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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 |
| Publication date | 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, which won the 1999 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. 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.
Plot Introduction
Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Parties descend once a year from our world, expecting all the trappings of a fantasy land: Dark Lord, Glamorous 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. Perhaps ending them forever.
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 forays into South America.) Mrs. Jones, though, doesn't preach by also making fun of the fantasy clichés. 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.
Characters
- Wizard Derk: A wizard specializing in genetics, especially the creation of new animals. The current Dark Lord.
- Mara: Derk's wife. This year's chosen Glamorous Enchantress.
- Mr. Chesney: An off-worlder who runs the Pilgrim Parties.
- Querida: One of the most powerful wizards in the world. She runs the University of Magic.
Derk and Mara have five griffin children and two human children:
- Shona: Derk's human daughter and eldest child. She aspires to be a bard.
- Kit: Derk's elder griffin son. He is distinctive for his large size and black fur.
- Blade: Derk's human son and this year's Wizard Guide.
- Callette: Derk's eldest griffin daughter. She is very creative, and creates the gizmos for the Pilgrim Parties.
- Don: Derk's younger griffin son.
- Lydda: One of Derk's griffin daughters. Her hobby is cooking.
- Elda: Derk's youngest child, a griffin female. She wants to be a wizard.
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