Dreamers of Black Rock

Darwath

by Barbara Hambly

A novelette of 16,000 words, sequel to Hambly’s Darwath series. The wizards at the distant Keep of Black Rock have disappeared. Warrior woman Gil Patterson, the wizard Ingold Inglorion, and Ingold’s pupil Rudy Solis set out to learn what happened to them – but only Gil manages to arrive at Black Rock Keep. Something caused the mages of Black Rock – and Ingold and Rudy, when they drew near to the half-ruined Keep – to lose their magic, before they disappeared, and Gil senses that something deeper and stranger still is going on. But whatever it is, she has to figure it out alone.

Genres: Fantasy

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

aka Barbara Hamilton

Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.


"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly

Reviews

[Erin (PT) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As well as being a cracking novella, this felt like a lot of the current events of our time processing through to become art (as they do). The survivors of Darwath have survived more than one apocalyptic event, but even so they're barely hanging on and they all know it, as survival becomes more and more subsistence from year to year. It's not at all surprising that people in such horrifying conditions want to cling to someone that can offer them bright and shiny dreams...but that doesn't mean it's at all the smart thing to do. Or that there's any substance to those dreams. Also, fake news is apparently something people will fall for without question in any universe.

[Dale B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meanwhile, over at Black Rock Keep

This entire novelette is about a period of a few weeks at Black Rock Keep describing what our heroes from the Keep of Dare find when they go to check on their neighbors (relatively - speaking) there.
I was hoping for more details on the other keeps - especially the haunted one - and other adventures through the teleporter, but those subjects are only given the slightest of mention this time around.
To me, this particular story wasn't as interesting as some of the others, but I suppose others might think it's the best one yet - you certainly can't please everyone. Still, any new story in the world of Darwath is worthwhile to me.
I would love to read more about the ancient keeps, see the good people move out of them and reestablish civilization with the help of magic, discover how the teleporters work and all their destinations, and witness the resurrection of the mages' city - the passing of knowledge to the next generation before Ingold, Thoth, and the other senior mages pass away.

[Laurey Steinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

More exploration of magic in Darwath

While this novelette is best suited to those of us who know and love the characters from “The Time of the Dark”, this particular story could be enjoyed by a neophyte as well. The characters are complex and well-realized, and the plot does not depend on prior knowledge. Sorcery and swords and human motivations are all mixed beautifully.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelette set about 8 years after Hambly's Time of the Dark/Darwath trilogy. This one's, I think, all Gil POV and is set at the Black Rocks Keep in the desert where things have gone wrong, dun, dun dun.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Darwath short. But it makes me want even more!

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty sure I'd read this one in something else...