 1985 omnibus of the first three books | |
| |
| Author | Robin Hobb as Megan Lindholm |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Kinuko Y. Craft, Richard Hescox |
| Country | United States, United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Ace Books, Corgi Books |
| Published | 1983–1989 |
The Windsingers is the debut fantasy series of American author Robin Hobb under her pen name Megan Lindholm, published between 1983 and 1989. It follows a woman named Ki as she recovers from the death of her family and forms a companionship with a man called Vandien. Over the course of four books, the duo face fictional creatures including harpies, who can grant visions of the dead, and Windsingers, beings who can control the weather through music. The characters Ki and Vandien first appeared in a short story in Amazons!, an anthology focused on female heroes in fantasy. The anthology won a World Fantasy Award in 1980, and Lindholm's story drew the interest of an editor at Ace Books, leading to the development of the series.
Critics regard Ki and Vandien as a man and woman portrayed as equals, in both the series and the preceding short story.[1][2] Through their companionship, Ki comes to terms with her grief at the loss of her family. Lindholm's characterization of Ki and Vandien received praise, as did as her worldbuilding. A 1996 reference work said the protagonists had a warm and human dynamic that made the story "come alive".[1] While some reviewers found the Windsingers a promising debut, others described it as a conventional fantasy that lacked the creativity of Lindholm's later writings. Sales of the first book made it a midlist title, according to Lindholm, and it did not earn back its author's advance.