"A great finale to this series"
The great Derlavaian world war is nearly over with major
offensives along several fronts that will ultimately
determine the victor. Magical weapons of mass destruction
have caused havoc on land and at sea. The allies seem
poised for a final triumph, but the aftermath may prove
costly as they are divided between Unkerlant and its
former "friends" now that neither side needs the other. Regardless of the fruits of victory, humans try to cope
with the aftermath whether they are amongst the victors or
the losers. Pride is no longer an option for anyone as
even the winning side has to deal with the turmoil like
nothing ever recorded in the history of the planet. The
weapons such as dragons threaten to be used again but this
time with ally vs. ally. In this post word war environs,
survival is all most hope for as the war winds down, and
victims sustain one meal at a time unable to mourn their
beloved dead ones. The final novel of Harry Turtledove's alternative
historical fantasy series is the best of a powerful six
set collection. The story line starts with the countdown
towards the end of Turtledove's interpretation of World
War II as fighting magical and mundane is furious on
several fronts. The tale then switches to a more
personalized account as readers see the impact of the
devastating war on a series of characters before that
perceptive perspective merges into a climatic world still
on the brink as the victors argue over the spoils. OUT OF
THE DARKNESS is a terrific alternate history that displays
the author's skills to make salient points inside an
entertaining military fantasy as few, if any, authors can
perform. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 30, 2004
SummaryHarry Turtledove's rousing saga of a fantastic world at
war, which began in Into the Darkness and continued through
Darkness Descending, Through the Darkness, Rulers of the
Darkness, and Jaws of Darkness, draws to its climactic
conclusion in Out of the Darkness.
As the Derlavaian War rages into its last and greatest
battles, allied nations maneuver for positions against each
other in a postwar world. But before that time can come,
the forces of Algarve, Unkerlant, and their allies must
clash a final time, countering army with army and battle
magic with ever-more-powerful battle magic. In the midst of
it all, the people the war has battered and reshaped must
struggle to face their greatest individual challenges, as
loves are shattered and found, terrible crimes
avenged . . . and some journeys end forever.
And the end of the war may not bring peace. . . .
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