Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
| Author |  Michelle Paver |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Orion |
Publication date | 2004 - |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is a series of fantasy books by Michelle Paver. The books are the author's first children's books, and have been received well, by adults as well as younger readers.[citation needed] Set in ancient Europe, 6000 years ago in the pre-agricultural Stone Age, the books are about a boy called Torak and his struggles against the forces of evil that killed his father.
Characters
Torak
The main character of the book; he is a Spirit Walker and he can talk to wolves. He has close ties with the Raven Clan but originates from the secretive Wolf Clan. His mother (of the Red Deer Clan) died when he was very young, and his father was killed by a bear possessed by a demon. He discovers that he is a "spirit walker"—his spirit can move into other creatures, and when this happens he can perceive the world as they do. In Outcast, Torak discovers that he is clanless. He also gets cast out because of his Soul Eater tattoo; Torak cuts this tattoo out after he spirit walks into an elk and attacks Renn.
Renn
Torak's best friend, the niece of Fin-Kedinn, the leader of the raven clan. She also befriends Wolf, and helps Torak many times. Renn's mother is Seshru the Viper mage. Although she does not care for her mother, she has her mother's talent for mage craft. She does not care much for mage craft, either.
Wolf
Torak's pack-brother, a young wolf that helped Torak in Wolf Brother and Spirit Walker. He was the only one among his original pack to survive a flood; shortly after this flood, Torak found him. One of his favourite foods is Lingon berries. Wolf has a strong pack relationship with Torak, calling him Tall Tailless. All humans are "the tall taillesses", fire is "the Bright Beast that Bites Hot", and the sky is "the Up". The fire opal is the bright beast that bites cold.
The Soul Eaters
The seven Soul Eaters were once clan Mages, originally called the Healers, but now they seek control of the forest. Each Soul Eater has an attribute of their clan creature, for instance The Viper Mage has the tongue of the viper. Torak's father was once a Soul Eater until they turned evil.They are Tenris, Eostra, Thiazzi, Nef, Seshru, Torak's Father (that is not evil) and one unknown who died in the great fire trying to reach the fire opal.
Fin-Kedinn
The leader of the Raven clan, he knows from the outset that Torak's uncle and Torak's father were Soul Eaters. In Outcast, he fosters Torak, and we discover he was once in love with Torak's mother.
Bale
A Seal clan boy, who is an expert skinboater, and Torak's bone kin, first appearance in Spirit Walker. He becomes friends with Renn, although he believes women should not hunt, they should stay back at camp when men are hunting.
Maheegun
The Wolf clan leader. The whites of his eyes are dyed yellow. He seems ashamed of Torak's Father.
Story
Wolf Brother
Torak is twelve when his father is killed by a bear possessed by a demon. Torak must fulfil his vow to is father to journey to the Mountain of the World Spirit and ask for the Spirit's help in destroying the bear. On the way, he encounters Wolf, who becomes his guide. Torak and Wolf are captured by the Raven clan, where he is befriended by Renn. The story narrates Torak's, Wolf's and Renn's journey to the Mountain of the World Spirit.
Spirit Walker
As the Moon of No Dark waxes high, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. No-one knows the cause. It appears that only Torak might be the only one able to find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak encounters the Seal Mage, who promises to help him find the cure. He also meets Bale, who will later become his friend. Torak also discovers that he is a spirit walker: his souls can move into other creatures, allowing him to perceive the world as they do.
Soul Eater
Wolf has been captured by the Soul Eaters, and taken into the Far North. Torak and Renn follow and try to rescue him. But not only their lives are at risk. But why would the Soul Eaters take Wolf? Is it a trap, or do they have some other purpose with him? The Otherworld is closer than ever before, and Torak's most perilous journey so far is before him. A shadowed secret will be uncovered, and Torak must draw himself close to the Soul Eaters in order to rescue his pack-brother. But is he willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save the forests, and the world itself?
Outcast
After his deadly secret is revealed, Torak is sent away from the clans, and is not allowed to see even Renn. He heads to Lake Axehead and the reedbeds there which may be home to a giant snake, where he is hunted by the hidden people, along with the Soul Eaters. Michelle Paver also said to people at the SOUL EATER launch, that at the time, she was writing when Torak meets the Wolf Clan. With a sly smile she said: "Lets just say it's not what he expected". She also let slip that we find out a fantastic secret about Renn. Outcast is now available for purchase.
Oathbreaker
The fifth book's official title has been revealed and confirmed as Oathbreaker, to be published in September 2008.
The story will take place in the Deep Forest and will probably feature Thiazzi and in a fan letter published on www.torak.info, Paver hinted that the cover might be green because of the story's setting.
Paver is currently writing the fifth book in the series and has said that something devastating will happen at the very beginning of the book.
Ghost Hunter
The title of the sixth and final book in the series has been confirmed as Ghost Hunter[citation needed] and will be published in September 2009. Paver has said that it will be set in the mountains. In TheClanCast, a podcast in which Michelle Paver answered fans questions about the series, Michelle confirmed (as has been said before on Torak.info due to a fanletter) that Eostra will be featuring "heavily" in the final book.
Possible Prequel Series
In March 2007, in a question-and-answer session conducted on the fansite www.Torak.info (known to members as The Clan), Paver announced that there is a possibility that there may be a prequel/sequel series to the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. She also said that she has not, at the moment, been able to give it much thought as she is too bound up with the story of Torak, Renn and Wolf. But with the final COAD book, Ghost Hunter being published in 2009, she will soon have time to mull her thoughts over.
Film Rights
In 2004, Fox 2000 purchased the rights to make feature films of the book series. The first book in the series, Wolf Brother, has been optioned from $250,000 against $1 million. The film series will be produced by Ridley Scott and Erin Upson. A script is in production, according to an answer to a fan letter on www.Torak.info.