cheechmonger:The Birthgrave by Tanith Lee. It was her first adult fantasy novel; previously she had
cheechmonger:The Birthgrave by Tanith Lee. It was her first adult fantasy novel; previously she had published a juvenile (i.e. YA) novel. Originally published by Daw Books in 1975. It’s gone through several printings and editions and still shows available for purchase (as of this writing) through Amazon. Used copies, of course, are plentiful. It’s had numerous covers throughout the years. The above covers are by, respectively, George Barr, Ken Kelly, Bastien Lecouffe Deharme (Daw Books), Peter A. Jones and Gino D’Achille (Orbit). Also, the first two Daw Books editions included a frontispiece of art by George Barr. The 2015 edition does not include it (I don’t have copies (yet) of the Orbit releases to verify this).The synopsis from Amazon: “A mysterious woman awakens in the heart of a dormant volcano. She comes forth into a brutal ancient world transformed by genocidal pestilence, fierce beauty, and cultural devastation. She has no memory of herself, and she could be anyone—mortal woman, demoness lover, last living heir to a long-gone race, or a goddess of destruction. Compelled by the terrifying Karrakaz to search for the mysterious Jade that is the answer to her secret self, she embarks on a journey of timeless wonder. Rediscover this realm of brilliant cruel beauty and seductive immortal ruins, of savage war and grand conquest, of falling stars and silver gods.”The 2015 edition (with the cover art by Bastien Lecouffe Deharme) is also the 40th anniversary edition, which includes, along with the original introduction by Marion Zimmer Bradley, an author’s note by Tanith Lee, written a few months prior to her death in May 2015.I included some portions of a review of the book by Lester Del Rey (Analog, September 1975, 163-164). It’s a mostly positive review, though he does point out some flaws, but they’re minor compared to its pluses.I’ve started my third reading of this book. It’s one of my favorite fantasies, and it’s still a great read even after 40 years. Definitely worth picking up.EDIT: I’ve added two additional pieces of artwork. An additional Orbit Books edition with cover art by Gino D’Achille, and a frontispiece artwork by George Barr that was included in the first two Daw Books editions (but not in the 2015 edition). The text above has been updated to reflect the changes. -- source link
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