SRL's darker, earlier period

[Maidryn]

I discovered SRL quite by chance ( I found Paradise War in a bargain bin) and I've spent the past five years collecting all his books. This means, however, that I did not read them in the order they were written. I have finally begun to notice that it seems to me that SRL's earlier works are quite a bit darker. Not just meaning that more "bad" things happen, but there seems to be less hope in God and that all things will work out in the end.
Has anyone else noticed this trend?

[Tegid]

Really? I still have Empyrion, the Celtic Crusades, Avalon, and Patrick left to go, so I can't speak in any definitive way. But my impression was that it went the other direction, that the later writing is darker than the earlier. I can't imagine SRL writing anything like Byzantium back in the early or mid 80s. And Hood is far more shadowy than the Dragon King trilogy. And while entire peoples had their eyes fixed unshakably on God in earlier stories (Kyr's race, the Fieri, the Ariga and the Curatak, and to a large extent those around Arthur), now it seems to be more manifestly an individual-by-individual characteristic or choice, and there may not be too many of them in any one story, with a whole lot more questioning of God because of circumstances being done by main characters in the later books. Anyway, that's the view from here.

[Maidryn]

Tegid, I thought it was really interesting how you remarked about how SRL focuses now on each character having a personal choice about following God (as opposed to a whole civilization with the same ideology). I suppose that reflects more accurately real life. Even though parents might try to impress certain beliefs on their children, it is up to each of us as individuals to decide which road (or which person) to follow. As it was once said, " God has no grandchildren, only children." Thanks for the insight.

[dgan]

I think it is difficult to see a significant trend in SRL's work over the years. My impression of Dream Thief (old work) was very dark, actually much like HOOD (new). However, Dragon King Trilogy (old) was very inspirational much like Song of Albion (newer).

Pendragon was interesting because it was a little of both. Some books like Taliesin or Arthur were enlightening, yet Merlin and Grail were of a darker variety.

One thing I do see in his later books is the use of more tragic figures. Bran (HOOD), Patrick, and Aidan (Byzantium) all seem to be characters that are destined to become heroes made of God in spite of themselves. This is a little different IMO from earlier works where heroes were essentially heroes in the making right from the beginning.

I think, also, it is difficult to compare his Sci-Fi (Empyrion and Dream Thief) with his historical fiction works. It seems there is a different purpose and direction in the sci-fi that maybe doesn't have all the spiritual nuances of his more renowned works.

[DanTheMan]

I think his books have become edgier over the years. There's more of a focus of the change that the main characters go through. To think of Song Of Albion being written by SRl today is kind of mind-boggling but it would be different today. I don't think he's darker now or before, but his style has changed to be more complex now.

[cree8ivone]

"edgier"

I agree with that. SRL pushes the envelope more than he did in early writings. His characters, even the good ones, have much more that they need to be redeemed for. And if that is not true in a general sense, it is more evident in books like Patrick and Hood, because some of the actions which would require redeeming are now being written about in more detail.

One might say, "SRL has always been detailed with his descriptions." That's true. But I think the change is that we are reading that the good characters go longer through their struggles committing these actions that need redeeming than in SRL's earlier works.

Does that make his writing 'darker'? Maybe. It does make it 'edgier'.

But the real question should be... Does this style make SRL's writing better?




In Christ,

[Dred]

I think it is more believeable to have the characters feel more human. The fact that they have flaws which are written about more and the struggles they face makes it all feel more like you can relate to them. Not that I don't like the very powerful characters who don't face adversity but the characters with more human traits always have drawn me in more and made me feel what they go through.

That to me makes it better.

[dgan]

A salesman is a salesman. It doesn't matter what he's selling, it's still the same old line -- just a different product.

I enjoy SRL taking on different styles, moods, concepts, etc... It doesn't matter if you've never read SRL or if you've read every book he's ever written -- you still were not sure what to expect in HOOD.

I think you can tell the most amazing story, but if you've heard the same delivery before, it is not as enjoyable. I think both types of works are enjoyable to read because they are delivered at a different pace and with a different purpose. Everyone likes a feel good story once in a while, and a tragic story once in a while. Lawhead can do both exceptionally well! We're so lucky!

[Caledvwlch]

It depends on how you mean 'dark.' If you mean dark by the material, then i'd have to say his later stuff is darker. If you mean dark by ending--the important part--then none of it really is. All of his stuff has redemptive and inspirational, except for Avalon, which is exciting more than anything else. I think more than anything his writing has become grittier, more infused with the rigors of the road, the rigors of the heart, the rigor mortis of the forgotten corpse by the side of the road...the one who has a family waiting at home for him, in vain.

Byzantium is dark, some would say. That's because the majority of the book, Aidan is doubtful of God's existence or love, and then becoming downright hopeless. But the book ends in hope. Does that make it a dark book, or a book shining light? Is Cast Away a dark movie, because he's stranded and lost for most of the movie, then comes home to find his love married? Or is it a hopeful film, because he decides that he just needs to keep breathing, and tomorrow the sun will rise?

I'm a firm believer that the ending is what makes the book, not any of the other stuff. Hear ye he that will.