The Dark River (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Dark River is the second in a trilogy of dystopia
n novels written by reclusive author John Twelve Hawks
.
. Beginning in New York City the book takes us around the world to London, Ireland, Ethiopia, and Germany. The setting evolving around the characters Maya, Gabriel, Vicki, and Hollis as they set out to protect this world (the Fourth Realm) from the changes set in motion by a group called the Brethren.
The book is Science Fiction mixed with a religious fantasy that talks about such topics as The Ark of the Covenant, free running
, Tibetan Cosmology, and modern methods of security. The author trying to bring such topics as the progression of man lying in his free ability to choose by escaping the confines of a prison like life.
Mr. Hawks has returned with “The Dark River”, the follow-up to The Traveler
and the second volume in the Fourth Realm Trilogy
. In “The Dark River”, readers will once again join Maya, a reluctant Harlequin who must battle more than just the Tabula to keep everyone alive; Gabriel Corrigan, one of the last remaining Travelers and Maya’s ward; Michael Corrigan, Gabriel’s older brother and fellow Traveler who has sided with the Brethren, though for his own reasons; Nathan Boone, the relentless Brethren Head of Security; Victory From Sin Fraser (Vicki), a member of the Church of Isaac T. Jones who believes in Debt Not Paid; and Hollis Wilson, a former martial arts teacher who has embraced the Harlequin way. Among the storylines that are developed in “The Dark River”, the readers get to see the relationship between Maya & Gabriel mature; learn a bit more about the different realms, including portals and the Ark of the Covenant
; follow as Michael & Gabriel search for their father, another traveler who may actually still be alive; become involved in intrigue & conspiracy within the higher hierarchy of the Brethren; get a more intimate glimpse at the Harlequins Mother Blessing & Linden; join with Free Runners
whose lifestyle is all about breaking free from the Vast Machine; and watch as the Brethren take a huge step forward in seeing their virtual Panopticon
become a reality...
described is novel as "a saga that's part A Wrinkle in Time
, part The Matrix
and part Kurosawa epic. Given the complicated plot and complex setting, readers are advised to read The Traveler first." David Pitt reviewing for Booklist
had very positive remarks for the novel describing it as "a hugely enjoyable book, a globe-trotting adventure that’s a treat for everyone who likes a good thriller and a special treat for fans of stories involving secret societies, global conspiracies, and mysticism." Kirkus was more critical saying that the novel opened with a bang but delivered "few thrills or chills after that" and with regard to the author they said "Twelve Hawks' bad habits include indulging in lengthy excursions to poorly elucidated multiple dimensions and delivering multiple lectures à la Crichton."
Dystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
n novels written by reclusive author John Twelve Hawks
John Twelve Hawks
John Twelve Hawks is the author of the 2005 dystopian novel The Traveler and its sequels, The Dark River and The Golden City, collectively comprising the Fourth Realm Trilogy...
.
The World of The Dark River
The Dark River opens several months after the events of The TravelerThe Traveler (novel)
The Traveler is a 2005 novel by John Twelve Hawks, which impressed critics and became an international bestseller, in part due to the reclusive behaviour of its author. The Dark River, book two of The Fourth Realm Trilogy, was published in July 2007...
. Beginning in New York City the book takes us around the world to London, Ireland, Ethiopia, and Germany. The setting evolving around the characters Maya, Gabriel, Vicki, and Hollis as they set out to protect this world (the Fourth Realm) from the changes set in motion by a group called the Brethren.
The book is Science Fiction mixed with a religious fantasy that talks about such topics as The Ark of the Covenant, free running
Free running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
, Tibetan Cosmology, and modern methods of security. The author trying to bring such topics as the progression of man lying in his free ability to choose by escaping the confines of a prison like life.
Mr. Hawks has returned with “The Dark River”, the follow-up to The Traveler
The Traveler (novel)
The Traveler is a 2005 novel by John Twelve Hawks, which impressed critics and became an international bestseller, in part due to the reclusive behaviour of its author. The Dark River, book two of The Fourth Realm Trilogy, was published in July 2007...
and the second volume in the Fourth Realm Trilogy
Fourth Realm Trilogy
The Fourth Realm Trilogy refers to the trilogy of books written by elusive author John Twelve Hawks and published between 2004 and 2009. The novels describe parallel universes, including one controlled by a shadow group called The Brethren using the Vast Machine...
. In “The Dark River”, readers will once again join Maya, a reluctant Harlequin who must battle more than just the Tabula to keep everyone alive; Gabriel Corrigan, one of the last remaining Travelers and Maya’s ward; Michael Corrigan, Gabriel’s older brother and fellow Traveler who has sided with the Brethren, though for his own reasons; Nathan Boone, the relentless Brethren Head of Security; Victory From Sin Fraser (Vicki), a member of the Church of Isaac T. Jones who believes in Debt Not Paid; and Hollis Wilson, a former martial arts teacher who has embraced the Harlequin way. Among the storylines that are developed in “The Dark River”, the readers get to see the relationship between Maya & Gabriel mature; learn a bit more about the different realms, including portals and the Ark of the Covenant
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant , also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a chest described in Book of Exodus as solely containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed...
; follow as Michael & Gabriel search for their father, another traveler who may actually still be alive; become involved in intrigue & conspiracy within the higher hierarchy of the Brethren; get a more intimate glimpse at the Harlequins Mother Blessing & Linden; join with Free Runners
Free running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
whose lifestyle is all about breaking free from the Vast Machine; and watch as the Brethren take a huge step forward in seeing their virtual Panopticon
Panopticon
The Panopticon is a type of building designed by English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late eighteenth century. The concept of the design is to allow an observer to observe all inmates of an institution without them being able to tell whether or not they are being watched...
become a reality...
The Main Characters
- Maya — The character Maya begins her story as a Harlequin who has a duty to Gabriel a traveler. From her youth she was taught how to fight the brethren, also called the Tabula. She is in love with Gabriel, which is against the Harlequin tradition.
- Gabriel — Is a Traveler. One of the last of his kind who has the power to travel outside of our realm to one of the seven other Realms. Gabriel is a thrill seeker.
- Mother Blessing- Is a Harlequin. It was her duty to protect Gabriel's Father from the Brethren. Mother Blessing knew Maya as a child and contributed to Maya's training as a Harlequin.
- Michael — Is Gabriel's brother. He is now part of the Brethren. The brethren are a group who wish to enslave all of the fourth realm through constant surveillance.
- Nathan Boone — The head of security for the Brethren. Boone is a ruthless killer that feels he is doing the right thing when working for the Brethren.
- Alice Chen — is a small and serious eleven year old girl who was living in New Harmony before her parents and everyone else living there were killed by the Tabula aka the Brethren.
- Kennard Nash — leader of the Brethren.
Short Plot Summary
While hiding out in New York, Gabriel gets wind that his father Matthew is at a convent in London so he goes there himself, with Maya and Victory following soon after and Hollis later (he stays to make the Brethren think Gabriel is still in NY). At the convent, Gabriel gets another sign that his dad is in a convent on an Island off the west coast of Ireland. In the meantime, he's met the Free Runners and won a race over buildings and walls for them, becoming their hero. When Maya and Victory arrive, they help him go to the Irish island where they find another Harlequin, Mother Blessing guarding Matthew who has been traveling in the first realm (hell) for months. Maya and Gabriel have sex and Mother Blessing finds out, disapproves, and decides to take Gabriel back to London as his guard leaving Maya guarding Matthew. Maya decides she must go to Gabriel, so she leaves Victory guarding Matthew just as the Tabula attacks. Victory gets killed by splicers (genetically engineered animals) and the Tabula, with Michael Corrigan now in a position of power, take possession of his dad's body. Gabriel decides to travel to the first realm to try to rescue his dad. He gets captured there and tortured for information on how residents can escape. Maya learns that Gabriel has gone to the first realm and that non-travelers can travel to the realms through portals, and that some ancients knew the secret. With help of a Roman who once knew her dad, she learns that the Ark of the Covenant might be such a portal and that it's in Ethiopia. She goes there, it is, she goes to the first realm, rescues Gabriel, and he finds his way back. But Maya must return through the same portal she came in through, so she is left in first realm having to fight her way out when book 2 ends. The book ends leaving the reader wondering whether or not Maya has escaped from the first realm.Literary significance and reception
Reviews for The Dark River were mixed. Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
described is novel as "a saga that's part A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel by Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. The story revolves around a young girl whose father, a government scientist, has gone missing after working on a mysterious project called a tesseract. The book won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award, and...
, part The Matrix
The Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
and part Kurosawa epic. Given the complicated plot and complex setting, readers are advised to read The Traveler first." David Pitt reviewing for Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
had very positive remarks for the novel describing it as "a hugely enjoyable book, a globe-trotting adventure that’s a treat for everyone who likes a good thriller and a special treat for fans of stories involving secret societies, global conspiracies, and mysticism." Kirkus was more critical saying that the novel opened with a bang but delivered "few thrills or chills after that" and with regard to the author they said "Twelve Hawks' bad habits include indulging in lengthy excursions to poorly elucidated multiple dimensions and delivering multiple lectures à la Crichton."