The Drawing of the Dark [Hardcover]

Tim Powers (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Del Rey Books (1979)
• ASIN: B0014C34E2
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Straight Ahead Fantasy, April 21, 2000

By 

J. Moore (St. Louis Area, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Drawing of the Dark (Del Rey Impact) (Paperback)

Brian Duffy is just your average work-a-day soldier for hire when he is pulled into a plot involving forgotten heroes, strange magic, and bizarre creatures. Encountering monsters straight out of legend and meeting up with some guy named The Fisher King, Duffy slowly learns that his past stretches much further back than he realizes.

In typical Tim Powers style, the plot of this late Renaissance fantasy begins with threads of story weaving in all directions, and resolves at last by the end of the book. Powers works in the invading armies of Islam, King Arthur, a mystical brewery in Vienna, Vikings, and more in this fantastic yarn.

I enjoyed this book overall, but it wasn't Mr. Powers's best (which can be forgiven, seeing as it was his first book). The plot moved a bit slowly at times, and the ending seemed a tad rushed. But overall, this was an enjoyable read and very funny. Great for taking a break between other, more "serious" fantasies.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drink deeply and be refreshed..., July 14, 2004

By 

Addison Phillips (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Drawing of the Dark (Del Rey Impact) (Paperback)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps my favorite book by Powers, April 16, 2006

By 

S. Berman "misteroctober" (NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Drawing of the Dark (Del Rey Impact) (Paperback)

Though not the first work of fiction I have ever read by Tim Powers, THE DRAWING OF THE DARK remains one of my most favorite of his novels. I could not believe how he managed to breathe life into a tired cliche (I cannot say more without spoiling the book). Along the way he gives us very human characters that endear themselves to the readers while not scrimping on the magic and mayhem (some very chilling moments). History blended with wonder and brewed long and dark until one cannot help but finish the book, drain the glass, and sigh contentedly.