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  • Suldrun’s Garden

  • Lyonesse: Book 1
  • By: Jack Vance
  • Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
  • Length: 18 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (64 ratings)
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Suldrun’s Garden cover art

Suldrun’s Garden

By: Jack Vance
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
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Summary

The Elder Isles, located in what is now the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Old Gaul, are made up of 10 contending kingdoms, all vying with each other for control. At the centre of much of the intrigue is Casmir, the ruthless and ambitious king of Lyonnesse. His beautiful but otherworldly daughter, Suldrun, is part of his plans. He intends to cement an alliance or two by marrying her well. But Suldrun is as determined as he and defies him. Casmir coldly confines her to the overgrown garden that she loves to frequent, and it is here that meets her love and her tragedy unfolds. Political intrigue, magic, war, adventure and romance are interwoven in a rich and sweeping tale set in a brilliantly realized fabled land.

©1983 Jack Vance (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“(Vance) gives you glimpses of entire worlds with just perfectly turned language. If he’d been born south of the border, he’d be up for a Nobel Prize.” (Dan Simmons)
“Vance has the narrative force, the willingness to look very coldly at violence and cruelty, to not shy away…. He has an amazing ear and writes a beautiful sentence.” (Michael Chabon)

What listeners say about Suldrun’s Garden

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ruined by the narrator

Great story, appalling narration. They could at least have found someone whose pronunciation matched a known language.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Impressive

It's wonderful to listen to this story when driving for a long time. The speaker is really good for a while you are in the Jack Vance' universe...

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully inventive and delightfully narrated

As per above- an very entertaining and inventive fantasy tale. Already looking forward to hearing the sequel.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tolkien,Vance,Martin in that order

I read this many years ago and revisiting it in audio has lost none of the magic,
fabulous fantasy book and the narrator is very good as well.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slightly disjointed

I enjoyed the tales within the book, however it was a series of scenes set in Lyonesse that felt interleaved rather than fully connected. When you get to the end it makes sense but it is hard work. Still love the books by JV though and it was great to listen to this one after reading it so many years ago. Great narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fabulous world of fantastic fairy tales

Inspired by Irish legends and medieval sources, Vance weaves a fabulous world of fantastic fairy tales. His picaresque tale-telling is poignant, funny, and often cruel. A rush of interweaving stories and characters all driven by their own desires and obligations.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Slow to start, fantastical to finish!

An absolute must listen. I wish I could erase my memory of the book so I could listen to it again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing start to a great epic.

Really enjoyed this story. Better than GOT. The narrator is excellent and does well with different voices for the characters. A most wonderful production. Jack Vance at his fantastical best.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

masterful fantasy.

the book feels a little aged now but modern storytelling pales by comparison.
the American narrator does a fair job of a British accent, but it still jars at times.
Hugo and nebula awards under his belt, Jack Vance casts a long Shadow for modern authors. whilst his style is a touch impersonal by modern standards the world he creates is just brilliant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great characters, a wonderful world, would recommend to any who care to listen! Jack Vance is always a good read.

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