sense of worth. Additionally, it is revealed that Glynn's boyfriend, Wind, committed suicide some years earlier after struggling with depression and feelings of emptiness. Reception Critical Darkfall has been well received by critics. Eidolon Magazine describes the work as “outstanding in its evocation and control of an invented world and society” and that “her narration presents with equal precision the menace and emotional isolation that threaten her typical victim-heroes”. The Age portray it as a "dramatic narrative [with] vivid characters on an enormous canvas”. InCite praises the work and calls it a "testament to Carmody’s depthless imagination”. She goes on to say that Carmody has avoided the “hackneyed clichés and absolutes common in fantasy novels" and that it "offers believable heroines in a landscape of moral ambiguity”. Magpies magazine says that the “huge cast of characters, events and the intricacies of religion, philosophy and politics keeps readers thinking and puzzling over each chapter”. In the analysis of Foster, Finnis and Nimon, they describe the work as “high fantasy at one level, but on another... a work of social realism, a combination with a variety of different quests and unlikely... heroes”. They also point out the feminist cast of the work, given the protagonists and most of the antagonists are female. However one common criticism is that the work is too confusing, given the intricacy and format of the plot. One reviewer calls for a character list at the beginning of the book to keep track of the “large array of characters and settings…deployed”. She also comments that the novel is unlikely to convert anyone to the fantasy genre as it is “discursive and sprawling, a travelogue”. Another reviewer calls the writing “often rotten” and the dialogue “wooden”. Others have criticised the book design itself; from its “brick-like” size to the fact the design of the first edition cover appears to display the author’s name as “Isobelle Darkfall Carmody”. Awards and nominations Darkfall was shortlisted in the 1998 Aurealis Awards for "Best Fantasy Novel" and in the 1998 Ditmar Awards for "Australian Long Fiction". Publication History Main Publications Special Needs Publications Foreign Language Publications In 2008, a Chinese translation was published by Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House Pub. D, entitled 沦落, Volume 1 (Lúnluò = Darkfall). It was translated by 邱望生. Notes 1.The cover illustration is a detail from a painting by American artist Janet Woolley entitled Last Supper. Carmody