Review: Dark of the Sun

In this novel, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's famous vampire Saint-Germain is a respected foreign merchant in China, during a terrible period of that country's turbulent history. Krakatoa's catastrophic eruption in 535 not only caused massive changes to the landscape of what is now Indonesia, it released enough ash and gases to alter the climate worldwide, devastating the economy by reducing food production and availability. China is close enough to Krakatoa to have been severely affected by this natural disaster and was also undergoing a period of political instability at the time. A foreign trader such as Saint-Germain was at special risk during such a double disaster.

The tale of Saint-Germain's struggle to survive is told against the backdrop of the lives of desperate people who cannot understand what has happened, much less guess what the future is likely to bring. Recently, news of a disaster in the same part of the world spread around the world in minutes, not months or years; and the re- building of communication and transportation networks began immediately, advised by experts on causes and prevention or prediction of such events. In the sixth century, our ancestors faced a far worse disaster than the recent tsunami; one which dimmed the sun all life on earth depends on; and they faced it with far fewer resources than we have now. They were without knowledge of where to flee to avoid starvation, and without the ability to call on people in more fortunate areas - if any existed - for help.

The story is told through a combination of narrations of Saint- Germain's experiences and letters giving the view from places Saint- Germain does not reach or of people he has left behind. The use of the letters is very effective in enabling the reader to visualize the devastated world of 535. It is clear from the depth of the detail that a great deal of research has gone into this book. My only real criticism is related to this - there is no place in a book set in such terrible times for something cheerful to lighten the mood. The closest the author comes to providing some relief from the tragedy is when a letter reveals that maybe someone Saint- Germain encountered survived a while after he left - but a later letter might correct this, and mention their death! I found the mood of the book rather too depressing for my taste, but I am sure that Saint- Germain's fans will be pleased with this story of his adventures, even if they are set at a very tragic period in history.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM

Book Review: Dark of the Sun