Alamut series

Alamut

Author	Judith Tarr
Language	English
Series	Alamut
Genre	Fantasy
Publisher	Doubleday
Publication date	November 1989
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	470 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	0-385-24720-6 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC	20016460
Dewey Decimal	813/.54 20
LC Class	PS3570.A655 A79 1989
Followed by	The Dagger and the Cross

The Dagger and the Cross

Author	Judith Tarr
Language	English
Series	Alamut
Genre	Fantasy
Publisher	Doubleday
Publication date	January 1991
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	474 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	0-385-41181-2 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by	Alamut

The Alamut series consists of the two fantasy books Alamut (Doubleday, 1989) and The Dagger and the Cross (Doubleday, 1991) by Judith Tarr. The series is set in the same universe as The Hound and the Falcon, which was written first, but the Alamut series describes events which occurred before the events in The Hound and the Falcon.[1]

The books mainly tells the story of the elf Prince Aidan from the elf kingdom of Rhiyana. The books contain elements of historical fiction, being set in the time of the Crusades and covering events like the Battle of Hattin, and including historical figures such as the leper king of Jerusalem Baldwin IV, the Muslim leader Saladin, and the Hashshashin of Alamut.

Reception

Reviewing The Dagger and the Cross, John C. Bunnell stated "Judith Tarr's latest novel combines military strategy, political intrigue, high romance, and subtle magic in a blend that should satisfy devotees of any one of the above."[2] Bunnell also lauded Tarr's characterisation, saying "Everyone has a place in the unfolding intrigues, and no one...is left a mere stereotype in Tarr's capable hands."[2]

References

1. Stableford, Brian M. The A to Z of Fantasy Literature. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2009. ISBN 9780810868298. p. 397.
2. Bunnell, John C. (May 1991), "The Role of Books". Dragon magazine, TSR, Inc. Issue 169, p. 52.