In his novel Dark Star, Alan Furst creates an atmosphere that supports the depressed and despondent context that surrounded Europe before the start of World War II. He is able to capture our attention by immediately creating anxiety in a depressed and broken country that is Belgium. Furst is able to draw us into the mind of André Szara as he enters Ostend, Belgium, describing the atmosphere as unpleasant and anxiety-inducing. It presents this atmosphere through the rusty old freighter Nicaea, the setting in Ostend and the missions that Szara must complete during his stay in Ostend. The thirty-year-old tugboat Nicaea represents an unforeseen route and ultimately places uncertainty in the eyes of André Szara. At the beginning, the atmosphere is immediately plunged into a dark and frightening perspective due to the depiction of the "tramp freighter" (Furst 3) which moves on the water with a distinctive roar of the engine, overpowering the sound of the waves which s 'collide. The Nicene History identifies the elements Furst used to display atmosphere. Its detailed description indicates that it spent “scorching summers and rainy winters” (3) over the years being ruined by salt and rust. Old age causes the ship to “[creak] and [groan] sadly” (4). The unhealthy environment creates an undesirable atmosphere that exploits uncertainty about the ship's ability to continue on its course.Salame 2The weather plays a major role in the atmosphere of Ostend. Weather can be used effectively to present a certain atmosphere, as it can dictate the mood. On a voyage across the North Sea, Szara and Khelidze were accompanied by "rain" (3) and "darkness" (3), unaware of what awaited them. With darkness comes the idea of ​​fear because it leads to the unexpected. Nicaea has also been at sea for nineteen days through an “eternity of showers of freezing seawater” (5). The weather portends a gloomy future and maintains uncertainty about what awaits us. Just as importantly, Andre Szara is given a mission but doesn't know why, which further adds to the suspense and ignorance of the consequences. Szara's mission is to find out where his traveling companion, Grigory Khelidze, lives in Ostend. Szara has no idea why he must find out where this man resides, creating a sense of perplexity. It's as if Szara has set out on a winding and unforgiving path that leaves no hints or signs as to where it will take him..