The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper.
Paperback, ISBN 0-1403-1688-4
The Dark is Rising sequence consists of five books.
- Over Sea, Under Stone
- The Dark is Rising
- Greenwitch
- The Grey King
- Silver on the Tree
In the first tale we meet Simon, Jane and Barnabas Drew. Holidaying in Cornwall with their mysterious Great-Uncle Merriman they come across a mysterious map written in Latin. With Great-Uncle Merry's help they discover it pinpoints something that none of them expected, and it's a race against time to retrieve it before the strange Mr Hastings.
The Dark is Rising introduces us to Will Stanton on the eve of his eleventh birthday. The seventh son of a seventh son, Will was born on Midwinters Day and this makes him very special. With the help of the mysterious Merriman Lyon he must retrieve the Six Signs of the Light before the Dark can rise.
In Greenwitch we return to Cornwall with the Drew children. The chalice has been stolen and they want to hunt for it, but will the strange boy their Great-Uncle has invited to stay spoil their plans for a treasure hunt, or can Will Stanton help them in their quest.
Will has been very ill and so his parnets have sent him to stay with relatives in Wales. Will is worried because he knows he has forgotten something he knew was very important. But it is not until he meets Bran and his dog Cafall that he remembers the rhyme and his quest for the Light must continue, at all costs.
The last tale opens with the Drew children holidaying in Wales. When Jane hears a horn blowing she is amazed to find Will wielding it, and is even more amazed by his strange friend Bran. The children must seek the Lost Land, and stand together for the last time against the Dark.
When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.
Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the buring, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six Signs the circle, and the Grail gone before.
Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold;
Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;
Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;
All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.
On the day of the dead, when the year too dies,
Must the youngest open the oldest hills
Through the door of the birds, where the breeze breaks.
There fire shall fly from the raven boy,
And the silver eyes that see the wind,
And the Light shall have the harp of gold.
By the pleasent lake the Sleepers lie,
On Cadfan's Way where the kestrels call;
Though grim from the Grey King shadows fall,
Yet singing the golden harp shall guide
To break their sleep and bid them ride.
When light from the lost land shall return,
Six Sleepers shall ride, six Signs shall burn,
And where the midsummer tree grows tall
By Pendragon's sword the Dark shall fall.
Y maent yr mynyddoedd yn canu, ac y mae'r arglwyddes yn dod.
The mountains are singing, and the Lady comes.
Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at: Bookcrossing
This site � Copyright 1998-2004, Kate Holmden
This page was last updated on 11/01/04 at 17:45 GMT
Home Main Book Page Sign Guestbook