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Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fantasy-adjacent historical fiction finds fans worldwide
It's difficult to neatly categorize Guy Gavriel Kay's published work of the last 35 years — and that's just the way he likes it. The Saskatchewan-born, Winnipeg-raised Kay, now 70, was studying at the University of Manitoba when he was enlisted by J.R.R. Tolkien's son Christopher to help edit his late father's unpublished work, The Silmarillion, in Oxford, England. After returning to Canada and completing his law degree in Toronto, Kay set about writing fantasy of his own, beginning with the three books in The Fionavar Tapestry. But since his breakout 1990 novel Tigana, set in a world similar to Renaissance Italy, Kay's writing has moved away from deep fantasy, treading a fine line between fantasy and historical fiction, inspired by real-life events in history but with a certain mystical element underlying his novels. 'I write about the past — I do that quarter-turn to the fantastic, but essentially, I'm writing about moments in history that seem to me powerful and resonant for today,' says Kay, who will launch his latest novel, Written on the Dark, at McNally Robinson Booksellers' Grant Park, where he will be joined in conversation by Bruce Symaka. Written on the Dark follows the exploits of Thierry Villar, a tavern poet in the town of Orane (a stand-in for Paris) in medieval France, who becomes embroiled in the machinations of local politics, war and an investigation into the murder of one of the local dukes, the king's brother. Kay took inspiration from real-life poet François Villon and the assassination of the Duc d'Orleans in Paris during the Hundred Years' War. Avoiding straight historical fiction has allowed Kay to explore themes that continue to resonate today without being hemmed in by the hard facts of what happened at the time. 'History rhymes for me, and it underlies my entire literary method, which is that I'm not trying to pretend I know the thoughts and feelings of real people — I'm fine with other people doing that,' he says. 'I'm happier with that quarter-turn so that my protagonists and the secondary characters are clearly identified as inspired by real people, but not equivalent to them.' Kay's body of work continues to be widely read; his books have translated into dozens of languages, with the bulk of his novels still in print. Tigana and his 1995 novel The Lions of Al-Rassan, set in a world similar to medieval Spain, have both enjoyed a particular uptick in popularity in recent years thanks to BookTok, the TikTok sub-community that posts reviews and thoughts about books, and where fantasy novels remain incredibly popular. 'I've been given a gift by readers around the world. I don't sell on the order of people who've had movies and television series made of their books, because I don't write those kinds of books, but by great good fortune, I sell well, and I sell around the world, and the books stay in print around the world,' Kay says. Among Kay's recent global accomplishments are the recent release of Tigana in Taiwan, for which he wrote a new introduction, and some of his books having been published in Ukrainian in the last 18 months, with two more in the works. He admits to being moved by the fact that not only is the war-torn country still publishing and reading books, but that his are among them. 'In a war zone, in a country afflicted the way it is, especially as I get older, that sort of thing really gets to me,' he says. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Kay recognizes one of the keys to success is recognizing who can help you get your art into the world, acknowledging that doing book tours and interviews in advance of a new work's release is all part of the business of writing. 'All artists need a patron — whether it was the Borgias or Medicis or the pope in the Renaissance, or the Chinese emperor in the Tang Dynasty, or McNally Robinson stocking you at the front of the store, or the Canada Council supporting you if you're a poet, he says. 'Artists have always needed to find a way to appeal to those who can let them make a living, let them make their art.' @bensigurdson Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press's literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben. In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press's editing team before being posted online or published in print. It's part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ottawa Citizen
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Graydon Carter's toques to riches story began with 'instructive failures' in Ottawa
One of the most celebrated magazine editors of his generation, Graydon Carter grew up in Ottawa an unlikely success. Article content Article content His altogether miraculous rise from university dropout — he was a distracted student at both uOttawa and Carleton — to the editor's chair at Vanity Fair during the golden age of magazines is chronicled in his new memoir, 'When The Going Was Good.' Article content Article content Carter, now 75 and the eminence grise of New York City style, spent his formative years in Manor Park, where he was a resentful victim of Ottawa's winter, much burdened by its wools and flannels. Article content Article content The book reveals he was so directionless as a young man that he fell into the federal bureaucracy — and narrowly escaped a career as a public servant. Article content 'I had dreams, but nobody would have ever called me ambitious,' writes Carter. 'It could also be said that my parents, and indeed a good number of my friends, thought that life, in the professional sense, had little in store for me.' Article content Carter's Saskatchewan-born father, Edward, was a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and Second World War veteran who loved nothing more than to fart and to collect wood. He won the heart of Graydon's mother, by among other things, farting loudly in a crowded movie theatre and blaming her for the crime, and he boasted to friends of his ability to bum trumpet the theme song from 'The Bridge On The River Kwai.' Article content Article content Carter remembers being press-ganged to poach firewood from the Greenbelt. His father was 'a bit tight,' Carter reports, and would regularly enlist him and his brother to help troll National Capital Commission forest in search of felled logs. Article content Article content 'Like moonshiners,' he writes, 'we did all this in the near dark, with just the jerky movements of my father's spotlight casting an eerie silent-movie aspect to the agony.' Article content Carter's mother, Margaret Kelk, was considerably more refined. The daughter of a soap executive, she grew up in Toronto's Forest Hill neighbourhood, attended Havergal College, and summered at the family's Muskoka cottage. She was dating the captain of the University of Toronto football team when Edward Carter suddenly blew into her life. Article content They married in September 1946, and welcomed their first son, Graydon, three years later. In the early 1950s, the family moved to Zweibrücken, Germany, where Edward Carter was stationed with the RCAF.
Ottawa Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
10 Saskatoon minor hockey players chosen in 2025 WHL Draft
Article content Their hope is screen time will someday lead to playing time. Article content Indeed, a number of Saskatoon hockey players were glued to their phone or computer screens even more than usual Thursday. Article content In the end, 10 of them were selected in the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. Article content You can count Dilin Coulter-Suttie among those monitoring the draft proceedings. Article content As it turns out, he was the very first player to be plucked out of Saskatoon. Article content Article content 'It's exciting — it was stressful going through them all (draft picks) but, once I heard my name, it was exciting,' said Coulter-Suttie, a 5-foot-9, 130-pound centre from the Saskatoon Bandits under-15 AA squad. Article content Article content Coulter-Suttie got picked by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round, 53rd overall in the Prospects Draft. Article content 'I actually just saw that, that I was the first one picked out of Saskatoon,' said Coulter-Suttie, admitting that it's a 'pretty good feeling.' Article content He wasn't sure which team would select him, but it was a relief once Kamloops did. 'We got a questionnaire (from the Blazers) but that was really it,' he said, adding that he stayed home from school Thursday. 'My school had a half-day so there was really (not much school to miss). Article content 'I was just hoping to be picked by anybody.' Article content Coulter-Suttie amassed 42 goals and 45 assists for 87 points in 29 games this past season with the Bandits. Article content He said the Blazers see him as a 'two-way centre — they expect me to keep working, keep training and keep getting better like I did this year.' Article content Article content Next up was lanky 6-foot-1, 165-pound forward Linden Abercrombie from the Saskatoon Stallions U15 AA team. Article content Abercrombie was selected in the fourth round, 90th overall, by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Article content 'It feels unreal — I feel like I'll fit there pretty good,' said Abercrombie, who had 25 goals and 20 assists for 45 points in 28 games this past season. Article content He was the second Saskatchewan-born player to be selected by the Warriors this year. Article content 'I had no idea. I just saw my name and got super-excited. I stayed home from school, just waited to see my name up there. It was (a big relief to see it).' Article content Abercrombie says he was surprised that other Saskatoon players hadn't been picked yet when he was.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
WHL Draft 2025: Saskatchewan's top hockey talent set to dominate first round
As the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft approaches, all eyes are on Saskatchewan hockey prospects, with Regina's Maddox Schultz expected to go first overall. With multiple high draft picks, Saskatchewan WHL teams like the Pats, Warriors, and Raiders are positioning themselves to secure top-tier talent for the future Regina's Maddox Schultz, top prospect in the 2025 WHL Draft, dominated at the Telus Cup and is expected to go first overall, leading a strong Saskatchewan draft class Regina Pats hold top pick in WHL Prospects Draft 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Maddox Schultz headlines a strong Saskatchewan Draft class Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Other Saskatchewan standouts expected to go early The 2025 WHL Prospects Draft begins Wednesday, May 7 and it's shaping up to be a banner year for Saskatchewan hockey talent . Leading the way is the Regina Pats, who hold the coveted first overall pick for the second time in five years. They last made headlines with the top selection in 2020, drafting future NHL star Connor Pats are loaded with draft capital, also holding the 23rd overall pick and three second-round selections—giving them five picks in the top 50. Other Saskatchewan WHL clubs are poised to strike early, with Prince Albert at 16, Moose Jaw at 18, and Saskatoon at 22. Swift Current, however, will sit out the first round due to a trade with Wenatchee involving Connor read: PWHL Walter Cup playoffs set to begin; when are the high-stakes semifinal matchups At the center of the buzz is Maddox Schultz, the consensus number one pick, hailing from Regina. According to Elite Prospects, Schultz enters the draft as the top-rated player after a dominant showing at the Telus Cup, where he led all categories—goals (9), assists (11), and points (20)—and secured MVP also led the SMAAAHL in scoring with 93 points in 44 games and powered the Regina Pat Canadians to national and league championships. Though he opted out of exceptional status, new WHL rules will allow him to appear in up to 34 games in 2025– selected by Regina, Schultz would be the sixth Saskatchewan-born player to go first overall since 2000, joining names like Brayden Coburn and Derrick isn't the only high-end Saskatchewan WHL draft prospect. Defenseman Ryker Doka, ranked 9th, is a Regina native who impressed with Delta Academy and Notre Dame Hounds, tallying a combined 64 points over two read: Can Canada win gold? Meet the 15 players headed to 2025 IIHF Men's Hockey World Championship Forward Riley Brown from Milestone, Sask., ranks 16th after a 53-point season with Northern Alberta Extreme and a productive stint with Notre out the province's top-tier talent is Kash Elke of Lanigan, Sask., who led the SAAHL U15 with 66 points and saw action with the SMAAAHL's Tisdale Trojans.
Reuters
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Two-time Cup winner, Flyers former captain Ed Van Impe dies
May 1 - Two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Philadelphia Flyers captain Ed Van Impe died on Tuesday night. He was 84. An original member of the Flyers, Van Impe wore the "C" from 1968-69 until ceding the role to rising star Bobby Clarke during the 1972-73 season. The Saskatchewan-born defenseman helped Philadelphia capture back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1973-74 and 1974-75. "Ed was an invaluable leader on the blue line, known for his determined play and hard-hitting style that helped the Broad Street Bullies captivate a city and its fans," the Flyers said in a statement. "He will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Flyers organization. We offer our deepest condolences to his teammates, who had the privilege to play beside him, and his family and friends who were close to him during his difficult time." After arriving from the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1967 expansion draft, Van Impe spent nine seasons with the Flyers before finishing his NHL career with Pittsburgh. Van Impe played a pivotal role when the Flyers hosted the Soviet Union's Red Army team at the Spectrum on Jan. 11, 1976. He delivered a huge hit to Russian star Valeri Kharlamov in the first period, prompting the Soviets to leave the ice in protest. They eventually returned but Philadelphia skated to a 4-1 victory. A three-time All-Star, Van Impe recorded 153 points (27 goals, 126 assists) with 1,024 penalty minutes in 703 games for the Blackhawks (1966-67), Flyers (1967-76) and Penguins (1976). He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1993.
