The Drawing of the Dark

Subterranean Press is bringing The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers back into print for all the completists who want a high quality edition of the third book written by this author. It’s perhaps worth pointing out there have been twenty editions of this work, and the use of any secondhand dealer with a reasonable stock is likely to turn up a copy. This is not a publisher rescuing an early work from obscurity. So is it worth rescuing?

Well, this is not one of the best books from Powers. First appearing in 1979, it’s an alternate history fantasy where the Fisher King and Merlin mount a defense of Vienna. It’s 1529 and the Ottoman Empire is on the march. If their troops can bring down the walls, they can probably roll across Europe and produce a unified empire under the command of the East. All the powers of the West, both physical and magical, therefore focus on Vienna to prevent the loss of the city. To get the best result, they set out to find the reincarnation of Arthur to lead the defense. With him in the city, they feel confident of success. Unfortunately, he’s been reborn as a drunken Irishman. . .