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Dark•Matter #4
Of Aged Angels
There's another side to the world, another side that no one sees. But in between there are doors...
In ages past, in a time humanity remembers only as myth, beings of vast power walked among us. Now they're back, and they want what was taken from them.
What begins as a routine mission for three agents of the Hoffmann Institute soon turns into a nightmarish adventure involving anarchist cults, magic-wielding computer hackers, psychic assassins, and a race to recover an artifact that may save the future of humanity.
In ages past, in a time humanity remembers only as myth, beings of vast power walked among us. Now they're back, and they want what was taken from them.
What begins as a routine mission for three agents of the Hoffmann Institute soon turns into a nightmarish adventure involving anarchist cults, magic-wielding computer hackers, psychic assassins, and a race to recover an artifact that may save the future of humanity.
- GenresHorrorScience Fiction
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
43 people want to read
About the author
Monte Cook
211 books124 followers
The game designer
Monte Cook started working professionally in the game industry in 1988. In the employ of Iron Crown Enterprises, he worked with the Rolemaster and Champions games as an editor, developer, and designer. In 1994, Monte came to TSR, Inc., as a game designer and wrote for the Planescape and core D&D lines. When that company was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved to the Seattle area and eventually became a senior game designer. At Wizards, he wrote the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and served as codesigner of the new edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game. In 2001, he left Wizards to start his own design studio, Malhavoc Press, with his wife Sue. Although in his career he has worked on over 100 game titles, some of his other credits include Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, The Book of Eldritch Might series, the d20 Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game, The Book of Vile Darkness, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, Ptolus, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, and Dungeonaday.com. He was a longtime author of the Dungeoncraft column in Dungeon Magazine. In recent years, Monte has been recognized many times by game fans in the ENnies Awards, the Pen & Paper fan awards, the Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award, the Origins Awards, and more.
The author
A graduate of the 1999 Clarion West writer's workshop, Monte has published two novels, The Glass Prison and Of Aged Angels. Also, he has published the short stories "Born in Secrets" (in the magazine Amazing Stories), "The Rose Window" (in the anthology Realms of Mystery), and "A Narrowed Gaze" (in the anthology Realms of the Arcane). His stories have appeared in the Malhavoc Press anthologies Children of the Rune and The Dragons' Return, and his comic book writing can be found in the Ptolus: City by the Spire series from DBPro/Marvel. His fantasy fiction series, "Saga of the Blade," appeared in Game Trade Magazine from 2005–2006.
The geek
In his spare time, Monte runs games, plays with his dog, watches DVDs, builds vast dioramas out of LEGO building bricks, paints miniatures, and reads a lot of comics.
Monte Cook started working professionally in the game industry in 1988. In the employ of Iron Crown Enterprises, he worked with the Rolemaster and Champions games as an editor, developer, and designer. In 1994, Monte came to TSR, Inc., as a game designer and wrote for the Planescape and core D&D lines. When that company was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved to the Seattle area and eventually became a senior game designer. At Wizards, he wrote the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and served as codesigner of the new edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game. In 2001, he left Wizards to start his own design studio, Malhavoc Press, with his wife Sue. Although in his career he has worked on over 100 game titles, some of his other credits include Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, The Book of Eldritch Might series, the d20 Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game, The Book of Vile Darkness, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, Ptolus, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, and Dungeonaday.com. He was a longtime author of the Dungeoncraft column in Dungeon Magazine. In recent years, Monte has been recognized many times by game fans in the ENnies Awards, the Pen & Paper fan awards, the Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award, the Origins Awards, and more.
The author
A graduate of the 1999 Clarion West writer's workshop, Monte has published two novels, The Glass Prison and Of Aged Angels. Also, he has published the short stories "Born in Secrets" (in the magazine Amazing Stories), "The Rose Window" (in the anthology Realms of Mystery), and "A Narrowed Gaze" (in the anthology Realms of the Arcane). His stories have appeared in the Malhavoc Press anthologies Children of the Rune and The Dragons' Return, and his comic book writing can be found in the Ptolus: City by the Spire series from DBPro/Marvel. His fantasy fiction series, "Saga of the Blade," appeared in Game Trade Magazine from 2005–2006.
The geek
In his spare time, Monte runs games, plays with his dog, watches DVDs, builds vast dioramas out of LEGO building bricks, paints miniatures, and reads a lot of comics.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2021
Retro review*
It really doesn't get much geekier than this, a trade-paperback tie-in novel to an obscure campaign setting for an obscure roleplaying game system released just after the fall of TSR and the ascent of Wizards of the Coast, Of Aged Angels is a fun read if nothing else. Monte Cook, designer both for the obscure Dark Matter campaign (an "every myth is true" conspiracy thriller world) for the Alternity game system, as well as a major contributor to the Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition, uses his interest in conspiracy theories and folklore to tell a fun espionage tale with an occult flavor.
This was definitely my favorite of the four Dark Matter novels that were published (perhaps due to being written by a creator), and by itself, it is a pretty good "gamer novel." Agents of the Hoffmann Institute, a private NGO devoted to scientific research (and secretly opposing various malevolent aliens, secret societies, and magical creatures) find themselves involved in a global conspiracy that leads from the halls of Washington DC to France and Scotland. Along the way, while evading enemy agents and tracking down the Holy Grail itself, they discover many secrets about themselves as well. Pretty standard stuff, but well implemented. The character trio was a fun group and, if nothing really groundbreaking was explored in terms of plot or setting, it is a very amusing thought to note how similar Cook's themes were to a certain more well-known conspiracy thriller blockbuster published a couple of years later, and how much superior Cook's take on it was.
Of the other Dark Matter novels, all of which star the same trio of characters but written by different authors, I would only really recommend If Whispers Call, an atmospheric but typical ghost story set in Chicago. In Hollow Houses delved a little too far into bizarre, new agey, pseudo-intellectual philosophizing and did not really capture the feel of the world, while In Fluid Silence seemed the most cliched, exploitative, and all-around unpleasant.
*Read this nine(!) years ago, so the review may be a tad broad.
It really doesn't get much geekier than this, a trade-paperback tie-in novel to an obscure campaign setting for an obscure roleplaying game system released just after the fall of TSR and the ascent of Wizards of the Coast, Of Aged Angels is a fun read if nothing else. Monte Cook, designer both for the obscure Dark Matter campaign (an "every myth is true" conspiracy thriller world) for the Alternity game system, as well as a major contributor to the Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition, uses his interest in conspiracy theories and folklore to tell a fun espionage tale with an occult flavor.
This was definitely my favorite of the four Dark Matter novels that were published (perhaps due to being written by a creator), and by itself, it is a pretty good "gamer novel." Agents of the Hoffmann Institute, a private NGO devoted to scientific research (and secretly opposing various malevolent aliens, secret societies, and magical creatures) find themselves involved in a global conspiracy that leads from the halls of Washington DC to France and Scotland. Along the way, while evading enemy agents and tracking down the Holy Grail itself, they discover many secrets about themselves as well. Pretty standard stuff, but well implemented. The character trio was a fun group and, if nothing really groundbreaking was explored in terms of plot or setting, it is a very amusing thought to note how similar Cook's themes were to a certain more well-known conspiracy thriller blockbuster published a couple of years later, and how much superior Cook's take on it was.
Of the other Dark Matter novels, all of which star the same trio of characters but written by different authors, I would only really recommend If Whispers Call, an atmospheric but typical ghost story set in Chicago. In Hollow Houses delved a little too far into bizarre, new agey, pseudo-intellectual philosophizing and did not really capture the feel of the world, while In Fluid Silence seemed the most cliched, exploitative, and all-around unpleasant.
*Read this nine(!) years ago, so the review may be a tad broad.
March 23, 2019
Of Aged Angels (Dark Matter, #4)
Of Aged Angels (Dark Matter #4) is a book I read ages ago. I remember it being interesting but not the greatest. It falls under a horror sub-genre of paranormal conspiratorial horror. While not overly original, it was not the worst book I’ve ever read either, not by far. I don’t remember really connecting with any of the characters, however. It was a weird read, and not the re-readable kind...
The Dark-Matter books are set in a world of paranormal conspiratorial horror. Fans of horror will find these books edgy, unique, and engaging, and the series design emphasizes the contemporary nature of the books.
Escorting a mystic computer hacker to the Hoffman Institute plunges Jeane, Fitz, and Ngan into a desperate life-or-death struggle to recover the legendary, long-lost Holy Grail." -Book Blurb
This book, begins when three agents of a private facility devoted to scientific research (The Hoffman Institute, who secretly works against various dangerous and malevolent aliens, cultists, organizations, assassins and even magical creatures) eventually find themselves immersed in a huge global conspiracy that trails from Washington DC all the way to Europe, learning many secrets about each other along the way. It is an unusual read, but sadly one that did not really compel me enough to read the others of the series, however.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 3 STARS]
Of Aged Angels (Dark Matter #4) is a book I read ages ago. I remember it being interesting but not the greatest. It falls under a horror sub-genre of paranormal conspiratorial horror. While not overly original, it was not the worst book I’ve ever read either, not by far. I don’t remember really connecting with any of the characters, however. It was a weird read, and not the re-readable kind...
The Dark-Matter books are set in a world of paranormal conspiratorial horror. Fans of horror will find these books edgy, unique, and engaging, and the series design emphasizes the contemporary nature of the books.
Escorting a mystic computer hacker to the Hoffman Institute plunges Jeane, Fitz, and Ngan into a desperate life-or-death struggle to recover the legendary, long-lost Holy Grail." -Book Blurb
This book, begins when three agents of a private facility devoted to scientific research (The Hoffman Institute, who secretly works against various dangerous and malevolent aliens, cultists, organizations, assassins and even magical creatures) eventually find themselves immersed in a huge global conspiracy that trails from Washington DC all the way to Europe, learning many secrets about each other along the way. It is an unusual read, but sadly one that did not really compel me enough to read the others of the series, however.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 3 STARS]
October 3, 2021
The farther into the series I get, the more I like the books. Maybe everyone writing the characters have found their voice. It was fun. I also like discovering these places that are real and have some ties to the paranormal, like Bachelor's Grove and Oak Island.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews