When the age old legend of King Arthur's battle for Good against the forces of Evil springs into life again in modern Cornwall the three Drew children are caught in the thick of it. For it is they who find the mysterious manuscript in the attic of their holiday house, and that leads them through many dangers to Arthur's Grail, hidden for many ages over sea and under stone. Fortunately they have the protection of their impenetrable Great Uncle Merry who seems to know more about their oppressors than he is willing to reveal.
And in this first book of The Dark is Rising sequence, meeting Great Uncle Merry is a bit like bumping into an iceberg floating in the ocean, because two thirds of the character is submerged. Only at the very end does Barney say softly to himself:
'Merriman Lyon...Merry Lyon...Merlion...Merlin...'
He looked across the room to where Great-Uncle Merry's white head towered over the rest; slightly bent as he listened to what someone else was saying. The angular brown face seemed more than ever like an old, old carving, deep eyes shadowed and mysterious above the fierce nose.
'No,' Barney said aloud, and he shook himself. 'It's not possible.' But as he followed Simon and Jane he glanced back over his shoulder, wondering. And Great-Uncle Merry, as if he knew, turned his head and looked him full in the face for an instant across the crowd; smiled very faintly, and looked away again.
This is an exciting quest told in uncomplicated language and with clear explanation of the historical background.
What do you think about ‘Over Sea, Under Stone’?
Steph, girl, age 19, from Scotland, United Kingdom, on 9th July 2008. Rating: 9/10
Over Sea, Under Stone is the first book in the Dark is Rising sequence and introduces us to the characters Barney, Jane and Simon Drew who do not appear again till the third book. On holiday with their mysterious great uncle things start to get strange and an exciting quest starts for the three children when they discover in the attic an old scroll carrying a message, a map which they must decipher so they can find the grail, a powerful tool of the light, but the followers of the dark are also out to get their hands on the grail and the children must reach it before their enemies so the light can have advantage in the great and last big struggle of the light and dark last fought by King Arthur and his men. Book Two introduces a new, and undoubtedly the main character Will Stanton, who on his birthday is told he is an old one, a being outside of time and a member of the light and it lies on his shoulders to seek the six great signs of the light. This is where the real action really kicks off. All the books in this sequence are great, the struggles of the light and dark are epic but at the end of the day the burden lies with men, and weather their hearts are open to good or bad. The magic is at times subtle and the way different forces react are extremely interesting. All this is tied up with Arthurian legend and Coopers scenes can be frustrating as well as enthralling. The dark is rising deal with many hard issues of good and bad and what part people play, the forces of dark are extremely sinister and at times the light can seem cold but the children make this book what it is, they are warm, doubtful, strong and feeling and you'll not forget them or the resolute and unwavering guardian - Merry - in a long time. This is a fantastic, highly recommended read.
Clive Smee, boy, age 48, from London, United Kingdom, on 18th July 2007. Rating: 10/10
You will not be disappointed with this book. Indeed you will be rushing to the library to borrow the next four books in the series. If you have ever been to Cornwall and/or are interested in Authurian legend you will be captivated.
IS2HORSES, girl, age 11, from east coast, United States, on 18th January 2007. Rating: 4/10
I started reading this book and saw that the beginning was exciting. They found the map and I was so suprised that is was way back when king arthur was king. Then as I read on, I don't think it got any more exciting. Instead of reading it and being bored, I got my information for school on the internet. I justed couldn't go through being that bored.
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Great-Uncle Merry, whoever he is, features much more prominently in the next book in this sequence of five. Do read them in order:
If you enjoy Susan Cooper's books, you might like to look at this one by Alan Garner:
Or this one by Diana Wynne Jones:
You might also Like to try Philip Pullman's trilogy:
You might also like to have a look at anything by Arthur Ransome:
