Here’s a new-to-me fantasy adventure series—
in Hollywood speak, it’s “Narnia meets King Arthur,” with a tiny hint of Treasure Island thrown in.
Over Sea, Under Stone, by Susan Cooper is book one in The Dark is Rising series. Originally published in 1965, it’s certainly not new. But new-to-me, so it might as well be!
Here’s the summary:
Three children on a holiday in Cornwall find an ancient manuscript which sends them on a dangerous quest for a grail that would reveal the true story of King Arthur. Their quest entraps them in the eternal battle between the forces of the Light and the forces of the Dark.
Narnia meets King Arthur
It think it’s the English siblings discovering a secret thatreminds me so much of the Narnia series—although there is no wardrobe here. No secret enchanted land, either. However, the Cornwall in this book seems to hold modern life and ancient legends simultaneously.
Both because it was written in the early 1960’s and because of the Arthurian element, there’s a hint of “historical novel” to this tale. Sprinkle in the fantasy adventure element, and voila! Entertaining, engaging reading!
Like the Narnia series, the battle of Good and Evil is a predominant theme.
The presence of the sea and the bad guys inhabiting a ship are the Treasure Island hints I refer to above.
As a writer, I find it comforting when I discover stories built on older stories, and stories influenced by influential and admired authors. It’s the way our imaginations naturally work—taking some here, some there—making our influences into a foundational platform for something new.
The resultant stories make me feel right at home as a reader! Go on, trot on down to the library and put Over Sea, Under Stone on hold (or check it out off the shelf!)
Happy Reading!