Rulers of the Darkness

Rating:
Summary: Wizard Harry
Review: Comprehensively defeated at Sulingen (Stalingrad), the Algarvian (German) invaders and their fairweather allies rally by springtime, but the summer offensive they are planning is blatantly obvious and culminates in 45 blistering pages of ferocious fighting as the Battle of Durrwangen (Kursk) explodes. As the Unkerlanters (Soviets) advance into Grelz (Ukraine) there is bitter vengeance for all collaborators... Falling back too are Plegmund's Brigade, a sort of Kaminski Brigade of bloodthirsty volunteers from Forthweg, whom I can easily predict razing Eoforwic (Warsaw) to the ground in the next book.
Further east (or west) in Algarvian-occupied Forthweg (Poland), bookkeeper Ealstan and his sorcerously disguised Kaunian (Jewish) wife Vanai try to keep a low profile as Vanai's people are in turn persecuted and massacred, but the deception is proving ever harder to maintain. Amid all this, corrupt Algarvian occupation cop Bembo can't seem to stifle the odd flickerings of a conscience every now and then.
As the tide of war turns against Algarve, collaborators in Valmiera (France) start to wonder whether they've backed the wrong horse (or behemoth, if you like). I see a shaven head and a tarring and feathering for Krasta in Book 7!
Transferred away from the forest front in remote western Unkrlant, a platoon of Gyongyosian infantry have a terrible secret to conceal that could exile them from their own people forever. Funny, I didn't like curried goat either.
In a magical world where trains are leyline-powered caravans, fighter-bombers are dragons and cinnabar is the oil that powers them, and where behemoths substitute for tanks and leviathans for U-boats, World War II progresses in the fourth of seven volumes, covering the equivalent of roughly February to November 1943.
I'm completely hooked and can't wait for the next one. Thankfully, Harry Turtledove is astonishingly prolific, keeping on the go not only this epic saga but the second of the American Empire trilogy at the moment (and those follow three Great War books and their prequel, and three more still to come!).
All proof that Potter's not the only wizard Harry in town.

Rating:
Summary: The War Rages On!
Review: Even though less happened with the war in the series than I might have expected, I still considered it a worthwhile read. The stories of each of the characters were interesting and easy to follow. I know that some reviewers here complain about how nothing much happened with the war and how it is dragging on, but I think that is exactly the feeling that Turtledove wished to convey because that's exactly how the series' characters are feeling about the raging conflict about them, as though it is never going to end.

It was also interesting to see certain point of view characters interact as they meet for the first time. But I did feel that one of the characters: Cornlu, the leviathan rider, behaved a bit out of character in the end. I am also curious as to how the blossoming romance between the two mages, Pekka and Ferno, will develop.

I eagerly await the next installment of this fascinating series.

Rating:
Summary: The War Rages On!
Review: Even though less happened with the war in the series than I might have expected, I still considered it a worthwhile read. The stories of each of the characters were interesting and easy to follow. I know that some reviewers here complain about how nothing much happened with the war and how it is dragging on, but I think that is exactly the feeling that Turtledove wished to convey because that's exactly how the series' characters are feeling about the raging conflict about them, as though it is never going to end.

It was also interesting to see certain point of view characters interact as they meet for the first time. But I did feel that one of the characters: Cornlu, the leviathan rider, behaved a bit out of character in the end. I am also curious as to how the blossoming romance between the two mages, Pekka and Ferno, will develop.

I eagerly await the next installment of this fascinating series.

Rating:
Summary: Who rules the darkness now?
Review: Harry Turtledove's fantasy adaptation of World War II reaches a pinnacle with Rulers of the Darkness. As two massive forces collide, fallout from the chaos affects everyone involved.

Algarve (Germany) fails at its third attempt against Unkerlant (Russia), and stubbornly refuses to give up what it gained. But its influence is slowly slipping, as they are pushed from the Duchy of Grelz, an allegorical Ukraine. And with the aid of a new secret weapon, the Lagoan/ Kuusamon (British/ American) alliance throws Algarve from the island nation of Sibiu (Denmark.) Meanwhile in Forthweg (Poland), more trouble is brewing for Algarve.

Ealstan discovers a secret about his new boss, Istvan is struggling to keep his own. Sidroc discovers he likes soldering, as long as he's winning and there's plenty to rape and pillage. Talsu is released from prison to play a dangerous cloak and dagger game.

The characters make the story more interesting than the action. I feel strongly for Vanai and Ealstan, I respect Hajjaj, great pity for Cornelu, and watch with interest in what Pekka and Fearno are up to. I want to watch Krasta to see what stupid thing she'll do next. I am a little bored with Garivald and Skranu though.

Was it my imagination, or is Turtledove letting up on his reduntant character descriptions? If so, that's good!

The story is still going strong. Looking forward to reading Jaws of Darkness.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome series
Review: It is a great book and it'll keep you hooked from page one. The whole series is great but it is being a bit dragged out. Not that I have any problem with it, but some might consider the series to be too long, kind of like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. It is still an enjoyable read and for those who were fans of the books previous to this one, this is just as good. It is a good book and it is well worth the read. Don't pass this one up, especially if you read the previous books in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Magic, Destruction, War!
Review: Rulers of Darkness is the fourth novel in the World At War fantasy series, following Through the Darkness. In the previous volume, the Unkerlant trap the Argarvians within Suligen and cut off an escaping column. Major Spinello is flown out of Suligen with a chest wound. Outside Suligen, Leudast saves a man in the penal battalion and shares food with him. Within Suligen, a behemoth drops an egg on Transone.

In Kuusamo, Pekka, Ilmarinen, Siuntio, and Fernao blow a great hole in the ground with the new sorcery and produce a clump of green grass amidst the snow. In far western Unkerlant, Istvan and his men scavenge felt boots off Unkerlanter corpses. In Zuwayza, Hajjaj learns about the new magic development from the Algarvian ambassador. In Forthweg, Vanai goes to the public bathhouse and finds Algarvians enjoying the public nudity. In Lagoas, Cornelu gets a new uniform coat, but finds Balio's cafe burnt to the ground.

In this novel, Leudast's unit leaves retaken Suligen and heads north to the next hot spot. There, near Durrwangen, Sidroc and the Plegmund's Brigade are trying to hold back the Unkerlanter assault and are rescued by counterattacking Algarvians. In Trapani, Major Spinello is released from the hospital and assigned a regiment in Eoforwic. In Unkerlant, Marshall Rathar, despite his words of caution, is ordered to attack and keep attacking.

In Valmiera, Skarnu has escaped to Ventspils but the red heads are close on his trail. In Kuusamo, Pekka and Fernao speculate that they are producing energy by twisting time with the new sorcery. In Jelgava, Talsu is interrogated by local constables who want names, but don't care whose they are. In Forthweg, many walls are beginning to bear the word "Suligen". Elsewhere in Forthweg, Bembo and his partner arrest Vanai's grandfather. In Grelz, Sadoc tries to hide footprints in the snow and makes them luminescent instead. In Valmiera, Krasta is beginning to think about the Algarvians loosing the war and not liking her thoughts.

This series is an allegory of the World Wars. However, many of the details are deliberately scrambled. For example, the names for these nation states seem to have been taken from cities in various parts of the world: Kaunas, Valmiera and Jelgava are Latvian cities, Siaulia is Lithuanian, Algarve is Portuguese, Bari is Italian, Yanina is Greek, Gyongyos is Hungarian, Kuusamo is Finnish, Sibiu is Romanian, and Zuwayza is Jordanian. Lagoas means lakes in Portuguese and there are several towns and cities in Brazil and elsewhere that include Lagoas in their name.

The geography in this series includes only a small number of nation states as compared to the real world. Everybody agrees that these states represent one or more of the real world countries as constituted after WWI: Algarve represents Germany, Unkerlant is the core states of the Soviet Union, Gyongyos is Japan, Zuwayza is Finland, Forthweg is Poland, Lagoas is England, Yanina is Italy, Kuusamo is the USA, Ortah is Switzerland, and the Land of the Ice People is North Africa. Less certainly, the Duchy of Bari is Austria (and probably the Sudeten and Czechoslovakia), the Duchy of Grelz is the Ukraine (including Galicia), and Obuda Island is the Philippines. Jelgava and Valmiera would seem to be France and Greece, but not necessarily in that order. Others have asserted that Sibiu is Norway, although the Low Lands -- Belgium and Holland -- seem to be a better fit. Siaulia is a complete mystery to me.

Regardless of the correctness of these associations, several important countries are missing. These seems to be no equivalent of Spain and its Civil War, which was a significant training and testing ground for the Nazis. Moreover, the Balkans and the successor states to the Ottoman Empire are never mentioned and China and other Asian mainland countries are conspicuous by their absence. Once again, the background has been simplified to remove distractions.

Recommended for Turtledove fans and anyone else who enjoys speculative fiction with a strong historical and moral component.

Rating:
Summary: Hell Like a Roiling Stream
Review: Rulers of Darkness is the fourth novel in the World At War fantasy series, following Through the Darkness. In the previous volume, the Unkerlant trap the Argarvians within Suligen and cut off an escaping column. Major Spinello is flown out of Suligen with a chest wound. Outside Suligen, Leudast saves a man in the penal battalion and shares food with him. Within Suligen, a behemoth drops an egg on Transone.

In Kuusamo, Pekka, Ilmarinen, Siuntio, and Fernao blow a great hole in the ground with the new sorcery and produce a clump of green grass amidst the snow. In far western Unkerlant, Istvan and his men scavenge felt boots off Unkerlanter corpses. In Zuwayza, Hajjaj learns about the new magic development from the Algarvian ambassador. In Forthweg, Vanai goes to the public bathhouse and finds Algarvians enjoying the public nudity. In Lagoas, Cornelu gets a new uniform coat, but finds Balio's cafe burnt to the ground.

In this novel, Leudast's unit leaves retaken Suligen and heads north to the next hot spot. There, near Durrwangen, Sidroc and the Plegmund's Brigade are trying to hold back the Unkerlanter assault and are rescued by counterattacking Algarvians. In Trapani, Major Spinello is released from the hospital and assigned a regiment in Eoforwic. In Unkerlant, Marshall Rathar, despite his words of caution, is ordered to attack and keep attacking.

In Valmiera, Skarnu has escaped to Ventspils but the red heads are close on his trail. In Kuusamo, Pekka and Fernao speculate that they are producing energy by twisting time with the new sorcery. In Jelgava, Talsu is interrogated by local constables who want names, but don't care whose they are. In Forthweg, many walls are beginning to bear the word "Suligen". Elsewhere in Forthweg, Bembo and his partner arrest Vanai's grandfather. In Grelz, Sadoc tries to hide footprints in the snow and makes them luminescent instead. In Valmiera, Krasta is beginning to think about the Algarvians loosing the war and not liking her thoughts.

This series is an allegory of the World Wars. However, many of the details are deliberately scrambled. For example, the names for these nation states seem to have been taken from cities in various parts of the world: Kaunas, Valmiera and Jelgava are Latvian cities, Siaulia is Lithuanian, Algarve is Portuguese, Bari is Italian, Yanina is Greek, Gyongyos is Hungarian, Kuusamo is Finnish, Sibiu is Romanian, and Zuwayza is Jordanian. Lagoas means lakes in Portuguese and there are several towns and cities in Brazil and elsewhere that include Lagoas in their name.

The geography in this series includes only a small number of nation states as compared to the real world. Everybody agrees that these states represent one or more of the real world countries as constituted after WWI: Algarve represents Germany, Unkerlant is the core states of the Soviet Union, Gyongyos is Japan, Zuwayza is Finland, Forthweg is Poland, Lagoas is England, Yanina is Italy, Kuusamo is the USA, Ortah is Switzerland, and the Land of the Ice People is North Africa. Less certainly, the Duchy of Bari is Austria (and probably the Sudeten and Czechoslovakia), the Duchy of Grelz is the Ukraine (including Galicia), and Obuda Island is the Philippines. Jelgava and Valmiera would seem to be France and Greece, but not necessarily in that order. Others have asserted that Sibiu is Norway, although the Low Lands -- Belgium and Holland -- seem to be a better fit. Siaulia is a complete mystery to me.

Regardless of the correctness of these associations, several important countries are missing. These seems to be no equivalent of Spain and its Civil War, which was a significant training and testing ground for the Nazis. Moreover, the Balkans and the successor states to the Ottoman Empire are never mentioned and China and other Asian mainland countries are conspicuous by their absence. Once again, the background has been simplified to remove distractions.

Recommended for Turtledove fans and anyone else who enjoys speculative fiction with a strong historical and moral component.

Rating:
Summary: Magic, Destruction, War!
Review: Rulers of the Darkness is the book for you if you like fantasy and/or action books. The setting takes place in Derlavi and its bordering islands. This book contains many character's points of view so it is your opinion whether certain people are evil or certain people are good. There are way too many characters in this book, so I can't really tell you them all. Instead, I will tell you two of my four favorites. Pekka is a Kuusamin mage helping on a project to make a very powerful magic to turn the tides of the war. Fernau is working with Pekka and he likes her a lot but Pekka is married.

I think this is an awesome book. Harry Turtledove is my favorite writer and I have only read one of his books! I recommend this book to good readers and people who like fantasy and/or action books.

Rating:
Summary: The Series Begins to Meander...
Review: The 576-page "Rulers of the Darkness" should have wound up Harry Turtledove's World-War-II-as-fantasy epic and brought us through to the end of the war. If nothing else, it should have at least brought us to the Algarvian (the German-equivalent country's) surrender. It certainly had the length to do so. As it is, though, it takes us only through the first nine months of the equivalent of 1943.

"Rulers of the Darkness" covers the retreat from Sulingen (Stalingrad) through the battle of Durrwangen (Kursk) to the retaking of Grelz (the Ukraine) by the Unkerlanters (Soviets). In all, this covers about nine months of time and the first 55-60% of the book is just the preparations for the Kursk-equivalent battle - about three months in all. Turtledove also works in, as before, the magical equivalent of the Manhattan Project and the Kaunian (Jewish) and Valmieran (French) resistance movements.

However, as before, virtually all other aspects of the war are ignored or are missing completely from his book. The equivalents of Finland, Belgium, Britain, Japan and the Netherlands are all given minor attention while the Italy-equivalent has been all but forgotten and anything representing China or Southeast Asia is completely absent. The Pacific Conflict between Gyongyos (Japan) and Kuusamo (America) is given more attention towards the end of the book and something looking a lot like the Omaha beach invasion of France takes place in Sibiu (The Netherlands), but much of World War II is still largely ignored.

As always, I appreciate Turtledove's efforts to distance the immediate emotional reaction felt from words like "Nazi", "Soviet", "concentration camp" and "atomic bomb" from the lives of people trying to survive an alternate World War II and to show shades of gray where we tend to see only black and white in school texts. Nonetheless, he does this forgetting much of what made World War II a 'world war' - virtually the entire Pacific War. The plights of the Chinese, Koreans, and Southeast Asians were every bit as terrible as the plights of those who struggled under Nazi Germany - or Soviet Russia. To ignore them, I think, does a disservice to his work.

That said, though, "Rulers of the Darkness" remains good, compelling fiction - especially in its second half. If you've followed the series so far, I recommend continuing with this book. If not, go back to the first - "Into the Darkness". Turtledove's "Darkness" series has gotten to the point where it's compelling enough as it's own tale and not just as a rehash of World War II. Nonetheless, I wish he would finish it rather than continuing the story for at least another two books. He only enriches the publishers by stalling out the series.

Rating:
Summary: A good series and a well done continuation
Review: The Darkness series is one of those things that shouldn't work but does so anyways. The setting- a fantasy world war II sounds interesting, but it is little more then a backdrop. Harry Turtledove's works are usually based around their plots (as in the Great War series) being interesting Alternate History. Harry has managed to put his viewpoint characters in a world large enough that they can all be interesting, and just a little famaliar enough to us that we can nod knowingly and learn a little about real history. In this installement the war grinds on as Algarve begins to lose in Unkerlant, and Kuusamo and Legaos prepare their magic to invade Eastern Derlevai. The plot is little more then the backdrop for the personal tales of the characters, all of whom are well sketched out this far into the series, and therefore we feel empathy for them. It's much better done the say, The Center Cannot Hold, if less compelling, and provides a good setup for the decisive volume Jaws of Darkness, coming this April.