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Seven from the Stars
Bradley, Marion Zimmer, Seven from the Stars
151 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
3 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
813 books4,934 followersMarion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, often with a feminist outlook.
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 14, 2015
An early MZB novel from 1961 or 1962, depending on where you look. I found it an accomplished and entertaining sci fi novel with Heinlein and Asimov influences plus her signature feminist views.
Seven survivors of an intergalactic ship find themselves on Earth near a large Texas city. Each is a level of telepath or telempath also programmed to adapt to wherever they are and assimilate so well that the locals don't recognize them as extra-terrestrials. Earth is considered a Closed Planet meaning they will not be rescued.
As time passes a baby is born, there are conflicts amongst the survivors, and they become involved with a Texas rancher and his family. MZB gets in some semi-political commentary on Mexicans and immigration and treatment of illegals as employees.
Most of all I liked her nicely worked out neuroscience of telepaths (who can receive and transmit worded thoughts in any language they know) versus telempaths (who can probe the thoughts and emotions of all humans as well as translate these into the languages and concepts of any other race.)
Due to these excellent skills as well as intelligent assimilation most of the seven survive and are able to bring a boon to Earth. Great story!
May 27, 2022
Dated but fun
Miss Bradley has a flare for writing strong science fiction and this is a good book. Seven from the Stars uses an interesting mix of telepathy and technology that resonates early sci-fi. Published a year after the first manned space launch to book is a thrilling look at first contact with those from another planet.
MZB also touches on what a Galactic Empire would possibly do if it felt that the Earth could not be trusted to leave our own atmosphere.
Seven from the Stars has not aged well, and if anyone is offended by how women were treated as second class citizens in the 50s and 60s this might not be the book for you. Women are referred to as girls many times and treated as if they can't fend for themselves, which gets old quick.
Miss Bradley has a flare for writing strong science fiction and this is a good book. Seven from the Stars uses an interesting mix of telepathy and technology that resonates early sci-fi. Published a year after the first manned space launch to book is a thrilling look at first contact with those from another planet.
MZB also touches on what a Galactic Empire would possibly do if it felt that the Earth could not be trusted to leave our own atmosphere.
Seven from the Stars has not aged well, and if anyone is offended by how women were treated as second class citizens in the 50s and 60s this might not be the book for you. Women are referred to as girls many times and treated as if they can't fend for themselves, which gets old quick.
Read
November 3, 2022The SpaceFuture is not white.
A group of refugees crash-land on the quarantined planet Earth and (briefly) blend in as Mexican migrant workers. It's a 1960s sci-fi adventure yarn, mixed quality. Content warning: the gender portrayals are, sadly, about what you'd expect from the time & genre.
Other reviewers say MZB's later books get better so I'm willing to give her another chance. There were some interesting ideas in here that could've used more page-time.
A group of refugees crash-land on the quarantined planet Earth and (briefly) blend in as Mexican migrant workers. It's a 1960s sci-fi adventure yarn, mixed quality. Content warning: the gender portrayals are, sadly, about what you'd expect from the time & genre.
Other reviewers say MZB's later books get better so I'm willing to give her another chance. There were some interesting ideas in here that could've used more page-time.
December 11, 2020
Not the most amazing short novel from Bradley. Seven strangers aboard a space faring ship end up in a "lifeboat" that lands on our earth, a closed planet. Will they survive and assimilate or will the enemy of all mankind kill them off one by one?
January 17, 2026
I almost DNF’d this book every time I picked up. After a very interesting first chapter, it was just mind-numbingly dull. The only reason I finished it is because it’s only 150 pages. Very happy to be moving on to my next book…
September 19, 2020
Short, but decent story of a group of 7 humanoid aliens that get stranded on Earth with no hope of rescue... or is there? Some small elements of suspense improve the plot.
February 15, 2023
Interesting old sci-fi.
November 15, 2024
This was forgettable in just about every way you can imagine. Only finished it just to have bragging rights lol.
November 27, 2025
wow the russians are a threat and women are all hysterical but interesting stuff about the migrant workers and earth not being the center of the universe
March 22, 2017
Not particularly captivating, but interesting to see some hints of what the author would produce later.
April 27, 2009
I only recommend this for big Marion Zimmer Bradley fans. This is definitely one of her early works and like some of the other books she wrote in the sixties, she tends to jump a lot in her story. There were several points where it felt like my book was missing a couple of pages.
February 6, 2014
Meh. I struggled to get through this 1960's sci-fi. I started it last Aug, but put it down because it just wasn't doing it for me. Too many characters, not enough description. Glad to be done with it.
November 2, 2020
This is half of an Ace Double shared with Laumer's 'Worlds of the Imperium'. Imperium I have some recollection of, but Bradley's novella, except for its cover, draws a blank.
October 24, 2012
Ace Double Novel F127
Grade B+ (1975 grade B)
Grade B+ (1975 grade B)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews