The Dark is Rising

[Girlboysgirl]

I was very excited as I have obtained a copy of the Dark is Rising and want to read it now it’s all cold and wintry, but I’ve noticed it says the book I have (The Dark is Rising) is the second in the sequence? Does it matter if I read them out of order?

Apparently the first book in the series is pants (official term) and any pointers I've seen say start with The Dark is Rising. I’ve only just obtained a copy myself so am planning a festive read.

Great - I will crack on then 😊

To get the full effect, you should read them in order, so start with Over Sea Under Stone. You've got time to read it and then start The Dark is Rising on the appropriate day. Enjoy!!

The first book is Greenwitch, and though it is the first book, you don't need to read it until after The Dark is Rising.

But you should start reading TDIR so that it is in real time - the author usually does a read along on social media. It makes it so atmospheric and though I've read it hundreds of time I always do that

The first book (Over Sea, Under Stone) isn’t pants, but it is much more of a straightforward Famous Five-type adventure story and lacks the depth of the others in the series. It doesn’t matter hugely if you don’t read it first, but you may want to go back to it at some point just so you have the whole story.

Greenwitch is the third in the series.

@bookworm14 of course it is, I blame multitasking on my lapse there!

I don't think the first book is pants at all, but I also don't think you need to read it first - hardly any of the characters in that book are in the Dark is Rising- maybe just one - and while the main thing that happens in it is referenced, you don't really need to know about it. It is more than a "Famous Five style adventure", although that's the opening structure, there is definitely some sinister magic and world building there. But it is summery, so read it in the summer!

If you are going to go on and read Greenwitch and the others I would go back and read Over Sea Under Stone, as the characters (and location) of the first book are revisited. And I think if you haven't read it, you will never bond with the characters from OSUS when they reappear, and will have a very different view of how the OSUS characters interact with the characters from TDIR, because you know and like the Dark is Rising characters better. In my opinion! I was 11 when I first read the books, although have read them many times since.

OSUS is a perfectly good children’s adventure story, but it doesn’t hold up the same for adults as TDIR does. It’s not pants, though.

I would say that it doesn't really matter which order you read the first two in - the first book isn't as good though so I would start with the dark is rising and then go back to over sea, under stone just to fill yourself in before you get to Greenwitch.

Incidentally there's also a great BBC dramatisation on Sounds - it's recorded with binaural sound effects so listen on headphones, it's brilliant.

Thanks for these tips! I read OSUS to my dd when she was 11 and then found the whole series of books in a charity shop and swooped on the lot! We are starting on TDIR on Dec 15th, hoping to read it over Christmas

I'm sorry for saying the first book is pants. I'm sure it has lots to recommend it too.

My favourite in the series is The Grey King.

I never understood why the film writers of The Dark is Rising changed so much of the story and turned it into crap.

I reread them last year - and then the BBC did their adaptation, which I agree was excellent. I think they're all good, though I'd agree OSUS has less depth. I would read them in series order, but that is partly the way I am, and those two can go in either order.

FAB - so general consensus I think is, first book is worth reading, but more a summer read and it’s ok to start the DIR now. I was a prolific reader as a child and loved Narnia, other fantasy books so no idea how this one passed me by!

I love this series! Have read them many, many times. The Dark is Rising is probably my favourite.

I just posted a thread asking about The Dark is Rising the other day! https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4949800-the-dark-is-rising-or-chronicles-of-prydain

Lots of other good book recommendations on that thread too. @Girlboysgirl I also hope to start reading The Dark is Rising next month, shortly before Christmas. (Will read OSUS beforehand.) We can be reading buddies and share what we think as we read the series for the first time as adults. 😀
I too loved Narnia when I was a child and read many other fantasy books/series, yet somehow missed this one!

I first read TDIR series when I was about fourteen and was so utterly smitten that I had the phrase 'the mountains are singing and the lady comes' written in Welsh in a locket I wore all the time (I was a weirdly intense teenager and a little bit in love with Bran, ADHD mostly to blame).
OSUS is a good place to start, it introduces one set of characters (and there are nicely creepy bad guys), but TDIR is so wonderfully atmospheric for this time of year. The series ends with Silver on the Tree, which goes on a bit but ties everything in nicely.

I’m now about a third of the way through and wow! I definitely get what all the fuss on mumsnet is about with this book, so well written. And now totally understand why it’s a Christmas read…the cosy Christmas descriptions 🥰🥰…can’t wait to read the others

I re-read them all this time last year. I found myself liking them less as I went through them, but really like OSUS and TDIR.

Prompted me to get my copy out. I've never been so disappointed by a film as I was TDIR, I'd been waiting since childhood for someone to make it and it was SO far away from what I wanted it to be.

I feel like I'd have to read OSUS first but also like the real time idea. Can't wait til my kids are old enough to enjoy it!

Glad you are enjoying it OP. You will need to read OSUS before you read Greenwich though.

Does anyone else do ‘the dark is reading’ over Christmas?

The film is genuinely crap. Don’t be tempted to watch it.

I’m glad you withdrew :) Over Sea Under Stone is a perfectly good children’s summer adventure story with a bit of mythology and a decent girl character. I would honestly read it first to soften you up for reading The Dark is Rising in winter. I read it aged about 10, outside in the sunshine in an Australian summer, and I had chills :)

We do not mention the film in this house.

I first read the series when I was 9, and have been in love with them ever since.

I went to see Susan Cooper interviewed by Natalie Haynes at the British Library recently, and there was mention of the BBC making a TV series. Much excitement!