Darkness Of The Light [NOOK Book]

really, really good

At first, I thought that the book was too 'busy' too many things, and species, going on. Once I got used to that, I became caught up in the story. I can't wait for the next book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

fascinating apocalyptic thriller

The twelve races make up the Banished and they are exiled from their homelands the Elserealms. They defeated the humans during the Third Wave confrontation. The Morts as mankind is disdainfully called were eradicated to the point of extinction. The Overseer and his troops The Travelers insure the Banished never return to Elserealms. With the Morts vanquished, the Banished alliance is shattered as each species fights one another for ultimate supremacy and within a species for control. Betrayal, treason, and strange bedfellows are the norm as today¿s ally is tonight¿s enemy. In this environs, Jepp the human joins Bottom Feeders stealing anything from the battlefield dead to sell on the thriving black markets. They seek the human weapon of mass destruction, the Orb of Trinity that will give the owner quite an edge in the power struggles. However, soon the ¿rulers¿ of this ravaged orb, of each of the Banished species, and the few surviving humans take interest in this seemingly inconsequential female, but even she has no earthly idea why. --- This is a fascinating apocalyptic thriller in which racism plays a major role as each species thinks they are the superior master race that should dominate the other species. Interestingly as a sad reflection of our world, it is this bigotry that makes the Peter David universe seem genuine as each of the species need to subjugate the lesser races, which is everyone else. There is no prime story line as a myriad of subplots follow many of the species as they make bids to rule the world in Peter David¿s DARKNESS OF THE LIGHT spellbinding fantasy. --- Harriet Klausner

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

beginning of a good story

for you sci-fi fans this is an intriguing book. The list of characters is many and you have to take the time to remember then. The action is good and the place settings are unusual. a good read. It is nice to know there is a sequel

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Edit (March 2012): Now that this novel is available as an ebook

Edit (March 2012): Now that this novel is available as an ebook for a mere $3 and the second novel in the series is available and even better than the first, there is no doubt that anyone who enjoys sci-fi, fantasy, fast-paced plot, or interesting and believable characters should pick this one up right away. This series will reward you for the time you put into it.

Let's start with the GOOD:

First, the characters are excellent. Mr. David understands choices and consequences are what makes a story happen. If you've liked any of his other books (Star Trek, Knight Life, etc.) for their characters, you will grow to like this one. There's an excellent variety of personalities (as always).

Second, the "Damned World" is very interesting. I felt like I'd read the first 30 pages of this book a hundred times before: various conflicted sci-fi/fantasy races with "dumb" names, the aftermath of a climactic battle and the confused survivors, seemingly pointless political intrigue... etc, etc. I could scarcely believe it was a Peter David book... until the plot really got going. Then the "dumb" names suddenly seemed quite clever, the confused survivors learned some really cool things, and the political intrigue was rooted in characters and situations I cared about. The basic idea behind this book (and series) rivals the coolness of the basic idea behind Bill Willingham's FABLES series, if that tells you anything.

Third, the dialog is sharp and the observations sharper. Very few of the debates between the characters are obviously or pathetically one-sided. While the book's theme comes down decisively on one side of most arguments, the opposite side gets some good shots in. This book excels at calling characters on their BS lines of argument. (Add in a couple of laugh-out-loud hilarious moments, and this novel is just bitingly clever.)

Finally, the last hundred pages are must-read stuff. While I didn't like the first hundred, the tension ramped and ramped until I could not put it down. There are at least two "didn't see them coming" plot twists and a couple of high-concept revelations that make this novel very interesting to this sci-fi and fantasy fan. Mr. David just keeps tightening the screws, and by the end, this book is seriously moving and interesting.

Now, let's have the BAD: I actively disliked the beginning of this novel. There, I've said it. Mr. David is one of my two favorite authors, so it worried me that I felt the first 100 pages FELT so cliched and clunkily written. It turns out that it's NOT cliched once the book gets going, but the writing in the first hundred pages is weak, especially for such an accomplished author. Luckily, the book gets better, and the last 100 pages is break-neck, can't-put-it-down reading.

It is worth noting that this is the first book in a longer series. If this were part of a DVD set, this book would maybe be the first disc. I felt about this story the same way I did about FIREFLY (by Joss Whedon) when I first watched it: indifference and a little boredom at first, then passing interest in a couple concepts or characters, then real excitement and concern for the characters and their fates.

If you've ever liked a Peter David series like STAR TREK: NEW FRONTIER, INCREDIBLE HULK, SUPERGIRL (1996), or FALLEN ANGEL, you will enjoy this book. If you haven't liked any of those, give this book (or one of those) a try; you won't be sorry.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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