a day.
That detail hit home for me. As the author of the Immortal Rising series, I’ve spent years writing characters who stop aging in their mid-twenties, so discovering Alf (who looks seventeen at seventy), was a delightful surprise. I actually came to this book after finishing the first novel in my own series, and it felt like finding an unexpected literary cousin.
When Alf brings an injured stranger (the Traveler) into the abbey and nurses him back to health, it sparks more than a mission, it begins Alf’s journey out into the world, away from the cloistered life he’s always known. Along the way, he’s forced to confront what he truly is, what he believes, and what it means to belong. Themes of self-discovery and belonging are huge wins with me.
What stayed with me most was Alf’s quiet strength. He wasn't flashy or heroic, but rather he was rooted in care, integrity, and a deep sense of wonder for the world. Tarr balances political intrigue, spiritual reflection, and personal discovery in a way that works. This book feels timeless. I mean, this was written in the 1980s and I just found it all these years later - and I loved it.
And on a personal note: Judith Tarr once edited a chapter of mine and gave me a lesson I’ll never forget: what belongs on the page, and what doesn’t. I’ll always be grateful for her words. show less
A weird and interesting story. I find Meredith the least interesting of the three, so it's a pity she's the main voice - she keeps going off and sulking, very annoying. The most childish of the three girls...hmm, an interesting comment on modern times, if that was intended. Meritre is enjoyable - very capable and competent, and interesting views on life (and death). I like Meru best, though I wonder if one reason she was being considered for starpilot is that she doesn't really prefer show more Consensus. She reminds me rather of Theo in the Liaden Universe - trained and raised to peace and consensus, but when the chips are down her choices are always to go it alone (or as alone as she can manage!). I did, deliberately, keep my emotions detached from the story - I've had a couple recent scares with my parents, and I think that if I'd tried to integrate their emotions I'd have broken down and been unable to read the book. It carries some pretty heavy messages. But the final one is hopeful, at least - life goes on. show less
A Wind in Cairo is a well-researched historical fantasy set in the tumultuous period of the early Crusades. Egypt lies under Saladin's hand, and the story is told entirely from the point of view of Muslim characters, something rare at least in English literature, especially for 1989.The story follows two protagonists: Hasan, a degenerate Arabian prince who as a guest in a magus' house rapes his daughter and as punishment is turned into a horse and bound to serve Zamaniyah, the daughter and show more only living child of Al-Zaman, who happens to be Hasan's father's mortal enemy.
What follows is a tale of coming of age and a little romance, though I'd hesitate to call it young adult at all. The writing is timeless, and holds up even today, and the characters are rich and real. Zamaniyah is her father's heir and raised as a boy would be raised, learning the arts of war and indeed riding to war. The sultan Saladin features heavily, and in this novel we see him as a youngish man, intelligent and wise and lordly, all of the traits that made him the greatest of the medieval Muslim kings and respected even in the West.
Judith Tarr certainly knows her horses. A good chunk of the book revolves around Zamaniyah training Hasan and bonding with him. At certain points it became a little much for me, but it never became a slog. This is a brisk novel, and the prose is elegant without ever becoming dense.
A Wind in Cairo is a bit of a departure from what I normally read. It's a bit hard for me to relate to a young girl as a protagonist, especially one belonging to a foreign religion. But for all that it was an enjoyable read, the historical setting is vivid and interesting, and it didn't overstay its welcome. Some may have have an issue with the ending, but to me it was thoughtfully and gracefully handled. show less
What follows is a tale of coming of age and a little romance, though I'd hesitate to call it young adult at all. The writing is timeless, and holds up even today, and the characters are rich and real. Zamaniyah is her father's heir and raised as a boy would be raised, learning the arts of war and indeed riding to war. The sultan Saladin features heavily, and in this novel we see him as a youngish man, intelligent and wise and lordly, all of the traits that made him the greatest of the medieval Muslim kings and respected even in the West.
Judith Tarr certainly knows her horses. A good chunk of the book revolves around Zamaniyah training Hasan and bonding with him. At certain points it became a little much for me, but it never became a slog. This is a brisk novel, and the prose is elegant without ever becoming dense.
A Wind in Cairo is a bit of a departure from what I normally read. It's a bit hard for me to relate to a young girl as a protagonist, especially one belonging to a foreign religion. But for all that it was an enjoyable read, the historical setting is vivid and interesting, and it didn't overstay its welcome. Some may have have an issue with the ending, but to me it was thoughtfully and gracefully handled. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 88
- Also by
- 60
- Members
- 8,017
- Popularity
- #3,020
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 242
- ISBNs
- 223
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- Favorited
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