by Ursula K Le Guin
(a short story from The Mammoth Book of Fantasy)
Diamond is a gifted young man with a beautiful voice and a natural flare for music. But greater than that, in his father’s eyes, is his gift for magic. Merchants, like Diamond’s father, Golden, are rich and powerful. But more than they are the wizards, and Golden has high hopes for his son. The only ambition that Diamond has, though, is to marry the daughter of a witch and to play music for the rest of his life. But will he ever fulfill these humble desires?
Darkrose and Diamond is a story about love – love for a mother, a father, a sweetheart, a gift. The story flows smoothly with each sentence conjuring up a picture as interesting as the talents that the hero possesses. Diamond is sent to train as a wizard, but he runs away, only to come back to Darkrose and ask her to elope with him and lead the life of a wandering minstrel. Things do not go well with her, for she has missed him and does not realise that he had missed her too. Two years go by before they are able to get things straight with each other and to finally fulfill their shared dream.
I found this story to be a page turner, though it isn’t really action-filled. I found Diamond to be an interesting character – at times he was so slow, but then his desires are so simple and humble and earnest that one cannot help but admire him for his courage and grittiness when he finally follows his heart. I didn’t care much for Darkrose. I felt that while the character of Diamond, and even his father, was a bit developed, nothing much was done with Darkrose save for her being the catalyst in Diamond’s decisions.
It was an interesting read. My first Ursula Le Guin! I have heard so much about her, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to read one of her works. And this one?…was a pleasant read.
My Rating: 3/5
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