David Gemmell: Dark Moon (1996)

Edition: Bantam, 1996
Review number: 634

Dark Moon is not a particularly successful fantasy novel. It is set in a world originally inhabited by the extinct Oltor, who were exterminated after inviting the gentle Eldarin and ferocious Daroth to share their lands when their own worlds were threatened by catastrophe, continuing in their altruism to add humans to the list of intelligent species. For the moment, the Daroth are no more, having been imprisoned by the magic of the Eldarin, before a war of racial hatred leads to the destruction of the Eldarin in their turn and the release of the Daroth once more.

It is a contrived tale of individual heroism (as many fantasy novels are, to be fair), with a trite environmental message - the great crime of the Daroth and to a lesser extent of the human race is that they wear out the magic of the land. The best bits of the novel are reminiscent of David Eddings, but it never truly holds the interest.

David Gemmell: Knights of Dark Renown (1989)

Edition: Legend, 1989
Review number: 564

David Gemmell's Celtic-flavoured fantasy is a variation on the common "band fighting the evil rulers" theme which goes back at least as far as the legends of Robin Hood. The regime of king Ahak, who began his reign with military conquest, has gradually become more unjust and tyrannical. Traditional champions of justice, defenders of the poor against the rich, the Knights of Gabala have disappeared, to be replaced by the cruel and evil Red Knights.

The subject matter may be a little hackneyed, but it is drawn from a rich source. Gemmell adds in many ideas. The background mythological structure (as I have mentioned) is Celtic, rather like a less New Age-y version of Katherine Kerr's Deverry series. He describes a pogrom clearly paralleling the Holocaust. Themes of corruption and abuse of power are well handled. All these things make up for a general lack of originality.