The Last Light of the Sun

infobox Book |
name = The Last Light of the Sun
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 2005 Roc Trade paperback edition
author = Guy Gavriel Kay
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Canada
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy
publisher = Penguin Canada
release_date = 2004
english_release_date =
media_type = Print
pages = 592
isbn = ISBN 0143051482
preceded_by = The Sarantine Mosaic (chronologically and in publication order)
followed_by = The Lions of Al-Rassan (chronologically, but not publication order)

"The Last Light of the Sun" is a 2004 fantasy novel by Guy Gavriel Kay. Like many of his books, it is set in a world that draws heavily upon real times, events, places and people. In this particular book, the period is the Viking invasions of Saxon England. The story concerns a young Erling's attempt to prove himself as a warrior, his father's attempts to make amends for his mistakes, a young prince searching for revenge and a King's attempt to transform his realm into a more civilized one that will resist attacks from the Erlings forever.

*The King character, Aeldred, is based clearly on Alfred the Great.
*The Erling culture is identical to that of the Vikings.
*The main religion of Jadism, the one hated by the Erlings, is clearly based upon Roman Catholicism.

The books main themes are revenge, violence, the passing of an era, clash of cultures, and love — especially between father and son.

The Last Light of the Sun is set in the same world as Kay's "The Lions of Al-Rassan" and "The Sarantine Mosaic" novels, taking place after the Sarantine Mosaic but before Lions.. A passing reference to the mosaic Crispin created at the end of the "The Sarantine Mosaic" and to the works of Rustem implies that decades or perhaps centuries have passed, and a conversation about Leontes' time on the throne puts this book roughly three hundred years after the Sarantine Mosaic. Asharite merchants from Al-Rassan put this book chronologically either before or during the events of Lions of Al-Rassan, as at the end of the book Al-Rassan becomes Esperana.

Plot

The plot is set in a fantasy version of our world, during the age of Viking (here called Erling) raiders.Bern Thorkellson has stolen a horse that used to belong to the governor of Rabady Island, who has died. It is believed by the Erlings that stealing the horse from the dead governor would mean that his soul would not be freed. Thorkellson stole the horse because the governor arrested his father, Thorkell, and married Bern's mother, whilst confining him to poverty.Bern travels to the local seer, who says she will give him a spell that will make him invisible if he has sex with her. Bern agrees. A girl who has recently joined the seer is related to Bern, and takes pity on him. She tells him that the seer was lying, and that he is not actually invisible. Bern is furious, but he manages to escape the island without being caught.Meanwhile Alun ap Owyn and his older brother Dai, along with some friends, come to stay at Brynnfell, the house of Brynn, a renowned fighter, after a cattle raid goes wrong. During the night Erling raiders attack the house, and Dai is killed. Among the Erlings is Bern's father.

(This plot summary is incomplete, and only encompasses the first few chapters of the novel.)

Awards

*Kay was nominated for the Canadian Sunburst Award nomination in 2005 for The Last Light of the Sun.

References

* [http://www.brightweavings.com/books/lastlight.htm The Last Light of the Sun at Guy Gavriel Kay's Authorized Website.]
* [http://krisreviews.com/2007/03/the-last-light-of-the-sun/ Not authorized website for review of the Last Light of the Sun]