Tanith Lee (1947–2015)

The end of this final book of Tanith Lee's Birgthgrave trilogy makes an interesting contrast/complement to the end of the first. Where The Birthgrave ended with something like a deus ex machina that in some ways tore open the narrative, Quest for the White Witch concludes in a way that seems retrospectively inevitable, and completely within the frame of the larger story. Still, as with the first book, I can imagine some readers being outraged by the "twist" of the ending.

The trilogy as a show more whole defies the usual three-phase structure of beginning-middle-end, which seems to be consistent with the history of its writing, where the first book was likely conceived as a stand-alone novel. The second book is therefore a second beginning with a new protagonist, and the third is a sequel that ties the two earlier ones together. The result is a sort of dialectical progression.

I had remarked that the second book, Vazkor, Son of Vazkor, had a lower level of numinosity than the original novel, but as its protagonist attains near-omnipotence in this third book there is numinosity to spare. There is also a greater sense of historical sweep and the destiny of peoples and nations, not so central as, but akin to that found in Lee's Wars of Vis novels.

One of the odd features of this book is the sustained dramatic irony, since the reader of the first volume necessarily knows more about the object of his quest than does the ambivalent antihero Vazkor Junior. In the first half of the book, though, Lee introduces a fascinating set of events that can make the reader question assumptions about the White Witch of the title, thus maintaining suspense and allowing readers to better appreciate the protagonist's perspective. show less

I cannot tell you how many times I have read (and reread, and reread) this book since I was a kid, and it still holds up. And it became painfully obvious how when YA fantasy heroines of the modern era either consciously or unconsciously fashion their heroines after Tanaquil and their journeys after hers that they fall short. Do you want to know why?

It's simple.

Tanaquil's journey, her story, isn't about how she is the most special girl in the world. She's surely special, but at the end, she show more is not the one taking the crown. That's her sister Lizra's job. Her mother Jaive? Beautiful, terrible, special, dramatic--not our girl. She's just going to take her pet peeve (still my favorite animal companion in all of fiction because it feels so real and also I'm a sucker for a cheesy pun) and see all the things she hasn't seen yet.

She is a hero and she does have to work very hard. She comes of age, gains confidence, learns how to handle her mother (a bit, but can anyone handle Jaive really?), learns about herself and her own abilities and her place in the world. She doesn't have to sacrifice herself, but learns how to channel her own special powers to fix what is broken. And that is what makes this a classic of the genre that will remain without equal. show less

Okay, this is how this went down. I went to the library in search of some non-genre fiction. I wanted a break from sf as I was still under the shadow of The Highest Frontier. I was cruising the new fiction section, where everything looked BORING, except one title I was on the fence about but wanted to check goodreads reviews first when BAM! I ran into this. I loved the cover design, and the title, and then I saw Tanith Lee and it was over.

I haven't read so much by Tanith lee, but what I have show more read I liked, and clearly it was time to read more.

So I was excited picking it up, excited checking it out and taking it home, and then I examined it more closely and UGH! it is a collection of short stories. Let me not get into all my short story issues here, I will just say it's not my favorite format. So in very short order I went from fangirl flailing to "meh." It was with rather lackluster enthusiasm that I actually started reading.

Now, can I say? I repent! I repent! Dear universe, I repent! I was in love from the very first story all the way to the end. (Almost. More on that in a moment.) Some of the stories were so perfect I wanted to kiss them. Special favorites were "The Beautiful Biting Machine," "Moon Wolf," "You Are My Sunshine," and "Within the Ghost." Oh, and "With a Flaming Sword." I do love retellings of the Adam and Eve story. Pretty much every time.

Tanith Lee is one of those authors that makes me tag my books as sf for speculative fiction rather than just science fiction. For the most part, I have followed my father's opinion that science fiction is clearly the superior half (not just that, but the only worthwhile half) of the science fiction and fantasy section. But Lee has always blurred the lines between science fiction and fantasy. Sometimes with a little bit of horror. Yes, there is future tech and world colonization and AI, but sometimes there are vampires and werewolves and goddesses, too. But these fantasy elements are thoughtful and smart and integral to what each short story is exploring, and it's all so seamless with the science fiction that I kind of adored it.

The only story I didn't love was "By Crystal Light Beneath One Star." I kept turning the pages, thinking, "What, so she think's she's Philip K. Dick now?" It never came together for me.

Anyway, the stories may be short, but the ideas are still big. The power of beauty and attraction. The worth, meaning, and purpose of a life. The line/interactions between human and the divine.

Absolutely loved this. show less

Lee's fiction is worth being called belles-lettres due to her poetic style and rich vocabulary. The author is not afraid of using similes and does not follow Stephen King's advice about using a minimum of adverbs, which makes her work unique and more colourful.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its vivid characters, who overcome challenges and make sacrifices to achieve their dreams. From the enigmatic Azhrarn to tragic figures like Ferazhin and Zorayas, each character feels fully show more realized and adds depth to the narrative. Classic yet deep themes are included—love, hate, destiny, heroism, and defeat too.

What struck me the most was Lee's ability to seamlessly blend elements of fantasy with thought-provoking themes such as feminism, LGBTQ+ issues, and the nature of power. Her writing style, rich in symbolism and metaphor, adds layers of meaning to the story, making it not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

In conclusion, Night's Master is a work of unearthly beauty that can touch readers' souls with its fancy poetic writing style. For me, this book restored my faith in the fantasy genre, and each word resonated with me like ripples on the surface of a pool after the fall of a stone into it.

However, despite the fairytale-like narration, this book contains sexual scenes and violence against women, so I can't recommend it to children and sensitive readers. The rest will be fine as long as you are not afraid of old-school fantasy. show less