Dark Moon

I read Dark Moon for two reasons:

1. It is a stand-alone work with no follow-up books, and
2. I like the way Gemmell writes (or should I say wrote).

With Dark Moon he doesn't disappoint. He was one hell of a storyteller being able to develop characters that the reader cares about. He also placed them in situations which demanded to defeat their opponents they become more evil than them. Of course, sometimes his characters choose to use love, compassion, and self-sacrifice instead.

In Dark Moon the story is about the survival of the human race. Humans are stuck between one race (The Oltor) who are good and another who are completely evil (The Daroth). Gemmell plays with the usual evil versus good theme, suggesting that both must exist together. Also in the character of Tarantio we see the powerful extremes of good and evil as personified in one man.

I always got the feeling that redemption featured a lot in Gemmell‘s work. He explores this in Dark Moon in both the epic set piece battles and more quiet emotional sections too. These events all go toward influencing the characters, their decisions and their fates. You'll find yourself caring about what happens to them, even though many of them have almost no redeeming qualities.

The story flows as well as, if not better, than most other fantasy stories read. The addition of wit and minor sub-plots also gives the reader a breather from the main action and presents a welcome diversion.

In summary, I can recommend this book primarily because David Gemmell was one of the finest fantasy adventure storytellers ever. No matter how familiar or stereotypical his villains, heroes, landscapes or worlds were they never fail to be adrenaline-charged, original and inventive. Dark Moon is not only excellent heroic fantasy but it is also a tribute to the genius and talent that was David Gemmell.

Quotes:
Gemmell never disappoints when it comes to thoughtful quotes. Here are some of my favourite from Dark Moon:

“Heroes are people who face down their fears. It is that simple. A child afraid of the dark who one day blows out the candle; a women terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, ‘It is time to become a mother'. Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.”

“There's no shame in fear. But understand this - the coward is ruled by fear, while the hero rides it like a wild stallion.”

“The truth. Men will blind themselves with hot irons, rather than face it.”

“Men don't change. They just learn to disguise the lack of change.”

“Love is both wondrous and yet full of peril. Love is a gateway through which hatred - disguised and unrecognized - can pass.”

“Yours is a race whose imagination is limited to its own small appetites. Greed, lust, envy - these are the motivating forces of humankind. What redeems you is that in every man and woman there is a seed that can grow to encompass love, joy and compassion. But this seed is never allowed to prosper in fertile ground. It struggles for life among the rocks of your human soul.”

“How many hopes and dreams are trapped within these bones? How many wonders lie never to be discovered? This is what war is. Desolation, despair and loss. There are no victors.”

“Life is a struggle, from the agonies of birth to the railing against death. Devour or be devoured. The law of the wild.”

“Like light and shadow, love and hate were inseparable. One could not exist without the other.”

“No man should curse love. Ultimately, love is all there is.”