THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS

by Steven Brust ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1987

According to the publisher, this is the first of ""an ongoing series of fantasy novels . . .retelling, well-loved, classic fairy and folk tales."" This particular well-loved classic concerns the gypsy wizard Csucskari, who vows to locate the sun, moon and stars (they are hidden in a cave at the end of the world) and replace them in the sky; his reward will be half the kingdom plus the hand of the king's daughter in marriage. Interspersed with this brief but amusing tale is the remaining nine tenths of the book: an orthodox rendering of the trials and tribulations of a studio of starving artists as they work, argue, and try to scrape together the wherewithal to mount the exhibition that might save the studio from breaking up. The only discernible connection between the two yarns is that the gypsy tale is being told to the studio members by Greg Kovaks, one of the artists. The arty bits are occasionally interesting but more often plain dull, as Greg endlessly explains his artistic perceptions and impulses. All very well. But does it qualify as fantasy? No. Is it, in fact, a retelling of a folk tale? No. And readers who buy the book on that basis will have every right to feel aggrieved.

Pub Date: May 1, 1987

ISBN: 0312860390

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ace/Berkley

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION