| Plot Summary of Over Sea, Under Stone |
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""Over Sea, Under Stone" is the first of 5 books in The Dark is Rising Series but can be enjoyed in it's own right. It tells of 3 children on holiday in Cornwall (land of King Aruthur) who discover an ancient map which leads them on a search for Grail. Written for children, this series is one that can be enjoyed over and over again by fantasy lovers of all ages."
heidiwax, Resident Scholar
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"Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew have gone on holiday to Cornwall, where they will be staying with their Uncle Merry, a mysterious and imposing archaeologist. When they find an old treasure map, Merry presents them with a challenge: to find the treasure - the Holy Grail - which is needed for the upcoming battle between Light and Dark, the opposing forces of good and evil. With help from Merry (and Rufus, a local dog), the Drew children follow the clues. But will they manage to evade the forces of the Dark for long enough to get the treasure?"
Ivy, Resident Scholar
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"In this the first book of the Dark is rising series, Simon, Jane, and Barnabas(Barney) Drew go to Trewissick, Cornwall, with their Great-Uncle Merry. There, they discover an old map drawn by the last gardian of the grail, a chalice-like cup that,"...told upon its sides all the true story of Arthur." Great-Uncle Merry tells them that there are evil men searching for the grail as he has also been searching, and of the danger they had put themselves in. They need to follow the clues the Cornishman included in the map, and find the grail before the Dark does. But will the Dark prevent the children from finding the grail, or will Great-Uncle Merry be able to protect the Drews long enough for them to triumph?"
Danielle, Resident Scholar
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"Barney, Simon, and Jane are on holiday in Cornwall with their parents, visiting great-uncle Merriman - Professor Lyon to his learned colleagues. The cottage he is renting holds a secret, ancient and priceless and Merriman suspects it, but alone he cannot find what he is looking for. Money may buy the services of some who would help to look for it, but money cannot buy the secrets that this document holds, and precious as it is, it merely points the way to a greater prize and greater secrets. Now as we all know, Cornwall of the Celts is the Logres of ancient Britain from the time of the real king Arthur. And some of the legends that surround him are substance, while many are just tales. This is a race: there are others, darkly plotting, who also know the difference between true legend and false, and they too want the map and its treasure, not for its value in gold but for the power it will give them. "
Michael JR Jose, Resident Scholar
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"Simon, Jane, and Barnabas ("Barney") Drew go for a holiday in Trewissick, on the coast of Cornwall, and stay in the majestic Grey House, which belongs to a sea captain but is being temporarily occupied by their Great Uncle Merriman ("Merry") Lyon. While exploring in an attic, Barney finds a mysterious map or drawing that seems very old. Uncle Merry confirms that it may be a 600-year-old copy of a document that dates from 900 years ago, shortly after the days of King Arthur, and may indicate the place where a knight named Bedwin hid a grail -- not the Holy one, but a metal cup that depicts highlights from Arthur's reign. But a young adult pair of "antique dealers," teamed up with a tough kid from the village and a bogus, threatening vicar, seem determined to head off Uncle Merry (who hints that they may represent "dark forces") and the kids from the prize. This 1965 young adult novel became the first in Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Over Sea, Under Stone |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 52%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 26%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 14%
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy story on current Earth
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- magical artifact
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a kid
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- wealthy
- mastermind
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- mind control
- can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Water
Earth setting:
- 20th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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