Customer Reviews

The Drawing of the Dark

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's an unheralded classic, returned to print after a decade on the shelf, which is simply one of the more marvelous fantasies out there. I was simply spellbound by this book.

A brief description of this novel tends to emphasize what's not important about this novel. There are several important things here that make this a delight.

First, simply, are the characters. Brightly drawn and lovable, be they knaves or heroes. The texture and dialog do not (as many fantasy novels do) evoke modern Americans, even though there is no dialect used.

Second is the feel for medieval Europe, history, and realism (in what is a rather fanciful novel). Although this novel features such things as dwarves, dervishes, King Arthur, Merlin, Excaliber, the Fisher King, Norse gods, etc., the sheer realism of the novel never is pierced.

Third is the delight that infuses the whole work. Why the title alone is at least triple entendre, if not quadruple. I mean: how can you dislike a work who's central premise is that Western civilization is based in no small part on quality beer?

So by now it is obvious that I love this book. If you like books such as Silverlock or Brunner's Traveller in Black, I think you'll be enchanted by this gem.

Tim Powers has a magical way of finding an odd piece of historical trivia with a little bit of mystery shrouding it, and weaving a fantastic story of mystical forces and occult arts around it.

The story revolves around one Brian Duffy, and brings to the surface such mythological characters as the Irish hero Finn Mac Cool, Sigmund, King Arthur, and Dionysus. Powers seems to love the myth of the Fisher King, and this has been a recurring theme through many of his novels.

It is obvious that this is one of his earlier works, a lack of depth can be felt in the historical details as well as the writing style. But the plot is an engaging one - this author is wildly creative. The Drawing of the Dark is an easier read than some of his other works, and quite entertaining.

If you love what he does with the Fisher King storyline, read Last Call, Expiration Date, and Earthquake Weather. If you enjoy his habit of weaving an occult story around historical fact, make sure you read Declare.

An excellent read, one of my favourite books. Nice to see it back in print. It's entertaining.

This book offered a wonderful mix of history, fantasy, allegory, mythological creatures, and a middle-aged, drunken, grumpy hero. What's not to like?

Okay, if I had to pick something to criticize, I'd say that I found the plot a little slow at times. Also, the ending seemed a little rushed to me, and it didn't give me that sense of closure I was hoping for.

However, the writing style was gorgeous. Very atmospheric, beautifully detailed, mixed with just the right amount of humor. A perfect blend.

The characterization was also spectacular. Aurelianus / Merlin was my favorite character... but then again, that might just be my thing for cute old wizards again. I liked Duffy also. His grumpy attitude made him more endearing than any swash-bucking hero attitude he might have had. I also liked Bluto. Then again, I have a thing for hunch-backs too. ;)

And last but not least, I was utterly stunned when I finally realized where the title comes from! I won't give it away though... needless to say, it's very clever!

I'm looking forward to reading more Tim Powers novels. This was a very promising start, and I hear it only getts better from here! :)

Many of Powers' themes and ideas in his later works are initially explored in The Drawing of the Dark, so if you are a new reader of Tim Powers start here.
Brian Duffy, veteran swordsman and mercenary, is an ordinary fellow on an extraordinary journey that involves plenty of swordplay, a touch of history, many magical creatures, and the consumption of a huge amount of beer (much of it by Duffy himself).
So put away your Robert Jordan and cast aside the cast of thousands of other Tolkein-inspired sword and sorcery tomes and pick up an original. Speculative fiction...get into it.

Tim Powers is a marvelously gifted writer, whose stories blend real history with incredibly ingenious fantasy. The factual basis for this story is the Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529 led by Suleiman the Magnificent. But Powers takes that historical event and blends in Merlin, King Arthur, an ancient brewery, his own reluctant hero Brian Duffy, and an amazing cast of characters to create a unique and superb fantasy. This is just great stuff. Wait until it becomes obvious where the title of the book comes from... I would have never guessed. Very highly recommended.

It is 1529 and the Turks are about to lay siege to Vienna. In Venice an out of work Irish mercenary, Brian Duffy, finds himself a job as a bouncer at an inn in Vienna. There is however more to this than it appears as Duffy takes a phantasmagorical journey north only to find out that this is no ordinary inn and its brewery even more so.
Tim Powers once again deftly blends various elements from history and myth to spin a grand tale that has more twists than a maze designed by someone with double vision. He populates his landscape with a great group of memorable characters who fly in an out the story and often have you wondering what each is really up to. Have no fear though as Powers makes all quite clear and the result is some really fine story telling.

Tim Powers is the master of this sub-genre of Fantasy/Science Fiction. He weaves the real/historical with the fantastical so well and keeps it interesting and amusing. His books are always page-turners.
In Drawing of the Dark, he weaves the Turkish invasion of Europe in the 16th Century(an historical fact) with the reincarnation of one of the GREAT heroes of Legend, no wait, make that two, no wait, make that...you get the idea. The story is chock full of legendary references as well as wonderful history lessons.
So far, I have not read a Tim Powers book that I haven't liked, and this is no exception. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Tim Powers is a genius, and this is the book that started him off. Snake-smoking sorcerers, marsh-gas-bag vampires, voudoun pirates seeking the fountain of eternal youth... Powers' imagination is unique. He takes old tales, tales of Arthur and Blackbeard and Edison, and remakes them with the skewed perspective of an LSD addict. Who else would put warrior demons from the deepest pits of hell in high heels and broadswords? Of course, creative as he is, only a genius could make it work. The situation we find these high-heel-clad sword-wielding demons in is such that we do not disbelieve it for a moment. The hero does, and because he does, and because of his reasons for disbelief, we accept the situation, as ludicrous as it might be.

_Drawing Of The Dark_ is a classic that well deserves to be back in print. Tim Powers' small but devoted following began with this book, and became a large then enormous following years later, slowly and surely, for good reason.

Certainly not Brian Duffy, aging Irish soldier of fortune, when he makes the mistake of accepting a job as bouncer at the inn which brews the famous herzwestern beer from the new owner, a mysterious black robed old man called Aurelianus. All of a sudden peculiar people, and even more peculiar *things*, are out to kill Brian Duffy - or protect him! . Who *is* this Aurelianus? Who is the mysterious King of the West? and most unervingly of all - who exactly is Brian Duffy? I love this book it is one of the most convincing blendings of fantasy and history I've ever read.