Aegypt (FANTASY MASTERWORKS)

Aegypt, originally published as The Solitudes, is the first in a four volume sequence collectively referred to as Aegypt.The narrative occurs in two time periods, 20th Century America and the Renaissance. Stylistically it is elegant and philosophically self-reflexive. The bent of the novel, though ostensibly a fantasy, is heavily toward literary fiction where character, style, and ideas trump story, plot, and action. This is an intellectual work and just as slow moving as this implies.However, if the reader sticks with it they will be rewarded with beautiful writing, complex characters, and, perhaps, spiritual enlightenment. Aegypt is a book about academics and academia—be prepared for that when reading it. There are also heavy doses of hermeticism, philosophy, literary allusions, and wildly interpreted history.This book is not for everyone, but for those drawn to the literary end of the reading spectrum this will be a very rewarding read.Highly Recommended for readers of literary/philosophical fiction who also have an interest in fantasy and the fantastic.Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Great book

I've no idea how this came to be considered a "Masterwork". The sole purpose of the book appears to be to impress the reader with the extent of the author's knowledge. Boring. I simply couldn't be bothered to finish it.