The Dark Remains (The Last Rune, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Mark Anthony (Author) "It was in the final, burnished days of summer-when cool mornings gave way to languid afternoons under hazy skies, when the wheat bowed in the..." (more)
Key Phrases: arachnid god, gate artifact, spider charm, Travis Wilder, High Coven, Grace Beckett (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Overwritten and overwrought, Anthony's third installment of a projected six-book fantasy series overwhelms readers with a clich‚d magical universe and a crowded cast of characters. Beyond the Pale (1998), the deservedly popular first book, introduced Travis Wilder, a likable Colorado bartender, and the equally personable doctor, Grace Beckett, with otherworldly ties to Eldh, an alternate universe full of kingdoms that are highly derivative versions of Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, Roman and Greek mythology. Somehow Beckett and Wilder became saviors on planet Eldh, escaping in the, alas, more tedious sequel, The Keep of Fire (1999), with grievously injured knight Beltan to Earth in order for Beltan to receive advanced medical treatment. In this third book the evil Duratek company, twin of countless other subversive corporations found in various entertainment media, captures Beltan for purposes of genetic experimentation and exploitation. While Grace and Travis try to save Beltan on Earth, on Eldh the "Weirding" that witches use to communicate is unraveling and gods and goddesses are dropping like flies. By overdoing trite magical devices and using too many characters to move the plot forward, this hodgepodge comes off as an overblown homage to other writers whose fantasy worlds are far more original than Anthony's and who know the power of simplicity despite complex plots. Hopefully book four, Blood of Mystery, will find Anthony back on track.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
As their friend Beltan, a native of the world known as Eldh, languishes in a coma in a Denver hospital, cross-world travelers Grace Beckett and Travis Wilder sense an urgency that demands their return to the mystical world that shares a destiny and a danger with Earth. The latest installment of Anthony's multivolume fantasy epic (Beyond the Pale; The Keep of Fire) brings together characters from both Earth and Eldh to the ruins of a dying city where an ancient enemy waits to destroy the twin fabrics of time and space. A good choice for libraries where epic fantasy is popular.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553579355
• ISBN-13: 978-0553579352
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #433,766 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Placeholder, June 20, 2002

By	J. Peterson "jenpeterson" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Dark Remains (The Last Rune, Book 3) (Paperback)

This book took me a while to get into. It had been a while since I read the other two books in the series, so I had to re-figure out all the characters. I like the variety of characters in the book. Each new character adds something to the mix. However, some characters are ignored after the first section, which is odd--because they could figure into the rest of the book.

Some of the very enjoyable characters in this book are Marji, Mitchell & Davis (the cowboys), Ellie (the chimp), Glinda, and the fairy. The usual characters are still interesting, but I felt like the whole "who does he really love" thing was getting old after a while.

All the characters come to face their greatest fears. Grace finds out who her parents really are (now THAT'S a plot twist I didn't see coming). Travis still has to figure out where he belongs, but at least he is not as wimpy in this book as in others. Aryn has many things to figure out in this book, and it isn't quite known if she does figure them out.

This book is about defeating evil, in its many forms. Duratek and the Seekers play prominently in this book. Some interesting clues are given throughout the book to lead readers to other things. I call this book a placeholder because while it does advance the series, it still seems that there is something larger on the horizon, and this is just a prelude.

I would recommend this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dissenting Voice..., March 11, 2002

By	mayfayre "mayfayre" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

I guess I'm one of the few people who is enjoying this series more with each book. I liked this book just as much as the first two. I like the fact that the author is able to juggle a number of subplots and keep them all interesting, whether they're occurring on Earth involving the Seekers and Duratek, or on the alternate world named Eldh involving gods, myths and magic.

I have no problem with the increasing number of characters in the book, in fact I think it adds to the story since each character brings something unique into the mix. Mr. Anthony has managed to give us some essential scenes with each of the characters, revealing some of their motivations and secrets, making them that much more real. All are essential to the plot. It's interesting to see how the friendships are growing and the romantic interests are weaving together. In each book, the characters have been evolving and deepening. Some reviewers seem to have a problem with the way some of the relationships appear to be developing, but to me, the characters have become so familiar and so real that their yearnings and growing awareness are all the more poignant. How can you not wish them well?

In this third book of the series, Travis and Grace return to Earth to seek medical care for the gravely wounded knight, Beltan. However, while there, the evil Duratek Corporation (who are planning to rape the ecological resources of the world Eldh) have managed to locate them due to the betrayal of a friend, have captured Beltan, and plan to conduct medical experiments on him. Travis and Grace are forced to turn to the Seekers for assistance. Meanwhile, back on Eldh, Melia, Falken and the others travel to the fabled city of Tarras to find out who is killing the New Gods. Grace and Travis are finally forced to come to terms with the shadows of their pasts that have haunted them all of their lives. This, of course, is a great simplification of the plot, which has many more twists and turns, trials and tribulations. It is a fast-moving, interesting, and enjoyable story, and I for one am looking forward to Book Four.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding story-telling ability, March 19, 2001

By	Rodney Powell "fairmont66" (Macon,Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Dark Remains (The Last Rune, Book 3) (Paperback)

Once again Anthony had me spellbound with story-telling ability! This is the third in his soon to be classic Last Rune series.He takes us right where he left off with the last one. Grace and Travis take the severely wounded knight,Beltan to Earth.There they must stop a sinister corporation that with help of dark magic seeks to kidnap Beltan in their quest to get to Eldh and exploit it! Meanwhile on Eldh Baroness Aryn and her witch friend Lirith aid the goddess Melia and immortal bard Falken stop a powerful evil that is killing gods!Anthony's world-building skills get better in each installment of his series.He is able to bring more focus to his world of Eldh and it's history and mythology.He also knows how add more interesting characters such as Marji, a kind-hearted transvetite and lethal lady assasin,Vani a woman so tough she could give Xena a run for her money!Anthony also knows how combines chills with his thrills with descriptions of unrelenting evil as deadly golden spiders who bite kills in seconds and some terrifying ape-like monsters terrorizing our heroes on both worlds! Anthony also puts a little X-file type conspiracy with this one with it's sinister corporation,Duratek and the mysterious group called Seekers.But a word of warning to everyone: this novel does end with a cliffhanger other than that your hands will be glued to the pages of gripping fantasy novel with it's memorable cast of characters, chilling scenes of evil and nearly nonstop action and suspense!