Over Sea, Under Stone

Published between 1965 and 1977, Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising sequence is a fantasy series for children and teenagers that blends Arthurian and Celtic mythology with the trappings of contemporary life. In addition to its first installment, Over Sea, Under Stone (1965), the series also includes The Dark Is Rising (1973), Greenwitch (1974), The Grey King (1975), and Silver on the Tree (1977). Together, the books chronicle the ongoing battle between the forces of the Light and those of the Dark as new heroes and foes emerge in the 20th century. Guided by the ancient mage, Merlin, the main characters follow in the footsteps of King Arthur to overthrow the forces of evil and herald the return of Arthur’s heir, the Pendragon.

Over Sea, Under Stone sits slightly apart from the rest of the series because its main purpose is to lay the groundwork for the rest of the narrative. Although this first installment does not include explicit supernatural elements, it does hint at the magical and mythical aspects that the series later explores. Great-Uncle Merry, for instance, is depicted merely as an eccentric old man, and only at the end of the novel does Barney finally realize that his great-uncle is actually the legendary magician, Merlin.