The Summer Tree is an epic fantasy novel written by Canadian writer Guy Gavriel Kay. It was published in 1984 by McClelland & Stewart. As part of The Fionavar Tapestry, it is the first book in the trilogy about the fictional realm of Fionavar. It was followed by The Wandering Fire (1986) and The Darkest Road (1986). The novel entails five characters from the University of Toronto akin to Kay who also attended the institution to pursue law. For the novel, the author was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award in 1985.
Though Kay sets his narratives in fictional domains the novel also takes place in the contemporary world. It follows five university students, Kevin, Paul, Dave, Kim, and Jennifer whose lives converge while attending a lecture. Their supposed professor is in fact a mage from Fionavar named Loren Silvercloak tasked with bringing back the students. The 50th celebration of the reigning King is approaching but there is also tension in the kingdom. After the High King refused to offer himself or his son for sacrifice on the Summer Tree, drought befell the land. Moreover, the threat of the evil god and his hordes that are about break free from the dungeon under Mount Rangat. Each of the five strangers has a different personality that emphasizes their individual abilities. For instance, Kim becomes a seer after gaining her powers from the former seer Ysanne while Paul offers himself as the sacrifice.
The novel was lauded by critics for its ability to merge core human emotions with the worldbuilding of the fantasy genre. The Globe and Mail wrote, “Kay's bestselling—and stunning—fantasy trilogy finds its power not in its feats of imagination or world-building (though there are dazzling heapings of both) but from its rootedness in the reality of human emotions and relationships.”
