In The Spark, David Drake Finds New Magic in Old Legends

All Roads Lead to Rome … or Dun Add
The Spark is essentially a hero’s journey, set in a universe that might be our own, millions of years in the future. There once existed an advanced technological civilization that brought order to the universe using semi-sentient gadgets and machines—but it cracked and crumbled a long time ago. Now, the “ancients” are only known through the remnants of their technology. Humanity survives in a series of small enclaves surrounded by the Waste, and by “Not Here,” a parallel dimension populated by monsters that occasionally cross over and wreak havoc. The borders of Not Here have been pushed back somewhat by the efforts of isolated humans, creating a division between order and chaos; humanity imposes order on the universe in small settlements, and chaos rages everywhere else. As the story opens, a new leader, Jon, has emerged in Dun Add, the de facto human capital. Jon has organized a regular fighting force as well as an elite group, the Champions: fighters skilled with advanced weapons and committed to protecting humanity and bringing back the “spark” of order to the universe.
The Makers
Pal is a young man from a backwater settlement called Beune; he travels to Dun Add with the intention of training as a Champion. Pal is a wonderful character. He brings a small-town sensibility with him to the city, a polite commitment to doing the right thing. He is, in other words, some who seeks to brings order with him wherever he goes. He’s also something of a Maker; he can sense, communicate with, repair, and repurpose ancient technologies. The derelict machines are great plot devices—and with them, Drake has crafted a technology-cum-magic system that feels truly unique. Makers can access the old machines telepathically, and then offer menu choices, much like our own gadgets. They can be repaired and even reengineered by the addition or replenishment of elements—for example, an ancient “boat” that traverses the Waste can be kept going by the continuous addition of sodium, and brought back to full capacity with the use of a laundry list of other elements. The melding of magic and tech works like something akin to alchemy, a system based on the idea that the right combination of elements, in the right order, can produce any effect. Drake’s Makers are simultaneously scientists and magicians, which is a truly wonderful idea.

That Hero’s Journey
Pal isn’t perfect, but his decency and goodness define him nonetheless, so you might expect that his path to becoming a Champion would be fraught with peril but otherwise proceed smoothly. But no: arriving in Dun Add with homemade weapons and armor fashioned from a rock drill and an umbrella, Pal finds himself outclassed, the larger and crueler than he’s prepared for. His journey through the novel is twisty and surprising; he soon winds up back home, his brief time in the city ended with a savage defeat in a pair of duels that convince him his ambitions to be a Champion are futile. But he also makes a friend of Guntram, an experienced Maker who sees in Pal more than decency—he sees potential. Guntram follows Pal back home to help the young man train as a fighter and as a Maker, and his true hero’s journey begins.
Drake loads the narrative with exciting set pieces that also serve to flesh out a richly-detailed universe, and how Pal ultimately comes to faces down the danger that is threatening humanity is far from paint-by-numbers fantasy storytelling. Effectively blending science fiction and fantasy is difficult—but Drake makes it look easy, leveraging the old adage about sufficiently advanced technology into a world that bursts with possibility. While it’s officially listed as a standalone, both long-time Drake fans and newcomers to this world will be wishing for a sequel, just to learn a bit more about the world of The Spark.
The Spark is available now.