Dark of the Sun: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain [Paperback]

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (Author)

Book Description

Series: Saint Germain | Publication Date: August 25, 2005

It is the 6th century of the common era. The vampire Saint-Germain, known in this time as Zangi-Ragozh, is peacefully doing business in Asia when the island of Krakatoa explodes in a massive volcanic eruption. Tidal waves swamp harbors hundreds of miles away, destroying trade ships and their cargoes; tons of ash and dirt are flung into the air.

In the months to come, the world grows colder and darker as the massive volcanic cloud spreads across the globe, blocking sunlight. Sea trade is ravaged. Crops fail. Livestock, and then people, begin to starve. Disease spreads. Panic rises.
As always in times of trouble, foreigners-and the vampire is always a foreigner-become targets. Fleeing toward the West, where he hopes to find safety and sanity, the vampire travels with a nomadic tribe led by Dukkai, a female shaman who soon becomes Zangi-Ragozh's lover.

But Zangi-Ragozh's problems are far from over. His vampire nature is discovered by an enemy; he begins to starve; he is betrayed by one he cared deeply for; he loses everything, even his last sack of his native soil.

With the True Death looming, Zangi-Ragozh tries to reach sanctuary in his ancient homeland.
Transylvania.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Yarbro's 17th entry in her historical-horror series (Path of the Eclipse, etc.) adroitly uses the ever-metaphoric vampire to portray the human dimensions of a cataclysm that changed the course of history. Vampire Saint-Germain and his faithful companion, Roger, who go under the names Zangi-Ragozh and Ro-shei in this solid installment, are merchants in sixth-century A.D. Yang-Chau, as Shanghai was called during this period. Forced by political necessity to journey westward to Chang'an (aka Xian) during winter, the pair soon realize that this is a winter like no other. Never in his more than 3,500 years of existence has the well-traveled vampire experienced anything similar—a sun with "no warmth or strength," strange yellow snowfall and an "invisible cloud" distorting the sky. Unbeknownst to most of the world, an eruption of the volcano Krakatau (aka Krakatoa) is to blame. Agricultural and economic disruption result, illness spreads, social unrest and collapse follow. The Dark Ages begin. Faced with a multitude of hardships, Saint-Germain determines to travel across Asia to his native soil in the Carpathian Mountains. The romantic and supernatural play second fiddle to history in this well-told story that deals with the meaning of being human.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Will entertain lovers of all genres. Fascinating."--Midwest Book Review on Midnight Harvest

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (August 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765311038
• ISBN-13: 978-0765311030
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic Saint-Germain tale, October 27, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark of the Sun: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (Hardcover)

Twenty-five hundred years old vampire Count Saint-Germain uses the name of Zangi-Ragozh in Yang Chou, China where he heads a shipping and trading business. With him is loyal ghoul five hundred years old Ro-Shei. Wen Emperor Yuan Bou-Ju summons Zangi-Ragozh and other merchants to come to Chong'en; none realize that half a world away Mount Krakatoa erupted and will change the world for several years afterward.

Zangi-Ragozh gets his first inkling of the change when the sun fails to rise above the volcanic ash that seems to be all over the atmosphere. Being out in daylight does not bother the Count as much, but along with this benefit comes the downside that travel to Chong'en is impossible. Crops fail and famine becomes the norm. Zangi-Ragozh returns to his place of birth by joining the caravan of the Desert Cats. He earns passage by bartering his medical skills, but is tossed out when the clan bans foreigners. They meet again in Tak-Kala where a magician who he trusts betrays him even as danger from the famished survivors mounts.

Never in the long running series has Saint-Germain come closer to the True Death than he does in this time of the DARK OF THE SUN. He has lost much of his native earth, willing donors are rare, and has a potentially lethal wound. The Krakatoa effect on the world adds depth and turns the novel in many ways in spite of a vampiric protagonist into more a historical than a supernatural tale. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro provides another fantastic reading experience for her fans.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Really Dark Ages, September 21, 2005

By 

Driver9 (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark of the Sun: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (Hardcover)

One of the most recent in the St. Germain series and also one of the most satisfying to read. Set in the early Sixth century (can you name one thing that happened in the Sixth Century?) with the cataclysmic eruption of Krakatoa, blotting out the sun for nearly two years. The effects on the entire world were profound, since nothing was able to grow. Like other books by Yarbro, I feel as though I had slipped through a small window into this world and could experience what was actually happening. Also, this was historically I period I had no knowledge of whatsoever, which added to the mysterious quality of the novel.

For me, the St. Germain series has always been a guilty pleasure, with an emphasis on the pleasure. There is something slightly old fashioned about the writing, but not stilted. It is true that much of the book is dialogue between St. Germain and his (eternal) companion. But I did not find that to be a problem. All in all, Dar of the Sun is a far better book than some of the other "historical" novels coming off the factory lines recently (you know what I mean).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great "buddy" book, December 22, 2004

By 

Shadow Dancer (Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark of the Sun: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (Hardcover)

This book is easily one of the best Saint-Germain books. Even though the last "documented" appearance of the Count is in the 1980s (Chronicles of Saint-Germain), I actually found myself worrying about whether or not he and Roger would make it to the end of the book. My favorite of the Saint-Germain books are always the ones where we get to see the friendship between Saint-Germain and Roger. Dark of the Sun has the eeriest feel to it: a constant, low-level worry that was nerve-wracking to read. It isn't often that Saint-Germain is at a loss to understand what's happening around him, and he was here--both with what was happening in the world around him and judging whether or not he could trust a friend. Yarbro always shows us the advantages, and disadvantages, of partial immortality, but she outdid herself with this book. It was great to learn more of Saint-Germain's mortal life. For those of you who normally skip the letters in these books, don't. There's a wonderful comic side-plot in the letters from about half-way thru the book to the end. It gives me hope for future Saint-Germain novels.