The New Leaders Test of Courage (The Dark Crystal Chronicles Book 2)

Martin Laird

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Dark Crystal Chronicles Part 4: Timesword (Dark Cystal Chronicles)

Only with time does the relationship mature in such a way that we can be silent with someone, that silence comes to be seen to be the deeper mode of communion. And so it is with God; our words give way to silence. We learn a compassion for others that replaces judging, self-loathing, and the compulsion to find someone to blame. We learn a reverent joy before our wounds that replaces the condemnation of and comparison of ourselves with others that used to fuel our anxiety.

We learn that the consummation of self-esteem is self-forgetful abandonment to the Silence of God that gives birth to loving service of all who struggle. Topics Mentioning This Author. Completed Tasks May 31, Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation 4. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars.

Silence, Awareness, and Contemplation 4.

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Want to Read saving… Error rating book. At least in ancient times, someone had the audacity to come at you with a knife instead of bullying behind the comforts of a computer. This book gives you a lot of information to take in. And with uncommon names and places, and with having chemo brain a lot was lost on me.

I did take initiative and watch a few BBC documentaries which were actually extremely helpful. The scheduled publishing date is currently November 6th, so be sure to look out for it on bookshelves! Given that fact, it has not altered my opinion on the book at all. Oct 09, Magic History rated it it was amazing. Margaret George, a master at historical fiction, completes her two book series about Nero with the magnificent The Splendor Before the Dark. This book takes up where the first left off, during the great fire of Rome. The Splendor Before the Dark shows how Nero changed the final years of his short life, after the fire and before he apparently kills himself.

He is a shown as a creative and artistic genius, two thousand years ahead of his time with some of his projects. George paints him as a bit of a naive artist, unaware of the shifting political winds in the large nation he governs. First and foremost, he loves art and theater, at the expense, especially of military endeavors. He loves and loses his wife Poppaea, only to marry once more. Acte, Locusta, and Nero himself take turns narrating the book. I did not know a great deal about Nero before reading these books, but, as usual with Margaret George, I learned a great deal.

Nero has been portrayed as a monster over the centuries. But George manages to even portray his murder of his mother sympathetically. In these, she is seen as the monster Nero must at all costs escape. As a young child, he had to struggle to stay alive, and as emperor, he struggles to remain in control. And, in this passage, he tries to see inside himself.

There had been too much, too fast — the widening plot, the death of Seneca, and now the revelations of Lucan. His accusations rang in my mind. He had called me stupid, blind. Perhaps he was right. How could I not have known? I had sensed something amiss. But perhaps a ruler who did not take umbrage readily was soon a dead one, oblivious to danger around him even as the knives flashed. But his valiant attempts at living a life filled with love, beauty and excitement make a long and interesting story.

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It will be published November 6. Nov 29, Megan Jones rated it liked it. Although he has yet to produce an heir, his power is absolute. I have to be honest and say I think this was a boring read. There is not a lot of action and not many intense moments, everything trundles along at a nice pace, with no real danger anywhere to be seen, I was greatly disappointed.

I still enjoyed the read but I was not gripped by it and thought it was too long for what actually happens. I thought George was a bit too sympathetic with her characterisation of Nero and he lost power for me. I enjoyed reading about the other sides to Nero, the artistic side, the thinking side and loving, caring side, but in my opinion there needed to be more of a balance with his role as emperor. The consequences of the fire are very much ignored and George progresses to other aspects of his life, this felt like a great shame.

I am fascinated by the sympathetic side of Nero and think George has plausible arguments for her reasoning but there needed to be more on the Christians for example, the heavier aspects of his rule were ignored too much for me. I enjoyed getting stuck into a length read, I just enjoyed the first instalment better. Nov 09, Leslie Lindsay rated it really liked it. Ascending the throne was only the beginning for Nero. Margaret George is at the height of her game. After just ten years in power, Nero faces his biggest test: Flames lick at wooden buildings, entire swaths of the city are reduced to rubble, monuments desecrated.

And people are talking--did Nero start the fire himself? Was there another arsonist? Did Nero do anything to prevent it? Aside from that, Nero is surrounded by false friends, spies, and those who conspire against him. He's trying his best to be a just ruler, compassionate, and loyal, yet he falls in disarray time and time again. Still, I had such a soft spot for Nero and was silently cheering him on. There's love and mayhem, death and destruction, luxury and intrigue, and of course, the 'insidious effects of power,' as Diana Gabaldon says. Told from the POV of three main characters--Locusta an herbal medicine doctor , Acte a woman who has stolen Nero's heart , and largely Nero himself , I was in awe.

Margaret George has outdone herself and her passion for the subject matter truly shines. For all my reviews, including author interviews, please see: All thoughts are my own. Nov 09, Viviane Crystal rated it it was amazing. The story begins with the infamous fire that destroyed almost all of Rome, a fire Nero helps to put out. He helps dig out victims and console those who lost everything.

However, the rumors then begin that Nero himself set the fires. He does nothing until he realizes that unless he finds a scapegoat his reign will end. And so the Christians become the easy targets because their teachings are used as evidence of their guilt. Nero after staging the massacre of the Christians for public viewing sets about rebuilding Rome. He intends to have Rome display glory and stunning, exotic views that will be admired forever!

He attempts to wow his audience with his poetry, his athleticism in the chariot games, his artistic and architectural designs, and all of this and more are gorgeously depicted by the author. The effect on the reader is spellbinding. The plans for assassination are discovered and the plotters are condemned! But the moral and emotional devastation on Nero is piteous to follow.

His pure intentions to create a beautiful cultured world within Rome are totally misconstrued and that shatters him. He will never trust again! The loss of his wife lead him to abandon Rome for a year while he travels to Greece where he will participate in the Olympics of the time. Words cannot possibly convey the depth of how much is covered in this stunningly beautiful and skilled novel. Forget what you thought you knew about Nero and enjoy this comprehensive, complex journey into the world of one of the most notable Emperors in Roman history!

Well-written, engaging, well-researched and highly recommended historical fiction! Sep 16, Claire rated it it was amazing Shelves: Secondly, this review will contain minor spoilers although they aren't really spoilers if you're already familiar with the historical story of Nero. The Splendor Before the Dark is the second half of Margaret George's fictional account of the emperor Nero, and this one was even better than the first one.

It chronicles the last four years of Nero's reign, starting with the fire in Rome and ending with his death. I never once felt that this novel dragged at any point, or had a lull, or lost my attention even for a moment. I was entranced the entire time. I especially love how George did such a fantastic job of humanizing Nero, who has unfortunately gone down in history as being the emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. The reality, as presented in this novel, could not have been further from the truth, and it was intriguing to be given such an in-depth glimpse at what theoretically could have actually happened rather than the smear-campaign that was launched against him afterwards.

It seems like such a shame that Nero thus far has been remembered for being one of the worst emperors in Rome, when in actuality it seems that he was one of the most forward-thinking, ingenious, and creative emperors Rome ever had. George did a wonderful job showing how Nero was changed by the fire, and I was cheering him along as he finally grew into himself as an artist and allowed himself to do the things he wanted to do regardless of the opinions of others. I like to imagine that this is how Nero actually was, a sympathetic and talented artist who genuinely wanted the best for his people, rather than the Nero that history has presented.

The ending was especially fitting and gave a good amount of finality and closure. Overall this was a fantastic read, and I would recommend it to anyone and while this could be read as a stand-alone, I would definitely also recommend reading the first book first! Margaret George can always be relied on for the best historical fiction around.

Dec 01, Whit rated it really liked it. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a physical copy in exchange for my honest review. I do not recall spending a lot of time learning about the Roman empire during my school days. If anyone asked me then the name of one emperor I would have looked lost and confused. What I love the most about historical fiction is the ability to actually learn something. I now can name an emperor of the Roman empire and I actually know his story if I end up becoming engaged in a Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

I now can name an emperor of the Roman empire and I actually know his story if I end up becoming engaged in a conversation about him. Nero Augustus started his reign during tragic circumstances.

He was the last emperor during the Julio-Claudia dynasty and became the heir and successor of his great-uncle Claudius. It goes down hill when history shows that he also killed his mother and decided to kill Christians during the Roman fire because of the Armageddon reference in the Bible. I found this followup to be written beautifully. It begins with the fire and escalates from there. Nero tried his best to repair Rome. He showed courage when faced with betrayal and religious unrest.

The reader sees a young man trying his best to be a leader during a time of tremendous pressure. The story is told from 3 perspectives: Nero, Acte his former lover and Locusta a woman who is known for herbal medicine. The reader experiences what each of these characters experience and are forced to see the good and the bad in Nero because of these perspectives.

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She was transparent and kept the story flowing. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in all things Rome. Nov 16, Victoria Colotta rated it it was amazing. My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An epic read filled with drama, intense relationships, and all best of what Roman history has to give. George expertly transports her readers in time while opening up a world of love, betrayal, and the need for power to her readers. There are so many things I love about this book as well as the series. However, the one which stands out the most is the writing. The eloquence, the flow, and the effortless d My Highly Caffeinated Thought: The eloquence, the flow, and the effortless depiction of an ancient civilization make this book so good.

I loved the way I was able to experience life through Nero's and a few of the other characters' eyes. This made the story so much more real. I know this is a book set in ancient Rome, but there was an intensely modern feel to it. The way the characters interacted and spoke was intrinsically steeped in history, but the was that something which transcends into the present.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Dec 17, Susan rated it really liked it. This historical fiction novel opens with Rome burning. The emperor Nero has been away from the capital enjoying time alone with his wife Poppaea, when he is called back to Rome to deal with the fire. A fire which is growing out of control, leaving a path of destruction in its wake and multitudes fleeing the city. While the fire is a disaster, Nero also sees it as a chance to recreate a city into one full of wide boulevards, parks and gardens for the people to enjoy.

But not everyone is thrilled This historical fiction novel opens with Rome burning. But not everyone is thrilled with his new construction projects, his focus on the arts or the costs involved. Nero alone seems to be filled with a dream to recreate Rome in the image of ancient Greece he so admires. Grumblings among the elite turns into an outright conspiracy against Nero's rule.

When it is exposed Nero is forced to take action against those he once trusted the most, his closest friends and allies. More alone and isolated than ever he takes refuge in the arts and music, hoping for peace and glory and an heir to continue the dynasty. In this book we are treated to a leader who has to mature and take on more responsibilities while grappling with the complex realities of life as Emperor. This is a well written fictional account of Rome that transports readers to another time and place which is fascinating and entertaining.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Oct 22, Deirdre Metcalf rated it really liked it Shelves: Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy of this book. This book was such a great read!

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The Splendor Before the Dark is the second book in a series but it can also be read by itself. This centers around the last few years of Roman Emperor Nero's life. The book starts off with a bang as Rome is engulfed by a great fire. The entire city is being destroyed and Nero rushes to help the people. He tries to help put out the fire only to later be accused of starting it himself. As the book cont Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy of this book. As the book continues, Nero faces opposition and betrayal. You see him as he desires to make changes and do things in new ways.

He wanted to create a cultural city full of art and theater. However, the leaders of Rome are stuck in the old ways and fight him every step of the way. I really loved Nero's character. He is so complex. He is an innovative thinker and an artist. He is sensitive but also can be very dark. This book also has a constant theme of politics and power.

Nero hangs in the balance as his life is constantly threatened by people conspiring against him. We get to see how Nero changed in his last years due to the any betrayals he faced. Overall, this book is a wonderful fast read centered around one of the most captivating and notorious historical figures.

This is the best in historical fiction and I highly recommend it. Dec 02, Carol Palmer rated it it was amazing. While Nero helps in organizing fire brigades, rumors start that Nero set the fire so that he could play the cithara while Rome burned around him. The rumor mill remains unchecked while Nero goes to Greece for a year to compete in the Olympics.

His absence also gives strength to his enemies. After reading these two books, I believe the Nero and the Roman Empire would have been better off if Nero had just been left to be a rich, young man who followed his artistic and athletic whims and not emperor of the Rome. Nov 06, Megan W. This stunning tale of the Emperor Nero concludes Margaret Georges Duology about the Emperors life and places us firmly in the realm of ancient Rome. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or not you will be sucked into this epic tale.

The writing pulls you in, the setting keeps you firmly in the books grasp and the characters will compel you to keep reading. They are both heroic and at the same time flawed in the way that all humans are, keeping the authenticity of the story intact. The sto This stunning tale of the Emperor Nero concludes Margaret Georges Duology about the Emperors life and places us firmly in the realm of ancient Rome.

Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — The Dark Crystal by A. From his quiet, dreamy existence in the secluded valley with the ponderous but cerebral urRu, Jen must suddenly depart on a Quest whose details are not fully explained to him.

This gentle boy leaves his comfort zone in a desperate attempt to save his planet from another miillenium of destructive rule. Jen's goal is to find a special crystal shard and reunite it with the mother crystal -- now dark with grief and anger at the senseless destruction. This crystal is coveted and guarded in the Dark Castle by the vicious race of Skeksis, who terrorize the planet with their bat spies and insect zombies. Our unlikely hero has only his flute and his wits to guide him, but several surprise friends offer help and advice along his dangerous odyssey--including the last girl Gelfling.

Together they race against celestial time, as the Great Conjunction of the triple suns is imminent. Mass Market Paperback , pages. Jim Henson Archive Series. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Dark Crystal , please sign up. Lists with This Book. The Dark Crystal by A. Like Labyrinth I remember the film although over the years certain details and scenes became hazy come on it was So as different as it may have been I think given the opportunity we could have seen many more.

Looking back the story is pretty straightforward — but then again so are many fairy tales, it is more in the telling and the atmosphere that it is complexity and unique storyline. However what did surprise me was how dark the story got — one reference towards the end of the events in the Podling village struck me as particularly bleak. That all said the books really does capture the feel of the film and reading through the pages it all came flooding back.

There is a timeless feel to these stories which I think helps explain why both films and obviously their stories remain with us today even when film techniques have dramatically improved over the years. There is still so much love for this story today that there are still new books being published on the subject 30 years after the film was released. I remember seeing the adaptation of this as a little kid, what nightmare fuel! But The Dark Crystal is still a beautiful story with good morals.

May 29, Quicksilver Quill rated it really liked it. Inevitably the book will be compared to the film, and that's tough competition--especially for the nostalgic ones among us! But I would say that Smith did a good job translating the film into fiction. He does have a powerful descriptive ability and some of his choice of words left me pondering the paucity of my own vocabulary.

But it's nicely written and it's quite a short novel, so things keep moving. A minor complaint might be the extensive use of foreign languages in the book for the Skeksis, Inevitably the book will be compared to the film, and that's tough competition--especially for the nostalgic ones among us! A minor complaint might be the extensive use of foreign languages in the book for the Skeksis, et al. The film of course, did the same thing, but more sparingly so I thought it worked out better.

Still, I enjoyed the read and A. Smith's poetic handling of the tale as well as his depiction of Jen's inner thoughts and feelings. Read this book to my daughter at bedtime. She really enjoyed it and is ready to watch the movie. I watched the movie as a kid and loved it. When I found out that it was made into a book, I had to get my hands on it. I tried to read it a few months back but couldn't get into. It wasn't unil a few weeks ago that I thought it would be a great idea to read it to my daughter. I tried to have her watch the movie a few years back but she was too young then and got scared of the skeksis.

Reading it and h Read this book to my daughter at bedtime. Reading it and having her use her imagination worked a lot better. It didn't hurt to have the drawings in the book as well to help with visualization. Jul 25, Jeff Bailey rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Fantasy Junkies,Henson Fans,Nostalgic 80's kids,hero-quest stories lovers. The book is a novelization of this film and therefore, as novelizations go, ran the risk of being lame.

Although I agree with other reviewers, that the books scientific and technical explanations of the visual aspects of the story fall short of the wonder of their portrayal on the big screen, I was impressed by A. Smith's word choices and his addition of some political drama that I don't recall being in the original film I'll have to check. The book does have a few pages of pictures from the motion picture, but that clearly is a far cry from the work that Brain Froud and Henson crafted. I'd recommend this to anyone who has seen the film or enjoys fantasy.

There is a hint of philosophy throughout the novel that I've enjoyed as an adult that was lost on me as a kid. View all 3 comments. I liked this movie a lot as a kid, even though I had no idea what the hell was going on. All of its themes, ideas, and parts of its story went right over my kiddie head. The novelization looks a tad too dense for me to really want to chop my way through while I have bronchitis and laryngitis, so I'll be saving this for another time. Also, I effing adore Fizzgig.

I love the film, but don't think the novelisation really lives up to the it. There are some nice bits of background that let you know a little more about Jen, but I would have liked a little more about Kira. No one hardly ever says this about anything ever, but: Yes, the movie was there first and it shows, since it's so much more atmospheric, has better characterizations and in general the story seems to work better as a visual medium. This, even if it wasn't bad, lacked the charme of the film for me.

I also wasn't sure if I liked the writing style. I thought it was well written at first but after some time I got tired of this style, it's much too needlessly complic No one hardly ever says this about anything ever, but: I thought it was well written at first but after some time I got tired of this style, it's much too needlessly complicated for something based on a family film, I guess. I also feel Chamberlain, my favorite character from the movie, really lost a lot of his "screen time" here. The book was still enjoyable but I still recommend re watching the movie over reading it.

Way higher level of reading than is really necessary. Is this just how books were written? So that you constantly need a thesaurus or dictionary? I'm pretty well-read and still there were parts where I had to look words up. Context clues didn't even help. Labyrinth is next and since it's the same author I guess I know what to expect. A rather poorly written fantasy novel, The Dark Crystal: The Novelization sucks all the magic and wonder out of the beloved Jim Henson film. Fantasy often benefits from a certain ambiguity, and A.

Smith also gets a little too caught up in describing certain scenes. Still, there are some nice supplemental materials included in this edition; such as original sketches from concept artist Brian Froud and first draft notes from Jim Henson. A subpar adaptation, The Dark Crystal: It's one thing when books are converted to films; generally you should read the book first, then the film is fine.

But when films are converted to books, it doesn't generally work; this is no exception. The film is one of my all-time top five, indeed I tend to think of it as my favourite ever film; it's a masterpiece. So I was fairly enthused to read the book. The story is mostly faithful to the film, more a case of adding in extra detail where it differs. One might think that was a good thing, c It's one thing when books are converted to films; generally you should read the book first, then the film is fine.

One might think that was a good thing, certainly the author and Henson did, but I find it unnecessary. The main problem I have with the book is the author's style and phrasing. Bearing in mind the film is a children's film primarily, despite it being entertaining for adults, this book would be utterly unsuitable for children.

Not because it would attract above a PG rating at best, probably a U, if it were classified like films, but because the English usage is deliberately very high brow, complex with constant usage of words that would not be used in normal language by the majority, certainly that a child would baulk at. The language usage is also rather scientific and clinical at times, like listening to a recording of a forensic pathologist doing an autopsy.

Then there is the made-up language usage, which is laid on with a trowel, and far more confusing than it is in the film, ill-explained, or over-explained, becoming either pointless or the meaning lost - a shame, as I usually relish such things. They betrayed no sign of fear, yet the locus of their lateral movements began to edge closer to the stream, until several of them were dancing on the water itself. He double-stopped one pipe of the flute, as a kind of chanter, and on the other experimented with quarter-tone effects he had discovered by partial stopping.

He tapped his foot in a slow rhythm, shut his eyes, and improvised a sinuous melody. Along all the ley-lines of energy around the planet, they had continuously fed noxious pulses, fomenting the misery and weakness throughout the world. And along the same ley-lines they had sucked in geodynamic energies. The lightning Jen had seen was focused into the Standing Stones and transmitted to the castle.

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