''The Darkling'' is a
fantasy novel
Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fa ...
by author
David Kesterton. It was published by
Arkham House in
1982
Events January
* January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00).
* January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...
in an edition of 3,126 copies. It was the author's first book.
The author complained of editorial interference with his prose which led to poor reviews, and with the aid of
Anne McCaffrey and the
Science Fiction Writers of America
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. While ...
had Arkham House lawyers relinquish rights to the author. Arkham House retained the right to sell out the remaining copies of their edition.
In 2011, the author finally published a limited edition (105 copies) under the imprint of Necrominster Press which restored his preferred prose and added six illustrations to his 'corrected, authorized first edition'
This Necrominster Press edition is an associational oddity for Arkham House collectors.
Plot summary
Set in the distant future, a young tribesman, Maradek searches for his father, Afurad. In the course of this search, he helps to foil the forces that threaten the world's destruction.
Reviews
*''Sorcerer's Apprentice'' #16
References
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American fantasy novels
1982 American novels
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