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The Dark Is Rising

110 replies

BookWorm45 · 03/12/2022 19:51

For all those like me who loved the Dark Is Rising set of books by Susan Cooper.....

this article talks about a new radio adaptation, coming soon. Can't wait !

www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/03/midwinter-magic-robert-macfarlane-world-service-the-dark-is-rising-susan-cooper-bbc

Off to find my copy now and re-read it......

OP posts:
pointythings · 20/12/2022 09:28

@BustopherPonsonbyJones I grew up in the Netherlands, but my mum (English teacher) made sure we had all the classics to read - we were a bilingual household following a year spent in the UK. She also single handedly revived the library of the school she worked in, so that instead of crappy abridged versions of 'the classics', Yrs 7 through 10 had lots of excellent YA fiction available. And that included Diana Wynne Jones, Alan Garner and let us not forget Robert Westall.

Did you know Alan Garner wrote a third book in the Alderley Edge series focusing on Colin as an adult? It's not a children's book, but it is on my list as something I want to read.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 20/12/2022 09:28

I would recommend reading The Dark is Rising first and then going back to Over Sea, Under Stone.

pointythings · 20/12/2022 09:30

That's how I first read them (at school in the UK, they had all of them)

astronewt · 20/12/2022 09:33

pointythings · 20/12/2022 09:28

@BustopherPonsonbyJones I grew up in the Netherlands, but my mum (English teacher) made sure we had all the classics to read - we were a bilingual household following a year spent in the UK. She also single handedly revived the library of the school she worked in, so that instead of crappy abridged versions of 'the classics', Yrs 7 through 10 had lots of excellent YA fiction available. And that included Diana Wynne Jones, Alan Garner and let us not forget Robert Westall.

Did you know Alan Garner wrote a third book in the Alderley Edge series focusing on Colin as an adult? It's not a children's book, but it is on my list as something I want to read.

I tried a sample of that on my Kindle, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen was my favourite, favourite book as a kid, and I found it a bit cognitive-dissonance-inducing to be reading a grown-up Colin with a grown-up's problems. I'm sure it's good though.

pointythings · 20/12/2022 09:35

@astronewt according to the reviews I've read it's really good. It also follows up on the damage Susan's experience did to her in later life (not a happy ending).

astronewt · 20/12/2022 09:36

Oh and I also loved Robert Westall and still have a box set. I think The Watch House was my favourite. He had a real gift for showing kids dealing with real-world problems framed by supernatural ones.

Dammit, now I wish I wasn't working so I could read all day.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 20/12/2022 09:43

@pointythings I didn’t know about the third book so I will have a look - thank you. I agree that Robert Westall was also a great author. My favourite were Future Track Five and The Devil on the Road but they were very dark! I seem to remember The Watch House being adapted as a TV series.

astronewt · 20/12/2022 09:58

The adult-Colin novel is called Boneland.

Maybe we should start a separate children's fantasy classics thread? Oh, they are all so good!

"She wants to be flowers but you make her owls. You must not complain, then, if she goes hunting."

BlueChampagne · 20/12/2022 10:37

Nice idea Astronewt in which case massive shout out for the Earthsea quartet.

astronewt · 20/12/2022 11:06

OMG YES. plus there are a further two Earthsea books now, did you know?

tribpot · 20/12/2022 13:52

Just listened to today's episode and agree with @bookworm14 the actor playing Will is painfully 'drama school'. The narrator I can tolerate although I can definitely see why he's pissed you off @Fireweeds.

Overall it doesn't yet feel like it works well for radio. Some of the changes of voices (like in Stephen Stanton's letter) sound forced, and would work better on stage (this version has been created by a theatre company).

Not sure why Will's siblings all appear to be in their thirties, either! Paul's only meant to be like 2 years older than Will, surely.

Looking forward to tomorrow's episode, it is extremely atmospheric.

Fireweeds · 20/12/2022 14:19

I liked the music behind adding the creepiness, but the way he draws out the words of will looking over the land is too dramatic. This is the bit where it’s ordinary. I didn’t get any further than the very beginning of stephens letter.
I think you may be right & it’s too dramadrama for me. I’m maybe expecting a book reading with different voices & some music. Maybe some sound effects. It’s trying to hard & I think Susan coopers lightness is part of what makes it so eerie.

Fireweeds · 20/12/2022 14:20

To be fair, I am extremely stressed & overloaded right now & possibly I’d tolerate it better if I was more relaxed.

Bramshott · 20/12/2022 14:36

So looking forward to this! Thanks for the heads up that the first episode is already on Sounds.

I've never previously made the connection between Will becoming aware of a whole new facet to his life on his 11th birthday and Harry Potter doing the same! I wonder if JKR was influenced by The Dark is Rising?

bookworm14 · 20/12/2022 14:54

tribpot · 20/12/2022 13:52

Just listened to today's episode and agree with @bookworm14 the actor playing Will is painfully 'drama school'. The narrator I can tolerate although I can definitely see why he's pissed you off @Fireweeds.

Overall it doesn't yet feel like it works well for radio. Some of the changes of voices (like in Stephen Stanton's letter) sound forced, and would work better on stage (this version has been created by a theatre company).

Not sure why Will's siblings all appear to be in their thirties, either! Paul's only meant to be like 2 years older than Will, surely.

Looking forward to tomorrow's episode, it is extremely atmospheric.

Agreed, Tribpot. James sounds far too old as well - he’s only meant to be 12, and the book specifically says that his voice hasn’t broken. It all sounds so false and mannered, too - I know radio drama is often more ‘stagey’ than TV, but I was expecting a more naturalistic style of acting.

I am disappointed as I so wanted it to be good. 🙁

tribpot · 20/12/2022 15:28

@Fireweeds yes I can see how the staginess would really put your teeth on edge if you're already stressed. The audio book with Alex Jennings sounds much more soothing from the sample. A single narrator plus some atmospheric music to jazz it up would definitely be better at this point.

EatYourFive · 20/12/2022 17:04

I read TDIR as a child back in the 80s, loved it. I bought it for my own daughter a couple of years ago but sadly she didn't enjoy it that much (she's not a bookworm like I was). Completely forgot I had it but this thread has inspired me to go and find it and read it for the first time in more than 30 years!

pollyhemlock · 20/12/2022 17:23

Just listened to first episode and quite enjoyed it but agree with @bookworm14 that Will sounds a bit wooden and James is too old. He’s only 12 in the book. And Paul too sounds too old as well. He’s around 16 in the book. I didn’t mind the narrator. The sound effects are atmospheric. Hopefully next episode will be better.

CrossPurposes · 20/12/2022 19:25

I enjoyed it but then I don't really remember the book that well so I'm fine with any changes. To my ears the narrator is the co-adaptor Simon McBurney.

TentoFive · 20/12/2022 19:59

I listened to it this morning at half past five with just the Christmas tree lights and a Labrador for company. Glad I had my fancy noise cancelling headphones on too. I loved it. Thought the sound engineering was amazing. Could really feel the whirling rooks, and the kitchen scenes with the radio playing in the background were very atmospheric too.
Thought Will was fine.
Big thumbs up from me so far.

EBearhug · 21/12/2022 00:56

I'm struggling with Will, but I'll give it a chance.

tribpot · 21/12/2022 16:30

Just caught up with today's episode - somewhat better in that more of the decent actors have appeared, plus fantastic sound effects. Will's dialogue feels stilted even beyond the performance of the young actor. But maybe that is just the weirdness of this situation where Will is coming into his power.

SusanPerbCallMeSue · 21/12/2022 19:42

I'm listening to it with my son (the one named after characters in the sequence) but I might listen to it again with headphones to see how it compares, as we're listening to it on the TV.

I've enjoyed it so far, I don't mind Will.

My DP listens to a lot of radio plays, so I've got used to the over exaggerated acting, I did find it very weird and unnatural at first.

HellonHeels · 22/12/2022 00:48

I'm enjoying it but what was the point of leaving in the bit where the dark rider invites Will to break his fast with him? That was just shoved in there out of nowhere and never mentioned again, there wasn't even any warm bread to break Confused

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