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The Dark Crystal #1
Shadows of the Dark Crystal
The first series of original novels ever set in the world of Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal.
Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Shadows of the Dark Crystal is set years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords.
Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Shadows of the Dark Crystal is set years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
199 people are currently reading
3301 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Lee
10 books211 followersJ.M. spent his formative years searching for talking animals and believing he could control the weather. After pursuing nerdy interests in comparative film studies, screenwriting, and Shakespeare, he graduated with a much nerdier degree in linguistics.
In addition to writing novels, he enjoys teaching his dog new vocabulary words and updating his snooty coffee blog.
The Dark Crystal Author Quest
In 2013, the Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap launched the Dark Crystal Author Quest. The winner would be awarded a publishing contract to write the first official prequel novel to Jim Henson’s beloved fantasy classic The Dark Crystal (1982). After winning the contest and completing the first novel, Shadows of the Dark Crystal, Joe signed on for three more. The third installment in the quadrilogy, Tides of the Dark Crystal, out now. The finale of the series, Flames of the Dark Crystal, is scheduled for summer 2019.
Joe is also a staff writer and creative consultant on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a 10-episode Netflix prequel series released in August of 2019.
In addition to writing novels, he enjoys teaching his dog new vocabulary words and updating his snooty coffee blog.
The Dark Crystal Author Quest
In 2013, the Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap launched the Dark Crystal Author Quest. The winner would be awarded a publishing contract to write the first official prequel novel to Jim Henson’s beloved fantasy classic The Dark Crystal (1982). After winning the contest and completing the first novel, Shadows of the Dark Crystal, Joe signed on for three more. The third installment in the quadrilogy, Tides of the Dark Crystal, out now. The finale of the series, Flames of the Dark Crystal, is scheduled for summer 2019.
Joe is also a staff writer and creative consultant on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a 10-episode Netflix prequel series released in August of 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
April 24, 2020
See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net!
________
When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two made one/By Gelfling hand or else by none.
The Dark Crystal has been a staple in my life since my early childhood. I remember watching the original movie (and Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connolly!) over and over again on VHS with my siblings. It got to the point where we can still quite lines from the movies to each other by heart. So you can imagine how excited I’ve been by the resurgence of this universe into popular culture over the last few years!
Shadows of the Dark Crystal clearly lays a lot of the groundwork and foundation that we saw in the Netflix revival series, Age of Resistance, with a few critical differences. While Rian was the star of the Netflix series – and he also exists within this series and follows a similar storyline to the show – this novel shifts the perspective to center around another set of characters on their own adventure within the world of Thra.
I thought I would miss Rian’s perspective as the central figure in this story, but I really came to love Naia as the main character. Sister to Gurjin, (both ancillary characters that fans of the Netflix show might recall) Naia is next in line to become Maudra of the Drenchen clan and as such bears a mantle of responsibility to her family and her people that sometimes threatens to overpower her. When her brother, Gurjin goes missing, Naia is tasked with leaving her home for the first time in search of what happened to him. She is driven to protect the people she cares about, and I loved how she grows into her own strength over the course of the story.
Missing entirely from this story is Deet, who is another central figure in the Netflix show. It’s clear that the writers of the scripts for the show borrowed heavily from the character of Naia when they were writing Deet, and while I did miss the Grotton fan favorite, I also am a little bit bummed out that Naia didn’t get her chance to properly shine in the show like she does here.
It’s clear that J.M. Lee was a huge fan of the movie. You can feel the love and respect for the original lore and story here, but I also so appreciate all the creativity that Lee’s voice brought to the Dark Crystal mythos as well. Whereas the original film relies on atmosphere, character and set design to convey much of the cultures of the Gelfling, Skeksis and Mystics, Lee expands on all that by adding new levels of complexity to the cultures and behaviors of the creatures of Thra.
The writing is snappy and fast-paced. This is a book that one can easily breeze through in a weekend, but that quick pace doesn’t keep the prose from being wonderfully engaging. Lee showcases the beauty of Thra as well as its dangers with his outstanding ability to describe the world, its characters and their place within it.
The Skeksis are also at their most formidable in this book. With the introduction of possibly the coolest Skeksis character of all time (SkekMal the Hunter) Lee infuses the story with suspense and danger that definitely places this into the pageturner category.
As for when the story is set – like the Netflix series, it’s not entirely clear. As fans of the movie know, in the film, Jen is the last of his kind. In this series, the Gelfling society is yet untouched by the Skeksis and their corruption of the crystal. It’s definitely a little depressing to consider what may happen to the characters over the course of the series, which might make this book a bit of a challenge for some readers. That being said, I think the original Dark Crystal – and this novel both shine because they are unafraid to peer upon darkness from time to time. It raises the stakes, and the story is all the more memorable for it.
★★★★★
________
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________
When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two made one/By Gelfling hand or else by none.
The Dark Crystal has been a staple in my life since my early childhood. I remember watching the original movie (and Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connolly!) over and over again on VHS with my siblings. It got to the point where we can still quite lines from the movies to each other by heart. So you can imagine how excited I’ve been by the resurgence of this universe into popular culture over the last few years!
Shadows of the Dark Crystal clearly lays a lot of the groundwork and foundation that we saw in the Netflix revival series, Age of Resistance, with a few critical differences. While Rian was the star of the Netflix series – and he also exists within this series and follows a similar storyline to the show – this novel shifts the perspective to center around another set of characters on their own adventure within the world of Thra.
I thought I would miss Rian’s perspective as the central figure in this story, but I really came to love Naia as the main character. Sister to Gurjin, (both ancillary characters that fans of the Netflix show might recall) Naia is next in line to become Maudra of the Drenchen clan and as such bears a mantle of responsibility to her family and her people that sometimes threatens to overpower her. When her brother, Gurjin goes missing, Naia is tasked with leaving her home for the first time in search of what happened to him. She is driven to protect the people she cares about, and I loved how she grows into her own strength over the course of the story.
Missing entirely from this story is Deet, who is another central figure in the Netflix show. It’s clear that the writers of the scripts for the show borrowed heavily from the character of Naia when they were writing Deet, and while I did miss the Grotton fan favorite, I also am a little bit bummed out that Naia didn’t get her chance to properly shine in the show like she does here.
It’s clear that J.M. Lee was a huge fan of the movie. You can feel the love and respect for the original lore and story here, but I also so appreciate all the creativity that Lee’s voice brought to the Dark Crystal mythos as well. Whereas the original film relies on atmosphere, character and set design to convey much of the cultures of the Gelfling, Skeksis and Mystics, Lee expands on all that by adding new levels of complexity to the cultures and behaviors of the creatures of Thra.
The writing is snappy and fast-paced. This is a book that one can easily breeze through in a weekend, but that quick pace doesn’t keep the prose from being wonderfully engaging. Lee showcases the beauty of Thra as well as its dangers with his outstanding ability to describe the world, its characters and their place within it.
The Skeksis are also at their most formidable in this book. With the introduction of possibly the coolest Skeksis character of all time (SkekMal the Hunter) Lee infuses the story with suspense and danger that definitely places this into the pageturner category.
As for when the story is set – like the Netflix series, it’s not entirely clear. As fans of the movie know, in the film, Jen is the last of his kind. In this series, the Gelfling society is yet untouched by the Skeksis and their corruption of the crystal. It’s definitely a little depressing to consider what may happen to the characters over the course of the series, which might make this book a bit of a challenge for some readers. That being said, I think the original Dark Crystal – and this novel both shine because they are unafraid to peer upon darkness from time to time. It raises the stakes, and the story is all the more memorable for it.
★★★★★
________
Follow me on Instagram @bookbastion for more shots of my books!
December 23, 2019
The Dark Crystal was my favorite childhood movie, is still one of my favorite movies. I'm so glad there has been a resurgence of interest. Shadows is the first of JM Lee's prequels that welcomes you back to the world of Thra.
At this time there were thousands of Gelflings across Thra divided into seven clans of separate cultures, histories, beliefs, traditions, and magics. They are beautiful matriarchal societies in complete harmony with their lands.
We start off in the swamps of Sog where Gelflings have gills and wings suited to swim and flight. Our MC is Naia, eldest daughter of the clans maudra, matriarch. A warrior soon arrives from the far off lands of Ha'rar with bad tidings, Naia's twin brother Gurjin, a guard at the Crystal Palace, had been accused of treason.
So begins Naia's quest to find her brother and prove his innocence. Along the way she finds troubling evidence of a darkness spreading disharmony through Thra.
I underestimated how hard it would be to read about a people preholocaust. It was a weight on my chest the entire time.
The malicious cruelty of the Skeksis doesn't resonate in the movie as it does here. The Crystal Guardians were the revered benevolent leadership of Thra... who turned out to be secretly draining to death their subjects to extend their own lives.
The Skeksis display of callous malevolent glee gave me the chills. It's hard to go on to the next book knowing what happens...
But I owe it to my Gelflings.
***Update 9/16/2019***
I’ve been having trouble getting into the new Netflix Dark Crystal and I think it has to do with the fake plastic Gelflings...
Read
October 4, 2016I was in some serious need of a comfort read this week so I went to the bookstore and stumbled across this book. Literally. It was poking off the lower shelf all crooked and I tripped over it. And I’m so glad I did. The Dark Crystal was one of my favorite movies from childhood, and is one I still watch with pleasure quite often. To discover a novel set in the years before the film, a whole new prequel to the film, was a delightful find, and exactly what I needed at the moment. It is full of adventure and fantasy and pretty Froud-esque illustrations. It is all that I wanted and hoped it would be when I first picked it up. An unexpected treat!
— Kristen McQuinn
from The Best Books We Read In August 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/08/31/riot-r...
— Kristen McQuinn
from The Best Books We Read In August 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/08/31/riot-r...
May 25, 2017
I still, to this day, LOVE the Dark Crystal, and it's fascinating worlds and denizens! And I'm thrilled that there's a new resurgence in this property!
This title (and the Power of the Dark Crystal comic series) both really capture the majesty and grandeur of the world, coupled with compelling characters and stories.
This title (and the Power of the Dark Crystal comic series) both really capture the majesty and grandeur of the world, coupled with compelling characters and stories.
September 20, 2019
I was recommended this book by my librarian due to the upcoming Netflix adaptation of the Dark Crystal. Going into this short little fantasy book, I knew practically nothing about it as I have not seen the original Dark Crystal film, though I did know that this worked as a sort of prequel to the original. It is certainly much more of a middle-grade series for sure, due to the length of the novel and the sort of juvenile story telling style, as well as having a fairly simplistic world.
One of the main things that I was fairly surprised about was that it read more like traditional old-school fantasy(LoTR, Earthsea, etc.) rather than modern fantasy(Harry Potter, Cosmere etc.). I will say that the book is very description heavy with a seeming lack of much dialogue unless it was needed to propel the story forward and there was even a song, of which I admit I skipped as I did not care about it all. I do like traditional fantasy, but I think that considering the fact that it is, one, aimed towards younger children and two, that it was published very recently, that due to its slow pace, may throw off some younger readers. I liked the writing style well enough and found it to be nice, though I was not as engaged with the story or the characters as I would have liked to.
To be honest, I did not find myself liking any of the characters to the point where I was thoroughly engaged and rooting for them and was rather a bit indifferent to them, finding them a bit shallow. Not that they were badly written, but rather just not having enough depth to them. Another thing I will say is that the entire book almost acts like a really long prologue of exposition rather than being the first book in the series with the climax of this book doing nothing but setting more for book two, without the main issue of the world discovered until the very end.
A positive is actually how creative the world building is and it is always great to see some delightful to see some original world building set in an interesting world with fascinating creatures and races of different kinds. That said, I think that there may be some inconsistencies in the amount of time it takes to get from point a to b, but that is more nitpicking on my side now.
I will be continuing with the rest of the series and for the most part, I enjoyed this book, but refrained from loving it hence the three star rating. 6/10
One of the main things that I was fairly surprised about was that it read more like traditional old-school fantasy(LoTR, Earthsea, etc.) rather than modern fantasy(Harry Potter, Cosmere etc.). I will say that the book is very description heavy with a seeming lack of much dialogue unless it was needed to propel the story forward and there was even a song, of which I admit I skipped as I did not care about it all. I do like traditional fantasy, but I think that considering the fact that it is, one, aimed towards younger children and two, that it was published very recently, that due to its slow pace, may throw off some younger readers. I liked the writing style well enough and found it to be nice, though I was not as engaged with the story or the characters as I would have liked to.
To be honest, I did not find myself liking any of the characters to the point where I was thoroughly engaged and rooting for them and was rather a bit indifferent to them, finding them a bit shallow. Not that they were badly written, but rather just not having enough depth to them. Another thing I will say is that the entire book almost acts like a really long prologue of exposition rather than being the first book in the series with the climax of this book doing nothing but setting more for book two, without the main issue of the world discovered until the very end.
A positive is actually how creative the world building is and it is always great to see some delightful to see some original world building set in an interesting world with fascinating creatures and races of different kinds. That said, I think that there may be some inconsistencies in the amount of time it takes to get from point a to b, but that is more nitpicking on my side now.
I will be continuing with the rest of the series and for the most part, I enjoyed this book, but refrained from loving it hence the three star rating. 6/10
August 11, 2019
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is what world-building is all about. This book was incredible. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. Off to order the other three now.
This is what world-building is all about. This book was incredible. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. Off to order the other three now.
September 22, 2019
**2/5 stars**
Fans of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: save yourselves some time and spare yourself from reading Shadows of the Dark Crystal. Its greatest weakness is how far it strays from the show's narrative and world building. And don't expect to be pulled magically into the world of Thra: the weak writing style, poor character development, and slow narrative leave the audience with something to be desired.
Probably at no fault of the author, this prequel novel to Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal contradicts the Netflix prequel show in a multitude of ways. There are plot choices made that are such a departure from the film/show canon that retconning them would be a task and a half. Lee's Naia and Kylan are not Netflix's Naia and Kylan even though you're supposed to read these "before you watch the upcoming Netflix series." Major, narrative-defining moments in the show are turned upside down in the novel, and even the entire nature of "The Darkening" is challenged by Naia's healing abilities in the novel.
For example, in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Naia, Kylan, Tavra, and the Captain of the Guard (Rian's father) find Rian hiding in a podling tavern. Naia and Kylan want to turn Rian in so that Naia can exchange him for her brother, Gurjin, who she believes is being wrongfully imprisoned for Rian's treason at the Castle of the Crystal. Rian manages to convince the other gelfling to dreamfast with him so that they can see for themselves the skeKsis' crimes. In Lee's novel, the story goes as far into the plot of the show to the point where Gurjin is freed from the skeKsis and the Hunter is on the prowl. Except Naia never meets Rian before she does this and she hasn't met Tavra yet either. The show says that Naia learns of the skeKsis crimes from dreamfasting with Rian, while the book says she doesn't know the truth until she actually gets to the castle. She also doesn't know Tavra at all in the show before meeting her in the podling tavern, but one of the central relationships in the novel is that between Naia and Tavra.
It is difficult to try to explain the contradictory nature of the novel in clear terms because it really was such a puzzling reading experience. I was constantly thinking, "Wait, when could this have happened?" and, "Hold on, that's not how the Darkening works!" In the end I was extremely dissatisfied. Age of Resistance is one of the best-written shows in a very long time. I was so excited to read something that would feed my need to keep living in the story for as long as possible while I wait for Season 2. But I was let down, to say the least. And I don't blame Lee; I blame whoever is in charge of overseeing the whole narrative that combines the show, books, and original film into one canon.
I spent a great deal of time talking about the asymmetry between the novel and show so I will only briefly touch upon the technical flaws of Shadows of the Dark Crystal. All of the characters are hollow husks for gelfling. They all have the same voice and everyone except for Gurjin, Naia, urVa, and the Hunter seemed to have little purpose in the actual plot. The presence of these four characters mostly provided key context for understanding important world building details. The writing style feels empty, too. Sometimes the imagery was pretty, but mostly the prose felt very "She did this. He did that." It just felt... rookie. As if the author is just too inexperienced. Either that or just not inspired. However, there's plenty of room for improvement! There are at least three books that follow this one. I'm actually curious to see if Lee's writing improves. After all, I believe this was his first novel.
So will I keep reading the series? Yeah, probably. I'm desperate for The Dark Crystal content at the moment; I'll take what I can get. I also have a ridiculous desire to make myself mad by discovering just how much they can mess up the symmetry between the books and the show. Supposedly the most recent book is very well done, so we shall see.
Recommended for: Fantasy-hungry young adults; desperate fans of the The Dark Crystal; anyone who wants to be bored
Fans of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: save yourselves some time and spare yourself from reading Shadows of the Dark Crystal. Its greatest weakness is how far it strays from the show's narrative and world building. And don't expect to be pulled magically into the world of Thra: the weak writing style, poor character development, and slow narrative leave the audience with something to be desired.
Probably at no fault of the author, this prequel novel to Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal contradicts the Netflix prequel show in a multitude of ways. There are plot choices made that are such a departure from the film/show canon that retconning them would be a task and a half. Lee's Naia and Kylan are not Netflix's Naia and Kylan even though you're supposed to read these "before you watch the upcoming Netflix series." Major, narrative-defining moments in the show are turned upside down in the novel, and even the entire nature of "The Darkening" is challenged by Naia's healing abilities in the novel.
For example, in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Naia, Kylan, Tavra, and the Captain of the Guard (Rian's father) find Rian hiding in a podling tavern. Naia and Kylan want to turn Rian in so that Naia can exchange him for her brother, Gurjin, who she believes is being wrongfully imprisoned for Rian's treason at the Castle of the Crystal. Rian manages to convince the other gelfling to dreamfast with him so that they can see for themselves the skeKsis' crimes. In Lee's novel, the story goes as far into the plot of the show to the point where Gurjin is freed from the skeKsis and the Hunter is on the prowl. Except Naia never meets Rian before she does this and she hasn't met Tavra yet either. The show says that Naia learns of the skeKsis crimes from dreamfasting with Rian, while the book says she doesn't know the truth until she actually gets to the castle. She also doesn't know Tavra at all in the show before meeting her in the podling tavern, but one of the central relationships in the novel is that between Naia and Tavra.
It is difficult to try to explain the contradictory nature of the novel in clear terms because it really was such a puzzling reading experience. I was constantly thinking, "Wait, when could this have happened?" and, "Hold on, that's not how the Darkening works!" In the end I was extremely dissatisfied. Age of Resistance is one of the best-written shows in a very long time. I was so excited to read something that would feed my need to keep living in the story for as long as possible while I wait for Season 2. But I was let down, to say the least. And I don't blame Lee; I blame whoever is in charge of overseeing the whole narrative that combines the show, books, and original film into one canon.
I spent a great deal of time talking about the asymmetry between the novel and show so I will only briefly touch upon the technical flaws of Shadows of the Dark Crystal. All of the characters are hollow husks for gelfling. They all have the same voice and everyone except for Gurjin, Naia, urVa, and the Hunter seemed to have little purpose in the actual plot. The presence of these four characters mostly provided key context for understanding important world building details. The writing style feels empty, too. Sometimes the imagery was pretty, but mostly the prose felt very "She did this. He did that." It just felt... rookie. As if the author is just too inexperienced. Either that or just not inspired. However, there's plenty of room for improvement! There are at least three books that follow this one. I'm actually curious to see if Lee's writing improves. After all, I believe this was his first novel.
So will I keep reading the series? Yeah, probably. I'm desperate for The Dark Crystal content at the moment; I'll take what I can get. I also have a ridiculous desire to make myself mad by discovering just how much they can mess up the symmetry between the books and the show. Supposedly the most recent book is very well done, so we shall see.
Recommended for: Fantasy-hungry young adults; desperate fans of the The Dark Crystal; anyone who wants to be bored
December 7, 2019
I don't remember watching The Dark Crystal as a kid but at the back of my head, it sounds and looks so familiar.
I have a feeling I definitely have seen it before but can't for the life of me remember it.
I was honestly intrigued by the cover of the book. It's even more exciting that its a netflix series, which I am definitely watching.
I am definitely in need of an illustrations of graphic novel of this series, it will be beautiful jut as the story was.
The build up of the story was so good. It just takes me back of being a kid. Although I don't remember the series, I feel a sense of familiarity.
I have a feeling I definitely have seen it before but can't for the life of me remember it.
I was honestly intrigued by the cover of the book. It's even more exciting that its a netflix series, which I am definitely watching.
I am definitely in need of an illustrations of graphic novel of this series, it will be beautiful jut as the story was.
The build up of the story was so good. It just takes me back of being a kid. Although I don't remember the series, I feel a sense of familiarity.
July 18, 2016
this was amazing. it didn't need to be complex, it didn't need to tell us something new, it needed to tell the other half of the story... more to be said, I'm just speechless and stunned on how perfect this was!
EDIT
Are you still in mourning after reading that mess that was Return to Labyrinth? Looking to read something that actually does justice to the original material? Something that Henson would be proud of.
READ. THIS. BOOK.
Every page had me smiling.
No, I'm serious.
The Dark Crystal was a fantasy at best, a story of two halves becoming whole... This is Gelfling lore at it's finest. The words that Henson and Froud coined, they're all here - fantastically used. The riddles told by the UrVa? Still the same... but we know the outcome, we just don't know how we made it there.
There is no happy ending for the Gelflings in this series, that much is true (because we know that Jen and Kira are the hope). But we are given two amazing characters that we want to follow to the end that will lead us to the beginning. We are given scarier, meaner Skeksis... we are shown the impact of the poisoned crystal on the world. We are given the seeds of a fight that will spawn for a long time.
I want to thank the Henson Co. for reaching out to fans and choosing someone who can best tell the story that is meant to be told. (I hope that the same happens with Labyrinth.)
Please read this book, support it, because I want a sequel. I want a series. I want to see fan art of this. J.M. Lee, you are rekindling my childhood - please keep stoking those embers.
EDIT
Are you still in mourning after reading that mess that was Return to Labyrinth? Looking to read something that actually does justice to the original material? Something that Henson would be proud of.
READ. THIS. BOOK.
Every page had me smiling.
No, I'm serious.
The Dark Crystal was a fantasy at best, a story of two halves becoming whole... This is Gelfling lore at it's finest. The words that Henson and Froud coined, they're all here - fantastically used. The riddles told by the UrVa? Still the same... but we know the outcome, we just don't know how we made it there.
There is no happy ending for the Gelflings in this series, that much is true (because we know that Jen and Kira are the hope). But we are given two amazing characters that we want to follow to the end that will lead us to the beginning. We are given scarier, meaner Skeksis... we are shown the impact of the poisoned crystal on the world. We are given the seeds of a fight that will spawn for a long time.
I want to thank the Henson Co. for reaching out to fans and choosing someone who can best tell the story that is meant to be told. (I hope that the same happens with Labyrinth.)
Please read this book, support it, because I want a sequel. I want a series. I want to see fan art of this. J.M. Lee, you are rekindling my childhood - please keep stoking those embers.
February 5, 2024
Ich kann gar nicht in Worte fassen, wie glücklich mich diese Reihe gemacht hat, auch wenn ich sie niemandem empfehlen würde, der nicht vorher zumindest den Film oder gar die Serie gesehen hat, da sie sehr viel Lore von einem fordert, ohne großartig Begriffe zu erklären. Die Bücher wurden vor der Serie veröffentlicht, aber ich hätte meine Probleme gehabt dem Inhalt zu folgen, wenn ich nicht gewusst hätte, was mich in der fantastischen Welt von Thra erwartet. Hier siedelt sich leider auch mein größter Kritikpunkt an der Reihe an. Wir lernen zwar einige neue und für mich alt bekannte Figuren kennen, allerdings unterscheidet sich einiges von der Serie. An der Stelle hätte ich mir eher eine Ergänzung zur Serie gewünscht und nicht eine Handlung, die sich anfühlt, wie ein paralleler Erzählstrang. Auch, dass das Buch auf der selben Note geendet hat, wie die Serie und so leider nicht wirklich neue Erkenntnisse gegeben hat, wie es mit den Sieben Clans weitergehen wird. Wer den Film gesehen hat weiß natürlich, wie es unweigerlich enden wird, aber der Weg dorthin ist das, was mich am meisten interessieren würde.
September 6, 2019
Delightful prequel to the prequel of THE DARK CRYSTAL. I do wonder at the fact that they didn't just use this for one of the episodes of the series (which I haven't started yet). This could easily have been a fine script. It was well written and interesting, and gave information about the different types of Gelfling and other creatures without feeling like an info dump.
September 7, 2021
Dazu muss ich etwas weiter ausholen ... im Jahr 2019 hab ich mir ja die Serie The Dark Crystal auf Netflix angeschaut: Die Vorgeschichte zu Jim Hensons Film "Der dunkle Kristall" aus dem Jahr 1982. Mit dem Film konnte ich damals als Kind tatsächlich nicht gar so viel anfangen, auch wenn ich ihn mochte, trotzdem hat mich die neue Serie gereizt und ich muss sagen: sie ist absolut genial gemacht! An die "Puppen" Darsteller muss man sich vielleicht erstmal gewöhnen, aber die wundervolle Optik der Landschaft, die Umsetzung der originellen, phantasievollen Ideen, die passende musikalische Untermalung und die Handlung, das ist einfach ein pures Erlebnis!
Dann kam jetzt ganz frisch der erste Band der vierteiligen Buchreihe dazu auf den Markt, auf den ich natürlich mega neugierig war. Ich bin davon ausgegangen, dass hier die Handlung der Serie in Buchform erzählt wird, doch das ist nicht so! J. M. Lee hat sich den Charakter Naia herausgepickt, die zusammen mit Kylan im Mittelpunkt steht. Soweit ich aus den Klappentexten der Fortsetzungen sehen konnte, bleiben diese beiden Figuren auch die Protagonisten der weiteren Handlung.
In der Welt Thra leben die Gelflinge, ähnlich den Menschen, aber doch anders und auch mit speziellen Fähigkeiten ausgestattet, indem sie sich an ihre Umgebung und Heimat angepasst haben. Es gibt verschiedenen Klans über weite Gebiete verstreut, die meist unter sich bleiben; dennoch Nachrichten austauschen und sich meist freundlich gesinnt sind, aber durchaus auch Misstrauen hegen.
Ebenfalls in Thra leben die Skekse, die als Herrscher in ihrer Burg über den Kristall regieren. Den Kristall, der mit seiner lebensspendenden Musik alles Leben auf Thra durchdringt und im Gleichgewicht hält.
Das ist nur der grobe Rahmen dieser verwunschenen und verzauberten Welt, in die man schon auf den ersten Seiten direkt eintaucht. Fremdartig, bizarr und wunderschön war mein Eindruck - wobei ich natürlich noch die Bilder der Serie im Kopf hatte. Aber der Autor weiß sehr anschaulich und bildhaft zu beschreiben und entwirft den Schauplatz dieses fremdartigen Lebensraums mit spielerischer Leichtigkeit.
Die vielen fremden Namen der Figuren, Pflanzen- und Tierwelt mögen im ersten Moment ungewöhnlich erscheinen, aber sie fügen sich so problemlos ins Bild, das man sich alles sehr gut vorstellen kann.
Es helfen auch die gezeichneten Bilder, die immer wieder auftauchen - grade für diejenigen, die weder Film noch Serie kennen, haben hier die Möglichkeit, eine visuelle Vorstellung zu bekommen. Wobei man auf dem Cover ja auch schon gut erkennt, wie die typischen Vertreter der beiden Völker aussehen :)
Naia ist übrigens ein toller Charakter! Sie hat ihre kleinen Ecken und Kanten und wirkt manchmal etwas spröde: sie ist neidisch auf ihren Bruder, der als Burgwache für die Skekse dienen darf, hat Vorurteile gegenüber anderen Klans und hat eben typische positive und "negative" Züge, die sie sehr authentisch machen. Besonders ist vor allem ihr Feingefühl. Denn auch wenn sie gerne lacht, auch über andere, weiß sie sehr gut zu unterscheiden, wann Hilfe und Empathie gefragt ist, oder auch ein Umdenken oder neu sortieren von dem Wissen, das sie bisher aus Erfahrungen gelernt hat.
Auf ihrer Mission kommt sie zum ersten Mal aus ihrer Heimat, dem Sumpfgebiet Sogg, heraus und trifft auf andere Gelflinge, deren Klansitten ungewohnt und neu für sie sind. Sie beweist ihre Anpassungsfähigkeit und auch ihren Willen, ihre Aufgabe zu meistern, denn sie hat einige Gefahren zu bestehen, die sie schließlich einen ungeheuren Verrat aufdecken lassen.
Als Fantasyleser bin ich eher dickere Schinken gewöhnt und kann nur bewundern, wie J. M. Lee in diesem relativ kurzen Band die Welt so lebendig beschreiben konnte, die Figuren gleichzeitig sehr greifbar gemacht hat und dabei nicht die Handlung aus den Augen verliert. Auf ihrem Weg muss Naia bedrohliche Entdeckungen machen und sich vielen Gefahren zur Wehr setzen, findet aber auch hilfreiche Freunde, die ihr zur Seite stehen.
Es war schließlich in Ordnung, anderer Meinung zu sein, solange niemand von ihnen die Ansichten des Gegenübers verachtete.
Zitat Seite 202
Es klingen viele Botschaften zwischen den Zeilen durch, die zum Nachdenken anregen, was mich ja immer besonders berührt und der Geschichte eine tiefere Bedeutung gibt.
Witzig fand ich z. B. auch die Klarsprache der Drenchen (dem Klan von Naia). Klarsprache heißt, nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden, sondern klar zu sagen, was Sache ist. Entgegen der "Schmeichelsprache", die gerne von anderen benutzt wird. Dafür gibt es aber auch in ihrem Klan wenige Geschichten, Lieder oder Gedichte, die mit fantasievollen Ausschmückungen dekoriert werden, da es eben üblich ist, sich an die Fakten zu halten.
Insgesamt hat es mir wirklich äußerst gut gefallen, auch wenn ich mit der "Handlung zur Serie" gerechnet hatte. Naia gibt hier aus ihrer Sicht einen wundervollen Einblick in diese phantastische Welt voller mystischer Wesen und einer Verbundenheit aller, die jedoch durch frevelhaften Verrat vor einer großen Bedrohung steht.
Es geht um Vertrauen, Verrat, Misstrauen und Freundschaft - und kommt (bisher) sehr gut ohne Liebesgeschichte aus.
Ich freu mich jedenfalls auf die Fortsetzung und bin sehr gespannt, wie es weitergeht!
Weltenwanderer
Dann kam jetzt ganz frisch der erste Band der vierteiligen Buchreihe dazu auf den Markt, auf den ich natürlich mega neugierig war. Ich bin davon ausgegangen, dass hier die Handlung der Serie in Buchform erzählt wird, doch das ist nicht so! J. M. Lee hat sich den Charakter Naia herausgepickt, die zusammen mit Kylan im Mittelpunkt steht. Soweit ich aus den Klappentexten der Fortsetzungen sehen konnte, bleiben diese beiden Figuren auch die Protagonisten der weiteren Handlung.
In der Welt Thra leben die Gelflinge, ähnlich den Menschen, aber doch anders und auch mit speziellen Fähigkeiten ausgestattet, indem sie sich an ihre Umgebung und Heimat angepasst haben. Es gibt verschiedenen Klans über weite Gebiete verstreut, die meist unter sich bleiben; dennoch Nachrichten austauschen und sich meist freundlich gesinnt sind, aber durchaus auch Misstrauen hegen.
Ebenfalls in Thra leben die Skekse, die als Herrscher in ihrer Burg über den Kristall regieren. Den Kristall, der mit seiner lebensspendenden Musik alles Leben auf Thra durchdringt und im Gleichgewicht hält.
Das ist nur der grobe Rahmen dieser verwunschenen und verzauberten Welt, in die man schon auf den ersten Seiten direkt eintaucht. Fremdartig, bizarr und wunderschön war mein Eindruck - wobei ich natürlich noch die Bilder der Serie im Kopf hatte. Aber der Autor weiß sehr anschaulich und bildhaft zu beschreiben und entwirft den Schauplatz dieses fremdartigen Lebensraums mit spielerischer Leichtigkeit.
Die vielen fremden Namen der Figuren, Pflanzen- und Tierwelt mögen im ersten Moment ungewöhnlich erscheinen, aber sie fügen sich so problemlos ins Bild, das man sich alles sehr gut vorstellen kann.
Es helfen auch die gezeichneten Bilder, die immer wieder auftauchen - grade für diejenigen, die weder Film noch Serie kennen, haben hier die Möglichkeit, eine visuelle Vorstellung zu bekommen. Wobei man auf dem Cover ja auch schon gut erkennt, wie die typischen Vertreter der beiden Völker aussehen :)
Naia ist übrigens ein toller Charakter! Sie hat ihre kleinen Ecken und Kanten und wirkt manchmal etwas spröde: sie ist neidisch auf ihren Bruder, der als Burgwache für die Skekse dienen darf, hat Vorurteile gegenüber anderen Klans und hat eben typische positive und "negative" Züge, die sie sehr authentisch machen. Besonders ist vor allem ihr Feingefühl. Denn auch wenn sie gerne lacht, auch über andere, weiß sie sehr gut zu unterscheiden, wann Hilfe und Empathie gefragt ist, oder auch ein Umdenken oder neu sortieren von dem Wissen, das sie bisher aus Erfahrungen gelernt hat.
Auf ihrer Mission kommt sie zum ersten Mal aus ihrer Heimat, dem Sumpfgebiet Sogg, heraus und trifft auf andere Gelflinge, deren Klansitten ungewohnt und neu für sie sind. Sie beweist ihre Anpassungsfähigkeit und auch ihren Willen, ihre Aufgabe zu meistern, denn sie hat einige Gefahren zu bestehen, die sie schließlich einen ungeheuren Verrat aufdecken lassen.
Als Fantasyleser bin ich eher dickere Schinken gewöhnt und kann nur bewundern, wie J. M. Lee in diesem relativ kurzen Band die Welt so lebendig beschreiben konnte, die Figuren gleichzeitig sehr greifbar gemacht hat und dabei nicht die Handlung aus den Augen verliert. Auf ihrem Weg muss Naia bedrohliche Entdeckungen machen und sich vielen Gefahren zur Wehr setzen, findet aber auch hilfreiche Freunde, die ihr zur Seite stehen.
Es war schließlich in Ordnung, anderer Meinung zu sein, solange niemand von ihnen die Ansichten des Gegenübers verachtete.
Zitat Seite 202
Es klingen viele Botschaften zwischen den Zeilen durch, die zum Nachdenken anregen, was mich ja immer besonders berührt und der Geschichte eine tiefere Bedeutung gibt.
Witzig fand ich z. B. auch die Klarsprache der Drenchen (dem Klan von Naia). Klarsprache heißt, nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden, sondern klar zu sagen, was Sache ist. Entgegen der "Schmeichelsprache", die gerne von anderen benutzt wird. Dafür gibt es aber auch in ihrem Klan wenige Geschichten, Lieder oder Gedichte, die mit fantasievollen Ausschmückungen dekoriert werden, da es eben üblich ist, sich an die Fakten zu halten.
Insgesamt hat es mir wirklich äußerst gut gefallen, auch wenn ich mit der "Handlung zur Serie" gerechnet hatte. Naia gibt hier aus ihrer Sicht einen wundervollen Einblick in diese phantastische Welt voller mystischer Wesen und einer Verbundenheit aller, die jedoch durch frevelhaften Verrat vor einer großen Bedrohung steht.
Es geht um Vertrauen, Verrat, Misstrauen und Freundschaft - und kommt (bisher) sehr gut ohne Liebesgeschichte aus.
Ich freu mich jedenfalls auf die Fortsetzung und bin sehr gespannt, wie es weitergeht!
Weltenwanderer
October 14, 2021
Gutes Buch, aber viele Details
Ich habe die Serie und den Film nicht gesehen, daher konnte ich unvoreingenommen an das Buch herangehen. Mir hat es gut gefallen, aber es war sehr detailreich und es hat unglaublich lang gedauert, bis etwas passiert ist. Die Welt hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen und die Wesen, die darin wohnen sind auch sehr interessant.
Naia will ihren Bruder „retten“, denn dem wird Hochverrat vorgeworfen und doch kommt am Ende alles anders. Nichts ist, wie es scheint und das finde ich besonders faszinierend. „Für jedes eins, gibt es ein anderes“ fand ich besonders schön, denn hierbei geht es nicht nur um Zwillinge, sondern um das Gegenstück zu jedem.
Am Ende ist es trotzdem eine „Einführung“ in die Welt und in die Materie bzw. das Problem. Das Abenteuer hat ja jetzt erst begonnen und es haben schon zu viele ihr Leben gelassen. Ich hoffe sehr, dass Naia und Kylan ihr nächstes Ziel bald erreichen. Wenn ich mir aber anschaue, wie viele Bücher es noch gibt, wird das noch eine sehr lange Reise werden.
Ich habe die Serie und den Film nicht gesehen, daher konnte ich unvoreingenommen an das Buch herangehen. Mir hat es gut gefallen, aber es war sehr detailreich und es hat unglaublich lang gedauert, bis etwas passiert ist. Die Welt hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen und die Wesen, die darin wohnen sind auch sehr interessant.
Naia will ihren Bruder „retten“, denn dem wird Hochverrat vorgeworfen und doch kommt am Ende alles anders. Nichts ist, wie es scheint und das finde ich besonders faszinierend. „Für jedes eins, gibt es ein anderes“ fand ich besonders schön, denn hierbei geht es nicht nur um Zwillinge, sondern um das Gegenstück zu jedem.
Am Ende ist es trotzdem eine „Einführung“ in die Welt und in die Materie bzw. das Problem. Das Abenteuer hat ja jetzt erst begonnen und es haben schon zu viele ihr Leben gelassen. Ich hoffe sehr, dass Naia und Kylan ihr nächstes Ziel bald erreichen. Wenn ich mir aber anschaue, wie viele Bücher es noch gibt, wird das noch eine sehr lange Reise werden.
August 31, 2023
If you like the Dark Crystal, read this. You'll love it. If you don't know anything about the Dark Crystal... Don't jump into this series first. Unless you're really good at gathering details about lore and world building through context clues alone. Anyway this book was AMAZING and I'm so excited to read the rest of the series. It fills the empty hole in my heart left in the wake of Age of Resistance being canceled!!!
June 23, 2020
I really enjoyed returning to the world of Thra. I grew up watching 'The Dark Crystal' movie countless times and a few months ago watched first season of 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.' So whenever the author described a place or living thing I was able to very easily call to mind very clear images. There were 2 or 3 times where the logic didn't fully flow. Like the Gelflings not knowing what a Mystic was until suddenly they used the word without there being an indication they were told what they were. Due to the large cast of characters, having seen the TV show I think definitely made it easier for me to keep up with and remember who was who - though I did still a few times have to pause and remember details about a specific character.
I also really liked the author's approach to world building. Creatures and objects are brought up casually and ones that are not important are given just enough context for readers to categorize the type of creature or object. And ones that are more important are slower revealed and explained each time they come up again.
I am excited to continue this series.
I also really liked the author's approach to world building. Creatures and objects are brought up casually and ones that are not important are given just enough context for readers to categorize the type of creature or object. And ones that are more important are slower revealed and explained each time they come up again.
I am excited to continue this series.
February 7, 2017
As a lifelong fan of The Dark Crystal, I was pleasantly pleased and satisfied with this addition to the the world of Thra. J.M. Lee did an outstanding job in recapturing the essence (teehee) of the Dark Crystal universe, and it is my favorite thing from there since the movie.
One thing that made me happy with this book is the exploration and diversities of the gelfling villages and tribes. It was awesome seeing J.M Lee's expansions on the world I love. Add this to the fact that he pulled no punches when showing us the darkness of the skeksis corruption and deplorable actions, and it makes for a not-to-miss tale. He was definitely the right author for this job.
If you love the Dark Crystal film and would like to start these novels, please don't hold back. It's a wonderful novel full of adventure, suspense and action that is sprinkled heavily with fantasy and lore from the world of Thra.
One thing that made me happy with this book is the exploration and diversities of the gelfling villages and tribes. It was awesome seeing J.M Lee's expansions on the world I love. Add this to the fact that he pulled no punches when showing us the darkness of the skeksis corruption and deplorable actions, and it makes for a not-to-miss tale. He was definitely the right author for this job.
If you love the Dark Crystal film and would like to start these novels, please don't hold back. It's a wonderful novel full of adventure, suspense and action that is sprinkled heavily with fantasy and lore from the world of Thra.
January 28, 2016
Has a proper sense of the world, with loads of detail and nods to the movie, while still introducing creative new elements. Very curious to see how this series unfolds, particularly knowing that, as a prequel, it has to end on a rather dismal note.
October 29, 2021
Ich glaube, ich habe das durchschnittlichste Buch überhaupt gelesen. Es gibt nur zwei Punkte, die mich stören, wobei einer gar nicht so dramatisch ist: das Ende. Zwar hört die Geschichte quasi mittendrin auf, aber das ist ein typischer Stil bei dem dazugehörigen Twist davor. Also ist es zwar meh für mich, aber allgemein auch kein schlechtes Ende.
Viel schwerer in Gewicht fällt bei mir dagegen, dass ich mich v.a. während des ersten Drittels komplett verloren gefühlt habe und kaum ein Wort aus der Welt, in der die Geschichte spielt, verstanden habe. Ich glaube einfach, dass super viel Wissen vorausgesetzt wird und man sonst eben im Glossar am Ende nachblättern soll. Einerseits ist das bei einem E-Book halt blöd, andererseits finde ich aber auch, dass eine Geschichte auch ohne andauerndes Nachgucken von Wörtern, Begriffen, Spezies und so weiter funktionieren sollte. Vor allem, wenn das alles Sachen sind, die sich in maximal 1-2 Nebensätzen so beschreiben lassen, dass man es als Leser ohne Vorwissen versteht. Das meiste ist mir auch jetzt nicht klar, weil ich es mir zu 100% aus dem Kontext zusammenreimen und erraten musste. Könnte aber auch eben total daneben liegen.
Sonst ist das Buch wirklich super durchschnittlich. Die Handlung ist nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht super überraschend oder umhauend, der Schreibstil genauso. Es ist auch nicht super spannend, aber eben auch nicht langweilig.
Kurzum: Ein guter kleiner Lesesnack zwischendurch, aber nichts, wenn man was wirklich Mitreißendes oder Faszinierendes lesen will.
Viel schwerer in Gewicht fällt bei mir dagegen, dass ich mich v.a. während des ersten Drittels komplett verloren gefühlt habe und kaum ein Wort aus der Welt, in der die Geschichte spielt, verstanden habe. Ich glaube einfach, dass super viel Wissen vorausgesetzt wird und man sonst eben im Glossar am Ende nachblättern soll. Einerseits ist das bei einem E-Book halt blöd, andererseits finde ich aber auch, dass eine Geschichte auch ohne andauerndes Nachgucken von Wörtern, Begriffen, Spezies und so weiter funktionieren sollte. Vor allem, wenn das alles Sachen sind, die sich in maximal 1-2 Nebensätzen so beschreiben lassen, dass man es als Leser ohne Vorwissen versteht. Das meiste ist mir auch jetzt nicht klar, weil ich es mir zu 100% aus dem Kontext zusammenreimen und erraten musste. Könnte aber auch eben total daneben liegen.
Sonst ist das Buch wirklich super durchschnittlich. Die Handlung ist nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht super überraschend oder umhauend, der Schreibstil genauso. Es ist auch nicht super spannend, aber eben auch nicht langweilig.
Kurzum: Ein guter kleiner Lesesnack zwischendurch, aber nichts, wenn man was wirklich Mitreißendes oder Faszinierendes lesen will.
July 23, 2022
This was awesome!
Having never seen The Dark Crystal or the new NetFlix show...puppets freak me out...I don't really have anything to compare it to.
Suuuper happy we have the other 3 books to dive into!
Having never seen The Dark Crystal or the new NetFlix show...puppets freak me out...I don't really have anything to compare it to.
Suuuper happy we have the other 3 books to dive into!
July 23, 2024
2024 Summer Reading challenge- read a YA book
January 13, 2020
Très heureuse d’avoir l’envers du décor de la nouvelle série Netflix ! J’ai très hâte de retrouver Rian dans le prochain tome 💛
July 6, 2017
So I just finished Shadows of the Dark Crystal by J.M. Lee which I kind of picked up on a whim. As an author who found immense inspiration as a child seeing this film, I’m always drawn to anything about it (or anything from the 80s involving MotU, Thundercats, etc.) I was in a Twin Cities bookstore with my daughter (an aspiring teen author) and was telling her about the movie, which she hadn’t seen yet when another customer told me that Lee was also from MN and how he’d won a writing contest sponsored by Henson’s estate which eventually turned into a book deal… it turned out that was the author’s mother. I couldn’t very well not buy the book after that. (also, my daughter watched the movie the next day.) Perhaps my favorite part of the book is actually the dedication page—as a father whose tried to influence his kids with some of my favorite films and stories, I connected with that right out of the gate.
On to the story.
The first two chapters felt confusing because of the total immersiveness into the gelfling culture. I didn’t find the glossary until I’d completed the book (I found the second glossary when I looked the first time but didn’t see the terminology page.) By the time the third chapter came round I’d learned most of the common terms by context and so it came easier. The story was wonderful and very much in line with the film.
This book is #1 in a series and there promises to be more. From what I gather, Lee’s story may have some kind of connection and relevance to the new Netflix show coming in 2018 (maybe the only thing that could, in my mind, be a greater original series than Daredevil or Stranger Things.) The expansive nature and the worldbuilding Lee has accomplished certainly leave room for lots of story and exploration in the new show—and that’s even if the world feels small (perhaps my only complaint—though, the map and appendices in the book don’t necessarily limit the world of Thra. (I especially loved the expansion on the gelfling clans, their differences, and the race’s hero legend of Jarra-Jen).
I assume that Lee has been active in online Dark Crystal communities and read the other source material (perhaps even some of Henson’s notes not readily available to the community at large) in order to achieve the mythopoeic level he’s achieved. But what amazes me is how he did it in this format: the book’s flow, language, and characters are so easily accessible that this is a book with an upper-middle-grade audience. That takes both skill and savvy editing. I will definitely pick up the next, and perhaps some of the other books and explore the rest of the larger mythos (Legends of the Dark Crystal and Henson’s Creation Myths,) before Netflix really expands the story in the original medium.
Pick up this book. While you’re at it, go ahead and pre-order book #2, Song of the Dark Crystal which releases in exactly one week. Follow my blog for more reviews and info!
On to the story.
The first two chapters felt confusing because of the total immersiveness into the gelfling culture. I didn’t find the glossary until I’d completed the book (I found the second glossary when I looked the first time but didn’t see the terminology page.) By the time the third chapter came round I’d learned most of the common terms by context and so it came easier. The story was wonderful and very much in line with the film.
This book is #1 in a series and there promises to be more. From what I gather, Lee’s story may have some kind of connection and relevance to the new Netflix show coming in 2018 (maybe the only thing that could, in my mind, be a greater original series than Daredevil or Stranger Things.) The expansive nature and the worldbuilding Lee has accomplished certainly leave room for lots of story and exploration in the new show—and that’s even if the world feels small (perhaps my only complaint—though, the map and appendices in the book don’t necessarily limit the world of Thra. (I especially loved the expansion on the gelfling clans, their differences, and the race’s hero legend of Jarra-Jen).
I assume that Lee has been active in online Dark Crystal communities and read the other source material (perhaps even some of Henson’s notes not readily available to the community at large) in order to achieve the mythopoeic level he’s achieved. But what amazes me is how he did it in this format: the book’s flow, language, and characters are so easily accessible that this is a book with an upper-middle-grade audience. That takes both skill and savvy editing. I will definitely pick up the next, and perhaps some of the other books and explore the rest of the larger mythos (Legends of the Dark Crystal and Henson’s Creation Myths,) before Netflix really expands the story in the original medium.
Pick up this book. While you’re at it, go ahead and pre-order book #2, Song of the Dark Crystal which releases in exactly one week. Follow my blog for more reviews and info!
July 11, 2016
I have eagerly been awaiting this book since Jim Hensen Productions announced the Author Quest contest about two years ago. "The Dark Crystal" was one of my favorite movies as a kid, still is. I love Jim Hensen's and Brian Froud's artistry. I will forever be grateful to Jim Hensen for introducing me to Brian Froud.
So when I won the ARC from Goodreads I was overjoyed, especially since the winner of the contest was local author J.M. Lee and a local bookstore, Red Balloon Books, would be having a book launch party. I'm always happy to support local artists and independent stores. I'm also a giant book nerd and love meeting authors I've read.
I was very excited that the cover was done by Froud, and I was briefly disappointed that he didn't do the interior illustrations as well. Until Friday, I had only seen the placeholder art for the book. In fact, the first thing I did when I bought my official copy was to compare the art in the ARC with the polished art in the finished edition. The placeholder art showed me that I wouldn't be disappointed in Cory Godbey's artwork, it definitely captures the spirit and whimsy of the world originally created by Froud and Hensen.
This is J.M. Lee's first novel. (I think it was his first public reading of his work as well. He did a great job, but you could tell he was very excited and nervous. I hope his parents being there didn't make him more nervous.) It's always a bit nerve racking as a reader - probably as an author too - to enter into a much loved universe when there has been a change in management, particularly when that management doesn't have any prior documented experience. I have to say that I wasn't let down by the book. It definitely had all the heart of the original film.
Our protagonist is a young, strong-willed Gelfling girl, Naia, of the Sog tribe. Her people live in the swamp and she is desperate to see more of the world, like her twin brother, Gurjin. However, this isn't possible as she must train to replace her mother as the leader of the tribe. Her adventure begins when she spots a stranger while she is out hunting. She then has the opportunity to leave the swamp to find out what happened to her brother, who has gone missing from his duties as a guard at the Crystal Castle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I hope that if finds an audience with to today's young adult readers and helps them discover Jim Hensen's lesser known works (which I think were some of his best). I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series.
J.M thanks for being so gracious in sharing with us a peek inside Froud's design notes and for signing both my copies of the book.
Happy reading!
So when I won the ARC from Goodreads I was overjoyed, especially since the winner of the contest was local author J.M. Lee and a local bookstore, Red Balloon Books, would be having a book launch party. I'm always happy to support local artists and independent stores. I'm also a giant book nerd and love meeting authors I've read.
I was very excited that the cover was done by Froud, and I was briefly disappointed that he didn't do the interior illustrations as well. Until Friday, I had only seen the placeholder art for the book. In fact, the first thing I did when I bought my official copy was to compare the art in the ARC with the polished art in the finished edition. The placeholder art showed me that I wouldn't be disappointed in Cory Godbey's artwork, it definitely captures the spirit and whimsy of the world originally created by Froud and Hensen.
This is J.M. Lee's first novel. (I think it was his first public reading of his work as well. He did a great job, but you could tell he was very excited and nervous. I hope his parents being there didn't make him more nervous.) It's always a bit nerve racking as a reader - probably as an author too - to enter into a much loved universe when there has been a change in management, particularly when that management doesn't have any prior documented experience. I have to say that I wasn't let down by the book. It definitely had all the heart of the original film.
Our protagonist is a young, strong-willed Gelfling girl, Naia, of the Sog tribe. Her people live in the swamp and she is desperate to see more of the world, like her twin brother, Gurjin. However, this isn't possible as she must train to replace her mother as the leader of the tribe. Her adventure begins when she spots a stranger while she is out hunting. She then has the opportunity to leave the swamp to find out what happened to her brother, who has gone missing from his duties as a guard at the Crystal Castle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I hope that if finds an audience with to today's young adult readers and helps them discover Jim Hensen's lesser known works (which I think were some of his best). I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series.
J.M thanks for being so gracious in sharing with us a peek inside Froud's design notes and for signing both my copies of the book.
Happy reading!
April 27, 2020
5 *
I read this as part of a reading challenge. The prompt was to read a book with a beaked animal on the cover, so this was the one I chose.
This book was published before the Netflix series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance", but is based on the stories and events in this book, and others in the series.
As I have already seen the Netflix series, I already know the background storyline. Also, as I have already seen the film "The Dark Crystal" from which all these spin-offs are based, I know the world and the storyline well.
As a hardcore fan of the original film, the Netflix series and "The Creation Myths" books, I am naturally bias towards this book and the rest in its series, so reviewing this will be a challenge!
To start with, it helps to already have a basic knowledge of the world (Thra), it's politics, geography and ecology as this isn't greatly elaborated on within the book. There is an index and appendix to help you out which is appreciated. It is also important to know that this story takes place some time (decades perhaps?) before the events of the original film.
The story focuses on a Gelfling 'princess' called Naia who hears word that her twin brother Gurjin has gone missing from the Crystal Castle where he is employed as a guard. You see things mostly from her perspective which is really interesting, as she has grown up within the boarders of her mothers' realm, her mother being the Maudra (Queen). Naia's knowledge of the world outside of these boarders is gained from messages her brother sends home, her mother, and the messengers from the other realms and clans around Thra.
As she leaves to find more information of Gurjin's whereabouts, you see the world around her as she sees it as it opens up around her, and what she thinks of the other clans and wildlife she encounters.
The story doesn't focus on much outside of Naia's travels and experiences which does help with trying to understand her and how she tries to understand what is around her. There is a bigger problem than why her brother has vanished, but he is also the one who can answer why he had to leave in the first place...
I read this as part of a reading challenge. The prompt was to read a book with a beaked animal on the cover, so this was the one I chose.
This book was published before the Netflix series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance", but is based on the stories and events in this book, and others in the series.
As I have already seen the Netflix series, I already know the background storyline. Also, as I have already seen the film "The Dark Crystal" from which all these spin-offs are based, I know the world and the storyline well.
As a hardcore fan of the original film, the Netflix series and "The Creation Myths" books, I am naturally bias towards this book and the rest in its series, so reviewing this will be a challenge!
To start with, it helps to already have a basic knowledge of the world (Thra), it's politics, geography and ecology as this isn't greatly elaborated on within the book. There is an index and appendix to help you out which is appreciated. It is also important to know that this story takes place some time (decades perhaps?) before the events of the original film.
The story focuses on a Gelfling 'princess' called Naia who hears word that her twin brother Gurjin has gone missing from the Crystal Castle where he is employed as a guard. You see things mostly from her perspective which is really interesting, as she has grown up within the boarders of her mothers' realm, her mother being the Maudra (Queen). Naia's knowledge of the world outside of these boarders is gained from messages her brother sends home, her mother, and the messengers from the other realms and clans around Thra.
As she leaves to find more information of Gurjin's whereabouts, you see the world around her as she sees it as it opens up around her, and what she thinks of the other clans and wildlife she encounters.
The story doesn't focus on much outside of Naia's travels and experiences which does help with trying to understand her and how she tries to understand what is around her. There is a bigger problem than why her brother has vanished, but he is also the one who can answer why he had to leave in the first place...
August 1, 2016
Most people familiar with 1980s pop culture have at least heard of The Dark Crystal. Yep, that weird-yet-cool fantasy movie featuring all those creepy puppets. The one that pre-dated The Labyrinth by a few years.
Author J.M. Lee must be a fan of the film, because he has crafted a fantastic prequel that is every bit as awesome as the original story. Here we have Shadows of The Dark Crystal, which takes place several years before the events of the film. This story centers on Naia, a strong-willed Gelfling girl from the swamp who wants more for herself than what her destiny has in store. She gets her wish when she is summoned to the Crystal Castle to testify at the trial of her brother, who is being accused of treason by the Skeksis overlords. She gets more than she bargained for out when she agrees to undertake this journey. Be careful what you wish for? Perhaps...
Shadows of The Dark Crystal is much like the Star Wars prequels (minus the "please let me punch it" annoyance of Jar-Jar) in that those who know the original story know how things will turn out. You know how things will end up, but the prequels let you know why. Going into the book, I knew there would be no happy ending for Naia and her people. But the story gave some insight into why Naia and those of her race became targets for extinction.
Overall, I found Shadows of the Dark Crystal to be a worthy addition to The Dark Crystal saga and, at no time did I feel like I was reading fan fiction. Perhaps my only complaint was there was so much odd terminology/dialect that I kept having to flip to the glossary/appendix at the back of the book. And this disrupted my enjoyment of the story.
p.s. Haven't watched the original Dark Crystal movie yet? Watch it before reading the book.
Author J.M. Lee must be a fan of the film, because he has crafted a fantastic prequel that is every bit as awesome as the original story. Here we have Shadows of The Dark Crystal, which takes place several years before the events of the film. This story centers on Naia, a strong-willed Gelfling girl from the swamp who wants more for herself than what her destiny has in store. She gets her wish when she is summoned to the Crystal Castle to testify at the trial of her brother, who is being accused of treason by the Skeksis overlords. She gets more than she bargained for out when she agrees to undertake this journey. Be careful what you wish for? Perhaps...
Shadows of The Dark Crystal is much like the Star Wars prequels (minus the "please let me punch it" annoyance of Jar-Jar) in that those who know the original story know how things will turn out. You know how things will end up, but the prequels let you know why. Going into the book, I knew there would be no happy ending for Naia and her people. But the story gave some insight into why Naia and those of her race became targets for extinction.
Overall, I found Shadows of the Dark Crystal to be a worthy addition to The Dark Crystal saga and, at no time did I feel like I was reading fan fiction. Perhaps my only complaint was there was so much odd terminology/dialect that I kept having to flip to the glossary/appendix at the back of the book. And this disrupted my enjoyment of the story.
p.s. Haven't watched the original Dark Crystal movie yet? Watch it before reading the book.
January 17, 2020
This book was great to read!!
The book was able to bring the amazing universe of Thra in text. And though some words may not make sense in the book, you'll get the feel for it soon-though you'll get quite soon if you're a fan :P
So, the writing was great in a way that it's able to describe the aesthetic of the Thra and how it's inhabitants live in a high fantasy world. It's amazing with it's ability to describe the features of the Skeksis and the Mystics in the book, and that's quite hard in my opinion-especially for the Mystics if you know how they look. And, there's a particular ability the Gefling have that I like how it's described when they "share" that thing.
I have to note though, that comparing it to show and this book actually being written way back, it does have some differences-small ones, but it's there and it's not really problem. Except for that one thing and I have to read the next books to see if it's true.... However, it is great to imagine how this book still ties in with the show, so I'm excited for the next one to get!!
I was surprised though how this story went, in a way that I'm thinking of the show and not how this book was written way back. But it was a good one and it fleshes out those certain characters I was curios about. Plus, it details a certain kingdom where it details how the Gefling perceive each other's societies and active or aware they are of their Skeksis rulers.
It's got a perfect for it's writing, how it's able to detail every area you're in, and how the story creeps in the events that will take place that lead to the movie it is prequel about. A recommend if you want to read a fantasy novel.
The book was able to bring the amazing universe of Thra in text. And though some words may not make sense in the book, you'll get the feel for it soon-though you'll get quite soon if you're a fan :P
So, the writing was great in a way that it's able to describe the aesthetic of the Thra and how it's inhabitants live in a high fantasy world. It's amazing with it's ability to describe the features of the Skeksis and the Mystics in the book, and that's quite hard in my opinion-especially for the Mystics if you know how they look. And, there's a particular ability the Gefling have that I like how it's described when they "share" that thing.
I have to note though, that comparing it to show and this book actually being written way back, it does have some differences-small ones, but it's there and it's not really problem. Except for that one thing and I have to read the next books to see if it's true.... However, it is great to imagine how this book still ties in with the show, so I'm excited for the next one to get!!
I was surprised though how this story went, in a way that I'm thinking of the show and not how this book was written way back. But it was a good one and it fleshes out those certain characters I was curios about. Plus, it details a certain kingdom where it details how the Gefling perceive each other's societies and active or aware they are of their Skeksis rulers.
It's got a perfect for it's writing, how it's able to detail every area you're in, and how the story creeps in the events that will take place that lead to the movie it is prequel about. A recommend if you want to read a fantasy novel.
June 5, 2023
Simplificarei, desta vez, a minha review a um nível sub-atómico, em comparação a tudo aquilo que costumo escrever aqui, na plataforma.
Shadows of the Dark Crystal de J.M. Lee apresenta-nos uma Thra diferente daquela que conhecemos no Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: The Novelization de A.C.H. Smith. Tentanto sintetizar todo o conteúdo deste cremoso livro, posso dizer que Naia, uma jovem gelfling do clã Drenchen, parte numa emocionante aventura rumo ao Castelo do Cristal para desvendar o mistério do desaparecimento do seu irmão gémeo, Gurjin, um Guarda Real no Castelo do Cristal que é acusado de alta traição pelos Senhores do Cristal, os terríveis Lordes Skeksis. O que Naia não sabe é que esta sua aventura em busca de justiça mudará para sempre Thra.
Foi uma leitura rápida e prazerosa que me acompanhou em inúmeras viagens de autocarro, saciando a minha ânsia por saber mais sobre o mundo de Thra e por toda a história idealizada por Jim Henson. Para todos os interessados no tema de Dark Fantasy, esta leitura será do vosso agrado!
Shadows of the Dark Crystal de J.M. Lee apresenta-nos uma Thra diferente daquela que conhecemos no Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: The Novelization de A.C.H. Smith. Tentanto sintetizar todo o conteúdo deste cremoso livro, posso dizer que Naia, uma jovem gelfling do clã Drenchen, parte numa emocionante aventura rumo ao Castelo do Cristal para desvendar o mistério do desaparecimento do seu irmão gémeo, Gurjin, um Guarda Real no Castelo do Cristal que é acusado de alta traição pelos Senhores do Cristal, os terríveis Lordes Skeksis. O que Naia não sabe é que esta sua aventura em busca de justiça mudará para sempre Thra.
Foi uma leitura rápida e prazerosa que me acompanhou em inúmeras viagens de autocarro, saciando a minha ânsia por saber mais sobre o mundo de Thra e por toda a história idealizada por Jim Henson. Para todos os interessados no tema de Dark Fantasy, esta leitura será do vosso agrado!
October 2, 2018
Το βιβλίο θεωρώ πως έχει αρκετά κενά μέχρι το 6ο κεφάλαιο και αντιμετώπισα αρκετά προβλήματα κατά την ανάγνωσή του.
Για αρχή, δεν υπάρχει πουθενά εκτενής περιγραφή των πλασμάτων Γκέλφινγκ. Κατά την ταπεινή μου άποψη, όταν μιλάς για φανταστικά πλάσματα από άλλο πλανήτη, θα πρέπει να περιγράψεις όλη την φυσιογνωμία τους. Οι αναφορές σε βράγχια, σωματότυπο και μαλλιά, εμένα δεν μου ήταν αρκετές. Βέβαια, υπάρχουν σκίτσα. Όμως είναι αρκετά σκοτεινά, λογικά υπήρχε θέμα με την εκτύπωση και είχαν τέτοιο αποτέλεσμα, καθώς κατά την online έρευνα που έκανα για την δημιουργία των εικαστικών, τα σκίτσα είναι πολύ πιο φωτεινά, διακρίνονται περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες και μπόρεσα να σχηματίσω μια άποψη για την εξωτερικη εικόνα των Σκέκσις και των Γκέλφινγκ.
Ας μιλήσουμε για την πλοκή τώρα. Την αγάπησα. Μου άρεσε η διαφορετικότητά της, μου άρεσε το θέμα και με το γεγονός ότι ο συγγραφέας δημιούργησε ολόκληρο κόσμο από το μηδέν, έχει κερδίσει τον σεβασμό μου. Τα βιβλία που δεν βασίζονται σε ιστορίες ειπωμένες ξανά και ξανά έχουν μια ιδιαίτερη θέση στην καρδιά μου και την βιβλιοθήκη μου.
Σε σε κρατάει από το πρώτο λεπτό. Μπαίνει κατευθείαν στο θέμα και εξελίσσεται γρήγορα. Η γλώσσα είναι απλή και κατανοητή, ακόμα και όταν περιέγραφε άγνωστα μέρη και χαρακτήρες. Τα τοπία που παρουσιάζονται είναι μαγευτικά. Οι περιγραφές εκτενείς, οι εικόνες παραστατικές και σου δημιουργεί την αίσθηση ότι μπορείς να νιώσεις τον αέρα στον Βράχο-στο-Δάσος και την δροσιά των νερών Μαύρου Ποταμού.
Για αρχή, δεν υπάρχει πουθενά εκτενής περιγραφή των πλασμάτων Γκέλφινγκ. Κατά την ταπεινή μου άποψη, όταν μιλάς για φανταστικά πλάσματα από άλλο πλανήτη, θα πρέπει να περιγράψεις όλη την φυσιογνωμία τους. Οι αναφορές σε βράγχια, σωματότυπο και μαλλιά, εμένα δεν μου ήταν αρκετές. Βέβαια, υπάρχουν σκίτσα. Όμως είναι αρκετά σκοτεινά, λογικά υπήρχε θέμα με την εκτύπωση και είχαν τέτοιο αποτέλεσμα, καθώς κατά την online έρευνα που έκανα για την δημιουργία των εικαστικών, τα σκίτσα είναι πολύ πιο φωτεινά, διακρίνονται περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες και μπόρεσα να σχηματίσω μια άποψη για την εξωτερικη εικόνα των Σκέκσις και των Γκέλφινγκ.
Ας μιλήσουμε για την πλοκή τώρα. Την αγάπησα. Μου άρεσε η διαφορετικότητά της, μου άρεσε το θέμα και με το γεγονός ότι ο συγγραφέας δημιούργησε ολόκληρο κόσμο από το μηδέν, έχει κερδίσει τον σεβασμό μου. Τα βιβλία που δεν βασίζονται σε ιστορίες ειπωμένες ξανά και ξανά έχουν μια ιδιαίτερη θέση στην καρδιά μου και την βιβλιοθήκη μου.
Σε σε κρατάει από το πρώτο λεπτό. Μπαίνει κατευθείαν στο θέμα και εξελίσσεται γρήγορα. Η γλώσσα είναι απλή και κατανοητή, ακόμα και όταν περιέγραφε άγνωστα μέρη και χαρακτήρες. Τα τοπία που παρουσιάζονται είναι μαγευτικά. Οι περιγραφές εκτενείς, οι εικόνες παραστατικές και σου δημιουργεί την αίσθηση ότι μπορείς να νιώσεις τον αέρα στον Βράχο-στο-Δάσος και την δροσιά των νερών Μαύρου Ποταμού.
August 16, 2019
When I was 6 years old, my mother took me to see The Dark Crystal. It blew me away. I was already a fan of Jim Henson, though I don’t think I knew his name at the time. But the Muppet Show and Sesame Street were my world. The Dark Crystal was different; the story was dark and set in such a rich and lush world, it instantly became my favorite movie. So when the announcement came about the Netflix series, I was like a 6 year old again. Then I saw my friend reading these books and I got all three and delved right in.
Now, this book is not without its flaws. There are way too many run-on sentences so it took me a while to get through this one. But it was worth it to be in that world again. The characters are engaging and interesting and I already adore them. I have already started the next book. I’m rounding this up to five stars even though the run-on sentence makes me want to give it four. But the story and the characters make it a five star.
Now, this book is not without its flaws. There are way too many run-on sentences so it took me a while to get through this one. But it was worth it to be in that world again. The characters are engaging and interesting and I already adore them. I have already started the next book. I’m rounding this up to five stars even though the run-on sentence makes me want to give it four. But the story and the characters make it a five star.
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