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| Contents | ||
The three books are:
Kay's central concept in the novels is that Fionavar is the first of worlds, particularly in a mythological sense; the sagas and tales of other worlds originate (or culminate) in this most primary of settings. There is also, as in much mythical fantasy, a hierarchy of gods and other supernatural figures. The most central is the Weaver, at the Loom, shuttling back and forth the threads of the great Tapestry which tells the story of all worlds. As is custom, this central figure makes no direct appearance in the tales, but many of the other gods and demigods are seen, and influence events.
There are two central forms of magic in Fionavar: the primeval, 'blood' magic of sacrifice and pain, practiced by the preistesses of Dana and in other rituals; and the more refined magic of the Mages, provided through their source, another person bound to them for life who gives energies from theirself to the mage, who can accomplish magical tasks. This can only go on while the source has energy to give, and sources can sometimes become thoroughly exhausted due to this.
There are five central characters to the story, all from our world and thus strangers to Fionavar; each finds a role and a destiny in their time there. They are Kevin Laine , Paul Schafer , Dave Martyniuk , Kimberly Ford , and Jennifer Lowell .
The setting is in the northeastern corner of an unnamed continent; this area is bound by arctic barrens to the north, the Sea to the west, and mountains to the east; the south beyond Cathal is not brought into consideration.
The dominant realm is Brennin, the High Kingdom, with its capital at Paras Derval. It is primarily agricultural, and is bound on the south by the river Saeren and on the north by Pendaran Wood and the Plain of the Dalrei.
South of Saeren is Cathal, the 'garden country' of an ethnically divergent people. Though petty wars have been fought with Brennin over time, the primal threat of the Dark always brings the kingdoms together.
The Plain is home to the nomadic Dalrei, who hunt in diverse tribes. Their communal meeting-place is the standing stones at Celidon.
Pendaran Wood is home to many magical and primeval forces; at the time of the story the forest is very vengeful and angry towards mortal peoples due to the loss of their most beloved spirit centuries before.
The shadowland of Daniloth, northwest of the Plain, is home to the lios alfar, the immortal children of Light. As they are the most hated by the Dark, and their numbers are few, they have placed an enchantment over their land to waylay any mortal who attempts entry.
The mountain-realms of Eridu in the east include those of the dwarves in Banir Lök and Banir Tal; various groups of humans; and the caves of the pacifist giants in Khath Meigol, now believed abandoned and haunted.
The north is dominated by the massive Mount Rangat, the sparse woods of Gwynir, and the blasted plain of Andarien which lies before Starkadh, stronghold of Rakoth Maugrim the Unraveller.