Dark Lord of Derkholm

I just finished this book and it's wonderful! I love Diana Wynne Jones novels, I started with the Chronicles of Chrestomanci long ago and just got around to this series. The Dark Lord of Derkholm is a fantastic story, it's really funny, too. It starts off with our two heroes, Derk and his son Blade, being introduced; arguing with each other as they will from time to time throughout the book. This is a fun story about a world of people who have been made to turn their country into a theme park for the tourists from another world. These "Pilgrim Parties" come through once a year to be guided through on tours through this magical world. The Pilgrims come from a world not too much unlike our own. But the Pilgrim Parties destroy much of the world on their way through each year. So this year, the rulers of this world decide that they have to put a stop to it... thus Derk is made the "Dark Lord" this year, and the chaos ensues... Overall this is a story about a very interesting and loving family and the trials that they must endure to save their own world... all the while, not really having any idea what they're doing. It's incredibly funny and it's a very touching family story underneath. I loved it!

This creative and original book approaches fantasy as it's never been approached before. Jones slyly inserts quite a few comments about fantasy stories and writers, while still portraying a wonderfully entertaining story.A problem I found with Jones' writing, is that she introduces all of her characters at once, sometimes making a reader have to flip back a couple pages to remember which character is who. Other than the slight confusion of introducing them, Jones' characters are wonderfully developed, each with his or her own distinct quirks.I suppose the ultimate reason I liked this book was because of the originality of the whole plot. A definite read for someone who is focused enough to stay with the plot as it twists and turns.

Immensely enjoyable book, written by the mistress of alt-universe fantasy. (...)Pilgrim Parties (read: Fantasy tourists) are taken through a magical portal to the magical land where they can battle and triumph over the Dark Lord, who is elected periodically. Everyone is sick of the Dark Lord tours, such as kings and magicians, who have to take sides with Good or Evil; however, the tour guide Chesney isn't about to lose any money there. The newest Dark Lord is Derk, a wizard who mainly wants to create bizarre critters. But apparently, like jury duty, you have to be Dark Lord..The problem is, Derk isn't very GOOD at it. He and his odd family manage to rearrange things and make him Dark Lord, but unfortunately being the Force of Evil is not as easy as it looks. Add that to possible stealing from Chesney and you have a bizarre fantasy/fantasy-spoof that is difficult to put down.Jones's spoofing of fantasy started in her delightful "Tough Guide to Fantasyland," and many of the elements involved appear here, as if she has novelized the pseudo-encyclopedia. This fact occasionally makes the book a bit more "drifty" than her Chrestomanci tales, but it's still a darn sight better than most books.And funny indeed this book is (well, where it isn't creepy). The scramble to create the perfect "Dark Lord's stronghold"-type building is hilarious, as is the side-splitting idea of tourists engaging in specialized tours in which they get to be High Fantasy heroes. Derk's kids aren't as well defined as is usual for Ms. Jones, but Derk the Reluctant Dark Lord makes up for that.Her writing style is its usual chipper, brisk style, full of fun descriptions. The blue demon was an especial treat, as were those terrific griffins...A small warning: You may want to have a copy of "Tough Guide" alongside you while reading this book, to get the full effect of it's kookiness. And can't wait to see the sequel, "Year of the Griffin..."

My daughter got this book for her birthday, and I immediately borrowed it. Truly wonderful - a very funny and affectionate send-up of D & D. But my daughter had a hard time getting into the story. Probable cause: after a rousing start there's a fair amount of set-up time for the complicated plot, and lots of characters to keep track of. For Christmas, the same friends gave my daughter "Year of the Griffin." This time it was love at first sight. "Year of the Griffin" begins with a group of new students arriving at school, so the introduction of the characters is very simple and straightforward. After finishing "Griffin," my daughter returned to "Dark Lord" and read it straight through. While that's the wrong order chronologically, it might be the right order for some readers. (I know this book has nothing to do with ballet. But it's only natural for ballerinas to enjoy fantasy, right?)

Thank-God. I have been waiting for so long for a new Diana Wynne Jones book to come out. She is by far the best young adult-fantasy author there is out there. I have read about half of her books and I know that the others will be great(If only I could find where to buy them!) This book was no exception. I felt as though I was right along side Derk and Blade in their adventure. I was absorbed right into the pages of the book. I felt Derk's sorrow at all the losses he encountered, and I could feel the magic coming right out of the book and onto my skin. I could not put it down at all. Have fun reading it!!!!