As Merriman finishes explaining, the hall is attacked by the forces of the Dark. There was conflict that was easily resolved by the clouds of glitter. Susan Cooper. Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2014. [18], Series of fantasy novels for children by Susan Cooper, Will Stanton's eleventh birthday is momentous in the book. Time switches too, although handled skilfully enough, are not always easy to swallow. His eleventh birthday[b] marks the beginning of his magical awakening and rise to power as the last of the Old Ones. Thereafter I would follow them in sequence. Frances Conroy and Christopher Eccleston (as The Rider)[1] also star. Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020. Award-winning. His fingers closed round the iron circle in his pocket and held it tightly. It was inaugurated in 1965 with the U.K. publication of Over Sea, Under Stone by Jonathan Cape. The Dark is Rising is a 1973 contemporary fantasy novel for young adult readers by English author Susan Cooper, and the second book in The Dark is Rising Sequence. It is suggested that he might be the legendary Saxon smith, Weyland, the Saxon equivalent of the legendary elf smith Volund. Artist, illustrator, and teacher Alan E. Cober (18 May 1935 - 17 January 1998) studied at the University of Vermont, the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, and the Pratt Graphics Center. Brilliant Sequel, Much better than the film, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2020. In this second book, Will Stanton begins to have strange experiences on his 11th[b] birthday, just before Christmas. The sequence is a remarkable achievement, and Cooper's gifts for description and characterization provide additional pleasure to novels already replete with intellectual enjoyment. I’ve read it start-to-finish well over a dozen times over the years. On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift -- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. He soon learns he is one of the Old Ones, a guardian and warrior for the Light. I'll leave it to you to decide which are which. I would strongly recommend buying these sequence of books for young kids who enjoy reading, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2020. The Great Lords of the Dark have many similar characteristics and abilities but are not Old Ones. Margot Adler (27 September 2007). The Sleepers: Ancient knights who served during the time of King Arthur. The sounds of howling dogs and of his mother's voice draw Will to a door that appears in the wall; the Dark are attempting to draw Will out. Will Stanton hypothesized that the monochromatic 'colour' of the White Rider's robes, like those of the Black Rider, reflected the extremism of their evil—either darkened by their ignorance, or blinded by the brightness of their ideas. [8] In 2012 it was ranked number 22 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. Wild Magic: The magic of nature, first used in The Dark Is Rising to provide strength to the forces of the Light in the book's final battle. In The Grey King, Will goes to Wales to recover from sickness, where he meets Bran and awakens the Sleepers. In The Dark Is Rising his appearance in Will Stanton's town precipitates Will's "awakening" and rise to power. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight. First book was very good, this one is ok. I'm so pleased I encountered these books as a kid as they shaped my further reading interests even into adulthood and they have even shaped the style of movies I go for. The novel The Dark Is Rising features Will Stanton, age 11,[b] who learns on that birthday that he is an "Old One" and thus destined to wield the powers of The Light in the ancient struggle with The Dark. She is an especial friend and mentor to Will and Jane. I first came across The Dark is Rising when I listened to the radio adaptation 20 years ago. There is wonder in these pages, and magic and mystery all set in the backdrop of English countryside. Please try again. Old Ones can summon these doors to appear at will to transport themselves through time and space. [6] The Lady, like King Arthur, is affiliated with The Light and the High Magic. Filming began in February 2007 in Bucharest, Romania. Perhaps a long car trip is in the offing? The film was released on 5 October 2007, in the United States and the U.K. The characters in THE DARK IS RISING are more fully developed than those in the first book in the series, and many readers skip the first book entirely. The Welsh setting in The Grey King and Silver on the Tree is the area around Aberdyfi, the village where Cooper's grandmother was born and where her parents lived. He and Will Stanton have a special bond as each of them is one end of the long line of Old Ones. second in the fantasy series for middle readers, Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2002. The Dark Is Rising, perhaps the best single book of the series, certainly rivals and sometimes surpasses the work of the major fantasy writers--with whose work it is frequently compared. Will is the Watchman, who will watch out for any attempts of the dark to return. If you loved the first novel then you will definitely be interested in what the sequel has to offer. Throughout the series Merriman is portrayed in numerous historical periods, but particularly as King Arthur's chief adviser, the mythical Merlin, as Arthur calls him "Mer Lion", old English for "my lion", in Silver on the Tree. Her many books have won the Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, … The Dark is Rising was one American Library Association Newbery Honor Book in 1974. In Greenwitch, we learn that the Wild Magic is equal in strength to both the Dark and the Light, but that it stands apart and is unaffected by either. The Seeker was a joint venture between 20th Century Fox and Walden Media. Stream songs including "The Dark Is Rising", "Nightime" and more. He presents Will with his second sign. The writer captures the smell of the countryside... Miss Cooper shows how fine her observation is and her ability to convey its tingling reality. Rather than succumbing to artistic flaw, Cooper goes beyond the conventional expectations of her readers by inviting them to glimpse the complex, the unexplainable, and often the threatening aspects of mankind's nature. Like many people leaving reviews I also read this as a child and as a consequence of buying this for my neice I went back and re-read my own copies of Over Sea, Under Stone and The Dark is Rising. In the U.S. it was a Newbery Honor Book (runner up for the medal). Small rhyming prophecies serve to guide the protagonists throughout the series. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. I'll skip any summary of this book or of the series; dozens of reviewers have done that quite well. He is given one name by the humans in the story: Mitothin (a name connected with the jötunn Loki, who helps bring about Ragnarok). Susan Cooper has a wonderful sophisticated way with words that weaves image and feeling together while still being able to appeal to both the adult and child in me. Artwork by Alan E. Cober for the 1st UK edition of The Dark is Rising. A thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring book full of rich language and the poetry of nature, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2018. I love this series, and have for years. The second in The Dark Is Rising Sequence, the book won a Newbery Honor. This entire series has been a dearly-loved favorite for the last thirty years. Will is the only Old One to remain on Earth afterward, and the only one of the Light's allies who remembers the struggle against the Dark; in this, he is referred to as "the watchman", staying behind to keep watch for any attempt by the Dark to return. That's an awful lot for an 11-year old to take on! He meets others who will help him, in particular Merriman, a gruff but kindly mentor figure. Outside the window, their father’s battered little van … In Greenwitch, he is invited to come to Cornwall by Merriman in order to help recover the Grail and cypher that reveals how to read the runes on the Grail. Greenwitch is the story of the recovery of the stolen Grail. Jane is an interesting figure because at first she appears to be a rather flat character who reacts according to convention. I expected "The Dark is Rising" to be much more interesting and captivating than it was, because the author, Susan Cooper. The Walker: A human who betrayed the Light and was cursed to carry the Sign of Bronze, one of six Things of Power that repel the Dark, through the centuries until the last Old One claimed it from him. Soon Will learns why these things are happening. Adult/child power relations are both replicated and reinforced by two other sets of opposed terms: British/non-British and supernatural/mundane, and all of these terms are finally subsumed in Cooper's Manichaean binary, Light/Dark, leading to a closed symbolic economy which exalts personal obedience to authority and views Anglo-Saxons and their ideologies—as they were for the Venerable Bede in A.D. 771—as clearly on the side of the angels. The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Book 2), Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020. I have previously read all of the books in the "Dark is Rising" Sequence, and recently decided to buy the audio books for my youngest son, who is 12. She wishes that the Greenwitch could be happy, and that wish has important consequences later when it turns out that the Greenwitch possesses something that will unlock the secrets of the Grail. In the first novel, Over Sea, Under Stone, they search for the legendary Grail of King Arthur. John Wayland Smith: Another Old One who lives near Will Stanton; he is also a skilled smith. Her many books have won the Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and been shortlisted five times for the Carnegie Medal. They are found in all parts of the world and are of many races and cultures. Epic. Now seems a perfect time to revisit a well researched and written series. This (the second in the series) is my favourite and can be read without reading the first one beforehand. With the Dark once again rising, the future of the world rests in Will's hands. Simon, Jane, and Barnabas (Barney) Drew: The main characters of the first novel, the Drew siblings, are human children who have known Merriman Lyon as their "Great Uncle Merry" for years. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Based on a 2007 online poll, the U.S. National Education Association listed it as one of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children". -- "Psychology Today", Susan Cooper is one of our foremost children’s authors; her classic five-book fantasy sequence The Dark Is Rising has sold millions of copies worldwide. Very fast pace. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. It is blasted out of existence by Merriman after Will has read it. This powerful book is further protected in that it is written in the Old Speech, which only an Old One can read and understand. A thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring book - I would have loved to read it out loud to my son I’d discovered at the right time. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. This is a brilliant sequel and really sets the scene for the rest of the series, the characters tie in well with the first and I read it within a week. Not that The Dark Is Rising is anything like Harry Potter - not at all. In, This page was last edited on 6 January 2021, at 20:23. A boy's life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark. It creates an atmosphere of menace, with references to ancient rituals, beliefs and chants, while set in a 20th century farmhouse. Cooper deals with the innate antagonism between mortals and immortals impressively, and in The Grey King reaches great heights as she mingles the worlds and peoples of legend and the present day. But the book is great for kids and those of us that read it as a kid. The Dark Is Rising Sequence! I was both excited and in turn extremely disappointed by the film of the book and it is to be avoided at all costs. The Dark Is Rising is a series of five contemporary fantasy novels for older children and young adults that was written by the British author Susan Cooper and published 1965 to 1977. The Black Rider: One of the great Lords of the Dark, comparable to Merriman in power and influence. The language is entrancing, sometimes it benefits from chanting out loud. Fascinated with Celtic myths and history. It raises many questions and suggests parallels to events in current history. The Dark Is Rising is a series of five contemporary fantasy novels for older children and young adults that was written by the British author Susan Cooper and published 1965 to 1977. The Dark Is Rising is set in the part of Buckinghamshire where Cooper grew up: Huntercombe is based on the small village of Dorney, and the Great Hall is Dorney Court. Nearly all the locations mentioned in the books are based on real places. The first of these Things of Power is the Circle of Six Signs. Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2019. Released: 2007-10-05 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family, Thriller Casts: Alexander Ludwig, Ian McShane, Christopher Eccleston, Gregory Smith, Jonathan Jackson [17] The film portrays, and one of its trailers featured, Will as an adolescent teased for and preoccupied with his shyness and inexperience with girls. Audio Book of "The Dark Is Rising" is Exciting, Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2010. While on holiday in Cornwall, they get caught up in the battle between the Light and the Dark and join the search for the Things of Power. Will Stanton begins to do this without even realizing it. It's thickly steeped in Celtic and Arthurian legend, is relentless in its exploration of a myriad of layers of history and time, and simply reeks of magic. It really captured my imagination, so I went out and purchased all five books in the series. Traveling back and forth through time, Will discovers a series of clues which lead him into a showdown with forces of unimaginable power. In, Barnabas (Barney) Drew: Barney is the youngest of the Drews. It is preceded by Over Sea, Under Stone and followed by Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. He is about to be indoctrinated into his rightful position as the last of the Old Ones -- an ancient race that has been protecting the world from the conquest of evil. Bran is an albino, meaning he has very pale skin and white hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes, but his eyes are an unusual tawny colour. The boy at the centre of the story has the usual unassuming manner of the unexpected hero, old soul on young shoulders in a busy family. Susan Cooper is one of our foremost children’s authors; her classic five-book fantasy sequence The Dark Is Rising has sold millions of copies worldwide. A wonderful coming of age story set at Christmas time in an age before computers and mobile phones. After the Light wins the battle, Bran is offered a chance to rejoin his father, but chooses to give up his immortality to stay with his friends and his mortal adoptive father. Will struggles with his new identity, and readers see him mature: "Will was instantly a furious Old One, so furious that he did not pause to think what he should do." Cooper named Will after William Shakespeare.[5]. Perhaps, now that the Dark has been put finally to flight, she will pursue this aspect of her art."[11]. When an Old One speaks the Old Speech in front of a normal human, it will sound like gibberish. "[13], Joel Chaston writes, "Among Cooper's books for children, the Dark Is Rising series is her masterwork. For example, to differentiate him from Harry Potter, the film version of Will Stanton is a 13- to 14-year-old[b] American living in Britain. There was a problem loading your book clubs. About the Author Susan Cooper is one of our foremost children’s authors; her classic five-book fantasy sequence The Dark Is Rising has sold millions of copies worldwide. The Dark is Rising is a 1973 children's fantasy novel by Susan Cooper. Susan Cooper's vocabulary is athletic; the complications are dense. Farmer Dawson: An Old One who lives near Will Stanton and presents him with his first Sign. Something went wrong. As the book opens, Will is excited about his approaching eleventh birthday, but he is also alarmed by strange goings on in the neighborhood -- the birds are acting strangely and none of the family's animals will approach him. In this book, Will is sent to Wales to recuperate after an illness. The Doors: A set of carved oak doors that lead through Time. Some agents of the Dark, such as the Rider, can also speak Old Speech, but with a distinctive accent which gives them away to the Old Ones. Susan Cooper is a British author of children’s and young adult fantasy, best known for her pioneering The Dark is Rising Sequence. The Greenwitch, a figure created by village women, comes into possession of a great secret coveted by the powers of Light and Dark. Ironically it is Jane who is successful, not through dramatic means, but rather through communicating her compassion for the Greenwitch."[10]. got such high marks; for example, her books being compared to such classics as Watership Down and her even being advertised on the back of a copy of Watership Down. Jane Drew witnesses the creation of a ritualistic offering known as the 'Greenwitch', and senses both great power and great sadness in it. The shadowy aspect of the conflict and the inability to 'read' clearly the motivations of some of the characters are areas in which Cooper has been criticized. Reading The Dark Is Rising series, especially the namesake novel, is somehow soothing, summoning up memories of time when unambiguously evil people didn’t receive glowing profile stories. ...description and adjectives about abstract magical action that seemed to be descriptive but ended up feeling like I didn't know what the hell was going on half the time and left me unable to connect deeply with the plot. For example, she considers it crucial that Will is only 11 because that is before puberty. "[12], Karen Patricia Smith wrote, "Susan Cooper has come to be recognized as a major author of books for children and young adults. "[5], Amelia A. Rutledge says that the series "integrates the traditional lore of the British Isles with modern concerns. This album is a soundtrack to the book The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Unable to add item to List. Over Sea, Under Stone and Greenwitch are set in Trewissick, which is based on a village in southern Cornwall called Mevagissey which Susan Cooper used to visit as a child. High Magic: The most powerful magic, being of the Cosmos. At one point in The Dark Is Rising, Will Stanton makes a critical mistake during a battle with the Dark and is saved by the Lady. Whereas I don't mind abridged adult thrillers, since they are usually not that well written in any event, and you listen to them for the plot while on a long trip. Within the past two years, I introduced these books to my wife, who seethed wit Her first work for children, Over Sea, Under Stone came as a response to a contest designed to honor the memory of E. Nesbit. Truly a masterful series! They are obtained in The Dark Is Rising, Over Sea, Under Stone, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree, respectively. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. The concluding Silver on the Tree (1977) also won the annual Tir na n-Og Award.[4]. I was far too young to leave review when I first read these books and Amazon didn't exist then anyway. First, it is the figurative title referring to status as a leader, of several traditional Kings of the Britons, notably King Arthur. At a later high ceremony of Old Ones, the Lady is missing and Merriman tells Will that her depleted power prevents her arrival, and she is beyond their magic to rescue but will return. The Dark is Rising is the second in Susan Cooper's acclaimed series of children's fantasy novels, The Dark is Rising Sequence. The fantastic style is virile and, for all its paraphernalia, spare. [3] Its 2007 film adaptation, titled The Seeker in America and The Dark Is Rising in Britain, made significant plot and character divergences from the book. The story (which continues) had TOO much magic. I love this series and would recommend them to anyone who is interested in good fantasy that is easy reading. Series list: The Dark Is Rising Sequence (5 Books) by Susan Cooper. "Author Uncertain About 'Dark' Leap to Big Screen". It is also his son in this series, Bran Davies, who is predestined to wield the Crystal Sword of Light that is vital to the final conflict with the Dark. Bestselling. In Silver on the Tree, Bran and Will travel to the Lost Land and recover the sword Eirias. Here he meets Bran, the Pendragon, son of King Arthur, and befriends him. Gentle, wise and enigmatic, she is a pivotal figure throughout the series, appearing usually at important moments to turn the tide in the Light's favor. Pendragon: This is a reference to two characters. In Silver on the Tree, Will travels with Bran to the Lost Land to recover the crystal sword Eirias, and helps to vanquish the Dark. There are differences in quality in the novels--Greenwitch...is perhaps the weakest, and The Dark Is Rising and The Grey King the strongest; Silver on the Tree, while suitably life-affirming in its conclusion, is slightly preachy, but that is a natural hazard of the subject matter. Will is a positive character who loves his family, accepts responsibility, and learns from his mistakes.