The Dark Is Rising

By: Susan Cooper

Narrated by: Alex Jennings

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift: he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.

This book is a rare act of creative imagination in which the listener will be equally moved by the warm happy village life Will shares with his large family and the nearly overwhelming danger he encounters, often in other centuries and places, while he seeks the Signs and learns their power. Interweaving ancient Celtic and English traditions with the legends of the Buckinghamshire hills and valleys where she grew up, Susan Cooper has written a superlative dramatic fantasy of the eternal conflict between good and evil out of which all myth is made.

Listen to more in the Dark Is Rising Sequence.

©1973 Susan Cooper (P)2000 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"As narrator, Alex Jennings superbly conveys Will's mixed emotions." (AudioFile)
"So perfect is the match between Alex Jennings' voice and this mysterious magical tale that it is difficult to imagine any other voice reading these words." (The Horn Book Magazine)

5 for the series, 4 for the reader

Well, I have to say I never thought I'd hear Susan Cooper criticized for not creating a believable world, though everyone's tastes are different. I read these books frequently as a child and absolutely adored them. The whole series weaves together a large number of old British folk traditions and legends to form a tight plot fabric. I have no trouble deciphering British accents, so the reader isn't a problem for me either.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Dark Fanstasy for Exceptionally Gifted Children!

Will Stanton was the Harry Potter of MY childhood - a hermetic, pagan, and somewhat fatalistic Harry Potter - but a kid wizard nonetheless.

That being said, this is an extraordinary children's book. If it is unrealistic and predictable, then it is so only to the degree that all children's novels don't pay the same attention to place and plot-twist as some adult novels.

The appeal of this piece to a non-child "Audible" listener should be akin to that of well-done animation and fairy tales. Cooper interweaves somber Celtic myth with modern middle-class life. The effect is enchanting and - at times - unsettling. The accomplished narrator, too, I insist performs a conscientious and careful re-telling of what is, essentially, a dark and pre-adolescent Arthurian legend. Unlike the tales of the other kid sorcerer, Will's story wraps around archetypal imagery and highly abstract themes from the vantage of a sympathizable "everyboy" protagonist. Thus - it does not FEEL like a children's novel - nor at any point will a listener feel condescended to by the novel. It treats its child-audienced readers like adults and with dignity. It does not make itself easily accessible for them as some childrens' books do.

Freud could have a hey-day, carrying on about child-Narcissism and the damaging effects of fantasy writing on childhood development, so I won't recommend it for children anymore than I would Harry Potter. But if you must choose of the two - pick this piece for its 'humanist-responsibility' theme, impressive lexicon, and broad spectrum of emotional imagery. And for adults ... we all like cartoons and crayons - try out this title, which I highly recommend for that exceptionally gifted pre-adolescent in everyone.

20 of 21 people found this review helpful

Younger audiences

I read "The Dark is Rising" for the first time at eleven and absolutely loved it- it pulled me into its world so completely that finishing the story was actually disorienting. I read it again at fourteen and couldn't understand it at all. When I purchased the audio version as an adult I fully expected to be royally confused again, but I just couldn't resist the chance to- maybe- recapture some of the magic I remembered from my first read. It was, in fact, confusing- the timeshifts and the 'logic' of the world were surreal and difficult to wrap my head around... but when I was able to stop *trying* to wrap my head around the story and just let it carry me along, it was almost like I was eleven again. I could feel the wonder and excitement. At least until some more grown up sensibility popped in to my head and spoiled the effect, rather like having the most amazing dream and then realizing that it's just a dream and can't be real. Would I recommend this story to others? Yes. Especially if they happen to be around eleven years old and in that age where they can just let stories happen. For grown-ups I'll just say that the narrator is excellent, the production is crisp and clear, and that if you didn't read this in your youth and love it, you probably won't "get" it.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Excellent Audio Version of an Excellent Book

This series has always been one of my favorites and I've read this book innumerable times. I was hesitant about the audio version, because it can change the way you perceive the book. My only complaint would be that the recitation of the poems/chants wasn't, to my opinion, done very well, but that is a minor complaint. I really enjoyed the addition of the correct accent to the way I've always "heard" the story narrated in my mind.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The best kids fantasy epic

This series of books is really a great introduction to kids of 'Epic Fantasy' style stories, but approachable in that it mostly takes place in the modern world.

Each story *can* stand alone (except for the last one) but really they are best read first to last. (So pick up Over Sea Under Stone if you haven't yet) But the core plot of this story is really revealed in this book.

I find overall this series is very empowering to kids and a great thoughtful story. One of my favorite series ever.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Long before J.K.Rowling...

This was the first sci-fantasy series I recall reading when I was about 8. That was nearly 40 years ago and I still recall the prophesy poem and story highlights quite vividly.

This series touches all the great tropes: The grail, Arthur & Merlin, great Old Ones, magic, effigies, animal companions and magical trees... and kids saving the day.

Strongly recommended.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

great overall

I love this story. The narrorator is good except I don't like how Will is voiced. Not the end of the world.

Brilliant book and series.

Awesome book! Susan Cooper does a great job with the dark and light. I love the whole premise of the series. The narrator is perfect for the story.

underrated YA series

Back in school I remember re reading THe Gray King dozens of times. Years later when my son & I had finished Narnia, the Lemony Snickets & of course Harry Potter we needed something else. I could vividly remember the cover of the book, but not the title or the author.
Stumbled upon it at Goodwill. Now I own the audible versions as well.
Alex Jennings is fabulous to listen to. The characters are solid, you root for them.
The story is something you buy into and want to follow till the end.
These are very well written. They may be YA but it is not dumbed down at all. Great read, Fabulous listen.

Great book

Best book ever if you like fantasy and magic or mystical things that take place in the real world such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I had to chose this rating there is literally nothing bad about this book. And don’t trust the rooks. :)