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Tain #1
Tain
A dramatic retelling of the ancient Irish epic recounts the rivalry between King Ailell of Connacht and his beautiful, insatiable Queen, the tragic saga of Conchover and his obsession for Derdriu of the Sorrows, and the exploits of Cu Chulainn, legendarychampion of Ireland
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1986
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About the author
Gregory Frost
87 books105 followersGregory Frost is an American author of fantasy, science fiction and thrillers. He taught fiction writing at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania for eighteen years. A graduate of the iconic Clarion Workshop, he has taught at Clarion four times, including the first session following its move to the University of California at San Diego in 2007. He has also been an instructor for the Odyssey and Alpha Workshops.
Frost has been a finalist for every major fantasy, sf, and horror fiction award. His novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the James Tiptree Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Hugo Award.
His latest novel is RHYMER, the first in the Rhymer series from Baen Books. His previous work, SHADOWBRIDGE, was voted one of the best fantasy novels of 2009 by the American Library Association, it was also a finalist for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.
The historical thriller FITCHER'S BRIDES, was a Best Novel finalist for both the World Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for Best Novel.
Publishers Weekly called his Golden Gryphon short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES, “one of the best of the year.” It has now been reprinted in slightly altered form as THE GIRLFRIENDS OF DORIAN GRAY & OTHER STORIES, available through Book View Cafe.
Current short fiction includes "A Hard Day's Night at the Opera" in the Beatles-themed anthology ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, edited by Michael Ventrella and Randee Dawn, and "Episode in Liminal State Technical Support, or Mr. Grant in the Bardo" in THREE TIME TRAVELERS WALK INTO... edited by Michael A. Ventrella; "Traveling On" in the Sept/Oct. 2020 ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION magazine, and "Ellende" in WEIRD TALES #364.
He spent time (did time?) as a researcher for non-fiction television shows on werewolves and the "Curse of the Pharaohs," and acted in a couple of frightening (not necessarily in the sense of scary) indie horror movies.
Gregory Frost is a founding partner, with author Jonathan Maberry, of The Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of professional authors and screenwriters, and one of the interviewers for The Liars Club Oddcast , a podcast interviewing novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, illustrators, and more.
Frost has been a finalist for every major fantasy, sf, and horror fiction award. His novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the James Tiptree Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Hugo Award.
His latest novel is RHYMER, the first in the Rhymer series from Baen Books. His previous work, SHADOWBRIDGE, was voted one of the best fantasy novels of 2009 by the American Library Association, it was also a finalist for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.
The historical thriller FITCHER'S BRIDES, was a Best Novel finalist for both the World Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for Best Novel.
Publishers Weekly called his Golden Gryphon short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES, “one of the best of the year.” It has now been reprinted in slightly altered form as THE GIRLFRIENDS OF DORIAN GRAY & OTHER STORIES, available through Book View Cafe.
Current short fiction includes "A Hard Day's Night at the Opera" in the Beatles-themed anthology ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, edited by Michael Ventrella and Randee Dawn, and "Episode in Liminal State Technical Support, or Mr. Grant in the Bardo" in THREE TIME TRAVELERS WALK INTO... edited by Michael A. Ventrella; "Traveling On" in the Sept/Oct. 2020 ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION magazine, and "Ellende" in WEIRD TALES #364.
He spent time (did time?) as a researcher for non-fiction television shows on werewolves and the "Curse of the Pharaohs," and acted in a couple of frightening (not necessarily in the sense of scary) indie horror movies.
Gregory Frost is a founding partner, with author Jonathan Maberry, of The Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of professional authors and screenwriters, and one of the interviewers for The Liars Club Oddcast , a podcast interviewing novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, illustrators, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 16, 2011
This adaptation isn't bad but really you'd be better off reading the original myth cycle. Just skim the boring bits with all the lists.
March 31, 2017
Gregory Frost does a wonderful job of making a cohesive novel of what seemed to be very disjointed myths in their original tellings - even more impressive is making use of an interacting frame story (where a smart-assed ghost warrior brings back an underappreciated Irish youth from later Christian times to view the proceedings of his cultural past) that does not impede the story at all.
Frost sticks to the actions and motivations of the original tract, but he colors the proceedings with ambiguity, as the ethical decisions made by the protagonists are not always admirable, even if they're backed by the mores of Ancient Ireland - heroic honor contrasted by abusive slavery, headhunting of fallen opponents, egotistic competition better suited for the sports field instead culminating in feuds and mass death with mythological figures killing each other over petty squabbles that greatly reduce those figures' legacies.
Cu Chulainn, the central hero, comes across as a gleeful psychopath who kills too easily despite his godlike abilities making it mostly unnecessary - once even killing a small dog to get back at its owner. Indeed, of everyone, only Fergus mac Roich comes across as a classic hero figure.
Frost sticks to the actions and motivations of the original tract, but he colors the proceedings with ambiguity, as the ethical decisions made by the protagonists are not always admirable, even if they're backed by the mores of Ancient Ireland - heroic honor contrasted by abusive slavery, headhunting of fallen opponents, egotistic competition better suited for the sports field instead culminating in feuds and mass death with mythological figures killing each other over petty squabbles that greatly reduce those figures' legacies.
Cu Chulainn, the central hero, comes across as a gleeful psychopath who kills too easily despite his godlike abilities making it mostly unnecessary - once even killing a small dog to get back at its owner. Indeed, of everyone, only Fergus mac Roich comes across as a classic hero figure.
November 30, 2011
I enjoyed this book, and as I stated in my review of Frost's Remscela, these two books are some of the better retellings of the Irish myths of Cu Chullain. The Remscela is, in my opinion, better than Tain however. The Tain is rather dry at times and is missing the ability to completely draw the reader in like Remscela does. However, this book is still an excellent read and I would recommend it for anyone who loves Celtic mythology.
March 24, 2020
Great read
This grabbed my interest and held it. I became totally immersed in the story. Very moving I highly recommend it.
This grabbed my interest and held it. I became totally immersed in the story. Very moving I highly recommend it.
February 17, 2008
I didn't like this book very much. I think it's mostly due to the fact that I don't like to mix fantasy and epics. If I want to read an ancient epic, I will not tolerate any modernization of any sort. That's what killed this book for me.
May 26, 2008
The first thing I read that has Irish mythic roots. Enjoyed it very much and still remember the stories of Cu Chulainn.
March 18, 2009
An uninspired retelling.
March 20, 2011
I read this long ago, and was reminded of it recently when I saw a cover quote by Mr. Frost on another fantasy novel. Fun read. I enjoy the mysticism.
June 19, 2014
I thought it was actually a pretty good spin on the original. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews