Lord of Darkness

Name: Lord of Darkness
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
ISBN: 9798212886864

By Robert Silverberg

Publisher Description

From Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Robert Silverberg, Lord of Darkness is a classic swashbuckling adventure inspired by a true story.

Captured by pirates and brought to the west coast of Africa, young British seaman Andrew Battell longs for his home in 17th Century England. His only hope of returning is to work hard and be awarded freedom by his Portuguese captors—a freedom he is consistently denied.

As he is moved further and further inland, away from the coast and any hope of a boat back to England, Battell’s dreams of freedom begin to dwindle. Finally, taking matters into his own hands, he escapes and takes sanctuary among the Jaqqas, a tribe of cannibalistic warriors lead by the sinister Lord of Darkness …

Battell recounts his own story in a vivid novel of furious force, singular passion, and intimate detail.

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Lord of Darkness Reviews

5.0

Kiki The Bibliophile

Created over 2 years ago

“Hello bookfriends! I’m here to share with you a hidden gem that I came across some time ago: “Lord Of Darkness”. This remarkable historical fantasy fiction novel, written by the acclaimed author Robert Silverberg, was published in 1983. Silverberg, who is primarily known for his science fiction works and has received numerous Hugo and Nebula awards, took a genre deviation with this book. Unfortunately, due to this deviation, “Lord Of Darkness” didn’t receive the recognition it truly deserved and remains relatively unknown. However, let me assure you, this novel is a masterpiece. Highly recommended to me, it promised an engrossing tale of a sailor (and being a lover of sea-themed stories, I was intrigued), but with the twist that most of the story would unfold on solid ground. Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations entirely. In fact, I was so blown away that instead of writing a review, I immediately searched for a means to contact the author and personally thank him for creating such a remarkable novel. I was able to successfully reach out to him through email as he does not use social media, and we had a brief and delightful exchange of emails. Now, without further ado, let’s delve into it, and believe me, there is a lot to unpack here, so be patient and read along. First, it should be noted that this is not entirely a work of fiction. “Lord Of Darkness” is the masterfully fictionalized story of the brief travel accounts of 16th century English sailor Andrew Battel as he narrated them to geographer Samuel Purchas. Battel recounts how his life was forever altered when on 20 April 1589 he set sail with Captain Abraham Cocke’s crew for Rio de la Plata, a voyage that did not go as planned and one that landed him as a prisoner in Brazil, and afterwards, in the enigmatic jungles of west Africa where he spent twenty years of his life, and where much happened. As Silverberg puts it in his afterword: “I have used that brief narrative as the foundation for Lord of Darkness; but I think it is best to regard this book not as a volume of history, but rather as a historical fantasy.” "Lord Of Darkness" is narrated in the first person, as though Battel himself is recounting the story, and Silverberg's skill as a writer is so exceptional that you completely overlook the fact that it is Silverberg writing as Battel. The writing captures the authentic tone and style of a 16th-century English man. The narration has a serious and philosophical tone, and Silverberg does an incredible job at staying true to what Battel’s personality could have been like, which naturally is old-fashioned in his beliefs and view of the world. “Lord Of Darkness” is a story that straddles the line between fiction and reality. But let me say this clearly: this is absolutely not a book for the faint of heart. There are explicit sexual scenes, graphic violence, even instances of cannibalism... and much more. Bearing this important information in mind, the readers must consciously accept the fact that fictional Andrew Battel (and likely the real one as well) is a man of questionable morals. He is neither entirely bad nor entirely good. His beliefs and attitudes towards religion, gender, sexuality etc.. are reflective of the time he lives in. Nevertheless, despite his limitations, Andrew Battel’s life takes unforeseen detours and paths, shaping his perception of life and the world in a way that differs from his peers. Battel’s character development is undeniably impressive, leaving a lasting impact on readers. Throughout the book, there were numerous instances where I genuinely resented him and others when I simply wanted to offer words of comfort, assuring him that everything would be alright, and that one day he would see England again. In the end, when Battel journeys back to England (this is not a spoiler as at his based on real-life events and clearly Battel lived to tell his story) after a span of twenty years, I found myself weeping alongside him. So once more, let me emphasize that “Lord Of Darkness” is a challenging story to read. If you are not ready to confront the unsettling themes present in this extraordinary novel, it would be wise to avoid it. However, it is precisely these elements and the author’s skillful portrayal of them that make it stand out as an exceptional piece of writing. “Lord Of Darkness” goes beyond just depicting Battel’s struggles in Africa. It also captures the essence of an adventurer’s journey, although not one that any of us would willingly undertake. Before reading this novel, I had never encountered literature set in Africa. This aspect added to its allure, particularly because it portrays an older and enigmatic era of the continent rather than modern-day Africa, and it is an experience that feels detached from reality. As I previously stated, the writing is superb. It feels like reading the words of a 16th-century English man but adapted in a manner that is perfectly approachable for contemporary readers. Here is an example of the narrator’s voice: “I look back forty years at that boy and I confess I like what I see. Green, yes, and foolish and silly, but why not, at such an age? Quiet and diligent, and tolerant of hardship, such little hardship had I known. I had stubbornness and devotion and the will to work, and I had some intelligence, and I had steadfastness. From my father, I had inherited something else, too, the wit to know when it is time to change one’s course. There are those who sail blindly ahead and there are those who tack and veer when they must tack and veer, and I am of that latter sort, and I think it has been the saving of my life many at times.” Lastly, it is important to note that this book is a lengthy 611 pages. There are moments when the narrative's pace slows down significantly due to the events taking place. However, I can confidently say that investing your time in this book will be completely worthwhile. What else should I say? Oh yes, I hope you will love this book as much as I have.”

About Robert Silverberg

Robert Silverberg’s career stretches back to the pulps and his output is amazing by any standard. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and was named a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 2004 by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He has attended every Hugo Awards ceremony since the inaugural event in 1953. He’s authored numerous novels, short stories, and nonfiction books in various genres and categories. He’s also a frequent guest at conventions and a regular columnist for Asimov’s Science Fiction. His major works include Dying Inside, The Book of Skulls, The Alien Years, The World Inside, Nightfall and The Positronic Man with Isaac Asimov, Nightwings, and the seven Majipoor Cycle books. Anthologies he’s edited include The Science Fiction Hall of Fame (two volumes), the Alpha and New Dimensions series (both multiple volumes), Universe 1–3 with Karen Haber, Legends I and Legends II, two Nebula Awards anthologies, The Fantasy Hall of Fame (two volumes, the first with Martin H. Greenberg, the second solo), Tales From Super-Science Fiction, Far Horizons, Earthmen and Strangers, and Mutants. The present volume is his forty-eighth anthology as editor.

Other books by Robert Silverberg

Naked Holiday

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Beast Hunt

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Great Short Novels of Science Fiction