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Saint-Germain #17
Dark of the Sun
It is the 6th century of the common era. The vampire Saint-Germain, known in this time as Zangi-Ragozh, is peacefully doing business in Asia when the island of Krakatoa explodes in a massive volcanic eruption. Tidal waves swamp harbors hundreds of miles away, destroying trade ships and their cargoes; tons of ash and dirt are flung into the air.
In the months to come, the world grows colder and darker as the massive volcanic cloud spreads across the globe, blocking sunlight. Sea trade is ravaged. Crops fail. Livestock, and then people, begin to starve. Disease spreads. Panic rises.
As always in times of trouble, foreigners-and the vampire is always a foreigner-become targets. Fleeing toward the West, where he hopes to find safety and sanity, the vampire travels with a nomadic tribe led by Dukkai, a female shaman who befriends Zangi-Ragozh.
But Zangi-Ragozh's problems are far from over. His vampire nature is discovered by an enemy; he begins to starve; he is betrayed by one he cared deeply for; he loses everything, even his last sack of his native soil.
With the True Death looming, Zangi-Ragozh tries to reach sanctuary in his ancient homeland.
Transylvania.
In the months to come, the world grows colder and darker as the massive volcanic cloud spreads across the globe, blocking sunlight. Sea trade is ravaged. Crops fail. Livestock, and then people, begin to starve. Disease spreads. Panic rises.
As always in times of trouble, foreigners-and the vampire is always a foreigner-become targets. Fleeing toward the West, where he hopes to find safety and sanity, the vampire travels with a nomadic tribe led by Dukkai, a female shaman who befriends Zangi-Ragozh.
But Zangi-Ragozh's problems are far from over. His vampire nature is discovered by an enemy; he begins to starve; he is betrayed by one he cared deeply for; he loses everything, even his last sack of his native soil.
With the True Death looming, Zangi-Ragozh tries to reach sanctuary in his ancient homeland.
Transylvania.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
259 books477 followersA professional writer for more than forty years, Yarbro has sold over eighty books, more than seventy works of short fiction, and more than three dozen essays, introductions, and reviews. She also composes serious music. Her first professional writing - in 1961-1962 - was as a playwright for a now long-defunct children's theater company. By the mid-60s she had switched to writing stories and hasn't stopped yet.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 1, 2010
I continue to be entertained by these books, even if they all have a very similar plot superimposed on a variety of historical settings, and even if Yarbro's dialogue is ridiculously stilted. The rest of her prose flows smoothly enough, but as soon as any character opens his or her mouth, we get something that sounds like clumsy ad-libbing for the benefit of suspected eavesdroppers. People state the obvious and repeat themselves, especially Saint-Germain and Roger, who have the same conversations in every book.
The setting is interesting: Asia during the 6th century, when the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa has caused unusual weather patterns leading to trade disruptions, crop failures and famine. Distressed by the calamity, which is outside of his vast experience, Saint-Germain and his eternal manservant travel slowly westwards towards Saint-Germain's homeland, constantly beset by hunger and the hostility of desperate people.
Actually, the natives aren't much more hostile than usual. In his travels Saint-Germain routinely encounters the most horribly suspicious, greedy, and duplicitous people, as if the author is anxious to emphasize her protagonist's relative humanity. I continue to be frustrated by Saint-Germain's passivity, as neither vicious attack nor heinous betrayal provokes anything more than sadness and resignation on his part. There is a nice scene where Roger expresses a similar frustration, though.
The setting is interesting: Asia during the 6th century, when the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa has caused unusual weather patterns leading to trade disruptions, crop failures and famine. Distressed by the calamity, which is outside of his vast experience, Saint-Germain and his eternal manservant travel slowly westwards towards Saint-Germain's homeland, constantly beset by hunger and the hostility of desperate people.
Actually, the natives aren't much more hostile than usual. In his travels Saint-Germain routinely encounters the most horribly suspicious, greedy, and duplicitous people, as if the author is anxious to emphasize her protagonist's relative humanity. I continue to be frustrated by Saint-Germain's passivity, as neither vicious attack nor heinous betrayal provokes anything more than sadness and resignation on his part. There is a nice scene where Roger expresses a similar frustration, though.
November 27, 2017
Pros: This book has valuable insight into Franciscus' past, which IMHO we don't get enough of. His backstory probably needs its own full-length novel, but alas Yarbro has a tendency to jump around. In case you're wondering, YES I am attempting to read the novels in order, and yes it does make the transition from century to century a LOT smoother. I'm going to stop for awhile until I'm sure she won't add another book around the time period I'm reading. The effects of the explosion of Krakatoa are presented in horrifying detail: the sun was blotted out, crops failed and everyone starved. I didn't know until reading this that that was the case. Lots of interesting action scenes!
Cons: THIS NOVEL WAS WAY, WAY TOO LONG. It could have been cut down by half its own length and still presented the same quality of story. Other than one serious near-death scenes for one of the characters and the problem with the weather, where is my plot?
Cons: THIS NOVEL WAS WAY, WAY TOO LONG. It could have been cut down by half its own length and still presented the same quality of story. Other than one serious near-death scenes for one of the characters and the problem with the weather, where is my plot?
Read
May 17, 2009I found this in the Horror section and it promised a dark vampire protagonist admist a gigantic volcanic eruption that causes the entire planet to fall into hunger and darkness. Honestly I don't think it lived up to even a tenth its potential. It's hard for me to tell people to NOT read a book, but this could easily be a waste of time for many.
July 20, 2018
I didn't love it because a Saint Germain book is always a depressing reminder of the nature of humanity, and the plots do tend to the same (honestly will that man never learn to pick women? Admittedly not as disastrous as Csiminae but still).
However they are fascinating accounts of historical periods and I find them very enjoyable on that level. If you pick your time period - I like early period to the late Middle Ages - they are excellent even if there are a few questions like how exactly does the native earth thing work? What even is your native earth? Why can't he see himself? What happened to the other vampires? Why doesn't he teach these poor women to make gold etc like he can?
Anyway worth a read if you love history and vampires.
However they are fascinating accounts of historical periods and I find them very enjoyable on that level. If you pick your time period - I like early period to the late Middle Ages - they are excellent even if there are a few questions like how exactly does the native earth thing work? What even is your native earth? Why can't he see himself? What happened to the other vampires? Why doesn't he teach these poor women to make gold etc like he can?
Anyway worth a read if you love history and vampires.
September 6, 2018
For some reason I really loved this book. There were times when I wondered why I did. I suppose after reading 17 books in this series there's no hope for me. Ms. Yarbro sucked me in with "Hotel Transylvania" and I've been hooked since. Each book: rich, vibrant history with the same quirky hero and his devoted puppy... and often unusual femme fatale. But I keep reading them! On to #18!
July 6, 2022
I just don’t understand the point of this novel. It takes place over two years and literally nothing happens, except travel. Is it just about how boring the passage of time is for a centuries old vampire? Nothing too exciting happens. Nothing too sexy happens. Just nothing happens. It’s a very strange novel…
July 29, 2023
536 AD: A massive eruption of the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa has darkened the skies and spread drought, famine, and pestilence throughout the known world.
Meanwhile, Ragoczy Franciscus and his servant/companion Rojeh are laboriously making their way from China to Ragoczy's "native earth," in the land that would someday be known as Romania...
Meanwhile, Ragoczy Franciscus and his servant/companion Rojeh are laboriously making their way from China to Ragoczy's "native earth," in the land that would someday be known as Romania...
January 10, 2023
For fans of Saint-Germain, this is a good one; a little more personal insight into his past than many of the series have. The book is replete with all the usual rich historical detail that Chelsea Quinn Yarbrough is known for.
February 5, 2025
Another rock solid Saint-Germain novel - this one a little longer than usual and more epic in scope. As always, I loved the historical detail and depth of research. I've never been one for comfort reading but Yarbro is as close as I've come to it - I find her work a pleasure to read, always.
June 2, 2009
Fans of Saint-Germain will be absolutely delighted at this addition to the saga of the legendary vampire. It is the year 535 AD and Saint-Germain, aka Zangi-Ragozh, is a successful merchant in China. Called to wait upon the Chinese Emperor, Zangi-Rogozh starts to cross China with a small caravan and his faithful servant, Rojeh, when distant Krakatoa erupts in a mighty volcanic explosion that is even heard in distant Peking. Following the eruption, tsunamis destroy coastal towns and much of the shipping. (Shades of what recently happened in that area.) Tons of ash and sulfur are thrown into the atmosphere, ringing the world and causing severe weather changes. The sun dims. Burning sulfur rain and yellow snow fall. There is no spring, no summer, crops fail, famine and fevers plague not just some of the world, but everywhere. Many people believe that the end of the world is coming. Zangi-Ragozh decides to return to his homeland, the book covers his long and perilous journey.
Those who know the series will find the glimpse afforded into Saint Germain’s beginnings fascinating and the trials and tribulations that the hero must overcome interesting reading. Those new to the series may be surprised, for this series certainly is not like any other. Be prepared for a rich historical novel where the hero just happens to be a vampire rather than a vampire novel. There are no bloody animalistic feeding frenzies. While Saint-Germain does enjoy sex with his food, the heightening of emotions increases the power of the blood to sustain him, the stories lack the elaborate sexual fantasies of the typical vampire romance. And while Saint-Germain has his past anguishes, he is no brooding hero living in the throws of despair. In fact, having lived 2500 years has made him rather cautious and conservative. He tends to plan for the worse and believes in taking extra precautions. Still, he is very much a hero for the kindness and generosity that he displays, especially towards women, making him much more human than the humans around him. Nor have his vampire powers made him something of a super hero battling evil. No extraordinary powers such as an ability to change form or control minds. He possess the usual strengths, imperviousness to cold, excellent night vision, and an amazing ability to heal himself. But he is not dead to the world during the day nor does he burst into flames when touched by sunlight. He is weakened by running water and sunlight, but that can be countered to some extent by his native soil, which he keeps in the heel of his boots, stuffed into his saddle, and in a crate to sleep on. But Saint-Germain is more than a mere vampire. He is an intellectual, an Alchemist capable of changing lead into gold and making precious jewels, and a healer, who makes what he calls the sovereign remedy out of moldy bread. While we care about Saint-Germain, the author tells more than just his story as she blends letters from various ship captains, merchants, and friends to tell the story of the people he comes in contact with and the world in general during this time of crisis. This is not a fast read, but it is an interesting read, giving the reader a feel for a time and place from long ago. It is a worthy addition to what may possibly be the longest vampire series.
Reviewed by Linda Suzane March 20, 2005 midnightbloodreviews.blogspot.com / www.midnightblood.com
First published Vampire Books and Authors at Suite101.com
For more information about the series.
Those who know the series will find the glimpse afforded into Saint Germain’s beginnings fascinating and the trials and tribulations that the hero must overcome interesting reading. Those new to the series may be surprised, for this series certainly is not like any other. Be prepared for a rich historical novel where the hero just happens to be a vampire rather than a vampire novel. There are no bloody animalistic feeding frenzies. While Saint-Germain does enjoy sex with his food, the heightening of emotions increases the power of the blood to sustain him, the stories lack the elaborate sexual fantasies of the typical vampire romance. And while Saint-Germain has his past anguishes, he is no brooding hero living in the throws of despair. In fact, having lived 2500 years has made him rather cautious and conservative. He tends to plan for the worse and believes in taking extra precautions. Still, he is very much a hero for the kindness and generosity that he displays, especially towards women, making him much more human than the humans around him. Nor have his vampire powers made him something of a super hero battling evil. No extraordinary powers such as an ability to change form or control minds. He possess the usual strengths, imperviousness to cold, excellent night vision, and an amazing ability to heal himself. But he is not dead to the world during the day nor does he burst into flames when touched by sunlight. He is weakened by running water and sunlight, but that can be countered to some extent by his native soil, which he keeps in the heel of his boots, stuffed into his saddle, and in a crate to sleep on. But Saint-Germain is more than a mere vampire. He is an intellectual, an Alchemist capable of changing lead into gold and making precious jewels, and a healer, who makes what he calls the sovereign remedy out of moldy bread. While we care about Saint-Germain, the author tells more than just his story as she blends letters from various ship captains, merchants, and friends to tell the story of the people he comes in contact with and the world in general during this time of crisis. This is not a fast read, but it is an interesting read, giving the reader a feel for a time and place from long ago. It is a worthy addition to what may possibly be the longest vampire series.
Reviewed by Linda Suzane March 20, 2005 midnightbloodreviews.blogspot.com / www.midnightblood.com
First published Vampire Books and Authors at Suite101.com
For more information about the series.
August 22, 2008
The violent mega-eruption of Krakatoa in AD 535 threw enough volcanic matter into the earth's atmosphere to blot out a huge portion of the sun's rays, and this was the start of several years of almost ice-age-like conditions. Written records and other tangible evidence exists from China to the Americas of the tragic effects this event had on humans everywhere. Crops failed, famine came to pass, stillbirths increased, disease became rampant, trade slowed, and internecine wars were waged for food and also out of a paranoid sense of horror. Most of all humans became reactionary and turned to their gods for answers and for comfort. From Byzantium to India, Saxon England to Coptic Ethiopia, xenophobia reigned, foreigners were persecuted as possible offenders of the gods, and order disintegrated on a frighteningly vast scale. Life across the globe was disrupted as by the tens of millions people wondered if they were truly witnessing the end of the world.
This is the scene of Yarbro's seventeenth Saint-Germain novel. In the pages of Dark of the Sun, the perpetually-exiled Carpathian nobleman goes from a prosperous life as a merchant in Liang-era China to the life-threatening undertaking of traversing the Silk Road, a journey of three-years' duration, in order to return to the west. With Saint-Germain, as always, is his faithful companion Rogers, and along the path of the dauntingly perilous expedition west, Germain witnesses a world gone mad in the wake of unimaginable cataclysm.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro revives a global catastrophe we had somehow forgotten, and uses it as a backdrop for a slow but detailed novel that takes her readers on a trip across nearly the whole of east and central Asia, from China to the Carpathians, sparing no detail or sociological observation along the way.
This is the scene of Yarbro's seventeenth Saint-Germain novel. In the pages of Dark of the Sun, the perpetually-exiled Carpathian nobleman goes from a prosperous life as a merchant in Liang-era China to the life-threatening undertaking of traversing the Silk Road, a journey of three-years' duration, in order to return to the west. With Saint-Germain, as always, is his faithful companion Rogers, and along the path of the dauntingly perilous expedition west, Germain witnesses a world gone mad in the wake of unimaginable cataclysm.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro revives a global catastrophe we had somehow forgotten, and uses it as a backdrop for a slow but detailed novel that takes her readers on a trip across nearly the whole of east and central Asia, from China to the Carpathians, sparing no detail or sociological observation along the way.
February 21, 2014
As a story, this book is disappointing. It's a string of unfinished incidents, an unending list of encounters with people who fade in and out with no ultimate significance.
The journey from China to Transylvania - in spite of the extreme weather conditions and resulting tragedy and lawlessness - remains remarkably uneventful. Or, rather, the events which lead us to expect dramatic scenes and major conflicts, all seem to fizzle out rather colourlessly.
What is valuable is the insight into the consequences of the 2-year darkened sun - the very real hardship, famine, strife.
We also learn something of the various religious beliefs and practices: Pagan rites to appease the lords of the Earth involving animal and human sacrifices; and the Christian attitude of accepting, even welcoming, suffering and deprivation both as punishment for sin and as preparation for the life to come.
The fact that the MC and his henchman are vampire and ghoul - 'unliving', feeding on raw flesh, blood and the sympathetic company of women - seems almost incidental. In particular, the vampire comes over as wise, gentle, kind.
The story has no real end, just as the bustling commerce at the start also evaporated into nothingness.
Much of the dialogue is stilted and artificial.
The journey from China to Transylvania - in spite of the extreme weather conditions and resulting tragedy and lawlessness - remains remarkably uneventful. Or, rather, the events which lead us to expect dramatic scenes and major conflicts, all seem to fizzle out rather colourlessly.
What is valuable is the insight into the consequences of the 2-year darkened sun - the very real hardship, famine, strife.
We also learn something of the various religious beliefs and practices: Pagan rites to appease the lords of the Earth involving animal and human sacrifices; and the Christian attitude of accepting, even welcoming, suffering and deprivation both as punishment for sin and as preparation for the life to come.
The fact that the MC and his henchman are vampire and ghoul - 'unliving', feeding on raw flesh, blood and the sympathetic company of women - seems almost incidental. In particular, the vampire comes over as wise, gentle, kind.
The story has no real end, just as the bustling commerce at the start also evaporated into nothingness.
Much of the dialogue is stilted and artificial.
April 21, 2007
A volcano erupts, and the world goes to hell in a handbasket.
When Krakatoa erupted in the 6th century, the only people who knew about it - albeit briefly - were those who lived in the immediate vicinity. Others soon learned; those living on nearby islands suffered from catastrophic tidal waves and shipping lanes were disrupted. In China, where Saint-Germain is living peacefully on the proceeds of his shipping business, when trade is disrupted, the economy falters, and he finds his property and money confiscated. With his companion Rogerian, Saint-Germain travels west as the weather deteriorates world-wide. Years of unseasonably cold summers and unreasonably cold winters wreak havoc on the world's economy and ecology as Saint-Germain travels to the one place where he is always truly at home ... Transylvania.
When Krakatoa erupted in the 6th century, the only people who knew about it - albeit briefly - were those who lived in the immediate vicinity. Others soon learned; those living on nearby islands suffered from catastrophic tidal waves and shipping lanes were disrupted. In China, where Saint-Germain is living peacefully on the proceeds of his shipping business, when trade is disrupted, the economy falters, and he finds his property and money confiscated. With his companion Rogerian, Saint-Germain travels west as the weather deteriorates world-wide. Years of unseasonably cold summers and unreasonably cold winters wreak havoc on the world's economy and ecology as Saint-Germain travels to the one place where he is always truly at home ... Transylvania.
October 9, 2008
The character that makes this book is the Thetis. In many books in this series, the Count is prefect or near perfect, which is could be why he is so popular among female readers. Thetis actually changes the Count's precepation of how he treats women and how women are treated even if they gain freedom in the world of her time. It was nice to see that. Her comments might explain why some of the women in the books don't cross over.
January 7, 2012
This one had a little more of Saint Germain and his compainion Roger in it. It made it a little more interesting you learn a little bit more on Saint Germain and Roger that you never knew before. I liked it but I want them to be in our time so I can see how they coup with all the new gadgets. I am sure they will find some of it very interesting.
January 27, 2008
Ach ja. Saint-Germain, maar dan wel niet zo'n goeie Saint-Germain. Komt traag op gang, wat zeg ik? komt eigenlijk niet op gang. En net als het dreigt interessant te worden, zitten we op een handvol pagina's van het einde en moet het rap-rap-rap afgewerkt worden. Nee, niet aangeraden.
June 26, 2008
Eruption of a volcano in 6th century, leads to an endless winter, with famine and destruction of life as people knew it.
This is good historical fiction, with a vampire, Saint Germain as the main character. Saint Germain was based on tales of the real life Parisian nobleman.
This is good historical fiction, with a vampire, Saint Germain as the main character. Saint Germain was based on tales of the real life Parisian nobleman.
May 26, 2016
Freelance Internet Marketing campaign.
May 23, 2010
I love history when it is interwoven within the storyline, but sometimes it is just too much. I think I'll try something lighter. This book is great if you love paranormal steeped in history.
October 7, 2010
I have this listed as read, but to be honest I couldn't get past the first 30 pages or so. I just didn't find the story engaging at all. I just couldn't force myself to keep reading.
April 9, 2014
This book got me interested in the impact of Krakatoa - I never knew how devastating it was - no wonder they believed it was the end of the world!
Read
September 1, 2013St. Germain (Asia, 536-545) Book 18
June 14, 2015
Meh. This is the first I read in this series. Meh.
September 20, 2015
Involving, historically fascinating. Trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is the 17th book.
January 14, 2019
One of Yarbro's "travelogue" Saint-Germain novels, as he and his manservant, Roger, travel across 6th century China in the wake of Kratoa explosion, which has made the sun dark, hence the title. As always her faithfulness to actual history is impeccable, as is her writing. There also references to his mysterious origins near the book's end as he returns to his homeland and finds he's turned into a bit of a legend.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews