Product Description
An omnibus volume of three classic, long-unavailable Darkover novels-Star of Danger, The Bloody Sun, and Winds of Darkover-tell of two men of mixed Darkovan ancestry, who must choose where their true allegiances lie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Culture clash on Darkover.
A nice omnibus edition of terran-themed Darkover stories. I had previously read both Star of Danger and The Winds of Darkover in my youth and remembered them both vividly and well.

Star of Danger is my favorite novel in the collection, and although the characters appear again briefly in other books, I remember loving it enough that I would have really enjoyed a sequel. It contains just the right amount of adventure, alien worlds, and cultural interaction to make a very satisfying read.

The Bloody Sun is probably the most interesting for the Darkover fan. Bradley set up many people's idea of a kind of fantasy low-tech future-- probably hers at a certain moment as well. But what worked so well with the books is that she was clearly never quite comfortable with the traditional limitations of her worlds. This book rather explicitly examines the human cost of maintaining a traditional culture and the Terrans are used as a vehicle for exploring the tension. In the The Bloody Sun there is a fair amount of attention paid to bloodlines and inheritance.

The Winds of Darkover is an entertaining book with a focus on the issue of ethics and psychic powers, and an interesting nod to the history of Darkover.

I always enjoy the Darkover novels. These three are good examples.

Three classic Darkover novels, including The Bloody Sun
Among all of Marion Zimmer Bradley's impressive body of work, she loved and cherished her Darkover novels and stories above all others.From the publication of Planet Savers in 1962 until her death in 1999, Bradley published over twenty Darkover novels and a dozen Darkover anthologies.It is a remarkable series covering six major stages of Darkovan history.Tragically, many of the Darkover publications have gone out of print over the years; thankfully, in 2002, Daw began publishing special omnibus collections such as this one.A World Divided consists of three novels: Star of Danger (1965), The Bloody Sun (1965), and The Winds of Darkover (1970).

One of the best things about Bradley's Darkover series is the fact that each can book can be read and enjoyed in and of itself; while there is a definite history and chronology of the planet Darkover, the reader does not have to tackle the books in any certain order.A World Divided gives us an interesting mix: two relatively minor Darkover novels and one major novel of great importance, each of them taking place in an era of great historical change.

Star of Danger reads like an exciting juvenile novel, and I believe it serves as an excellent, solid introduction to the planet Darkover.The book's protagonists are two teenaged boys standing on the cusp of adulthood, natives of two different cultures coming together for the unplanned-for adventure of a lifetime.The "backwards" Darkovans do not trust the Terrans, afraid of the type of change Earthmen will bring to their traditional, highly structured society, but Larry Montray, a young Terran new to the planet, is easily mistaken for a native inhabitant.After striking up a friendship with a young Darkovan aristocrat named Kennard Alton, Montray is given an unprecedented opportunity to spend the summer with the Altons in the countryside.Larry's great adventure soon becomes a perilous ordeal.In order to survive, Montray and Kennard must learn from and defer to one another's strengths. Culture clashes are inevitable, but in such a bond of friendship is forged the bridge that may one day unite the competing Terran and Darkovan cultures.

The Winds of Darkover shows us a side of the planet rarely explored.Alienated from the ruling families on Darkover, Loran Storn has no one to call upon for aid when bandits seize the outlying Castle of Storn.His blindness is a further impediment, and in desperation he seeks out another mind and engineers a rescue mission through that person. The mind he finds is that of a Terran named Dan Barron, and thus in one character we are presented with two unique, fresh viewpoints of Darkovan life - one by the Terran who is journeying into this world for the first time, and the other by the blind Storn aristocrat seeing the world of Darkover for the first time through Barron's eyes.The winds of change blowing in the realms outside the control of Darkover's ruling families portend the sweeping changes coming to the planet as The First Age of contact with the Terrans draws to a close.

The real gem of this omnibus collection is The Bloody Sun, as it basically takes us through the dawning of Darkover's Second Age.By this time, the influence of the Terran presence in the land has led some Darkovans to question the old ways and to call for a closer relationship with the Terrans. Some of the people believe that the old ways are out-dated and needlessly burdensome, but few in authority have the desire, let alone the courage, to pursue "progress."The true power of the ruling families has long been centralized inside the mysterious Towers that dot the land, but now only the mighty Tower in Arilinn can boast of a full-fledged Keeper, and even this primary Tower's circle is incomplete at the time this novel opens.

Raised in the Spacemen's Orphanage on Darkover until he was twelve, Jeff Kerwin spent his next several years on Earth with his Terran father's parents; an outcast on a world not truly his own, he pined for the day he could return to Darkover and learn the truth of his heritage. All he has is the name his Terran father gave him and a matrix jewel of unknown origin. When he begins to search for the history of his earliest years, he is upset to learn that no such records seem to exist. Kerwin knows he is being lied to and manipulated, but he has no idea why. On the brink of deportation from the planet of his birth, a voice beckons him through the jewel he wears, and by following this voice Kerwin finds a new home on Darkover - a home within the very Tower of Arilinn.

Thus we get an inside look at the work of the Keepers inside their mysterious Towers. It is a brand new life for Kerwin, accepted into a telepathic circle of power and authority. Ultimately, he carries the burden of knowing that the future direction of Darkover depends on him, as the Tower of Arilinn is put to a test that will determine whether traditional "magic" or Terran technology will best serve the Darkovan people in the future.

Both Star of Danger and The Winds of Darkover are wonderfully evocative, adventure-filled novels painting an illuminating picture of Darkovan culture, but The Bloody Sun is among the most important and significant of Bradley's Darkover novels, showing as it does the inner workings of the last and most important Tower, revealing long-buried secrets reaching all the way back to the turbulent days of The Forbidden Tower, and basically explaining the impetus for one of the most significant cultural evolutions in Darkovan history.Marion Zimmer Bradley has long been an underappreciated giant in the genres of fantasy and science fiction; no reader's journey through the modern classics is complete without at least one stopover on the planet Darkover.

Darkover ... from the Terran point of view
Larry Montray is a Terran boy who befriends a Darkovan boy, Kennard Alton.Together, they are thrown into an adventure that requires each learn about the other ... and in the process learn more about Terra *and* Darkover...

Jeff Kerwin is a Terran orphan who remembers Darkover in an odd way ... the more he remembers, the stranger he seems to be.Is he 'Jeff Kerwin' ...or the son of a leronis who fulfilled the promise of the Forbidden Tower?

Finally, the adult Larry Montrey journeys through the sky-raping Hellers in an attempt to save the Storn family...

Each story tells the efforts of Earth-humans to reconcile what they *think* they know about Darkover when actually plunged into the planet's culture ... to learn that there is more to Darkover than its 'primitive' appearance, and that 'superstitions' can be based on more than mere myth.Finding out the differences -- and similarities -- in the types of people on the planet is only the start of the journeys of discovery, through the divided world that is Darkover! ... Read more

Product Description
A magnificent, colorful novel of the circus world of the 1940s and 1950s, rich in detail, bursting with power and emotion.
Mario Santelli, a member of the famous flying Santelli family, is a great trapeze artist. Tommy Zane is his protege.
As naturally and gracefully as they soar through the air, the two flyers find themselves falling in love. Mario and Tommy share sweet stolen moments of passion, but the real intensity of their relationship comes from their total devotion to one another and to their art.
As public figures in a conservative era, they cannot reveal their love. But they will never renounce it.
A tremendously moving tale, a rich family saga, a wise and compassionate portrait of a special love in a special world.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Epic stuff.
The Catch Trap was an incredibly moving story and I really liked it much. Below are a few of my random thoughts. For a far more insightful analysis I suggest you check out Teddy Pig's review, he's the reason I spent considerable time ringing 2nd hand book shops around the country trying to get hold of it! Which is what good reviews do, they should illustrate that the novel has touched someone in some way and give you, the reader, some impetus to whip out your much abused credit card.

So, in short, 2 guys meet while working in the circus. Tommy is younger, considerably so at the beginning, and Mario is older, in years anyway (his emotional maturity left something to be desired at times!) They meet, they eventually become lovers and so on. But the story doesn't just hook you in with longing looks and the faint hint of manlove moments, it's also an authentic accounts of circus life that makes your remember why, at age 10 and spandex was still an option, you were ready to jump out the window in the night and join a troupe of acrobats.

In other reviews I've read there are some issues about the age gap when Mario and Tommy start fooling around. I didn't find it objectionable, mainly because it was consensual and there was a authentic ring to it. I'm sure you could be all hurumph about it, but to be honest aren't most teens that age fooling around doing something? I dunno. I think we as adults often see sex as an action loaded with power, connotations, consequences blah blah. I seem to remember that kind of thing not really being at the forefront of my mind at that age, nor were they guiding my actions either. So yeah, I thought it was pretty hot and heavy, with a realistic and accessible note that struck a chord.

Thematically there is a lot going on in this big ass book. It is lengthy and at times long winded. There are lovely bits of teen angst, Mario periodically throws himself on the cross and Tommy has these little pockets of youthful insight that are just delicious. There's the sweet ache of a teenager leaving home, becoming autonomous and loads of courage too. I thought Tommy's obvious emotional attachment not only to Mario, but to the Santelli family was nicely done. The theme offeeling disconnected and without community is also explored. The author even managed to have a bit of a go at inter generation family dynamics. You name it, this book's got it. It works for the most part, despite it being a bit of a tome and that the occasional WTF moment --> see Tommy's parents.

There were defnitely issues in the book and it's not always perfect, but liked it anyway. Beautiful, erotic, sad, long, romantic and just really damn cool. If you can get a copy, give it a crack and read TP's review, just cause its great.

Bradley: Catch Trap
The book was well packed and arrived promptly. The condition was exactly as described. I'm very pleased with the transaction.

Run Away and Join the Circus!
This is an unforgettable tale about Tommy Zane, who has grown up traveling around with a circus as the son of lion-tamers.He is uninterested in following in his parents' footsteps, however.He dreams of being a flyer, one of those up on the trapeze.When he's fourteen, he gets his chance when Mario, the youngest member of the Flying Santellis, agrees to teach him.He will become a member of the Santelli family, living and training with them, and getting to know all the extended members based in a huge, rambling mansion in California.But most of all he will know Mario, the up and coming star of the family, a caring but moody, even troubled young man who has scandal in his past and his future.

Set in the 1940s and '50s, when homosexual relations were still illegal, Tommy and Mario begin the love of a life-time.Their relationship is at the core of this tale, but the wonderful texture and greater interest comes from the time and the place with its details of circus life, first among a secondary troupe touring the small towns, with a larger group traveling by train --and the lure of the premier shows under the big top with three rings or playing the large arenas, against the background of WWII and Korea, and involving families and managers with more characters than a dozen soap operas.There's the romance and the reality of the trapeze artists, such as the Santellis, with members such as Matt Gardner (Mario's true name), and adopted members such as Tommy Zane (working as Tommy Santelli), and with the past of tragedy and triumphs, broken members and those who can't bear the family business.

The Catch Trap is a long, loving, detailed look at a life devoted to art, in this case, the trapeze, and the circus culture that surrounded it.It is also a look at devotion on a personal level, between boys, then men, whose lives and passions are inextricably linked with what they do.At 680 or so pages, every detail is there, bringing it all alive for the reader.Whatever the flaws in this work are (and there are always a few), it remains unique and utterly memorable.

A stunning tale of gay love
Circus raised red headed and freckled Tommy Zane is fourteen years old when he begins to achieve his dream ambition, the year is 1944. The son of a circus lion tamer, he has little interest in continuing in his father's footsteps but is intent on being a flyer on the high trapeze. When twenty two year old Mario Santelli, youngest member of the Flying Santellis invites him to try out on the trapeze it is the beginnings of everything Tommy will ever live for.
The dark and handsome Mario is a hard task master and gives no quarter to his young student, but that does not prevent his young admirer idolising him; and when Mario discreetly seduces him he quietly submits. The two become inextricably entwined both in and out of the circus, and the story follows their fraught but devoted relationship and the trials they have to endure as lovers in a society intolerant of a man's love for another, not to mention the fact that Tommy is underage when the relationship begins.
Tommy is a delightful character, as a youngster he is pliant, dedicated and full of enthusiasm, and over the period of the tale we watch him become a man of character. As he is brought into the Flying Santellis act he is also lovingly accepted into the Santelli family. The Santelli family spans at least three generations, and we get to know the members of this proud and exclusive family very well. Mario is very different from Tommy; troubled, moody, often distant, and possessing a fiery temper; despite his frequent aggressiveness towards Tommy, he is unable to live without him.
This is without doubt a most beautiful story. That the relationship between Mario and Tommy will endure we are left in no doubt for the writer skilfully weaves into the fabric of the story how Tommy later looks back on events, but that by no means lessens the drama; for not only do we have all the ups and downs of their relationship and career, but we also have the added tension in the descriptions of the flying.
I must rate this amongst the very best books I have read. It took me a while to read, not because it is long, which it is at nearly 700 pages, but simply because I did not want to hurry it but wanted to truly savour every part of it; and then there were so many passages I simply had to re-read, especially Tommy's intimate dialogues with Mario and occasionally others, for they were so beautiful and moving. I cannot recommend this book too highly

one of my favorites
i love this book.the characters are so real, the setting so tangible, the period so deftly evoked, that i have twice stayed up all night reading it.it has its flaws (a little melodrama, some awkward dialogue) but the whole package is so delicious that i don't mind them.if you haven't read it, you have something to look forward to!
... Read more

Product Description
Long-awaited final volume in the Avalon series by bestselling fantasy author, Marion Zimmer Bradley.As the Merlin of Britannia keeps his vigil atop the Tor of Avalon, Rian, the High Priestess of Avalon, dies giving birth to her fifth child. The girl, named Eilan with her mother's dying breath, takes life. From the stars the Merlin draws forth her prophecy: 'The child that was born at the Turning of Autumn, just as the night gave way to dawn, shall stand at the turning of the Age, the gateway between two worlds.' A prophecy of greatness, but it seems that she is destined to walk a path unlike any trod by a Priestess of Avalon before!Published posthumously, this spellbinding historical romance is the concluding volume in the Avalon series from Marion Zimmer Bradley, the author of the worldwide bestseller, The Mists of Avalon, who died in 1999. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

Priestess no more
This is the final book in the Avalon series.In it a young princess goes to Avalon to train as a priestess.However, she falls in love with a Roman officer and that forbidden love causes her to be cast from Avalon. When I went to the library, it was to seek out the Mists of Avalon which I haven't read, but came away with this one when the other wasn't available.While this was a fine stand alone book, I would have preferred to have it center around Avalon.Instead, it is about the Roman Imperial families, warfare and traisping across Europe and beyond.There was a lot of Army A conquered Army B who conquered Army C and who was deposed along the way--all following the prophecies of a vision Helena had back on Avalon.

Missing: Mysteries, magic, Marion Zimmer Bradley
Set mainly outside Britannia, Priestess of Avalon marks a departure from Bradley's Avalon series and the buildup to the Matter of Britain. Bradley and Paxson trace the acceptance and spread of Christianity to the goddess through the travels and actions of one of her Avalon priestesses--Flavia Helena Augusta.

For the first time that I remember, astrology plays a significant role in the series. When Helena is born, the Merlin consults the stars, but his words are strangely misinterpreted. ". . . the maid shall hide the moon she bears upon her brow" inexplicably leads the priestesses to murmur, "He prophesies greatness--she will be Lady of the Lake like her mother before her!" The Merlin's reading of the stars proves accurate in every detail, but Helena discovers that prophecies are problematic. Convinced that she is destined to bear the "Child of Prophecy," she remembers only years later what she as a priestess should have always known--that prophecy and its interpretation do not always take the expected path to the anticipated end.

After defying her hated aunt, the High Priestess Ganeda, so that she may bear the "Child of Prophecy," Helena drifts through life just as she and her lover Constantius drift through the Empire. She carefully describes her son's innate leadership talent and his developing personality, but she does little to shapeor understand either. Even before he is taken from her, she is oddly passive toward the boy she is sure will change the world--he is born at the end of one chapter of her narrative and is 10 years old at the beginning of the next. When requested, she foretells the future for Constantius and his friends, and later she takes the place of the sybil at a shrine. She makes no effort, however, to see what lies ahead for her "Child of Prophecy." She says, "'All the gods are one God, and all the goddesses are one Goddess, and there is one Initiator' . . . Somehow I must get its meaning across to Constantine," but she refuses to reveal the mysteries to him. It should be no surprise that Constantine fails to follow an example never set for him, yet Helena finds him and his choices strange and disturbing.

In the acknowledgments, Paxson sets Helena up as a mythological figure associated with Christianity and relics such as the True Cross. In the novel, Helena's life and opportunities are remarkable, but Helena herself is surprisingly ordinary. Helena tries to reconcile paganism and Christianity, but each new epiphany contradicts those that came before. While the spiritual ideas underlying Priestess of Avalon are intriguing, they are wasted in a rambling, undisciplined story that needs a firmer hand to keep it tight, free of unnecessary detail, and consistent.

Set in the expanse of the declining Roman Empire, Priestess of Avalon is interesting and compelling at times, but ultimately it's unsatisfying. More Paxson's work than Bradley's, the novel never connects the parts of its premise, including Helena's belief in Constantine and her emotional distance from him. It also fails to bridge the gap between the fall of paganism and the rise of Christianity.

Avalon is missing here, and so are the mysteries, the magic, and Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Not Free SF Reader
Fails to capture any of what makes the first book more special.There is no Arthur, no Merlin, no Morgan, none of those characters at all really, but more of other priestesses that on reading, that I had no interest in.I guess it boils down to the less Arthuriana, the lower the rating, for this series.

A wonderful ending to a magical tale!
Mists of Avalon ranks up there as one of my favourite books of all time, but I am glad that I took the time to read the other books about the mystical place called Avalon.I think that these books are so important that all women should read them.This particular book highlights the blending of the old ways with the new ways which at this time (from 250 - 350 AD)is the Christian religion.This book delves into the life of one remarkable woman who plays a key role in the making of history. She also bridges the old pagan ways with the new Christian empire. This woman is Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.Helena starts out as a priestess on Avalon, but follows her heart and her lover which takes her out to the wide Roman empire, far from the insular safety of Avalon.She gives birth to a son who is destined to rule the world.But the most remarkable thing about this book is the way that Ms. Bradley, and in her absence, Diana Paxson deals with the aging process.We watch spellbound as Helena ages and the last third of the book occurs from when she is in her sixties until the end when she is in her eighties.I don't know if I've ever read a book that dealt so pasionately with aging and dying.It was a revelation to me.I laughed and cried with Helena as she goes through her life's journey.This is a marvelous and wondrous series about a magical and mystical place called Avalon.

Series being misread?
I am rather dissapointed with the other reviews.It sounds to me like everyone else who has read the book/series is completely missing the societal overtones of the entire series, but most notably with Priestess of Avalon.Not a single person has mentioned what a wonderfull book this is in respect to teaching/reminding us of religious tolerance and womens rights.The entertwining stories of the series are entertaining but I think these most important points are being missed by the other readers and perhaps everyone should reread them with that in mind.Certainly a great series for teenagers as it is easy to read and many good lessons in life can be taught by reading them (so long as you have an open mind).
All in all this is a good book but a bit dry compared to the others in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
Marion Zimmer Bradley's legendary saga of Avalon's extraordinary women continues with a tale of fiery visions, a lost king, and a forthcoming destiny...

Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted millions of readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.

A boy raised in secret after traitors kill his parents will return to Avalon-and when he does, he'll be faced with a formidable task: to prove his worth as a son of the kings and priestesses of his land and lead his followers to victory, wielding the newly-forged sword Excalibur. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Plot vs. Romance
This is not too bad, but it seems plot and storyline were rushed if there was no spark of some kind of romance occurring. This in contrast to Mists of Avalon, where plot and storyline were supported by relationships between characters.

Avalon Books
Marion Zimmer Bradley is a great write.I have not read any of her books that I did not like.

Another great book in the series
I really enjoyed reading this book.It is a worthy book in the Avalon series.I especially liked the characters Mikantor and Tirilan, who are reincarnations of Micail and Tirki from Ancestors of Avalon.I also liked following the story through various geographical areas, including ancient Greece.I hope there will be more books in the series.

Packed with strong twists and turns of plot
Sword of Avalon offers another contribution to the ongoing Avalon series begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and will find its place alongside any of her Avalon novels. Here the Lady of Avalon flees traitors who threaten herself and her unborn child, a heir of Avalon, only to find the traitors suspect the lost heir is still alive. Anderle loses track of the boy - but her visions tell her he will return, and will be faced with a dangerous dual world challenge in this powerful fantasy, packed with strong twists and turns of plot.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon
Set at the end of the Bronze Age, //Sword of Avalon// is a prequel to the legend of King Arthur.The priestess of Avalon saves Mikantor, a baby ordained by the gods to become a leader capable of uniting and defending his people during a time of crisis.The story follows the child as he grows up, forged by his experiences into the man capable of fulfilling his destiny.Velantos is a smith from a foreign land who befriends Mikantor and becomes a mentor and trusted advisor.Velantos' fate is intertwined with his friend's as the gods have chosen him to create a sword like none that have come before.Made from meteor iron, it is a sword fallen from the stars and blessed by the gods.An enjoyable read, the story progresses logically, but at times seems to lack intensity or passion.However, Diana L. Paxson has done her research, using archeology to provide a convincing historical context for the tale.For fans of the Arthurian legend, her credible descriptions of Bronze Age metalworking provide a plausible origin for the mythological sword Excalibur.

Reviewed by Laurie Racca ... Read more

Product Description
Marion Zimmer Bradley's beloved Avalon saga continues with the dramatic story of the ancestors of Avalon, from their life on the doomed island of Atlantis to their escape to the mist-shrouded isle of Britain. Woven into this extraordinary tale are the journeys of two powerful women whose destinies will shape the fate of the new line of descendants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The weakest of the series
Though I'm impressed that Paxson utilized Zimmer Bradley's vision for this title, it is the weakest of the series.It didn't capture my attention like the Avalon books normally do.I was so disappointed because the main love story (Tiriki and Micail) was weak.The underlying female strength and spirituality that is usually in the Avalon books is missing. Even the description of place and landscape that I've loved so much in these novels seems to not be present.I didn't feel that this prequel left me with a foundation to be more enlightened regarding the other Avalon titles.Paxson did do a great job with the other post-Mists of Avalon titles (Lady of Avalon, etc.) however and so do read those!And regardless, they are all fascinating stories, so if you are a Zimmer Bradley/Paxson fan, you should absolutely add this book to your collection.

purchased as present
My daughter loves Ms. Zimmer. This a a few others are her xmas present. The book came fast and in new condition. Would buy again from this seller.

Best of all the Avalon books
After falling in love with Mists of Avalon, I had been disappointed time after time by the books that followed in the series (Forest House and Lady of Avalon in particular; Priestess of Avalon wasn't too bad), I was reluctant to try this one. The lure of Atlantis is what pulled me in; I loved the parts in Mist where some of the characters had flashes of memory of past lives before the fall of Atlantis.

I am so glad I decided to buy this book and give the series another try. This is, far and away, the BEST book in the series, and has supplanted Mists' place in my heart! It was so well-written and moved at just the perfect pace. I'd love to see an anthology involving the characters from this book!

Best Books
I love all Marion Zimmer Bradley books. Great Book,excellent shape, recieved on time. Will order again. ... Read more

Product Description
Margaret Alton is the daughter of Lew Alton, Darkover's Senator to the Terran Federation, but her father is extremely secretive about the obscure planet of her birth. So when her university job sends her to Darkover, she has only fleeting, haunting memories of a tumultuous childhood. But once under the light of the Red Sun, as her veiled and mysterious heritage becomes manifest, she finds herself trapped by a destiny more terrifying than any nightmare! Sequel to "The Heritage of Hastur".Amazon.com Review
The eagerly-awaited sequel to The Heritage of Hastur and Sharra's Exile.Margaret Alton, daughter of the Darkovan representative to the TerranImperial Senate, remembers almost nothing about the planet of her birth or hertumultuous childhood.What fleeting memories she has are fragments of terror -- a strange silver man and a screaming woman with hair that circled her headlike a ring of fire. Now her work has taken Margaret back to Darkover, where shemust fight against inner voices that are trying to control her as she unravels the secrets of her heritage -- and her destiny. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

My Favorite Darkover Book!
Exile's Song is actually the first book I read of the entire Darkover series. I find it's a great starting place to get aquainted with the planet Darkover, and its people, through Margaret's eyes. I find she personifies the reader being plopped into this alien world, reacting as bewildered and angry as I would feel in the same situations.

I have gone through all the MZB Darkover books, and I still find that this is my favorite starting place instead of going through them in 'chronological' order.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has yet to venture into the world of Darkover!

Delightful to Read Over and Over Again
Somehow I missed out on Darkover until recently; I have been a science fiction fan for many decades but this series had slipped through the cracks. My first exposure to Marion Zimmer Bradley and Darkover was by way of this book. On first reading my full attention was captured about things "Darkovan." I found Margaret Alton and the Darkover described in "Exile's Song" to be completely captivating.

I set out to acquire all of the older books in the Darkover series and now have a complete set, all in hardback except for "Two to Conquer" which I understand was only printed in paperback. I have now read all of the books in the series, some more than once, and cannot understand the negative comments made by some of the other reviewers about this book.

I suppose this is further support for the old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I, for one, found this book to be captivating and rewarding; some of the older books in the series, on the other hand, I thought to be rather tedious with some verging on boring.

The most recent book "Hastur Lord," is in the rather tedious/boring category as far as I'm concerned but this one is certainly not in that category!

If you are new to Darkover, as I was, this book worked well for me as an introduction to the series; perhaps it will work for you too.

excellant introduction to the Darkover novels
I have read all of Marion Zimmer Bradley's novels set on Darkover and I consider this one of the best.It is a great introduction to the planet and its unique Gifts and people.The heroine, Margaret, is strong and feisty.The culture clash between Terra and Darkover is well thought out, the characters vibrant. Everyone I have lent this book to, including my husband, read it and want more Darkover, besides the two sequels.A trip to Darkover is always worthwhile.I had to buy this book in hardback because my paperback copy was falling apart from being read, reread, and lent.

Back to an unknown home
Margaret Alton knows she was born on Darkover--since her father is its Senator she could hardly fail to--but that's about all she does know: she left the planet at the age of five and hasn't been back since.As a young teen she was devastated by the fact that her father "never hugs me, or lets me go anywhere...[or] touches me, or talks to me," but over the years she has come to simply accept that this is how "the Old Man" is.Not until she was about to leave for University did she learn that the woman she has always considered her mother is in fact her stepmother.For more than a decade she has worked toward her goal of becoming an academic, a respected scholar who can stand free of all ties, yet even in the academic community she has always been regarded as "a little strange and exotic."When her work as a musicologist brings her and her mentor and dear friend, Prof. Ivor MacDonald, to Darkover to collect folk songs, she is astonished to find that its sights and smells "tantalized her, surrounding her with siren promises of comforts which had nothing to do with...the many benefits of an advanced technology;" though the planet is still Protected and therefore resolutely pretechnological, it seems home to her as no other world ever has.Then the surprises start piling up.People address her as "domna" and seem to consider her nobility.She meets an uncle she didn't know she had (her mother's brother), and finds out that she is the daughter not of her father's first wife, but of that woman's unstable half-sister.She begins suffering flashbacks to her nearly-forgotten early life.She meets Regent Regis Hastur and his wife, who turn out to be her relatives too, and finds that they, and many other people, seem to think she's onworld to attend "the Telepathic Council"--whatever that is, since she believes telepathy is impossible.Yet she finds herself hearing the thoughts of others.She also learns that she is the heir to the Alton Domain, and has an uncle and aunt who, as its caretakers for the last 20-odd years, are grimly determined to hang onto it--even to the point of marrying her off to one of their sons and expecting her to morph into a compliant barefoot-and-pregnant Darkovan wife.Then Ivor suddenly dies in his sleep, leaving her bewildered as to her next move.An expedition into the Kilghard Hills to carry out their mandate--guided by the Renunciate Rafaella n'ha Liriel, who soon becomes a dear and trusted friend--brings her to Castle Ardais just in time to suffer through a severe bout of threshold sickness as her laran, the psychic powers typical of most upper-class Darkovans, awakens late and with a vengeance.This in turn leads to meetings with many other Darkovans, some related to her, some not, and to gradual understanding of the sinister influence that has left her afraid of mirrors, resolved to "stand apart" from other people, and totally uninterested in romance.When her father unexpectedly returns to Darkover too (after resigning his Senate seat) and catches up with her at the family estate, she finds a new era in their relationship beginning, though she's not sure why.And meanwhile she has met her cousin Mikhail Lanart-Hastur--the only one of his three sons that her uncle absolutely refuses to consider marrying her to--and finds herself falling in love with him.Confronting and vanquishing in the overworld the long-dead Keeper "overlooked" her as a child, learning more and more of the complex web of kinship of which she is a part, discovering Darkovan history and the very real threat her untrained new powers can be to others, she gradually comes to understand that Darkover is where she belongs, however maddening some of her relations are.This late Darkovan book is slow-paced and complex, yet skilfully addresses themes of alienation, identity, self-esteem, loyalty, friendship, responsibility, and family bonding.Young people especially will sympathize with Margaret's confusion over her past, her future, and her real self.This is the first of a trilogy: follow with The Shadow Matrix (Darkover) and Traitor's Sun (Darkover).

Suppose your spouse promised you a romantic dinner, and took you to IHOP...
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I had read most of the older Darkover books while much younger, and this seemed like a promising start to re-exploring the series.

This is part 1 of a "trilogy" of sorts featuring Margaret Alton.

Exiles' Song
The Shadow Matrix
Traitor's Sun

In brief, Margaret Alton was born on Darkover, child of the senator from Darkover, but does not recall much. She grew up estranged from her father who she recalls as distant, drunk, and emotionally abusive. She is sent to Darkover to study music, and hilarity ensues. Or not.

The first part of the book is promising, and is a "stranger in a strange land", "fish out of water" story. Then it segues into a road trip story, mutates into an odd romance of sorts. It starts coming off the rails when she encounters her uncle, a cardboard cutout of a character who rants at her in the best patriarchal style. There is a lot of (yawn) tension as he announces she is to marry his oldest son who I believe was a scarecrow with a tape recorder playing "The Best of Male Chauvinist" stuck in its head.

Now let's see. Our protagonist is an adult woman being pressured into marriage...and is a powerful telepath able to control other people's minds.
She responds by:

a) taking action and declaring her independence
b) using her vast powers to show everyone who is boss
c) blithering about like a moron and waiting until Daddy-ex-machina shows up miraculously reformed from his abusive ways and fixes everything.

Guess which one...

Oh yeah, and the "Alton Gift" which is the power to control other people's minds is used in this story to...

a) advance the plot
b) set up the sequel
c) might as well have been the "Nestle Gift" the power to make delicious chocolate for all the difference it made to the story.

Guess...

Overall, a decent start, a bleh ending. I almost suspected that a different person wrote the second half.
... Read more

Product Description
@ books and also includes a never-before-published Darkover Retrospective. ... Read more

Product Description
Long out of print, these three Darkover books tell the tale of two Free Amazon women whose lives are irrevocably entwined.

"Literate and exciting." (The New York Times Book Review) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Another world provides a stage for a feminist struggle
I have recently been re-reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books, most of which I read, and loved, years ago. I originally read them as I came across them, often years apart, so it's been interesting to re-read them one right after the other, in a more logical sequence. This book is the first of a trilogy (together with "Thendara House" and "City of Sorcery") which follow the lives and adventures of Darkover-born Terran, Magdalen Lorne, and Darkovan Jaelle n'ha Melora.
In this book, Lady Rohana Ardais hires a group of Free Amazons - properly called "Renunciates" - to help her rescue her kinswoman, Melora, from the Dry Town bandit, Jalak, who kidnapped her years before, and Melora's daughter, 12-year-old Jaelle. The Dry Towners regard women as property and keep them in chains. From this experience, Jaelle becomes a Renunciate.
Years later, Terran Intelligence agent Magda Lorne sets out on a mission to ransom her colleague and former husband, Peter Haldane, from mountain bandits who have kidnapped him. At the suggestion of Lady Rohana, she goes disguised as a Renunciate - but when a real group of Renunciates led by Jaelle discovers her subterfuge, she must join them or die.
The book explores a number of different cultural attitudes and biases of men toward women, and women toward men. The prevailing views of several different Darkovan groups - Dry Towners, mainstream comyn, Renunciates and Terrans - create a clash of cultures that allows the author to explore issues of sexual identity and appropriate sex roles in our own complex, mixed modern culture. And for fans of Darkover, with its characteristic psychically gifted characters, the various lead characters also struggle with their own awakening laran capabilities.
An interesting and worthwhile read that makes the reader think about her/his own sexual attitudes and biases!

Wonderful feminist fantasy writing!
I've always liked these 3 books in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. The Renunciates are women living in the feudal, patriarchal Darkovan society who renounce the traditional dependency on men & work to live in new ways doing all kinds of different things. These have been out of print for quite a while, so it was nice to see them in the world again. I read them when they first came out - late '70's/early '80's after my father turned me on to the whole series with The Forbidden Tower (Darkover).

I had wondered if these would be too dated given the changes in feminist thought & theory since they were written, but I found them for the most part surprisingly fresh. I really like Thendara House (Darkover) best as it's the most in-depth examination of the two main characters, Jaelle & Margali, & their own journeys to self-empowerment (yes, Virginia, woman can be Joseph Campbell class heroes, too!).

Good stories & an interesting exploration of gender roles, sexuality (& its many possibilities), friendship, & living in defiance of societal norms. It's a fun read & with 3 books in one will keep you occupied!

You have to push through the first part.
First let me say that before last week I had never heard of the Darkover series, so as I was reading some of the reviews left here and saw all of the references to Landfill (what the heck is that?) etc. I though, wow, this is a big deal to many people. I digress, however. I checked this book out at my local library, I thought the cover looked interesting (how unimaginative am I?) so I thought I would try it. I am an avid reader and like to read most genres so I thought it could not hurt, however I had a lot of difficulty getting into the story in the first place.

The first book in this three book novel bored the hell (is it okay to say that?) out of me. I typically read through any book I start, it is kind of a policy, and that policy was sorely tested throughout the first portion. It was disjointed and difficult to get interested in, the characters were hard to like, which is not an impossible situation in many books, but I get the impression that we are supposed to like them.

Once I finished the first book there was a note from the author about her collaboration ending with her co-author, and as I read the second book it all made sense. The co-writing of the first book is why it seemed so odd, it was written by two people (as I understand Jalell, forgive me if I misspell her name, was written by the co-author and Magda was written by the author that completed the series of books). After struggling through the first book the rest of the books were easier to read.

There are some things that I do not care for in the books, the author seems to forget when a character has an epiphany and has her repeating old bad behaviors making us all wonder what the heck happened to their breakthrough, and this is not addressed. There also seems to be a lot of confusion about who feels what for whom and why which is why the books overall got three stars.

Sorry to not be too specific, however I don't want to give anything away to a new reader, and to be perfectly honest, none of the details stuck with me enough to go into to much, which actually speaks volumes. I liked what I read but I do not intend to spend any more time with the rest of the Darkover books.

Two-thirds good
The first two books in this three book compilation are really great and memorable works.They are an important part of the Darkover saga, and provide some interesting insights both to the Renunciates (Free Amazons), a separatist female group, and to the history of Terran/Darkover relations.However, I thought the last book in this trilogy absolutely lost any basis in reality.The motivations of the characters made absolutely no sense.The two main characters of the books are propelled on a quest that seems utterly pointless and ridiculous from the setup until the very end.Just stop reading after the second book and you'll be much happier.

Not a fan of the Free Amazons
I like Bradley's Darkover series, but the books about the Free Amazons or the Renunciates have always been my least favorite of the books. There is a lot of overwrought 1960s and 1970s feminism in these books, with all the gender politics of that era, lesbian relationships, abused women and the horrible men they have triumphed over, etc. etc. etc. It feels dated in 2008. ... Read more

Product Description
From the author of the acclaimed "The Mists of Avalon" comes the first in a series of omnibus volumes of her bestselling Darkover series. Included in this volume are the two most powerful and important novels in this groundbreaking saga. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Two superb novels in one volume
This book includes two complete Darkover novels, The Heritage of Hastur and Sharra's Exile. I found them a complete story when taken together, and was glad I had not purchased them separately.

Regis Hastur, an orphaned boy just reaching manhood, is the grandson and heir of the Comyn dynasty's regent. While another young man stands in line for the throne itself, the real power and responsibility will one day be his. Lew Alton is the son of Darkover lord Kennard Alton and a part-Terran wife whose offspring the Comyn do not wish to recognize as legitimate heirs. Young Lew has been recognized formally, but still faces great hostility; while his younger brother, Marius, continues to be an Alton bastard as far as Darkover's ruling class is concerned. Lew has been granted the status of heir only because he has proved that he possesses the Alton Gift. On Darkover, unlike on other human-settled worlds, such psychic gifts are part of the nobility's heritage. Each family has its own particular gift, and most Darkover children experience an awakening of laran - telepathic ability - at some point during adolescence.

Regis believes he has no laran, and he longs to leave Darkover and explore the larger universe. He discovers otherwise during the first book, and he also discovers that he loves another young man, Danilo. His determination to save Danilo from undeserved disgrace puts Regis in physical danger and brings his grandfather's disapproval.

Lew Alton, who narrates alternating chapters in both books, sets off to represent his father in a remote mountain domain without thinking about that domain being his dead mother's Darkover home. Initially delighted at connecting with the relatives he never knew before, and fast falling in love with a part-Terran young woman being fostered by those relatives, he soon finds himself enmeshed in a plot to drive the Terrans away from Darkover. That plot involves the feared and fabled Sharra Matrix, a weapon left over from the Ages of Chaos in which Darkover nearly destroyed itself.

Bradley's gift for writing complex characters is on display throughout both novels, and so are her formidable world building skills. Although I had read just one Darkover book before these two, I had no trouble understanding its multilayered universe or its characters' motivations. Amazing work, as well as groundbreaking for its time.

Gripping and involving
The Heritage of Hastur:

Set in an alien and cold world where the relationship between the Terrans and Darkover's original colonists treads a delicate balance of co-existence, Heritage centres on those who seek to bring the planet out of its anachronistic existence and put it on an equal footing with the Terran words. While the people of Darkover reject the advances of Terran science they have developed their own special abilities, namely their mental powers of telepathy and their ability to control the matrix. At the core of the story are Lew Alton, caught between the aggressive young idealists looking to the future and his loyalty to the Comyn; and Regis, the very young potential Regent-heir of Hastur.

The story is a fine interweaving of the complex plot and the personal lives of the many characters. The Comyn people's beliefs rooted in a society where loyalty and honour reign above all else means that even the darker characters have their standards. But among the many individuals both Lew and Regis are particularly appealing characters. Regis especially as he struggles with his own desires; in his early teens and with the longing to travel off world (something denied him) he is a reluctant heir, he is hampered too in having the potential for telepathic powers but seemingly unable to realise them; and he begins to recognises in himself a desire to reach out to other men or youths. Particularly heart-warming is the relationship which develops between Regis his fellow cadet Danilo, a youngster of high moral standards who becomes devoted to Regis.

The Heritage of Hastur is an intense, compelling and intricate epic, but what make it especially appealing is that at its root is the people, the individual and varied characters who populate the story.

Sharas Exile

Note: Swords of Aldones was conceived when the author was just fifteen years old, before Heritage and Exile. Having subsequently written Heritage Marion Zimmer Bradley then considered Swords less than satisfactory and eventually decided that while Swords was basically a good idea it was written when she had neither the skill nor the maturity to handle it; she decided not to rewrite it but to write an entirely new book based on events in the same time frame as Swords; that book is Sharra's Exile.

Chronologically in Darkover's history Sharra's Exile follows on from Heritage and Exile after a gap of just a few years. Lew is living off world with his father seeking to save his damaged hand, he also has with him for the safety of Darkover the powerful Shara Matrix. On Darkover Regis is coming to terms with his role as his grandfather's eventual successor. We also learn very soon that his relationship with Danilo has progressed beyond the latter being sworn paxman, and with great subtly on the author's part we realise they are now also lovers. When Lew returns from exile to stand for his rights as Lord of his Domain, he inevitably brings with him the Shara Matrix, unleashing series of events that will threaten the very existence of Darkover.

Told as was Heritage and Exile, in alternate chapters in third person narrative and then narrated by Lew in the first person, Shara's Exile is a complex and involving story, full of political intrigue, drama and love as the Comyn struggle for their own survival, an anachronism in the time of an interstellar empire; events which will ultimately demonstrate that love conquers all. It is on the whole a gripping read; it does at times get bogged down and suffer occasionally from repetition of certain points, but other than that the writing is first rate, one feels absolutely confident the author's hands.

Forbidden Love
"Heritage and Exile" is an omnibus edition of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Heritage of Hastur/Sharra's Exile Darkover novels. It shows a natural link between the two stories. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover world is a fascinating blend of science fiction and fantasy. The Sharra matrix (an image of an enchained woman,used for forging weapons&fire) wreaks havoc upon the world of Darkover.

In "Heritage of Hastur",Regis Hastur,the Comyn heir,finds himself enamored of the Cristoforo (Christian) Danilo Syrtis. Regis rescues Danilo from an abusive situation, learning that Danilo is a catalyst telepath. They realize their forbidden love. Regis makes Danilo his paxman,and they adopt sons. "Heritage of Hastur" was recognized as revolutionary in the world of mainstream fantasy/sci-fi with its gay leading character,despite the fact Regis has visions of a shadowy woman beside him who will one day be his companion. It's as if Bradley were depicting homosexuality as a developmental stage,as a rite of passage for his eventual marriage.

In "Sharra's Exile",Lew Alton finds himself bearing the Sharra matrix. He loses the woman he loves; the story ends with him a broken man. Lew Alton has psychic gifts--but they are also burdens.

"Heritage and Exile" is a fascinating,heady blend of science fiction and fantasy.

I tried
One thing I hate is to leave a book unfinished. Therefore I tried again and again to go on reading to give a full review.

I failed.

There is nothing exactly wrong in Ms Zimmer Bradley's writing: she is a professional, a real competent one, she makes not one of the mistakes a less distinguished author is liable to.
Her world is potentially very interesting and her characters fully rounded.

Nevertheless I never got involved in the story, I never could relate with the characters, I only got bored and cannot really say why.

Best Darkover novels
This novels togheter are maybe the best of all Darkover novels. After reading more than 10 of the Bradley`s saga, I must say this are the one`s I`ve enjoyed the most. First they`re about the destiny of the planet itself, and history of the Comyn as we know, but not only that, the whole story is told by the eyes of Regis Hastur and Lew Alton, maybe two of the best characters trough the Darkover saga, and their personal struggles are a big plus to the story. Unfortunaly you have to endure some of the lesser novels to really grasp and enjoy this one, altough it`s said that you can read Darkover novels all but separated, the truth is when you have more background story from previous novels, all the better. DON`T MISS THIS ONES! ... Read more

Product Description
From the founding of the Comyn Council to a Terran's first encounter with Iaran, here are original tales that take readers from Guild House to Dry Town, from the Terran spaceport settlement to the heart of Hastur's Domain in an exciting new exploration of Darkover and its mysteries. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

back jacket summary
from the back cover of the 9th printing Daw November 1991 paperback edition
Cover art by Richard Hescox
Return once again to Darkover, the magnificent world of the Bloody Sun, with Marion Zimmer Bradley and the many writers devoted to expanding the Darkover universe as, in these all-new stories, they reveal legendry and lore about some of the most fascinating dwellers on Darkover, those gifted with laran, the magical powers of the mind which enable the leroni to raise and control natural forces, to communicate over vast distances, and to exercise countless other special abilities.
From the founding of the Comyn Council to a Terran's first encounter with laran, here are spell-binding tales that will take you from the Guild House to Dry Town, from the Terran spaceport settlement to the heart of Hastur's Domain in this exciting new exploration of Darkover and its mysteries.

Like most anthologies, a mixed bag.
But for the most part, these are enjoyable, reasonably well-written stories. It seemed to me that they got better as the book went along; one of the earlier stories, "A Dance For Darkover", by Diana Perry and Vera Nazarian, was the one true clunker in the lot, one of the worst stories to show up in any of these "Friends of Darkover" anthologies. I can't imagine what Ms. Bradley was thinking when she included it. The characters were two dimensional and behaved in ways that simply made no sense; their actions seemed noticeably forced in order to get the plot where the authors wanted it, rather than flowing naturally from their established personalities. But given that Ms. Bradley DID include it, I must conclude that she saw something in it she liked; there's no accounting for taste.

Some of the other early stories were also a tad weak, but only a tad. And just about everything in the last half of the book was excellent; on balance, I recommend this book highly. We even get a story about Magda Lorne, (one of my favorite canonical Darkovan characters) even if it is a fairly short one that breaks little new ground.

Worth looking for
"Leroni of Darkover" is another of Marion Zimmer-Bradley's anthologies edited by herself and written by new writers.It's already out of print, as it was collected in 1991.I wrote a review for another anthology, "The Four Moons of Darkover" but apparently, it doesn't seem to help buyers all that much as I was afraid to give away too much.Instead, indeed it was too little.In this collection, Zimmer-Bradley makes it a point to say that the collection does not include a single feminist tirade, (at that time, a lot of people were getting into issues that got way out of hand, and put too much meaning into things that were meant to be enjoyed)."Leroni of Darkover" is much better and more entertaining than most of the other collections because the contributors have gotten pretty good at their craft.For instance, Dorothy Heydt's story "Avarra's Children" is another short story that involves Marguerida Elhalyn, the Keeper and Donald Stewart, her Terran paxman (who by the way gets sworn to her in "The Four Moons" anthology).They're kind of like the Mulder and Scully of Darkover, and get into the most interesting situations.I looked forward to their continuing adventures (well, when they were still having them, that is)."The Speaking Touch" by Margaret Carter is also okay, mainly because it deals with characters introduced in "World Wreckers," the first Darkover novel I ever read.As for the rest...Did anyone ever miss Andrew Carr when he disappeared?How did Varzil Ridenow find his path to become "the Good?"Are Darkovans great dancers?What does baking bread have to do with laran?There are 20 (yes, TWENTY) stories in this collection, and most of them quite enjoyable.If you can get a copy, it is well worth it, especially for a Darkover fan.Although where you can find a copy is another story... ... Read more

Product Description
These two classic Darkover novels tell the epic tale of four people who challenged the ancient laws of the matrix towers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

omg, 25 years since I first read this novel
I'm happy to see this novel still available in this 2-in-1 edition. I read it 25 years ago, it was a symbol of my teenage rebellion.

The culture of the early Darkover novels was absorbing and great in that it made you suspend belief, so much so, the culture came alive.

This novel in the series brings a Human from Earth into the culture, giving you the whole fish out-of-water fish-eye view. The character Andrew suffers culture shock due to the fact the two married couples (the wives are sisters), basically; share some intimate quarters. They are also rebels together, going against the ruling parties of Darkover.

Depending where you are in the Chronology of Darkover, sometimes only women can be matrix tower keepers, other time periods, only the men are permitted.

There is some interesting use of Psychic powers that some of the Darkover people have developed, it makes the resistance to Science more easily understandable, especially by the High-born, who rule this medieval like society.

This novel is my favorite in the Darkover series. If you liked this novel, "Stormqueen' is another great Darkover novel. The novels before the 'Terrans' arrived were more fantastic fantasy.

Forbidden Love
Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterful "Spell Sword" and "Forbidden Tower" are grouped together in an omnbius edition linking the stories. Both stories involve Terran Andrew Carr, Darkovan Damon Ridenow,and the sisters Callista and Ellemir. In both tales,this quartet challenges the psychic power structure of Darkover. Darkover was MZB's amazing,heady blend of science fiction, fantasy, and social commentary. Other than Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy, few writers have been able to blend science fiction with fantasy successfully.

In "Forbidden Tower",Andrew enters a common law marriage with Callista,who saved his life from the evil "cat people" using her laran (psychic powers). There is one major problem- how can they consummate their marriage, when Callista has been psychically trained to remain a virginal Keeper? The sexually frustrated Andrew is shocked when Damon, Callista, and Ellemir permit him to sleep with Ellemir. He is also shocked on Darkover when he sees their society has no problems with group sex/polyamory,homosexuality,and bisexuality.

At the same time,the quartet defies the psychic establishment,embodied in Leonie Hastur. In MZB's books,the unleashing of laran (psychic power) is connected with sexuality. In "Heritage of Hastur", Regis Hastur is finally free to use his psychic gifts when he comes out of the closet in his love for Danilo Syrtis. In "Forbidden Tower",a magical flower enables Callista to unblock herself&consummate her marriage with Andrew. There's also a foursome of Andrew/Damon/Callista/Ellemir. Ironically,it's their psychic,not sexual,connections that challenge Darkover society.

"Forbidden Tower" is a fascinating,heady blend of science fiction and fantasy.

Challenges Sexual Mores on every level
Whew! Talk about a total challenge to a person's views on sexuality and practices in an uptight, promiscuous, sex and pornography addicted so called "Christian" nation like America! Then, contrast it to a fictional world where sexual mores are approximately 180 degrees different. On Darkover, sexual congress is considered and respected as a sacred human interaction without guilt, punishment or any of the other vileness seen in our own "modern" culture. Even for those who read with an open and receptive attitude this book will definitely blow your mind.

The story centers on Andrew, an off world man from old Terra. He has drifted aimlessly from one planet to another trying to find his niche and an emotional connection to make his life valid and meaningful. He lands on Cottman IV, called Darkover, to work with the newly relocated Terran enclave in the Mapping and Exploration Department during his brief stay over. The M&E plane crashes in a sudden, terrible storm in a remote mountainous area and he is the sole survivor. Throughout the crash aftermath he experiences profound dreams/delusions and near death. One "delusion" is of a woman who guides him toward safety and rescue.This is achieved through the mental "laran" projections by a powerful psychic, Callista, who Andrew discovers in these "lucid dreams" has been captured by an alien race called the "cat people". Her capture is for the purpose of stealing her matrix stone to enhance an illegal, gigantic matrix stone being manipulated by the cat people for the purpose of achieving their evil goal.The shape-shifting "cat people" want to destroy Darkover's current rule by humanity and achieve dominance of the planet.

Eventually Andrew is "guided" by Callista to her home in order to help her family rescue her. Once he gains guarded acceptance for the psychic experiences he has had with Callista, he is invited to work with Damon, a psychic trained at Arilinn. Damon, a cousin to Callista and her twin Ellemir, has just arrived to help in the rescue effort.Although Damon is a powerful psychic "laran" technician he was dismissed from Arilinn by Leonie as being "too sensitive" to do a Keeper's work.In fact, Damon has always been hopelessly in love with Leonie, but she cannot allow that threat to herself and her overall work as the Keeper.Damon, as a consequence, is filled with self doubt and issues about his manliness. He doubts his abilities as a psychic which he had repudiated out of fear and self loathing. His inner conflict hinders the rescue effort until Andrew joins the psychic circle to help him.

After Callista's rescue Damon marries Ellemir and eventually becomes a real Keeper of a "Forbidden Tower" in a major power struggle with the Arilinn Keeper Leonie.She repudiates him again and refuses to acknowledge him or his Forbidden Tower. During this power stuggle, Andrew, the Terran, and Callista unite in a common law marriage. They know that she cannot consummate their marriage until an answer is found to unblock her psychic energy channels. These "blockages" have been imprinted in her mind when she first went to Arilinn as a very young girl for training as a Keeper. They are seen as a requirement to free a Keeper to do only psychic work. Andrew finds himself in a huge struggle with his frustrated sexual energy. He is angry and conflicted because he cannot touch Callista without causing her irreparable harm or death. He will not reject or leave her despite his struggles. Damon, Callista and Ellemir agree to allow Andrew to bed Ellemir. This cultural practice is a common sexual more in Darkover for occasions when women are pregnant or ill and their men need that outlet.

As the story unfolds, Damon, Ellemir, Callista and Andrew become a group united as one to establish their Forbidden Tower. There is abundant sabotage, betrayal and personal sacrifice involved. They overcome their many struggles by utilizing psychic powers to do battle on both the material and spiritual planes. The wins, however, are not without grave losses. Much of these challenges are focused upon breaking through Callista's deeply programmed rejection of sexual congress to maintain her purity as a Keeper. As a consequence the foursome get involved in what,in our modern society, is called a "gang bang". This is viewed as "necessary" so that Callista can claim to be truly married. She does not want to be forced to leave Andrew, or to return to Arilinn as Keeper. It is their task to either achieve this act of "consumation" or Callista will be forced to legally marry a Comyn Noble. This viewpoint toward the "evil Terranan" Andrew and Callista's common law marriage results in a power struggle enabled by Leonie and fomented by the council of Comyn Overlords who rule the nation.

Andrew is a pathetic pawn in his conflicted Terran sexual consciousness. He is locked in a struggle to accept vastly different sexual mores of his new home on "primitive" Darkover. It is a fascinating treatise on how this man was conditioned to think and react relevant to sexual issues. He must reconcile his conscience over sexual congress between in-laws, group sex and same sex experiences. Along with this struggle he is forced to grapple with potent challenges to his world view and life experiences of space age technology, medicine, and other expectations. These conflicts define an emerging consciousness that contrast his vastly advanced technologically superior Terran origins versus the technologically primitive survival culture on Darkover.

The author clearly delineates the slavishness that men have to their sexuality, and how women are forced into a certain proscribed sexual roles, welcome or not, even in the most primitive cultures.It is a profoundly powerful statement. This exposition rang a number of bells in my personal experience as a psychologist who has treated women with issues of frigidity, repugnance toward, and repudiation of sex. Issueson an unconscious level that define rebellion against proscribed roles.

These sexual role expectations to serve a putative "divine mandate" were written in ancient times by male priests and remain today. Such imbalanced socio-religious teachings ignore any input from the feminine aspect in creation. Proof of male dominance in religious practices is seen in various cultures today which force women to wear veils, total body coverings, certain body markings, or into human trafficking as if women were inherently evil and punished accordingly or for the purpose of sexualperversion.However, for enlightened and learned people the feminine is regarded as the "key" to the greatest mystery confronting mankind. The literature from ancient times forward reveals the fact that in most biologically higher life forms and in many lower species only females can bear offspring. This feminine reproductive gift reveals the answer to ancient mankind's quest for the "holy grail" or Eternal Life.It begs the question why some cultures deny the sacredness of the feminine and revile females with acts of contempt, debasement and punishment. In this Darkovan story the issue is made less obscure.

There is also a brief introduction of a woman who is a Free Amazon from the Order of Renunciates who eschew all male dominance.This topic is addressed more fully in another one of MZB's outstanding books. Overall, this story is a shocker and real eye opener. For me it was a deeply profound psychological and philosophical exploration and one that will remain with me for a very long time intellectually and emotionally.A risky and brave work by MZB.Bravo.

Finally--A re-release of these hard to find books
If you are, like me, trying to fill out your Darkover series, then these Omnibus editions are for you.I am SO glad that I picked up the three I needed (Forbidden Circle, Heritage and Exile, and A World Divided).I am sure that the other Omnibus editions are just as wonderful.Make sure that you note which books are included in the omnibus, as it may not be evident from the title.Now that MZB has passed on, getting her books has been difficult.

The stories are well-written, the characters and world well-developed, and the books are hard to put down. You can start with any book in the series, really. But once you've read one, you'll want more!

Now if they will come out with an omnibus with the Hundred Kingdoms novels (Two to Conquer, and Heirs of Hammerfell), my series will be complete! :)

A must-read
Having read almost all of the Darkover series, and being a firm fan of it, I'd like to be just a little more critical.

First let's get one thing out of the way: this is an important book, and for anyone interested in Darkover, this two-novel volume is a must-have.

The two stories are two of the best.But having read most of MZB's love stories, I'm beginning to wonder whether her heroines are not a mite too precious.Yet, one wonders whether it is possible to make Callista and her sister more real, without risking losing the reader's positive disposition towards them.Perhaps the risk would be worth it.

One tries to see what must be going through the author's mind; what is she thinking when she writes these stories?There is a sense that she is trying too hard to create a heroine, and creates a goddess instead.

Andrew Carr, the poor earthman who plays second-fiddle to Callista Lanart finds himself teleported psycho-kinetically to where Callista is held prisoner at one time.This occurence is sort of glossed-over; IMO the pseudo-reality of the genre demands a little more attention to that sort of detail.Andrew Carr is also an example of how hard it was for MZB to get inside the mind of her male characters.She has partially succeeded, but if only she had done it fully!

Arch ... Read more

Product Description
As a member of the Terran Spaceforce, Jeff Kerwin returns to Darkover, where he had spent his early years in an orphanage, and searches for clues about his true identity. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

My third Darkover read, and my favorite so far
I am making my way through the Darkover novels in the order in which they were written. The Bloody Sun is an accidental exception. This is the third Darkover novel, but I found out partway through that I'm reading a 1979 rewrite of it, and not the original 1964 version.

That fact lends some credence to my speculation that MZB improved as a writer over time. I thought the first two Darkover books were readable but clunky efforts, and I wasn't quite sure that I saw the appeal. The Bloody Sun, at least in this rewritten incarnation, was much better!

I enjoyed this tale of a man drawn to his ancestral home, whether they want him or not. He, and the other main players in this book, are well-defined characters, and unlike the earlier books, I wasn't left confused by a plethora of characters and cultures and a dearth of context.

That said, MZB is still a frustratingly inconsistent writer. Even in a good book like this one, certain scenes come crashing down with a resounding thud. A glaring example, unfortunately, is the very last few paragraphs of the book, which read like the dénouement of a Scooby Doo script. Ouch!

I can complain -- hey, I can always complain -- but I did enjoy this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a good entry point to Darkover. I look forward to reading the next Darkover novel on my list. Seeing as I just read a 1979 rewrite, I'll be moving "backwards" in MZB's bibliography to a book written 14 years earlier. I hope it will be a good read!

finallythe untold story
for the longest, i have wondered why the story of cleindori(aka dorilys of arillian) has never been told. this book does so in a round about way by telling the story of her son and all his troubles growing up and not remembering his past. too bad the story is not told about cleindori with her son thrown in as an afterthought but it is a reaally good story and all darkover vans really should read this one.

provides the first real glimpse into Tower culture
"The Bloody Sun" is the first of the Darkover novels set in "The Second Age" of the Terran/Darkovan contact.The Terran Empire has rediscovered its lost colony and has set up a spaceport on Darkover.But contact between Terra and Darkover is still tenuous at best.The "Comyn" rulers of Darkover are keeping Darkover out of the Empire and are keeping the Terrans restricted to "Terran Zones".In the decades since making contact, nothing has changed.With individuals, there has been communication and interaction between natives of Darkover and Terrans, but this has always been on a person by person basis and not any sort of policy.Some on Darkover, however, are pressing their lords to allow more interaction from the Terrans and to join the Empire so Darkover can move out of the "Dark Ages".

Jeff Kerwin was raised on Darkover in the Spaceport Orphanage.All that he knew was that his father was Jeff Kerwin, Sr, a Terran citizen.Working in the Terran service he finally gets an opportunity to transfer to a world of his choosing and Jeff chooses Darkover.He had been dreaming of Darkover his entire like and he felt as if something was missing from his life.On Darkover, Jeff tries to learn of his heritage and finds that, officially, he has none.The Orphanage which he so deeply remembers has no record of him ever being there.His bright red hair marks him as a member of the Comyn (telepathic ruling class of Darkover), though he believes himself to be Terran, and this sets him apart from any Darkovan citizen he meets.Because of his actions outside of the Terran Zone, the Terran authorities intend on deporting Jeff offworld.Instead Jeff follows a voice inside his head and joins up with the Tower of Arilinn.A Tower is where the major telepathic work on Darkover is done.He finds a sense of home at Arilinn and also learns that he will play a major role in shaping the future of Darkover.

This is the first time that the reader has had the opportunity to see the inner workings of a Tower on Darkover.Finally we get to see what it is that the Tower Technicians do and what matrix work is.The inner workings of a Tower have been hinted and spoken of by characters, but never before has it been seen in action ("The Forbidden Tower" was outside of a Tower structure).

While Bradley deals with the same main theme that she does in every other Darkover novel (a Terran finds himself having to adapt to Darkovan culture and the conflicts of two different cultures meeting and trying to understand each other), she tells a rather good story in "The Bloody Sun" and shows aspects of Darkover which have been previously left hidden.Bradley uses her main theme to explore how the Terran Empire is starting to change the lives of the Darkovans and how it is going to change the culture of the planet, which affects the Comyn ruling class.Bradley uses her main theme to show the changes in the Tower culture and how the telepathy can survive on Darkover.There are betrayals, heartbreak, and the amazingly fast romance that somehow morphs into a long lasting love which will last for years.

"The Bloody Sun" is one of the better Darkover novels and one which is as good a starting place as any for the series.It is a standalone novel, but ties into the novels earlier in the chronology and is the starting point for the "Second Age" of the Darkover/Terran era.

-Joe Sherry

A marvelous novel of self-discovery and cultural evolution
Not only is The Bloody Sun a fantastic read on its own merits, it is also a pivotal book in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series, marking the transition of the planet Darkover from its zealous self-isolation from the Terran presence toward the growing spirit of cooperation that marks the Second Age.For generations, Darkover has consisted of seven domains loosely ruled by the Comyn, the aristocratic families of those domains.By this time, however, the influence of the Terran presence in the land has led some Darkovans to express a desire to abandon the old ways and form a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Terrans.The true power of the Comyn has long been found inside the mysterious Towers of the land, but now only the mighty Tower in Arillin can boast of a full-fledged Keeper, and even this primary Tower's circle is incomplete at the time this novel opens.Some of the people believe that the old ways are out-dated and needlessly burdensome, but few in authority have the desire, let alone the courage, to pursue progress of any sort.Thirty years earlier, Cleindori, former Keeper at Arillin, had courageously sought to change the laws (as was her right as Keeper) and free herself and her successors from a life lived under the most severe, isolated of conditions; her ultimate reward had been death and denial as a declared traitor and renegade.

Raised in the Spacemen's Orphanage on Darkover until he was twelve, Jeff Kerwin spent his next several years on Earth with his Terran father's parents; an outcaste on a world not truly his own, he pined for the time he could return to Darkover and learn the truth of his heritage.All he has is the name his Terran father gave him and a matrix jewel of unknown origin.He also has bright red hair, and on his first night back on Darkover he gets into several altercations with Darkovans who mistake him for someone else - a Comyn.When he begins to search for the history of his earliest years, he is surprised and increasingly frustrated to learn that no such records seem to exist anywhere of him or his Terran father.Even the Spacemen's Orphanage has no record of him.Kerwin knows he is being lied to and manipulated, but he has no idea why.Seeking information on the nature of his matrix jewel among Darkovan matrix technicians, Kerwin finds himself pulled in a new direction while the Terran authorities seemingly push him out. On the brink of deportation from the planet of his birth, a voice beckons him through the jewel he wears, and by following this voice Kerwin finds a new home on Darkover - a home within the very Tower of Arillin.

Thus we get an inside look at the work of the Comyn and their sheltered Keepers inside their mysterious Towers.It is a brand new life for Kerwin, accepted into a telepathic circle of power and authority.He finds new friendships, experiences beautiful yet tragically painful romantic relationships, and tries to work alongside a personal enemy determined to prove that he, as a hated Terranan, is a spy who does not belong in Arillin.Ultimately, he carries the burden of knowing that the very future of Darkover depends on him, as the Tower of Arillin is put to a test that will determine whether Comyn "magic" or Terran technology will best serve the Darkovan people in the future.Of course, things get much more complicated than this, and the ultimate revelation is not to come until Kerwin discovers the truth about his parentage and childhood on Darkover.That revelation is rather involved, requiring several moments of "wait a minute, let me get this straight" reflection on my part (which is not to say it does not make sense); it is as meaningful and powerful as it is complex.

The Bloody Sun is a thoroughly engaging novel boasting impressive elements of both science fiction and fantasy.In the context of its place within Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover novels, it is among the most important and significant works, showing as it does the inner workings of the last of the most powerful of mysterious Towers, revealing long-buried secrets linking this story and Darkovan history back to the crucial era of The Forbidden Tower, vindicating completely a renegade Keeper of the past, and basically explaining the impetus for one of the most significant cultural evolutions in Darkovan history.

So that is what it is like in a Tower
I really enjoyed this book and was fascinated by the life in a Tower. someting which was only hinted at before. Then I read a later edition of this book and was very!!! annoyed. Is Jeff Kerwein really the son of LewisAlton (brother of Kennard) or the son of a Ridenow. Between the twoeditions MZB changes her mind and this affects the books later in theseries( Sharras Exile, Heritage of Hasture and the Marguerida Alton series) ... Read more

Product Description
Wolf: a deadly world under a cold red sun, old when Terrans were learning to walk upright. Only one Terran agent knew Wolf well enough to pass undetected; but he had ruined his usefulness long ago. And yet only this scarred and bitter man could discover the secret of The Door Through Space... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Pulp sci-fi at its best
Aliens, empire of Man, and just one story of a man. This book is well-written, with a good sci-fi plot, characters that are a bit under-drawn but only because we are entering their lives in the midst of a crisis. They have a past, and will have a future, and this short book doesn't try to answer everything.

And, as others have mentioned, it's sorta in the Darkover universe, but Darkover is mentioned only as a source of horses.

It's a rollicking good ride with a hero that's a human hero, a bit risque for 1960, and chock-full of imagination.

You won't find the stories of four or five (or forty or fifty) people weaving through one immensely long never-ending publishing buffet. Instead, it's told through the eyes of only one man, and told well.

Fun read
I think the other reviews of this book are unnecessarily harsh.Perhaps the difference is that I never read the Darkover novels, so I had no preconceived expectations.And while I have read several of MZB's other books, they were all quite different.The story is exactly what I expected - classic pulp science fiction.It is well-written and has a vivid and interesting world.Is it great literature?No.But it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A treasure for MZB fans
C'mon, folks!! OK, this is pulp science fiction and it's not as good as the 50 novels that will follow it, but Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote this in 1961 and it's her first published book. It's fascinating to see so many ideas making their way onto paper for the first time.

Another reviewer, Joe Sherry, does a good job of summarizing the plot so let's not recap that. This novel owes a lot to C.L. Moore, Leigh Brackett, Andre Norton, and yes, Robert E. Howard, the only male in that group of four. It's predictable--don't read it to be surprised by the plot because it's by the numbers. Characters are flatter than crepes even though they have exotic scarring from blood feuds. Back alleys, spaceports and drug dens could have come from a box of Writers' Helper.

No, read it to walk under a red sun for the first time alongside MZB. Listen to the clank of Drytowner women's marriage chains. Marvel at how well most tech references held up (except for maybe vacuum tubes as a sought-after trade item.) Scarcely a page goes by without seeing the very first shoot of something that will grow into a lush and consistent world myth.

Elizabeth Waters' introduction alone is worth the price of the book for its glimpse into Bradley's early years as an abused child and later her work in a circus as a knife-thrower's assistant/target. "Oh, that explains rather a lot," I thought. Despite having had a "Visit Scenic Darkover" bumper sticker years ago, I'm not a devotee, just someone who's read most of her books and enjoyed them. "The Door Through Space" provides history, context, and the chance to see a major author at the start of her long, rewarding career. It will be a treasure for the real MZB fans.

Darkover's first draft
It is interesting just how much of The Door Through Space Bradley cribbed for her Darkover series: The Terran Empire colonizing the universe, a world bound by compact rather than charter to the Terrans, culture clash, Dry Towns, The Ghost Wind, a hint of ESP, chains binding women, the red sun, catmen, and the exclamation of the word "Sharra". These are both superficial as well as deeply thematic similarities to Darkover. In truth, if The Door Through Space was only given minor edits, it could pass as a Darkover novel. This was Bradley's first published novel and Darkover was obviously a work in progress throughout her entire career, but it is interesting to note how much of this novel she used to create an entire series of novels completely unrelated to this one. The world of Wolf could easily be Cottman IV. Had the word "matrix" shown up anywhere in TDTS I would have cried foul.

Race Cargill is a Terran intelligence agent who has been stuck behind a desk because of a bitter dispute with another agent who has "gone native". When Cargill's sister comes to Race because her husband, the former friend and agent who maimed Cargill, has apparently threatened her and her daughter, Cargill goes back into the field instead of leaving the planet for good. Adventure ensues.

Honestly, the book isn't that good. It is a pulpy science fiction and fantasy blend that works less well than any of her later, more developed Darkover novels. Add to the fact that having read the majority of Darkover, The Door Through Space comes off as a cheap copy, no matter that this book came first. It is a weaker Darkover novel without any of the trappings that make Darkover compelling. It is as if Bradley were trying out the ideas which would later mark her as a top talent in the 1970's and 1980's. The novel is short enough, which is good, because 300 pages of this would be rough going. The novel is not all bad and there are positives in her description of the customs and traditions of the cultures she introduces. Her handling of character, however, is less skillful.

Overall, no need to read this. Science fiction has been done far better, and Bradley herself would later re-write this novel into the vastly superior Darkover series.

-Joe Sherry

An Awful Book by and Excellent Author
Before she went on to write some of the greatest classics in science fiction and fantasy, Marion Zimmer Bradley, believe it or not, wrote some awful novels.This is one.

The "Door through Space" is an unremarkable (and almost unreadable) space-travel novel so like many others written at this time.It is pseudo-hard science fiction -- that is, a technologically-focused book with a little metaphysical nonsense thrown in.Marion Zimmer Bradley, when an editor, once said she would never buy a spaceship story in which "the spaceship was more interesting than the people".This is one of those.

That's not to say this book doesn't have some redeeming qualities.It's thin, pulpy-looking, and a looks good on the bookshelf next to the rest of my Bradleys.I picked my copy up for a quarter at a garage sale.I wouldn't have paid a penny more. ... Read more

Product Description
Set in the time before King Arthur, this novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley brings the mesmerizing world of Avalon brilliantly to life with epic grandeur-telling the story of three remarkable women who alter the fortunes of Roman Britain as they fight to reclaim the magic and traditions of a once glorious past... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (93)

An Engrossing Story with Vivid Characters
This is the first book of the Avalon series that I have read, and I'm glad I started with it. Although there are events referred to that obviously occur in other books, it's not done in a way that takes away from the story. This is the book that sets up the events in Marion Zimmer Bradley's popular masterpiece, The Mists of Avalon, so I felt fortunate to be beginning here.

This is the first book I have thoroughly enjoyed in a long time, and it's turned me into a devoted fan of this author. There are elements of several genres in this book: historical fiction, fantasy, and romance, making it appealing to many different kinds of readers. But what will really appeal to people is the superb story-telling and the realistic and complex characters. There are few characters, even among the leading Ladies of Avalon, who could be called wholly good or bad. Some make good decisions and some make such bad decisions that they adversely alter the course of history. The women portrayed are completely believable, with human foibles that all of us have, but at the same time they possess a power that infuses the story with magic. This is a book that celebrates womanhood in all its forms, from the innocent virgin to the croaking hag. If you're a woman, you will find yourself somewhere in this book. And if you're a man, well, there's plenty of fighting going on to keep even you interested!

Nothing new to encourage fans
Sadly, after reading Mists and The Forest House, I found this installment a disappointment. There seemed to be less "new material" in the book: the 3 sections simply wore down the same story of main characters, and their reincarnations did the same things as the characters in the previous sections.

And the concept of reincarnation between the generations of the Romano-Britannic lands was not a new and fresh idea in this book. That idea had come as a surprise in prequel The Mists of Avalon, but was nothing new here. There was a lack of creativity in saying the virtually exact same story for 3 parts of the book with different people, because by then, characters' histories were not enticing by introducing the idea that they had once been sacrificed kings or wise men from Atlantis in another life. It became repetitive.

And yes, the book does link other of MZB's works together. However, the scarcely lighted-upon stories in the other books that were told here were much better in my imagination than in the book.

In contrast, there are still fans of this book who found that it was not all that bad. I encourage possible readers to go ahead and read it, but only after the other books, and with the dissatisfied readers' comments warning you that this is one of the more pathetic continuations of Bradley's otherwise illustrious saga.

Squanders rich material, potential; a disappointment
Lady of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley picks up where The Forest House ended. Avalon has been established under the leadership of high priestess Caillean in the shadow of the holy Tor and close to the Christian brotherhood at Inis Witrin. The first book follows Eilan's son Gawen and his contribution to Avalon, the second establishes Avalon's active role in the politics and future of Britannia, and the third focuses on characters familiar to Arthurians--Vortigern, Vortimer, Viviane, and Taliesin and the Merlin of Britain.

Although the mythology and history are rich, the material is squandered in these nearly plotless, barely connected stories. While Avalon tries to preserve the degenerated wisdom that remained when Atlantis sank into the ocean, the world is being torn apart by the oppression and instability of empire and waves of barbarian invasions. Caillean, Gawen, and the daughter of the fairy queen, Sianna, save Avalon, then their successors extend its influence outward to manipulate kings, princes, and military leaders. In spite of the sacrifices and losses, Britannia seems no better off;Rome clings to it, and the barbarians keep coming. There are important victories, but they seem contrived when the goddess is called on to frighten off the Saxons, and they do little more than provide a break in the onslaught. The plots are so minimal and the useless details so many that it's not clear to what extent Britannia's rebelliousness and vulnerability contributed to Rome's decline and fall.

The goddess religion of Avalon is murky at best. Unlike in The Mists of Avalon and The Forest House, the magic here is unquestionably real; the visions are not drug-induced hallucinations, and priestesses invoke the goddess to deter the enemy. The "ancient wisdom" seems to be centered on the power of the earth (focused along leys), the seasons, and reincarnated souls like Gawen, Sianna, Dierna, and Carausius. Practice of the religion is as ordered and artificial as the rule of Rome, with strict rules and elaborate rituals that owe more to the human predilection for control than to the concept of nature and the earth. Even the most natural of emotions and acts, love and non-ritual sex, are forbidden. Young men and women are drawn to Avalon, but their passion is poorly articulated, especially when they cannot know the mysteries revealed during training and initiation. There is nothing special about the character or intelligence of the many of the Druids and priestesses called to Avalon; why are they singled out to preserve the ancient wisdom and mysteries?

While the plots and the secondary characters are weak, the real problem is that so many of the primary characters are selfish and unlikable. Gawen, the "Pendragon" and "Son of a Hundred Kings," from beginning to end is unremarkable, displaying predictable rebelliousness and nobility at the expected moments. He is so susceptible to suggestion that "the priest's words had tainted the Druid ways as well." Dramatically and childishly, he exclaims, "You both want to possess me, but my soul is my own! . . . I am leaving to seek my kin of Rome!" His soul mate, Sianna, has no more personality than Waterwalker, whose role is to pole the Avalon barge. High priestess Dierna does not seek the obvious path, proving the fairy queen's point: "But I do not know what the purpose is, exactly, and if I did, I would not be allowed to speak of it; for it is often in working for or in avoiding a prophecy that people do the very things they should not." We are told that Teleri, who is weak, pliant, and passive, is destined to become high priestess of Avalon; why would the goddess, the Druids, and the priestesses choose someone so unsuitable for such a position? At her worst, high priestess Ana is egotistical and petty, especially with regard to her daughter, Viviane. Is it Ana or the goddess who says, "I would gain nothing. I already have everything."? For reasons that are never explained, the enigmatic fairy queen insists that her daughter become a priestess of Avalon, and it is her line whose members impose their will on events rather than that of the goddess, proving their human side stronger than their role as conductor of magic. Of all the major characters, only Caillean, Taliesin, and perhaps Carausius are likable, revealing both human weaknesses and a greater wisdom. Although it is strongly hinted that Carausius is a reincarnation of Gawen's soul, they are different enough that it raises the question of what these souls are and why only certain ones return again and again, while others are "once born." The whims of the god and goddess, as channeled through these souls and through the Druids and priestesses, appear to be as illogical as those of any human.

Without a solid plot driven by strong, sympathetic characters, Lady of Avalon lacks the touches of historical and magical drama that made The Forest House at least interesting. Although the novel reveals some of the reasons for the decline of Avalon and the goddess religion, Lady of Avalon adds little essential to The Mists of Avalon.

How Lady of Avalon Relates
As many have said this was not one of the better works in the Avalon series.

However the three novellas, while in themselves do not give you much time to become attached to the characters each has its own purpose within the series.

For instance the fist section follows Caillean's journey to found Avalon after leaving the Forest House, and to create the world that still captivates readers 20 or so years after Mists was originally published.

The second section ties in to the sequel Priestess of Avalon, which encompasses the entirety of is written in the novella about Dierna.

Lastly the third section recounts the early life of Vivane. So although Lady may not be the best out of the series is it is still an essential part of the collection.

MORE MORE MORE
Great writer, great subject, carries you along.I didn't want it to end, I wanted to know more...Well written, Great Story - Timeless Fantasy! ... Read more

Product Description
In the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a time of war and unrest, King Carolin of Hastur and his friend Keeper Varzil Ridenow work selflessly to put an end to the destruction caused by the long range weapons of the magical matrix Towers. But Eduin Deslucido-who once called Carolin brother-has been consumed with a vengeful rage, and will stop at nothing to destroy the king and his plan for peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The price of peace
In the concluding volume of the Clingfire Trilogy, the focus is on Varzil Ridenow, his sister Dyannis, and Eduin Deslucido, the gifted laranzu who has been molded by his embittered father into a dagger aimed at their hearts.With a psychic compulsion battening on his mind and conflicting with the emotions of genuine love he once felt for the Ridenows and King Carolin Hastur, Eduin has become a nameless alcoholic living on the streets of Thendara when he encounters Saravio, a partially-trained laranzu with an unusual gift who has become convinced that he is the tool and prophet of the mortal-turned-goddess Naotalba.The possibility that he can use Saravio's abilities to discharge the obligation his father has laid on him gives Eduin hope, yet he remains tormented by his own past attachments.Meanwhile, Carolin and Varzil campaign to persuade the Towers and scores of small kingdoms to agree to their "Compact" outlawing all distance weapons, whether psychic or physical, while Varzil nurses the possibility of other reforms (such as training women to be Keepers) and Dyannis stoutly refuses to believe that Eduin, whom she once loved, could be evil.This complex story with its tragic yet redemptive ending sets the stage for the development of the Darkover that will be rediscovered by the Terran Empire several centuries hence.Its best aspect is the character of Eduin, who desperately wants to live his life on his own terms but is trapped by his father's compulsion; he plots and plans most effectively, yet is haunted by his memory of Dyannis's love (which ultimately proves to be the deciding factor in his actions) and Carolin's early friendship.Like most of the later Darkover books, the plot is a complicated braid of several storylines, but Ross manages to keep everything straight and bring it all to a well-crafted ending.

No Stars for this Mess.
What is Debroah Ross doing to MZBs legacy. This book did grave injustice to her memory and her creation. Please some stop Ross from tarnishing Darkover with her horrible plottimg and ridiculous ideas.
Jeanne. Seven Points TX

Good read
I always enjoy the Darkover books - this one was no exception.
Good story, consistent with the other books and short stories.
Made me wish I could go there...

Dazzling Conclusion to The Clingfire Trilogy
The Clingfire Wars trilogy starts with "The Fall of Neskaya", followed by "Zandru's Forge", and finishes with this book "A Flame in Hali". Rather than reviewing each book individually, this compilation will, hopefully, provide a brief overview of the story arc as a whole.

Written around 2001, the stories collectively could be viewed as precognition of events transpiring on our Earth today.In "A Flame in Hali" circumstances of wars and conflict evolve into a complex pattern of politics, prejudices, and lust for power similar to those we see in today's world.This lust is not only for the material, but for the power of the mind over mankind.In this story the events that have defined Darkover during it's "dark ages" culminate in a new direction.Yet, it leaves one to wonder at the cyclical and repetitive nature of humankind perhaps too entrenched in ideologies and agendas to accept change regardless of the intent.

Following years of near genocide an agreement called the "Compact" was created by King Carolin Hastur and Varzil "The Good", Keeper (top psychic) of the rebuilt Tower of Neskaya. It's purpose and function was to prevent further holocaust on Darkover, that had ruined vast amounts of land and it's population.This instrument of Law was signed by the rulers of the 100 kingdoms and heralded a new age of consciousness toward all inhabitants of the planet. The "Compact" stood as testimony for past lessons learned, and served as an "Ideal" toward which all must strive.The terms of the "Compact" were tools for self governance and a guide to all toward peaceful co-existence. It specifically prohibited harm toward one another by any means beyond the reach of a sword. Conflict resolution was up close and personal.

It explicitly forbade the use of long range missiles and chemicals that had wrecked such devastation on land and man.Those forbidden elements that had been created by the mental powers of laranzu'im (psychics) in the Towers were known as "Clingfire", "Lung Rot" and "Bone water Dust". Under orders by petty warfaring kings the chemicals were manufactured, encapsulated in glass vessels and were spewed from laran (psychically) controlled aircraft.They could be seen as analogous to the bombs, ICBMs, biological warfare,etc. used in war throughout our "modern" world.The tasks of making clingfire and so forth were greatly feared and reviled by all lawful Tower inhabitants.Yet even they could not refuse to do the work since they were ruled by petty kings in the lands where their Towers existed.This conflict of mind over matter is the heart of these stories and Keepers such as Coryn, Varzil and others are faced with dire consequences if they forget that their ultimate purpose as Keepers encompass leadership, teaching, healing, and lawful service for the benefit of all.

The second book "Zandru's Forge" introduced the concept of a woman as a "Keeper" in the Towers. It is a concept disputed and territorialized by the males who had it in their heads that women were not emotionally and mentally strong enough to be a "Keeper" even if their laran (psychic) gifts were equal to a male.This archaic mind set is the core of masculine dogma which MZB so brilliantly exposes in these stories as the hogwash that it is. Yet, this reality persists in present society where women still fight the "glass ceiling" in every field of endeavor.

"A Flame in Hali" is deeply complex and fascinating in it's description of the mental manipulation by such powerful individuals gifted with laran and the devastation wrought when wrongly used.Eduin Deslucido is a gifted laranzu (psychic), sent to the Tower as a very young boy to develop his skill.He is seeded with a compulsionto seek his father Rumail Deslucido's revenge against all of the Hasturs over the war that he and his brother King Damien Deslucido and his son had started and lost to King Rafael Hastur in prior decades. The Hasturs, viewed as "gods" in Darkovan lore, are the veritable "thorn in his side" that enrages and torments him.Rumail, as an outcast filled with hate resolves to find a way to settle the "score" for the death of his brother and nephew.He disappears, marries, lives in dire poverty in a remote mountain village and begets Eduin, his heir and instrument forhis irrational, bitter revenge against the Hasturs.

During his youthful days at Arilinn Tower where he is a student, Eduin travels with future king Carolin Hastur to Hali where he meets and falls in love with Dyannis. She is a highly gifted leronyn (psychic) and student who later becomes a "Keeper" at Hali.Dyannis is the only sister of Varzil "the Good" who is seen as the greatest and most compassionate Tenerezu, or "Keeper" of all time.Eduin, fueled by his father's compulsion within his mind battles against this love for Dyannis his entire life. Filled with jealousy and bitterness, he believes that Varzil has unjustly kept him from becoming a Keeper.Years later, while doing research at Hali, Dyannis innocently divulges the name and location of the sole surviving daughter of Queen Taniquel who was a Hastur.Felicia is Varzil's beloved who is in training at another tower to become a Keeper.

Eduin transfers to that Tower, gains her confidence and then nearly murders her. He satisfies both his father's revenge compulsion against the Hasturs, and his hatred for Varzil who had teleported through the Matrix to the Tower where Felicia lies in a stasis field created by Varzil to surround her while he seeks a way to reverse the damage that has caused Felicia's death coma. Eduin destroys the Tower through illegal work that crushes Felicia and nearly kills Varzil. During the ensuing chaos Eduin escapes unharmed.Thereafter, he spends years in hiding, drowning the mental torment of his father's compulsion with rot gut wine while seeking a way to fulfill it and finally free himself by destroying Varzil and Carolin Hastur. He meets another outcast laranzu in Thendara. They bond and form a "con" of major proportions to justify their own agendas.

Eduin manipulates a petty king and queen into waging warfare against the Tower at Hali, after learning that Varzil, the object of his boiling hatred, is currently residing there.Varzil, however, had left the Tower at Hali, two nights before the attack, on an errand for King Carolin of Hastur and escapes death. Dyannis does not. As her body lies burning from the clingfire dropped upon the Tower, she psychically travels to the Over world where she meets Eduin again. In those dying moments, Eduin and Dyannis reunite in spirit, and despite the terrible destruction wrought by him he finds that the woman whom he has loved/hated his entire life is his "soul" savior.When news of this holocaust at Hali reaches all inhabitants on Darkover, the horror is so immense that universal compliance with the Compact is finally achieved. This signals to all the culmination of the dedicated efforts to achieve peace on Darkover that King Carolin and Varzil have worked toward over many decades at great cost to them all.

These stories reinforce the potent consciousness that true love survives all obstacles and thrives in the "over world" of spirit. For people who are religiously oriented, this concept satisfies the desire of seeing a loved one in the afterlife. The entire trilogy will remain in my personal archive of books to read again and again. They are brilliantly conceived, executed and a powerful testament to the eternality of life on every level of it's manifestation.

Marion Zimmer Bradley
I have fallen in Love with MZB a while ago and have enjoyed reading her books

I now have the whole darkover series by her and will never give these books away! Personally I think they are the best sci fi books out there!You can read one and still know whats going on or you can read them all and get a sense of the whole Darkover World and how it all plays out!

I have not felt so close to characters in a long time and feel I am right there with them as I read about their adventures, troubles, pains, and loves!

Now all I have to do is buy the anthologies to give me more stories and insights on the characters and about the whole world of Darkover!

Her Avalon Series is one of the best too!She has added more truth than fiction to these stories so you feel that you are a part of the past as you read them ... Read more

Product Description
In the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a time of war and unrest, a legendary friendship is forged between king and keeper which will lead to a new destiny for Darkover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Zandru's Forge
This is a great middle book of a trilogy. The characterization is consistent, the plot is an extension of the first book, and it is a great read as a stand alone book. Those who love Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books will be equally pleased with Deborah Ross' continuation of the series. A great read set in the time of Varzil the Good and the Compact; carries forward MZB's ideas of events of that time.

Zandru's Forge
I give this book a 5 star rating, thumbs up. Anyone following the Darkover books will like it.

A historic friendship begins
Longtime readers of the Darkover saga will recall previous mentions of Varzil the Good, who was instrumental in crafting the Compact that outlawed distance weapons and brought an end to the chaotic period of the Hundred Kingdoms in the days before the planet was rediscovered by the Terran Empire.In this second volume of the Clingfire Trilogy, Bradley and her amanuensis Deborah J. Ross finally add flesh to those bones.The time is a generation following the events of The Fall of Neskaya (The Clingfire Trilogy, Book 1), and the Kingdoms are enjoying a period of uneasy peace.Even in this short time, the events of the past have become distorted, with tales told of how the Keeper of Neskaya and the leronis he loved were both killed when the Tower was destroyed.Varzil Ridenow comes to Arilinn seeking to be trained in the use of his laran powers, but is refused because his father hasn't given consent--and because he comes from a family that is suspected of all sorts of unpleasant things.After finally contriving to prove to his skeptical parent that his gift is real, he is accepted for training, and meets Carolin, the heir to the Hastur throne.The two discover that they share a vision, not so much of a united Darkover but of one where laran will be used always to help, never to hurt.And as they grow into adulthood, they vow to somehow make that vision real.What they don't realize is that one of the prime movers of the battles of 25 years earlier, Rumail Deslucido, is still alive--and that he has sent his youngest son, under an alias, to Arilinn, not to learn, but to further his own ends.

With a vividly imaged society, plenty of intrigue and psychic action, and an authoric voice almost indistinguishable from MZB's own (even though she was in her last illness at the time and involved in its conception chiefly as a source of ideas), this long and complex story, while perhaps not quite up to the standards of its predecessor, is definitely an interesting read and a vital link in the chain of Darkovan history.Everyone who is curious about how Darkover got to be the planet about which most of the series was written should definitely add it to their collection.

Best of the Post-Bradley works
I've read probaby all of the late Marion Zimmer Bradley's works (excepting the numerous short story compilations).I think I prefer MZB's writing in the books that came out chronologically in the middle of her series (not the early pulp fiction books), like Bloody Sun, Thendara House, Forbidden Tower, and the Sharra series.They were compelling stories of culture clashes, struggles with sexuality, gender roles, and technology.The later books seem to stray from the themes that are really what makes Darkover stand out.That said, this was my favorite of the collaborative books between MZB and another author.A fundamental part of Darkover culture is the "Compact", an agreement not to use any weapon that doesn't put you in reach of your opponent.This book discusses how the compact was reached.I found Varzil to be a fascinating figure - strong, serious, driven, brilliant.Very unusual for both MZB's work and other science fiction.

great story
sob(i did not know that marion had passed). i am not sure whether this was done before her death or not but it is beautifully written and a credit. why does it seem all the good authors pass so quickly(v.c andrews was another).

anyway this book chronicles the lifes of the famous keep varzil the good and the hastur king carolin hastur and their many trials from adolescent to points that their separate destiny's take them.

for these 2 men meet at arillian for training in their laran. while carolin is a minor telepath, varzil is one of extraoridary ability and is soon put in keeper training. carolin soon returns home to assume his duties as heir to the throne and all the political strifes that were rampant in this period of darkover history.

the book keeps you interested from beginning to end and you are almost upset that you have to wait for the 3rd book in this story to come out to see the ending. for all darkover fans, this is definitely one you do not want to miss. ... Read more

Product Description
With the Comyn power declining and the Terran influence on the rise, the people of the Seven Domains are caught between the time-tested pathways of tradition and the lure of new ways of living and thinking. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First
"The Other Side of the Mirror" is an enjoyable anthology. It contains many stories that could have happened in Darkover.the stories span times from the beginning to the time of Margret Alton.Sometimes thestories are slightly wacky while at others they fit almost seamlessly withthe books already in print. I especially enjoyed the last story, I hopethat you will too. ... Read more

Product Description
Bestselling author of The Mists of Avalon
First time in mass market!

Trying to outrun the memory of a drunk-driving accident where he may have killed someone, Wycherly Musgrave sends his expensive sports car sailing off the road. . . . Amazingly, he survives the crash with no more than a few bumps and bruises, but the car is totaled and Wych is stranded in tiny Morton’s Fork.

Sinah Dellon left Morton's Fork an infant foundling. Now a world-famous movie star, her most closely-held secret is her ability to read minds. She’s come home in search of the truth about her origins.

Also poking around in Morton’s Fork this fateful summer are researchers investigating centuries of reported hauntings and other phenomena. Truth Blackburn discovers a renegade Gate, a portal to another plane. But she cannot close the Gate without the help of its Keeper, who is nowhere to be found.

Wycherly, Sinah, and Truth are fighters in the eternal struggle between Light and Darkness, and the small mountain town of Morton’s Fork has become a battleground.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Third book of 'Light'
Marion Zimmer Bradley (MISTS OF AVALON) has continued her occult saga surrounding Truth Jourdemayne and her colleague at the Bidney Institute that begin with GHOSTLIGHT.The second volume focused on Winter Musgrave, a wealthy young woman who was being haunted by her past, including her dysfunctional family.GRAVELIGHT concerns Wycherly Musgrave, Winter's alcoholic youngest brother and an even greater disappointment to the aristocratic Musgrave family than Winter.Wycherly was fleeing from yet another rehab program.He totaled the car he was driving, leaving him stranded in backwoods, mountain hamlet of Morton's Grove.Wycherly decided that this was as good a place to hide from his family and problems as any and so decided to stay for the time being anyway.

There is another refugee from the outside world who has also recently decided that Morton's Forge is a good place to hide.Soon to be famous actress Sinah Dellon had gone to the town looking for her past.Her mother had lived there, and died there giving birth to Sinah.Sinah had been sent away to be raised by a foster family but now she had returned looking for answers.

The final group of summer visitors to the remote town was Truth Jourdemayne, her fiance and collegue Dylan and two graduate students on a research project, investigating the cluster of disappearances and other odd occurrences that center around the town.It was just a coincidence that these three groups all happen to be at this place at this time...or is it?Perhaps this meeting had been arranged many years before.

These three books are a continuation of the same story, much as Bradley's Avalon and Atlantis series had been.In order to fully enjoy, or even to understand this story arc the reader needs to begin at the first novel, GHOSTLIGHT and proceed in order.Even so fans of MISTS OF AVALON will probably be disappointed in this series.

Dull as the "Gravelight"
Don't expect anything original or unpredictable in Marion Zimmer Bradley's occult fantasy "Gravelight." It's strictly by-the-numbers, slow to action, repetitive and brimming over with characters either unsympathic or simply annoying. Sure she can turn a phrase, but she didn't stop turning.

Promising actress/telepath Sinah Dellon came to the tiny hick town of Morton's Fork looking for info on her birth mother. Not only does nobody want to admit her mother lived there, but Sinah becomes the local pariah. Elsewhere, rich-boy alcoholic Wycherly Musgrave crashes his car, and takes up temporary residence in Morton's Fork. The residents think he's a magical "conjureman," but all he wants to do is be left alone with his booze and nightmares.

Meanwhile, Truth Jourdemayne, her fiancee and a pair of psychics are coming to Morton's Fork, and Truth is getting a bad feeling about something to come. Sinah and Wycherly meet and explore a sanatorium that burned down in the early 1900s -- which is somehow connected to Sinah's ancestors. The problem is, sinister powers are starting to hijack their thoughts.

Bradley took a sloppy mishmash of occultism, mythology (such as her hideous misuse of "sidhe" mythos), and the a few of the flashier New Age trappings, and cooked them together into a half-baked fantasy novel. It's pretty much by-the-numbers -- here's the Mysterious Ancestry! The Hidden Chambers! The Magical Bloodline! The Sinister Cult! The Voices In Their Heads! The Evil Magic! The Good Magic! Even a quickie on an evil altar!

In "Gravelight," it feels like Bradley didn't have the slightest idea how to fill in the middle of the book. The character spend too much time wondering if they're crazy (or in Wycherly's case, thinking about booze). Bradley has a lovely writing style, but it becomes repetitive. For example, Wycherly has a recurring dream about the woman he accidently killed dragging him into the river. The first time, it's powerful. But she keeps reusing the dream so often that it loses its power.

And the characters aren't much better than the writing. Either they're good and dull (Sinah and Truth) or they are jerks (Wycherly) with no redeeming features. The Morton's Fork residents are portrayed as inbred rednecks, and Truth's coworkers have no personalities. It's hard to tell why we're supposed to care about any of these people.

"Gravelight" is a plodding, staggering piece of cliched occult fantasy. Like a balloon with a tear, it deflates as soon as it puffs itself up.

Third Time is a Charmer
When I met Wycherly Musgrave, Winter's brother, in WITCHLIGHT, he seemed like just one more thoroughly unlikeable member of a unlikeable and dysfunctional family.In GRAVELIGHT I learned that he's probably the only other member of the family who's worthwhile.Unlike his sister's adventure of the mind, we don't have to wait three-quarters of the book to find out what he's running from.Yes, he has good reason for hating himself. It was interesting to find out what happened to the Musgraves.Too bad that Wycherly is the only other sibling to break away. Will he find the truth and shall it set him free?GRAVELIGHT starts out with a chapter that sets us up for what is to come.Quentin Blackburn certainly misjudged the will of his lover, Athanais Dellon.Unfortunately, Attie didn't succeed in wiping out his evil influence. Unlike the first two books, this one changes viewpoint from character to character before tying everything together.This enabled the author to accomplish more than she could have by sticking with any one character.I enjoyed learning about Athanais and present-day Melusine ("Sinah") Dellon's self-serving ancestress and the origin of the Dark Brooding Evil Menace in Morton's Fork [great name!].I enjoyed seeing Truth Jourdemayne and Dylan Palmer again, although the reversal of their believer-skeptic roles made me worry that they wouldn't be together by the end.I think Ms. Bradley chose wisely in the manner in which she resolved the problem.However I didn't understand why there should be any trouble between Truth and another character in GHOSTLIGHT who makes an appearance here and I still don't.Little nugget of information:according to one of the many catalogs that clutter up my mailbox, those little bricks of Fels-Naptha that Truth wonders about in chapter five are heavy-duty laundry soap. Just as I found the climax of GRAVELIGHT more powerful and satisfying than that of its predecessors, I think this book has the most powerful and evocative cover.With the other two, I don't think it would matter much if the paperback cover doesn't include the entire wraparound design of the hardcover's dustjacket, but in this case it would.I love the glimpse of the ruined sanatorium with the light streaming through and around it!

Enjoyable, but clichéd
Bradley is undeniably one of the great craftspeople of fantastic settings; and her strong female characters are always a refereshing change from thestatus quo.

I would not, however, consider Gravelight to be one of hermore stellar achievements.Although the story line is engrossing, thecharacters are just a little too stereotypical and the theology/magicsystem a tad too clichéd.The ending, likewise, is somewhat predictableand pat.

Were it most other author, this book would have received 3stars.Nevertheless, the Bradley touches (particularly the emphasisi onthe female characters) are sufficient to make this a respectable read foranyone who enjoys the genre.As always, Bradley manages to make you wantto read to the end; even if you are pretty what that will be.

Very Well Written With Great Characters But Same Old Plot
For some reason, all the MZB books I choose end up having the same plot: there's some dark underground sacrificial alter where dark forces are summoned & it's cramping the style of our heroines. Nevertheless Ididn't mind as much this time because the main character's struggle withalcoholism and indulgent self-hatred was so brilliantly drawn. In fact, allof the characters and the way they related when they met were totallycaptivating. But like I've said before--oh no, not that whole lame devilworship plot again! This book would have deserved five stars had thesupernatural possession happened more originally. ... Read more

Product Description
After Lew Alton unwittingly roused the fire demon Sharra, the Sword of Aldones was the only weapon that could lay her to rest again. But only one man could wield the sword, and getting it was an even bigger problem. ... Read more