Dark Lord of Derkholm
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Cover artist | Joseph A. Smith |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Derkholm Series |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy, High Fantasy |
| Publisher | various |
| Released | 1998 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 528 (Paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-447336-8 (Paperback edition) |
| Followed by | Year of the Griffin |
The Dark Lord of Derkholm is a fantasy novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. It takes place in a parody of a high fantasy world similar to that first explored in Jones' humorous guidebook in the Rough Guide model, The Tough Guide To Fantasyland.
[edit] Plot Introduction
Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Parties descend once a year from a nearby world, expecting all the trappings of a fantasy land: Dark Lord, Evil Enchantress, Winged Minions, Wizard Guides.
This fantasy world is nothing like that. But Mr. Chesney is backed by a very powerful demon, so the entire world must put on an enormous act, just for the tourists, and it is devastating the fantasy world.
An Oracle is consulted, and the only way to stop the tours is to make Wizard Derk the next Dark Lord, and his son, Blade, must become a Wizard Guide. This book entails their adventures as they struggle to put on a show for the Pilgrims, and end up ending them forever.
[edit] Themes
One of the themes mentioned in this book, exploitation, is used to criticise events going on in our world. (Notable examples include Europe's imperialism in Asia and Africa as well as the US's forages into South America.) Mrs. Jones, though, doesn't preach by also making fun of the fantasy cliches. A person on Mrs. Jones's website even commented that she wished that those countries had "a griffin or a dragon to protect them".
Another theme, which comes up later in Year of the Griffin is how people manage politics through spouse manipulation. Querida puts Derk's wife under a spell so that she no longer loves him. Mr. Chesney holds a demon's wife hostage in order to make the demon his slave. In the end the demon frees his wife and imprisons Chesney instead.
| Books by Diana Wynne Jones | ||
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Chrestomanci series: The Lives of Christopher Chant • Conrad's Fate • Charmed Life • The Magicians of Caprona • The Pinhoe Egg • Mixed Magics • Witch Week Dalemark Quartet: Cart and Cwidder • Drowned Ammet • The Spellcoats • The Crown of Dalemark Castle series: Howl's Moving Castle • Castle in the Air Derkholm series: Dark Lord of Derkholm • Year of the Griffin Magids series: Deep Secret • The Merlin Conspiracy Other: Archer's Goon • Dogsbody • Eight Days of Luke • Fire and Hemlock • Hexwood • The Homeward Bounders • Power of Three • A Tale of Time City • The Time of the Ghost • More... |
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