The Dark is Rising

 

Almost as evocative as the original book cover.

The BBC has been doing a 12 part adaptation of Susan Cooper’s “The Dark is Rising”, which is one of the books I’d put into a top ten that influenced me when I was growing up. Robert McFarlane has been involved in the project and it’s really well scripted and performed. The soundscape is amazing, definitely one to listen to using earphones. It runs to 12 episodes of around 17 minutes each.

For those not familiar with the books, this is young adult fiction which I first encountered during my first year at secondary school. It was a recommended read during the free reading lesson. I loved it and went on to read the original series multiple times. There are five linked books; chronologically, this is the second but it’s a good place to start.

Set at the end of 1973, Will is the seventh son of a seventh son, and is approaching his 11th birthday. He doesn’t know it, but this marks him out as one of the Old Ones, a group who have fought the Dark over centuries and across time. He’s about to come into his power, and must quickly learn how it is used as he has an important task to carry out against the rising of the Dark. The powers of Light need to resist and protect, and gather six signs of power. The whole story is evocative; a village near the Thames, cut off by sudden snow and cold, the agents of the Dark, the feel of claustrophobia and a bit of paranoia as you aren’t certain if characters could be agents of either side. Cooper links into stories like Weyland Smith, Herne, the Wild Hunt and more and uses them brilliantly.

This is definitely worth listening to or reading; it has the kind of feel as Alan Garner’s work but with a darker streak. The English Countryside and powers afoot in it. It isn’t twee, but intelligent, evocative fiction.

The podcast can be found via usual routes and BBC Sounds. Here’s a link to the Overcast FM syndication.

Love this. Recommended.

31st December 2022