Dark Thane (The Last Clansman Book 2) by Miller Lau
01/06/2002 . Source: Eamonn Murphy 
pub: Earthlight/Simon and Schuster. 548 page paperback. Price: £ 7.99(UK). ISBN: 0-7434-0401-7. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out websites: www.earthlight.co.uk
and www.millerlau.com
Miller Lau does not have a lot to say
about the human condition. He is eloquent, however, on the condition
of Gods, demi-gods, magicians, beast-men, warriors and gigantic black
flying scorpions from the void.
 Talisker,
the eponymous hero of book one, is now retired quietly with Regan
his strong-willed daughter and his crippled stepson Tristan, who
is nephew to the Thane of Soulis Mor.
His beloved wife Una has died in circumstances where,
it is hinted, Regan might have done more to save her. This sours
relations between father and daughter.
When riders arrive to announce that the Thane has
died and Tristan will take the throne, Regan tells them she is his
twin sister and, likewise, heir. She isn't! Thinking that Tristan
might need help in his new role, Talisker does not reveal the lie.
They are made co-rulers but Regan is the stronger
character and so dominates the realm. She falls under the influence
of Jahl, a scheming demi-god. He exploits her arrogance and her
innate hatred of the Sidhe beast men who share the realm. Soon there
is torture, corruption, and war.
Tristan flees to Edinburgh, Talisker's home town,
where a dangerous young man called Knox has taken over a religious
cult. Jahl becomes more powerful and begins to influence events
there as well. The two plots intertwine.
Talisker and others from Sutra cross over to Edinburgh.
From a low-key beginning the story develops into a rich, ambitious
saga with two worlds in peril.
There is no single central character in the story
but rather three or four key figures whose point of view we share.
Like a modern thriller writer, Lau switches scenes from one place
to another to keep the tension mounting. The technique works. It
is a long book (is there such a thing as a short fantasy novel nowadays?)
but I was never bored.
As to the writing, I never noticed it. Not a word
jarred, not a sentence had to be read twice. The author's own voice
was never heard. For this kind of book - pure story - that is perfect.
Like Stephen King's ‘The Mist’ this is basically
a ripping yarn - a B-movie of a book. It has some memorable characters
and a strong sense of place. You find yourself casting the film
as you read: Sean Connery as Talisker!
Christopher Walken as Jahl! It is sufficiently gripping
that I will probably go forth and buy Talisker, book one in the
series, with my own hard earned loot.
That, I suppose, is meaningful praise.
Eamonn Murphy
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