Gate of Darkness Circle

by Tanya Huff

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0886773865
• ISBN13: 9780886773861
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Forestalling Armageddon

Gate of Darkness Circle of Light is a singleton urban fantasy novel. The focus of this novel is Rebecca, a brain damaged woman with the mental ability of a child, but with the Second Sight. At the age of twelve, she was the only survivor of an automobile accident, suffering a depressed skull fracture which effectively stopped her intellectual development. However, she continued to develop sexually and thus was a desirable target for sexual predators. She has been a ward of the Toronto Metro Social Services since the accident.In this novel, on a Saturday night, Rebecca discovers the barely alive body of the little man that lives in the tree in front of her apartment house. He has been stabbed with a small dagger. She takes him inside to her bed, but doesn't know what else to do. She leaves Tom, a local cat, to guard the little man and runs to fetch Roland Chapman, a street musician and bard trainee. When they return, the apartment has been disarrayed during a bloody battle between Tom and unknown assailants. The little man finally gives her his name just before he dies. His body vanishes and leaves behind a lot of blood and the dagger.Rebecca leaves a phone message for Daru Sastri, her caseworker, and then they take the dagger to Mrs. Ruth, a bag lady. She tells them that the dagger is the knife of a Black Adept. Apparently the Darkness is making its move on the world of mankind and they need to enlist the aid of an Adept of the Light to even the odds, Rebecca and Roland convince Ivan, a local ghost, to pass on the request and later the White Adept appears at Rebecca's apartment. Evantarin looks like an adolescent heavy metal rocker, dressed in black and white, and of course is beautiful in a masculine way.As Rebecca, Roland and Evan are discussing the situation, Daru arrives hastily from a family party and is brought up to date. They determine that the Black Adept has come to open a portal into the realm of Darkness on Midsummer Night; meanwhile, he is killing off the creatures of light and gray as well as indulging himself in sex and blood. Hopefully, they will be able to prevent him from opening the gate and thus forestall the devastation of the Earth in total combat between Darkness and Light.Police Constable Patton and her partner, PC Brooks, become aware that something out of the ordinary is happening when their car hits a unicorn. Thereafter, they are involved in several mysterious deaths and keep running into Roland and Evan during their investigations. However, both are vulnerable to the manipulations of the Dark Adept and are continually diverted from the real action.This story is reminiscent of the Bedlam's Bard series by Lackey et al, although preceding that series. In fact, two of Lackey's songs are used herein. However, it based more on the Zoroastrian mythos, in which a balance between good and evil is the desired state, allowing free will for humanity. The exact nature of both good and evil is not specified, b

Funny read, but wait, there's more

This was a very amusing read that took many unpredictable turns that I won't even mention. Wouldn't want to spoil them. And yes, there is also a bit of comfortable predictableness where the reader sees things happening long before they hit the character. Somehow, Huff can make the most "oh I've known that story since kindy-garden" thing into oh my g how ghastly. Great sense of detail. And she isn't afraid to play fast and loose with world religions. And she is capable of creating a character that realistically (fantasy-style) changes and grows.What I was thinking about, among many other things she made me think about, when I put the book down, is how an author's whole life and way of being seep into their books. For example, some authors always have a wry way of looking at the world, perhaps their humor comes from showing "of course it's this way" juxtaposed to "this is how I hoped it could be, but of course no." Some authors always write with cynicism -- Ray Bradbury for one. His short stories are filled with a bitter view of humanity. Even Farenheit 451 is bitter -- but don't get me wrong; I love Farenheit 451 and it's phoenixesque qualities. Twain always writes with a deep cynicism that grows from great idealism. Huff writes from a generousity of spirit, a welcomingness and hopefullness. This book will make you feel more positive about the world, and have you seeing the "greys" scurrying around and hanging out in the trees. This is the first Huff book I have read, so I hope I haven't judged her wrong. I think this hopefullness is just part of her, and I love seeing a spirit like that weaving through the turns and dips of fiction.

Couldn't put it down ! A real pleasure

This was the third book of Tanya Huff's that I have read and it was thoroughly enjoyable. A good tale of light versus dark with characters you can empathise with. It moves along at a fast pace with all the action happening in one week. It had echoes of Simon Greene's Shadowsfall for me in that it could have been a horror story but wasn't, or it could have been a trite little tale, but there was always just a little bit more under the surface. Well crafted and designed to pull you in to her world. I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who wouldn't normally read fantasy.

Trouble in Toronto

Rebecca, who is mildly [handicapped], is on of the nicest young women you will ever meet. Despite her handicap, she has a rich life with a job and many friends. And, she can see the wee folk. So it is with great horror that she finds that the little man who lived in the tree next to her apartment has been killed with a ritual knife. Unsure of what to do, she goes to Roland, a street musician and bard-in-training for help. Together, they go to Mrs. Ruth, the bag lady, who understands these things. The little man, they discover, has been slain by an adept of Darkness, recently crossed over from the shadow world.Mrs. Ruth realizes that their only hope of defending this world from the adept is to send a message to the Light asking for help in restoring the balance. When Evantarin, Adept of the Light, arrives in tight jeans, earrings, tee shirt and a happy face button (yes, I said a happy face button), the adventure begins. There are more characters, such as Daru, Rebecca’s social worker and Tom, a very special cat. A ghost, the usual minions of evil, and two bewildered police officers. If the world cannot be brought into balance it will fall under the Dark, triggering the kind of battle between Light and Dark which leaves neither side very satisfied and our plane pretty much destroyed."Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light," written in 1989, is fairly early Tanya Huff. Not only is it very good in it’s own right, it also foreshadows much of her later work, especially the Summoner series. Huff takes a fairly common fantasy plot device and turns it into a novel and engaging tale. Rebecca and Roland are unlikely heroes, but soon our heart goes out to them as they team up with a very unusual crew to save the world. Huff’s characters keep up an ironic yet gentle banter that quickly wins the reader over. We are drawn in and can do little but go with the flow of the story, laughing with the characters, and sharing their pain as well. These are not perfect people, taken individually. But as a whole, they are a delightful metaphor for something very fine.

BUY BUY BUY!!

Sadly, although this(IMHO)is one of, if not the best, of Ms. Huff's books, it didn't sell well enough to interest publishers in a sequel. I urge anyone who enjoys fantasy to read the first page, then see if you can put it down! The storyline follows a rag-tag band of modern heroes(a sort-of bard, a "simple" girl, a tough cynical social worker and an Adept of the Light) as they struggle to stop the imminent invasion of Darkness that plans to break through the barriers protecting our world on Midsummer's Night. With the clock ticking, they race to defeat the evil adept who strikes at each with their deepest fears come to life...the ending makes you cry(at least, it made ME cry)but also gives you lift for your spirits and hope for the human race yet!