The Time of the Dark (The Darwath Trilogy, Book 1)

The Time of the Dark (1982) is the first fantasy novel of the Darwath trilogy. It is set within an alternate timeline where the Dark live underground and come out every few millennia to destroy the current civilization. Unlike our timeline, magic is readily available to those with the proper talents and wizards are rare, yet highly visible. In this novel, Gil Patterson is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Medieval History at UCLA. She is separated from her family by the strength of her purpose, but is determined to get her doctorate. Yet she has bad dreams. Ingold Inglorion is a wizard, specialist on the Void and the Dark. He had warned the King that the Dark was returning and was banished from the kingdom for his message. When Eldor became King, Ingold was welcomed back and preparations were made for the return of the mostly immaterial predators known as the Dark. Altir Endorion is the last Prince of the House of Dare. He is barely six months old. Hopefully he will have more memories of his ancestors than does his father Eldor. Maybe such memories will include those from the early days of the last Dark uprising. His subjects need such information to defeat the menace. Rudy Solis is a mechanic and an artist of detailing, adding sunsets to vans and flames to motorcycles. He is also a motorcyclist, but does not belong to any gang. He is returning from a beer run when he meets Ingold and Gil. In this story, Gil dreams of Darwath during a riot of panicked citizens being hunted by the Dark. Then she is no longer dreaming, but really there in Gae, the capital of the realm. Ingold notices her and tells her to return to her dream. Then she wakes up back in her apartment. These bad dreams would be less troublesome if they didn't seem so real. Then she has another dream where she is fleeing from living shadows and she wakes with bleeding feet. Finally, she wakes in the wee hours of the morning and finds Ingold sitting at her kitchen table. Rudy nurses a sick Chevy to a cabin in the desert hills for shelter from the cold. The car finally dies a hundred yards from the cabin. He breaks a window to get in and settles down for the night. He will check out the engine in the morning. Next day, the Chevy is found to need a new fuel pump. As he is walking in disgust toward the cabin, a haze like hot air forms in front of him, then an old man steps out with a sword in one hand and a baby in the other. Rudy reckons that he is having a delirium from all the muscatel and beer. Ingold introduces himself and Altir to Rudy. After some conversation -- during which Rudy figures either he or Ingold is crazy -- Gil arrives with supplies, including diapers for Altir. Rudy is not impressed by Gil at first, for she seems to be a rather cold-blooded woman. But he gradually develops respect for her knowledge, ability and will. That night, they are attacked by a Dark that had followed Ingold across the Void. They use fire and Ingold's sword to defend t

This series definately dragged me deep into it's pages. I continually felt as though I were right along beside Ingold Inglorion and the others. The style Hambly used gripped me enough to now own three sets of the series. I've read some books in which worlds were perhaps described more in depth, but I've never felt so attached to the characters as I was the first time, and every time since I've read their story. It may not be to everyone's tastes, but I definately reccomend giving at least the first book a try.

A wizard from another world seeking sanctuary for an infant prince is aided by a biker and a female history grad student who leave their boring lives on Earth to join his war against the horrible force known only as The Dark. They become a warrior and a wizard, just as you'd suppose, except that the girl becomes a warrior and the biker a wizard's apprentice, and that's because nothing is ever predictable in a Hambly book. Darwath is a well-thought-out world with a severe problem; namely the hordes of Dark creatures coming from under the ground. What are they, and why did they kill all the wizards they could find? Can Ingold Inglorion find the answer before the Dark comes for him? Well, there are two more books so you can probably guess...

This book is the first in the Darwath trilogy. It is extremely gripping and a very fast paced story. I could not put it down! I read the Walls of Air immediately after finishing The Time of the Dark and am awaiting delivery of Armies of Daylight. A definate must for alternate universe fans!

...and save yourself a trip back to the store. I just finished reading the trilogy again, and truly enjoyed it. Her characters are very nicely drawn; you won't mind the reverse-cliched strong-willed taciturn woman and weak, can't find himself guy. And if you like wizards - yow. Hambly's got one for you. The entire setting of the story is eerily realistic; she gets it just right. And, best of all, you've waited long enough for her to write two more novels from this universe!