.gif)
Blue Moon Rising (novel)
Encyclopedia
Blue Moon Rising is a fantasy novel by British author, Simon R. Green. The first in a series of four books in the Forest Kingdom series with the main protagonist
s appearing in six books in the Hawk & Fisher series by Green.
The book had a troubled launch with many publishers rejecting Green before being published by Roc
. The book became Green's first bestseller.
As with other Green books, it is written in a style which combines dramatic storytelling with plenty of wry humour and light relief.
, proving his worth to the kingdom; however Rupert knows he has been sent to die. He stubbornly refuses to run away and proceeds with the undertaking. Rupert seeks out the notorious Night Witch who, upon finding out he is the grandson of her long dead lover provides him with a map to find a dragon. To get to his destination Rupert must pass through the Darkwood, an area in the forest where no light ever penetrates, where nothing lives except demons. Passing through the endless night Rupert is attacked by countless demons which appear to be hunting in packs though demons have never hunted in packs before.
After reaching the other side of the Darkwood Rupert discovers a dragon in a cave at the top of a mountain and upon challenging him is surprised to find that not only does the dragon not have any interest in killing him, it collects butterflies. Also in the cave is Princess Julia, a seventh daughter from the Hillsdown province who was sent to the dragon as a sacrifice but which the dragon does "not have the heart" to kill.
Rupert, his Unicorn, Princess Julia and the Dragon set out back towards the Forest Castle but have to pass through the Darkwood again. Rupert can hardly bring himself to face the endless night of that experience again but knowing he must, they press on. Near the completion of this second passing of the Darkwood the group are attacked by hordes of demons. The dragon offers some of the last of his strength to enable Rupert to obtain the Rainbow Sword which banishes the darkness from them and heals their wounds.
The group are able to make it back to Forest Castle only to find that the Darkwood is spreading and the castle guard has been vastly depleted in defending the outlying towns and villages from the encroaching Darkwood. Rupert is sent back out with a company of guards to travel through the Darkwood again in search of the High Warlock.
Prince Rupert is an unwanted second heir to the throne of the Forest Kingdom, behind his elder brother Harald. He was sent to "face a dragon" as a way of averting a possible civil war from having two healthy adult claimants to the throne.
Princess Julia
Princess Julia is seventh in line to the Hillsdown Duchy. She was sent to the cave of a dragon as a sacrifice after she refused to enter an arranged marriage and attempted to run away.
Breeze
Breeze is Prince Rupert's Unicorn who over the course of the story becomes a faithful and true companion to Rupert. He goes with him on the dragon quest and faces the demons with him. In the end, he is set free by Rupert but chooses to stay with him of his own free will.
Rave Reviews praised the novel saying, "This fantasy adventure is one readers will savor and enjoy for a long time to come." In the same way, the New York Daily News considered it "delightful." The reviewer for Science Fiction Chronicle said, "Easily my favorite of Simon Green's fantasy novels."
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
s appearing in six books in the Hawk & Fisher series by Green.
The book had a troubled launch with many publishers rejecting Green before being published by Roc
New American Library
New American Library is an American publisher based in New York, founded in 1948; it produced affordable paperback reprints of classics and scholarly works, as well as popular, pulp, and "hard-boiled" fiction. Non-fiction, original, and hardcopy issues were also produced.Victor Weybright and Kurt...
. The book became Green's first bestseller.
As with other Green books, it is written in a style which combines dramatic storytelling with plenty of wry humour and light relief.
Plot introduction
The novel is a quest story, primarily concerned with Rupert, prince of the Forest Kingdom and second in line to the throne who makes an arduous journey to prove his worth, do his duty and eventually save the Kingdom from the spread of the evil Darkwood.Plot summary
Rupert's quest is to slay a dragonDragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
, proving his worth to the kingdom; however Rupert knows he has been sent to die. He stubbornly refuses to run away and proceeds with the undertaking. Rupert seeks out the notorious Night Witch who, upon finding out he is the grandson of her long dead lover provides him with a map to find a dragon. To get to his destination Rupert must pass through the Darkwood, an area in the forest where no light ever penetrates, where nothing lives except demons. Passing through the endless night Rupert is attacked by countless demons which appear to be hunting in packs though demons have never hunted in packs before.
After reaching the other side of the Darkwood Rupert discovers a dragon in a cave at the top of a mountain and upon challenging him is surprised to find that not only does the dragon not have any interest in killing him, it collects butterflies. Also in the cave is Princess Julia, a seventh daughter from the Hillsdown province who was sent to the dragon as a sacrifice but which the dragon does "not have the heart" to kill.
Rupert, his Unicorn, Princess Julia and the Dragon set out back towards the Forest Castle but have to pass through the Darkwood again. Rupert can hardly bring himself to face the endless night of that experience again but knowing he must, they press on. Near the completion of this second passing of the Darkwood the group are attacked by hordes of demons. The dragon offers some of the last of his strength to enable Rupert to obtain the Rainbow Sword which banishes the darkness from them and heals their wounds.
The group are able to make it back to Forest Castle only to find that the Darkwood is spreading and the castle guard has been vastly depleted in defending the outlying towns and villages from the encroaching Darkwood. Rupert is sent back out with a company of guards to travel through the Darkwood again in search of the High Warlock.
Characters
Prince RupertPrince Rupert is an unwanted second heir to the throne of the Forest Kingdom, behind his elder brother Harald. He was sent to "face a dragon" as a way of averting a possible civil war from having two healthy adult claimants to the throne.
Princess Julia
Princess Julia is seventh in line to the Hillsdown Duchy. She was sent to the cave of a dragon as a sacrifice after she refused to enter an arranged marriage and attempted to run away.
Breeze
Breeze is Prince Rupert's Unicorn who over the course of the story becomes a faithful and true companion to Rupert. He goes with him on the dragon quest and faces the demons with him. In the end, he is set free by Rupert but chooses to stay with him of his own free will.
Criticism
Reviews have generally been positive although limited due to the relative obscurity of the book.Rave Reviews praised the novel saying, "This fantasy adventure is one readers will savor and enjoy for a long time to come." In the same way, the New York Daily News considered it "delightful." The reviewer for Science Fiction Chronicle said, "Easily my favorite of Simon Green's fantasy novels."
Release
Blue Moon Rising was released in the USA and UK in the same year through the publishers Penguin/Roc (USA) and Gollancz (UK).- 1991, USA, Penguin/Roc ISBN 1-85798-987-2, Pub date: May 1991, Paperback
- First edition
- 1991, UK, Gollancz ISBN 1-85798-987-2, Pub date: September 1991, Paperback
- First edition