They then must climb back up the tree’s trunk before they can again glide downwards. All others in Dusk’s colony glide from high spots on a tree in order to catch insects for food. Unlike the others in his colony, Dusk has furless wings and, what’s more, he has an abnormal impulse to flap his wings and fly upwards, rather than merely gliding downwards. Dusk discovers that, where others’ eyesight is poor at nighttime, he can see in the dark using echolocation. He has bigger ears than those around him. He has weak legs, but a much stronger chest and shoulders. Dusk, however, is different from the rest of his colony. They are furry bat-like creatures who glide from the trees on the sails that extend from their arms. Dusk’s family and friends are chiropters. In Darkwing, the story protagonist is Dusk. Among these are what are, essentially, “pre-bats,” evolving from what Oppel portrays as chiropters. Other mammals develop alternate survival mechanisms to cope with the new carnivorous threats. As the great dinosaurs disappear, new, ferocious meat-eating mammals fill their niche. It is a time when the last of the dinosaurs are grimly, albeit unsuccessfully, clinging to survival. Where the “Silverwing Saga” tells of the trials and triumphs of bats in a modern setting, Darkwing is set in Paleocene epoch, 65 million years ago.

Darkwing, however, is a prequel to those books. In Darkwing, Oppel decided to revisit his phenomenally successful “Silverwing Saga” book trilogy: Silverwing (1997) Sunwing (1999) and Firewing (2002). Despite the fame of book series like Harry Potter, one is always a little worried when an author decides to return to the well and revisit earlier, successful works. His latest novel, Darkwing, will only enhance his reputation and popularity.

Oppel is widely recognized as one of Canada’s best authors for adolescent readers.

Kenneth Oppel’s latest work will leave you breathless. “It’s a bird, isn’t it?” he heard the second felid say. Even though he knew he couldn’t be caught, the mere idea of that creature looking at him was terrifying. Heart pounding, he veered out of the moonlight and into the deeper shadow. “One of them flies!”ĭusk had thought himself invisible in the dark, but he had clearly underestimated the felid’s night vision.

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel