"Tidigt på annandagens morgon år 2012 vaknar de jullediga svenskarna till en ny värld. Ett strömlöst, mörkt och iskallt Sverige. En dag då allting förändras."note
Midvintermörker (Midwinter Darkness) is the first novel written by the Swedish blogger and author Lars Wilderäng. It follows several characters as Sweden is attacked by a foreign power. It is essentially a military thriller, filled with battles, borderline political satire and a lot of military terms and technology. Considered to be a warning text about the decline of the Swedish armed forces.
Tropes used include:
- An Asskicking Christmas: The Russians invade on boxing day.
- Artistic License: Averted. The author has been doing his research. Especially and annoyingly so in the radio traffic.
- Action Politician: Two Russian Commandos, one wielding an AK-74 and the other a Dragunov sniper rifle, attempt to enter the home of the Swedish deputy prime minister and kidnap her. She takes out both of them with her double-barrelled rabbit gun.
- Anyone Can Die: One chapter is called "Die Die Die" for a very good reason.
- Big Damn Heroes The author seems very fond of this trope.
- JAS 39 Gripens arrive like the riders of Rohan when Russian helicopters attack ground forces.
- During an intense battle with Russian infantry, the Marines hear the sound of tanks. They are Swedish and end the battle decisively for the Swedes
- Big, Bulky Bomb: The Father of All Bombs are deployed twice with horrifying results.
- Black Dude Dies First: An entire chapter is spent introducing Yusuf, a Syrian cab driver. He dies at the end of it, when the Russians launch a cruise missile strike on Stockholm.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: While the Swedes are given a small chance, and a desperate plan - the outcome is really not in doubt, despite the fact that the Swedish tactical objective is accomplished.
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique:
- A subordinate reports having interrogated a prisoner and claims to only have used the much despised basic values manual.
- Both sides also end up using waterboarding against prisoners.
- Taking You with Me A Swedish Naval Officer is held on the Russian flagship and tortured by the Captain. When the ship is destroyed, he grabs the Captain and make sure both drown.
- You Are in Command Now: Several.
- The Vice Prime Minister Gerd Olsson is promoted as the Prime Minister is killed.
- During the battle of Gotland, Erik Segerfält is promoted as his superior officer is killed.
