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A "tense and nerve-wracking" adventure in the epic fantasy trilogy from the New York Times-bestselling author of The Time of the Dark (Tor.com). Once upon a time, Gil and Rudy lived simple lives. Until they met Ingold, she was an ordinary PhD candidate and he was a drifter, whiling away his life riding motorcycles under the California sun. But wizards have a way of complicating things. Ingold brought them across the Void, where an evil known as the Dark threatened to devour civilization show more whole. Civilization's hopes rested on an infant prince, and to protect him Gil and Rudy had to draw on newfound powers--she as a warrior, and he as a wizard. With Ingold's help they escaped the Dark, and led a hardy band of survivors to a far-away keep, where humanity could be safe for a time. But now that time is past, and there is nowhere to hide from the Dark. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Barbara Hambly, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection. show lessTags
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The Darwath books are shaping up to be really enjoyable. The pacing is on the slow to medium side. Hambly's completely original world here is definitely superior to her writing in either franchise tie-in spaces or ones closely anchored to existing literary characters and genres that I've read (like her vampire novels). Untethered from existing IP she's crafted an interesting blend of more mainstream low fantasy of the time (with our gandalf like figure), but with lovecraftian tinged horror, grim seriousness and violence, and strong distinct protagonists from all genders and age ranges on very different journeys.
Many middle books of trilogies feel a bit weaker. We've met most of the main characters, and the author doesn't really resolve the storyline. Still somehow, there needs to be enough story to keep our interest. This book does that. This fantasy follows the pattern of Tolkien's The Two Towers and splits up the characters. Rudy and Ingold head off to the wizards' city while Gil and Minalde stay behind in the Keep.
Through Rudy's eyes, we learn more about the nature and perils of magic. Gil is a historian and intent on finding out more about the physical infrastructure of the Keep while trying to dodge most of the political and social infighting. I found both alternating stories interesting in their own way. Unifying them both is the threat show more of the Dark and how people deal with adversity and tragedy.
I enjoyed the story and, while I noticed it was the middle book, I also thought it had enough going on that it wasn't significantly weaker than the first book. Highly recommended for fans of The Time of the Dark. show less
Through Rudy's eyes, we learn more about the nature and perils of magic. Gil is a historian and intent on finding out more about the physical infrastructure of the Keep while trying to dodge most of the political and social infighting. I found both alternating stories interesting in their own way. Unifying them both is the threat show more of the Dark and how people deal with adversity and tragedy.
I enjoyed the story and, while I noticed it was the middle book, I also thought it had enough going on that it wasn't significantly weaker than the first book. Highly recommended for fans of The Time of the Dark. show less
Part two of the Darwath trilogy, which was written in the early eighties. Rudy and Gil are still trapped in a medieval fantasy realm on the verge of complete collapse. A tiny portion of the population is holed up in the Keep of Dere, a mysterious black keep built before recorded history. The social order is slowly collapsing, which makes the power struggles all the more vicious. Rudy and the powerful wizard Ingold set out to get help from the remaining wizards, while Gil and Queen Minalde remain behind, trying to investigate the Keep’s secrets while maintaining the tense community. I skipped whole sections of Rudy and Ingold’s trek across the kingdom, because A) I don’t buy Rudy as a character and B) long descriptions of the show more land=unreadable. The other problem I had was that it seemed like every other page, one character of the other was described as “going pale” or “becoming white with strain” and then the unimaginable pain and suffering they were going through was described. I agree that the characters are heroes—I don’t need them to perpetually comment on how heroic they all are. I found it increasingly annoying. All that said, this is good solid fantasy, complete with fairly unique characters, a well-developed world, and a compelling danger. show less
This is the continuation of the excellent Darwath Trilogy (which later became 5 books). There's little or no dropoff in this book. By now Rudy and Gil are integrating themselves into the community, as much as they can while on the run from The Dark. Gil has found a niche with the Guards, but Rudy is still searching, and still trying to learn how to be a wizard, much to his surprise. Good characters, good writing, excellent plot. On a side note, I don't think its an accident that one minor character and one major family name appear in Gregory Keyes' Thorn and Bone series.
Gil and Rudy navigate a world ruined by the monstrous Dark. With humanity trapped in the fortress of Renweth, wizard Ingold and his apprentice Rudy journey 1,500 miles to seek aid from the silent wizards of Quo, while Gil defends the survivors against the threat.
Ingold and Rudy face a dangerous trek to Quo, encountering hostile White Raiders and overcoming magical, treacherous Walls of Air that hide the true nature of their enemy.
A trained warrior, Gil takes on a leadership role, protecting the refugees in the Keep of Dare and uncovering secrets about the nature of the Dark and the lost wizards.
Ingold and Rudy face a dangerous trek to Quo, encountering hostile White Raiders and overcoming magical, treacherous Walls of Air that hide the true nature of their enemy.
A trained warrior, Gil takes on a leadership role, protecting the refugees in the Keep of Dare and uncovering secrets about the nature of the Dark and the lost wizards.
Continuing the trilogy.
Gil and Ruby have now split up, Gil staying in the Darwarth fortress keeping the Dark at bay and using her old scholarship powers to un-riddle church records, while Rudy does the Quest journey thing to Quo with Ingold to find the grand leader of the wizards and see if he won't come out from behind his palace to lend a hand in aid. Gil's is the more interesting storyline as she explores the old keep, but Rudy takes more words as he wonders about a bit. I wasn't convinced of the plot line in Rudy's quest, but apparently the Dark really want Ingold. We've yet to find an explanation why.
Good world building fine characters and great writing. What's not to like in the middle of trilogy? - apart form the last 50 pages show more being an excerpt form the next book rather than part of this one. I don't mind the first chapter but 50 pages is far too many. show less
Gil and Ruby have now split up, Gil staying in the Darwarth fortress keeping the Dark at bay and using her old scholarship powers to un-riddle church records, while Rudy does the Quest journey thing to Quo with Ingold to find the grand leader of the wizards and see if he won't come out from behind his palace to lend a hand in aid. Gil's is the more interesting storyline as she explores the old keep, but Rudy takes more words as he wonders about a bit. I wasn't convinced of the plot line in Rudy's quest, but apparently the Dark really want Ingold. We've yet to find an explanation why.
Good world building fine characters and great writing. What's not to like in the middle of trilogy? - apart form the last 50 pages show more being an excerpt form the next book rather than part of this one. I don't mind the first chapter but 50 pages is far too many. show less
See short summary for book 1 - the only thing I would modify this with, on August 2020 re-read, is that this does suffer slightly from the middle book of a trilogy syndrome, because the characters are split up and I did remember the big shock-horror revelation early on in my re-read. But staying true to my original perception, I am leaving this at 5 stars.
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Gallimard, Folio SF (282)
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- Canonical title
- The Walls of Air
- Original title
- The Walls of Air
- Original publication date
- 1983-03
- People/Characters
- Alwir of the House of Bes (Chancellor); Bektis (Court Mage); Caldern; Dakis the Minstrel; Altir "Tir" Endorion; Gnift (show all 29); Icefalcon (Nyagchilios, Pilgrim of the Sky); Ingold Inglorion (Archmage, the Desert Walker); Janus of Weg (Commander); Kara of Ippit; Kta; Lohiro of Quo (Archmage); Maia of Thran (Bishop of Penambra); Melantrys; Minalde "Alde" of the House of Bes; Dame Nan; Govannin Narmenlion (Bishop of Gae); Gillian "Gil" "Gil-Shalos" Patterson; Parsino Pral; Seya; Snelgrin; Rudy Solis; Stiarth na-Salligos; Bendle Stooft; Thoth the Scribe (the serpentmage, Recorder of Quo); Tomec Tirkenson (landchief of Gettlesand); Brother Wend; Yobshikithos (the Arrow-Dancer, of the Twisted Hills People); Zyagarnalhotep (Hoofprint of the Wind, of the Twisted Hills People)
- Important places
- Keep of Dare, Vale of Renweth, Darwath; Quo (City of Wizards)
- First words
- Gil Patterson thought her vision of the strange city was all a dream -- until the wizard Ingold Inglorion appeared one night in her kitchen, seeking a place to bring the infant Prince of Dare from the ancient horror that was ... (show all)attacking the city of Gae. (prologue)
The setting was the Shamrock Bar in San Bernardino on a rainy Saturday night. - Quotations
- "Is he dangerous?"
"I don't know. Is there a way to find out?"
"Sure," Gil said cynically. "The authorities in my part of the world used it all the time. If a man flipped out, they'd wait till he actually kill... (show all)ed somebody, then lock him up. Otherwise they couldn't know for sure."
(Chapter 13, p.232) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)He led her out through the maze to the voices and the lights.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)What he read in her eyes she did not know, but it made him look away quickly and drape his arm across her shoulders. He led her out through the maze to the voices and the lights. - Original language
- English
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