The Golden Key (novel)

Last updated

The Golden Key
The Golden Key (novel).jpg
Author Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson, Kate Elliott
Cover artist Michael Whelan
Language English
Genre Fantasy
Publisher DAW Books
Publication date
1996
Publication place United States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages784
ISBN 0-88677-691-0
OCLC 35268865
813/.54 21
LC Class PS3568.A8553 G65 1996

The Golden Key is a 1996 fantasy novel co-written by authors Jennifer Roberson (first act), Melanie Rawn (second act), and Kate Elliott (third act). [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Set in what might loosely be described as an alternative Spain, the novel traces a family of painters who, by nature of their Gifts, can influence events around them. In the Grijalva family, the Gifted males are usually sterile and short-lived; the women, who may have a talent for painting, but do not have the Gift for the particular type of painting that alters what it portrays, are generally kept within the family to produce children. However, one woman per generation is official mistress to the ruling Duke's Heir, so that the family maintains its influence at Court. The story develops when a particularly Gifted and unscrupulous Grijalva painter finds a way to continue living through successive generations. As the political and social climate changes, including revolutions in neighboring countries and democratic challenges to the ruling Dukes, this increasingly conservative painter seeks to hold on to the past, and especially his first love, whom he has imprisoned in a painting.

Throughout the book, special emphasis is placed on iconography and a set of possibly Arabic/Moorish spells that bend events to the will of the painter. The connection between the ruling Dukes and the Grijalva family is shown to be more far-reaching and subtle than at first appears. The development in painting styles is used as a metaphor for political changes that mirror western European history, especially in France and Italy from 1500 to (say) 1820. The succession of paintings in the ducal gallery (which turns into the national gallery) is the lens through which we see the historical and personal events that make up this fantasy history.

Further plans

The original plan for The Golden Key was that it would lead to three more novels, one by each of the authors. Melanie Rawn would write The Diviner (or The Diviner's Key), Kate Elliott would write The Warrior, and Jennifer Roberson would write The Seeker. [4] The Diviner has been published in August 2011, but plans for the other two books are respectively described as "cancelled" [5] and "on indefinite hold." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Thief of Time</i> 2001 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett

Thief of Time is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 26th book in his Discworld series. It was the last Discworld novel with a cover by Josh Kirby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Hobb</span> American fiction writer (born 1952)

Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, known by her pen names Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm, is an American writer of speculative fiction. As Hobb, she is best known for her fantasy novels set in the Realm of the Elderlings, which comprise the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies, the Rain WildChronicles, and the Fitz and the Fool trilogy. Lindholm's writing includes the urban fantasy novel Wizard of the Pigeons and science fiction short stories, among other works. As of 2018, her fiction has been translated into 22 languages and sold more than 4 million copies.

Kate Elliott is the pen name of American fantasy and science fiction writer Alis A. Rasmussen.

Michael Lawson Bishop was an American author. Over five decades and in more than thirty books, he created what has been called a "body of work that stands among the most admired and influential in modern science fiction and fantasy literature."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Whelan</span> American fantasy and science fiction artist

Michael Whelan is an American artist of imaginative realism. For more than 30 years, he worked as an illustrator, specializing in science fiction and fantasy cover art. Since the mid-1990s, he has pursued a fine art career, selling non-commissioned paintings through galleries in the United States and through his website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DAW Books</span> American science fiction and fantasy publisher

DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim, along with his wife, Elsie B. Wollheim, following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was the 1972 short story collection Spell of the Witch World by Andre Norton.

Melanie Rawn is an American author of fantasy literature. She received a BA in history from Scripps College and worked as a teacher and editor before becoming a writer.

<i>Dragon Prince</i> Fantasy novel by Melanie Rawn

Dragon Prince is a fantasy novel by American author Melanie Rawn. It is the first book of the Dragon Prince trilogy.

<i>The Ruins of Ambrai</i> 1994 novel by Melanie Rawn

The Ruins of Ambrai is a 1994 fantasy novel written by American author Melanie Rawn. It is the first novel in the Exiles Trilogy and is set in the fictional world of Lenfell.

Jennifer Mitchell Roberson is an American author of fantasy and historical literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Forsyth</span> Australian author

Kate Forsyth is an Australian author. She is best known for her historical novel Bitter Greens, which interweaves a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale with the true life story of the woman who first told the tale, the 17th century French writer Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force.

Mary Jo Putney is an American author of over twenty-five historical and contemporary romance novels. She has also published romantic fantasy novels as M.J. Putney. Her books are known for their unusual subject matter, including alcoholism, death, and domestic abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Picacio</span> American artist

John Picacio is an American artist specializing in science fiction, fantasy and horror illustration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Anders</span> American journalist

Lou Anders is a US-based author, known for the Thrones & Bones series of middle grade fantasy novels. Anders is a Hugo Award-winning editor, a Chesley Award-winning art director, a journalist, a children's author, and a tabletop roleplaying game designer. In 2001, Anders launched Lazy Wolf Studios to publish tabletop roleplaying game material set in the world of his novels.

<i>Lady of the Forest</i> Book by Jennifer Roberson

Lady of the Forest: A Novel of Sherwood is a 1992 historical fiction novel by American author Jennifer Roberson. A re-telling of the Robin Hood legend from the perspective of twelve characters associated with the legend, the story centers around English noblewoman Lady Marian FitzWalter's encounters with Lord Robert of Locksley and his scheming rival the Sheriff of Nottingham amid the backdrop of Prince John's schemes – he aims to increase his own wealth and power at the expense of post-Conquest England and his brother, King Richard.

<i>Lady of the Glen</i> 1996 novel by Jennifer Roberson

Lady of the Glen: A Novel of 17th-Century Scotland and the Massacre of Glencoe is a 1996 historical fiction novel by American author Jennifer Roberson. It is a re-telling of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, and focuses on the romance between Catriona of Clan Campbell and Alasdair Og MacDonald of Clan Donald, each from rival clans.

<i>Children of Blood and Bone</i> 2018 young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone is a 2018 young adult romantic fantasy novel by Nigerian-American novelist Tomi Adeyemi. The book, Adeyemi's debut novel and the first in a planned trilogy, follows heroine Zélie Adebola as she attempts to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha, following the ruling class kosidáns' brutal suppression of the class of magic practitioners Zélie belongs to, the maji.

The Golden Key may refer to:

References

  1. ↑ "The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn". Publishers Weekly . September 2, 1996. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Golden Key". Kirkus Reviews . August 1, 1996. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ Asaro, Catherine (1997). "The SF Site Featured Review: The Golden Key". The SF Site. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Melanie Rawn's Bibliography". Melanie Rawn . Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Some Frequently Asked Questions". Kate Elliott . Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ Roberson, Jennifer. "The Golden Key". cheysuli. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.