Book Review: The Time of the Dark (Darwath #1) by Barbara Hambley (four stars)
She had waked up. She was no longer dreaming. She was still there.
The first fantasy novel by a renowned author. Published 1982, Hambley shows the right stuff from the being. The fantasy cast and setting owe so much to J. R. R. Tolkien it’s a wonder she did owe him royalties.
“If you choose deliberately to disregard the evidence of your own senses, it’s your problem, not mine. I am what I am… ” “You are not!”
Most of the characters shamelessly ripped from Tolkien, but the point of view characters are earth humans, who give the story an everyman perspective and sounding board for the epic fantasy.
“But believe me, if I’d known what it was all about, I’d still be running. Betrayed into heroism.”
Quibbles: Many, but minor. After correctly explaining how rare glass would be, she has a glazed window in a woodshed. Every time Medda is mentioned, some form of “disapproval” graces the sentence. We got it.
“You narrow hope when you define it.”
Concludes the first tale while setting hooks for future installments, which seems beyond many of her contemporaries. Good read.
“Yes. I believe that nothing happens randomly, that there is no such thing as chance. How could there be?”
As a Matter of Fancy 
Interesting review. I might even buy this one. Yet I’m a bit swamped. I’ll write it down!
I think the best way to look at the book is to dissect its quotes. From what I dissected, this is a simple, basic-level novel that doesn’t try to reach too far. Now this can be a good thing. My favorite author — Stephen King– wrote best when he wrote dumb. The question remains, what is the level of storytelling after you’ve approached it “dumb”?
— Catxman
http://www.catxman.wordpress.com