This book is about people who three childern discover a anciant map in a house that has something speacial in it. But they had to fight evil as they call the dark. When they search for it there selves they put on their very lives in peril. But over all the vampire lives over the sea and under the stone when the moon comes out. simon had been sitting making darts out of the morning news paper.All of the derws hated the rain so when it rained they all stayed inside there house. When it was done raining the derws went outside and because they liked the fershness All of the derw famliy stayed in a cabin. They all new when exacley when it was time to wake up.

I began this series in the wrong order as I read the dark is rising first. I then formed a theory which I was anxious to see fulfilled. So I began over sea under stone.
It doesn't have much in common with the dark is rising which is a fantasy novel of the first order!
Over sea under stone is an adventure story reminiscent of old children's adventure stories complete with Cornish beaches, secret caves, mysterious people up to no good and three children caught at the heart of it. The only difference is it's much better written. Kids will love it, and so will nostalgic adults.
The audio book is wonderfully read by Alex Jennings.

It doesn't matter that this book was written 30 years ago, it easily withstands the test of time. It's actually superior to so much of the children's literature that's being put out these days.

The writing harkens back to a time when children were expected to have a much higher reading ability at a far younger age than they're allowed to get away with today. This book doesn't talk down to its audience whether it be child or adult, it doesn't dumb down the vocabulary or spend pages repetitively going over plot details; it's fast paced and presumes that whomever is reading it has at least a passing knowledge of Arthurian legend and Grail mythology, which any child of two or three decades ago probably would have.

This is a great adventure book, a classic story of good vs. evil set in relatively modern day England. Three children, Simon, Jane, and Barney, find an ancient map hidden away in the old house their great-uncle is renting for their family over the summer, and with that discovery they're plunged into a quest and a conflict, both straight out of legend.

It's a great deal to drop onto such young shoulders, but they're well equipped for it. Between the three of them they have all the skills they need to find the answers to age-old riddles and escape their evil pursuers. Not that the latter is always easy, and there's a great build up in tension a few times when you aren't really sure that they will get away.

Not all questions are answered at the end of the book and the ending itself isn't a complete wrap up of the story, but it fits well with the rest of the story, and with reality. Sometimes you just don't know who the other side really is and you do have to settle for half a prize rather than none. It's not at all annoying or frustrating here, it just feels...right. Besides, the Merlin reference at the end really made for a wonderful ending. So appropriate.

This is high quality adventure and suspense, the real world colliding with a magical one in a way that's far different from _Harry Potter_, and in some ways better than the HP series entirely. Children's literature just isn't written this way anymore, which is a real shame.

By one of those strange coincidences, I read this book shortly after the new "Ulysses Moore - The Door to Time", and a comparison of the two will reveal many similarities. This story was copyrighted by Susan Cooper in 1965, and tells the tale of three children who discover an old map in the house where they are vacationing.

Three children (two boys and a girl) begin exploring an old house on the coast of England, and find a hidden door behind a wardrobe. Later they come across an ancient map, and find themselves in a great and dangerous adventure solving the cryptic clues on the way to locating the hidden treasure. This plot summary can be used for either book.

"Over Sea, Under Stone" however, is a much more entertaining read, as the treasure is a grail from the legend of King Arthur, and there are forces of Light and Dark battling for possession. The children face many physical challenges on their quest, and soon discover that some of their acquaintances cannot be trusted.

With their Great-Uncle Merry as their confidante and guardian angel, the three siblings experience the adventure of a lifetime, one I strongly recommend for ages 9-12, and the young at heart.


Amanda Richards, January 22, 2006

I had read the Dark is Rising series when I was much younger, and recently decided to re-read it. I read this, the first in the series, last night, and it was very enjoyable. I seem to remember that I liked The Gray King best, and if that it still the case, it will have to be quite a book to be much better than this one.

On the back of my book, it shows a review from Psychology Today comparing Cooper to C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolien. Let me just say that, as good as this series is, it is in no way on the level of Lewis and Tolien. There is but one aspect of Cooper's writing which compares in any way to Lewis and Tolkien, and that is her portrayal of the battle between good and evil. Cooper portrays this battle better than any author which I know of other that Lewis, Tolkien, and Charles Williams. On other areas of comparison, however, she fars fairly short of Lewis' Narnian Chronicles and far short of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Do not mistake me, this book is very, very good, perhaps even great, but it does not approach the level of awe one has after reading Tolkien's works.

I cannot speak for the rest of the series (yet) since I have just begun re-reading them, but I can recommend this book (and I seem to remember that this one is rather separated from the rest of the series). Others have said that this book is the worst in the series. If that be the case, then this will be a very good series to read.