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Darkover (Publication Order) #35
The Fall of Neskaya
The Fall of Neskaya, Book One of the Clingfire Trilogy, marks the legendary author's final return to Darkover before her death. Set in the tumultuous era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a terrible time of strife and war, this unique fantasy world is divided into a mutlitude of small belligerent domains vying for power and land. One ambitious and corrupt tyrant will stop at nothing to control Darkover-even wield the terrifying weapons of the matrix.
556 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
55 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
811 books4,919 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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September 28, 2016This book is NOT by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's by Deborah J Ross. The Author's Note at the beginning states that Bradley collaborated in the early stages, and that she offered suggestions and critiques throughout. But the fact is that this book is PROFOUNDLY different to the original conception of Darkover.
For one thing, the Compact was the primary basis for later Darkovan society--and rationalizations for not establishing or adhering to the Compact were always (rightly) given short shrift. If there were (as there were) serious problems with avoiding any weapon which could kill beyond arms' length (I should point out that this would include bows and arrows, blowpipes, atlatls, etc), in that it created a bullying culture in which the heartiest toughs controlled people who were less robust, nevertheless, it was always a LOT better than the Ages of Chaos.
The argument that if one or more parties escalates from horrors to worse horrors is a basis for an arms race (so that brinksmanship will (in theory) lead to people not using the horrible things they already have, for fear of reprisals), is an old one--and one that's been repeatedly proven wrong. Wernher von Braun tried to convince others of this idea repeatedly, and used it as an excuse for the arms race during the Cold War. People pointed out that this was the same reason he gave for not fleeing the Third Reich, and for agreeing, however reluctantly, to using rocketry for war. People pointed out that the result was a great risk of accidental Armageddon--but they rarely recognized that the act of manufacturing and stockpiling volatile weaponry was a risk IN ITSELF, even if they never got used.
Case in point: the major laran weapons in this book are clingfire and bonewater dust. There are other things being made in the Towers (fire retardant chemicals, for example) which are hard and dangerous to make. But they, at least, can be stored safely. Clingfire and bonewater dust probably can not. (It's hard to say, because there's no real discussion of how they're stored).
The obvious solution to the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction is to come up with ways of neutralizing them. Disarmament is one such technique (and the one the Darkovans eventually chose). But it's not enough in itself. It's also necessary to figure out how to disarm and dispose of what's already been created. The evidence is that it WAS possible to at least contain the effects of bonewater dust (though at the cost of interdicting access to the contaminated area, perhaps for generations). But this was a solution developed on the fly, improvisationally. What if there were people working on completely making it impossible to make the weapons--and to rendering those which had been made harmless? The proposed solution of making the weapons backfire on the users is essentially useless--it assumes that there's no such thing as suicide bombers, for example.
Worse, the characters accept even more terrible ideas. At one point, the decision is made to murder an entire family (at least two of them immediately, but there's an implication that even nedestro members would also be hunted down and exterminated). The reason given is that they can lie under truthspell--and that Darkovan society would collapse completely if the government can't rely on their ability to depend on what people say under questioning.
So this is a reason to murder people? What caused the society to rely on truthspell in the FIRST place? Here on Earth, we've somehow been able to muddle through without having infallible 'lie detectors' (really, there's no such thing, but that's another issue). To decide that it's necessary just to slaughter people because they can't be psychically fact-checked is immoral at best. Would I trust these 'heroes' as Keepers? No way.
I should say that the worst thing about these later Darkover books is that the Chieri are almost completely eliminated from the story. Humans on Darkover had a tendency to be nasty enough in the earlier books (later, in internal chronology, but earlier in external chronology) but the Chieri element was a mitigating factor. But in the later books, people seem to be almost entirely humanly nasty. If they manage to be reasonably humane, it's a triumph against high odds.
I did manage to finish this book. And I did care about the characters. But I kept hoping that they'd be freed to live a better life. By the end, most were in a little less anguish--though there's always fear of future danger...
For one thing, the Compact was the primary basis for later Darkovan society--and rationalizations for not establishing or adhering to the Compact were always (rightly) given short shrift. If there were (as there were) serious problems with avoiding any weapon which could kill beyond arms' length (I should point out that this would include bows and arrows, blowpipes, atlatls, etc), in that it created a bullying culture in which the heartiest toughs controlled people who were less robust, nevertheless, it was always a LOT better than the Ages of Chaos.
The argument that if one or more parties escalates from horrors to worse horrors is a basis for an arms race (so that brinksmanship will (in theory) lead to people not using the horrible things they already have, for fear of reprisals), is an old one--and one that's been repeatedly proven wrong. Wernher von Braun tried to convince others of this idea repeatedly, and used it as an excuse for the arms race during the Cold War. People pointed out that this was the same reason he gave for not fleeing the Third Reich, and for agreeing, however reluctantly, to using rocketry for war. People pointed out that the result was a great risk of accidental Armageddon--but they rarely recognized that the act of manufacturing and stockpiling volatile weaponry was a risk IN ITSELF, even if they never got used.
Case in point: the major laran weapons in this book are clingfire and bonewater dust. There are other things being made in the Towers (fire retardant chemicals, for example) which are hard and dangerous to make. But they, at least, can be stored safely. Clingfire and bonewater dust probably can not. (It's hard to say, because there's no real discussion of how they're stored).
The obvious solution to the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction is to come up with ways of neutralizing them. Disarmament is one such technique (and the one the Darkovans eventually chose). But it's not enough in itself. It's also necessary to figure out how to disarm and dispose of what's already been created. The evidence is that it WAS possible to at least contain the effects of bonewater dust (though at the cost of interdicting access to the contaminated area, perhaps for generations). But this was a solution developed on the fly, improvisationally. What if there were people working on completely making it impossible to make the weapons--and to rendering those which had been made harmless? The proposed solution of making the weapons backfire on the users is essentially useless--it assumes that there's no such thing as suicide bombers, for example.
Worse, the characters accept even more terrible ideas. At one point, the decision is made to murder an entire family (at least two of them immediately, but there's an implication that even nedestro members would also be hunted down and exterminated). The reason given is that they can lie under truthspell--and that Darkovan society would collapse completely if the government can't rely on their ability to depend on what people say under questioning.
So this is a reason to murder people? What caused the society to rely on truthspell in the FIRST place? Here on Earth, we've somehow been able to muddle through without having infallible 'lie detectors' (really, there's no such thing, but that's another issue). To decide that it's necessary just to slaughter people because they can't be psychically fact-checked is immoral at best. Would I trust these 'heroes' as Keepers? No way.
I should say that the worst thing about these later Darkover books is that the Chieri are almost completely eliminated from the story. Humans on Darkover had a tendency to be nasty enough in the earlier books (later, in internal chronology, but earlier in external chronology) but the Chieri element was a mitigating factor. But in the later books, people seem to be almost entirely humanly nasty. If they manage to be reasonably humane, it's a triumph against high odds.
I did manage to finish this book. And I did care about the characters. But I kept hoping that they'd be freed to live a better life. By the end, most were in a little less anguish--though there's always fear of future danger...
January 15, 2016
Ah, a good Ages of Chaos tragedy.
Though, it's not quite either of those. Unlike Stormqueen!, The Fall of Neskaya is sure that the Ages of Chaos were another time, back in the past when things were terrible and everyone fought each other all the time and used terrible laran weapons. Not like these modern days. And I'm sure if you asked the characters what the difference was, they'd be able to split hairs in such a way that there was a difference, but I didn't see it. And while there are certainly tragic events, it's not really a tragedy.
I admit, I had a bit of a hard time buying the central premise of the story. So, the Deslucido family is gobbling up small mountain kingdoms in their bid to challenge the Hasturs of the lowlands for power. The Deslucidos are bad mainly because they're not the protagonists, though they do end up using laran weapons in warfare, including direct psychic assault by a Tower under their control, so they're not all that sympathetic. The real reason they're apparently so terrible is because the Deslucido Gift is the ability to lie under truthspell.
Truthspell has come up occasionally in other books, but never with the kind of central place that it has in The Fall of Neskaya. Here, people repeatedly react to the idea that the Deslucidos can lie under truthspell with absolute horror, like doing so was the moral equivalent of murdering under a flag of truce or executing hostages without a motive. But truthspell has never been the fundamental underpinning of Darkovan society that it's painted as here in any other book. Everyone acts like there's no way for anyone to be trustworthy unless truthspell is a possibility and that the hundred kingdoms would dissolve into never-ending war without it. Okay, there's a disclaimer at the beginning that some details may have changed between this and other books, but this one was a bit too abrupt.
You'd think that a society of telepaths could come up with something else that would let them figure this out, but I guess that would require them to trust each other more. I do like the underlying message that telepathy doesn't actually bring people closer together, though.
The actual plot of the book is pretty good, but I thought there were some odd under-utilizations of characters. Liane is pretty important very early on, and then disappears from the narrative for the vast majority of its running time. Damian's son Belisar mostly comes off as a bratty child. Even Coryn seems not quite filled in entirely compared to Taniquel once the second half of the story comes around and Taniquel becomes a major character, which makes the love subplot a bit thin. I could easily believe that Taniquel was in love with Coryn, but had a harder time with Coryn's feelings.
I don't have that much more to say about this one, I think. It was well-written and I liked it, with a few issues that kept it from being five stars. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy and seeing where this goes.
Next Review: Zandru's Forge.
Though, it's not quite either of those. Unlike Stormqueen!, The Fall of Neskaya is sure that the Ages of Chaos were another time, back in the past when things were terrible and everyone fought each other all the time and used terrible laran weapons. Not like these modern days. And I'm sure if you asked the characters what the difference was, they'd be able to split hairs in such a way that there was a difference, but I didn't see it. And while there are certainly tragic events, it's not really a tragedy.
I admit, I had a bit of a hard time buying the central premise of the story. So, the Deslucido family is gobbling up small mountain kingdoms in their bid to challenge the Hasturs of the lowlands for power. The Deslucidos are bad mainly because they're not the protagonists, though they do end up using laran weapons in warfare, including direct psychic assault by a Tower under their control, so they're not all that sympathetic. The real reason they're apparently so terrible is because the Deslucido Gift is the ability to lie under truthspell.
Truthspell has come up occasionally in other books, but never with the kind of central place that it has in The Fall of Neskaya. Here, people repeatedly react to the idea that the Deslucidos can lie under truthspell with absolute horror, like doing so was the moral equivalent of murdering under a flag of truce or executing hostages without a motive. But truthspell has never been the fundamental underpinning of Darkovan society that it's painted as here in any other book. Everyone acts like there's no way for anyone to be trustworthy unless truthspell is a possibility and that the hundred kingdoms would dissolve into never-ending war without it. Okay, there's a disclaimer at the beginning that some details may have changed between this and other books, but this one was a bit too abrupt.
You'd think that a society of telepaths could come up with something else that would let them figure this out, but I guess that would require them to trust each other more. I do like the underlying message that telepathy doesn't actually bring people closer together, though.
The actual plot of the book is pretty good, but I thought there were some odd under-utilizations of characters. Liane is pretty important very early on, and then disappears from the narrative for the vast majority of its running time. Damian's son Belisar mostly comes off as a bratty child. Even Coryn seems not quite filled in entirely compared to Taniquel once the second half of the story comes around and Taniquel becomes a major character, which makes the love subplot a bit thin. I could easily believe that Taniquel was in love with Coryn, but had a harder time with Coryn's feelings.
I don't have that much more to say about this one, I think. It was well-written and I liked it, with a few issues that kept it from being five stars. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy and seeing where this goes.
Next Review: Zandru's Forge.
December 30, 2010
This book was written by Deborah J. Ross in the Darkover world created by Marion Zimmer Bradley; apparently, the idea and some of the early plot concepts came from Ms. Bradley before her death, but the majority of the actual writing was done by Ms. Ross. Nonetheless, it rang true as a Darkover novel; it had the feel of Bradley's writing. I'm given to understand that Ms. Ross had been working with Ms. Bradley for years, and understood her world as well as anyone. It has the added benefit that Ms. Ross actually has a better talent for detail than Ms. Bradley when it comes to proofreading her own work, so there are none of the sloppy mistakes that Ms. Bradley sometimes allowed to slip into her writing. This novel is set in the Ages of Chaos, before the Compact was signed that prevented the use of laran in warfare.
I honestly think that this is one of the best Darkover novels, even though it was not, for the most part, written by Marion Bradley. The characters were vivid, the plot excellent, the writing superb. A fine addition to a very fine series.
I honestly think that this is one of the best Darkover novels, even though it was not, for the most part, written by Marion Bradley. The characters were vivid, the plot excellent, the writing superb. A fine addition to a very fine series.
December 22, 2019
Much better written than other collaborations in the Darkover series have been. Should titles be allowed to spoil the plot?
July 12, 2009
Marion Zimmer Bradley's 1999 death seems to have had little effect on her literary output. At least once a year, a new title appears in her name, title in her name, comes out. It's always by "Marion Zimmer Bradley and Someboyd Else." In this case, the "Somebody Else" is Deborah Ross, a pretty darned good fantasy author in her own right.
The quality of these 'And Somebody Else" books is quite high. Of course, this isn't a "sharecropper" novel (where one author simply writes in a world created ay another writer). Ross knew Bradley and apparently had several conversations with the events in Fall of Neskaya, and in fact, about all the events in The Clingfire Trilogy, of which Neskaya is a part.
Set in the HUndreg Kingdoms perioed,the period after the Ages of Chaos and before Darkover is contacted by Earth, the tale concerns the destinies of Coryn, a third sone of a family of minor nobles in the remote Hellers mountain range, and Taniquiel, a young queen of the remote kingdom of Acosta. Both kingdoms are over-run by Damian, king of small country who has a dream of "uniting all Darkover"--as long as the planet is "united" under Damian's rule. Both Coryn and Taniquiel are forced from thier homes and must make their way in the world, and, eventually work to overthrow Damian's tyranny and free their native lands.
As I said, the tale is a very good wone, with compelling stories, great dialoge, and great engagement. Ross is not quite as good at action/battle scenes as Bradley was, but, then again, few are as good as Bradley. Ross remains true to the spirit of Bradley's Darkover, yet Ross' imagination brings a new perspective, continuing to give fans of Darkover new tales from Bradley's fascinating world. Definitely worth reading.
I don't know how to raise my last point, but Bradley was a pioneering feminist fantasy writer. Although Ross has very strong women characters and is very much in keeping with Bradley's intent and the world she constructive, Neskaya does not have the fascinating exploration of gender roles that characterizes the best of Bradley's fiction. It's probably wise of Ross not to try and imitate Bradley in this element, sticking to good stories and strong characters, but it's a part of Bradley that I shall miss. It's what sets Bradley apart from other fantasy authors.
The quality of these 'And Somebody Else" books is quite high. Of course, this isn't a "sharecropper" novel (where one author simply writes in a world created ay another writer). Ross knew Bradley and apparently had several conversations with the events in Fall of Neskaya, and in fact, about all the events in The Clingfire Trilogy, of which Neskaya is a part.
Set in the HUndreg Kingdoms perioed,the period after the Ages of Chaos and before Darkover is contacted by Earth, the tale concerns the destinies of Coryn, a third sone of a family of minor nobles in the remote Hellers mountain range, and Taniquiel, a young queen of the remote kingdom of Acosta. Both kingdoms are over-run by Damian, king of small country who has a dream of "uniting all Darkover"--as long as the planet is "united" under Damian's rule. Both Coryn and Taniquiel are forced from thier homes and must make their way in the world, and, eventually work to overthrow Damian's tyranny and free their native lands.
As I said, the tale is a very good wone, with compelling stories, great dialoge, and great engagement. Ross is not quite as good at action/battle scenes as Bradley was, but, then again, few are as good as Bradley. Ross remains true to the spirit of Bradley's Darkover, yet Ross' imagination brings a new perspective, continuing to give fans of Darkover new tales from Bradley's fascinating world. Definitely worth reading.
I don't know how to raise my last point, but Bradley was a pioneering feminist fantasy writer. Although Ross has very strong women characters and is very much in keeping with Bradley's intent and the world she constructive, Neskaya does not have the fascinating exploration of gender roles that characterizes the best of Bradley's fiction. It's probably wise of Ross not to try and imitate Bradley in this element, sticking to good stories and strong characters, but it's a part of Bradley that I shall miss. It's what sets Bradley apart from other fantasy authors.
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February 23, 2024When I first started The Fall of Neskaya I found the beginning to be a slog. It was hard for me to fall in with Coryn. While reading, until we get to book four or so, I was calling for the vast majority of book one to be chopped off. While I still think it's still a big long winded, and sets up characters that had little payoff (Maybe we'll see them again in a later book?), I can appreciate it much more knowing and seeing what it set in motion. Maybe Deborah was trying to find her voice.
I found Taniquel to be a much more compelling and interesting protagonist. I'm still mad that she was deemed to have so little laran it wasn't worth training. To see her constantly ham-stringed by her culture and pushed aside by her uncle really endeared me to her.
Some quotes:
'Father says that if you treat a man as honorable, he is more likely to behave that way.'
'Murmurs rippled around the table at the sight of such riches, for copper was the most precious of all Darkover's rare metals.' I think this is super interesting. We know Darkover is metal poor but it's always novel when gold and silver aren't the most precious metal. I wonder what they use for currency in Darkover.
' "We marry where we must, not where we will," Beltran said. "Love between a man and his wife come later, or not, as the gods will it. Meanwhile, we each do what we can for family, for nothing is stronger than the ties of blood." '
' "Laran is carried through the body in special channels," Gareth explained. "But these channels also carry sexual energy. In some people, laran is awakened at adolescence, when such feelings begin to stir, so the channels are particularly vulnerable to overload. That's one of the causes of threshold sickness. With care and training, this need not be a continuing problem. You will learn to monitor yourself, to learn what is safe for you to do." '
'Coryn's two age-mates were Liane and a tall, dark-eyed boy names Aran MacAran.' Fuck no. Aran MacAran, that's terrible. Do you hate this kid? Also the fact that Aran got any kind of description instead of Liane made me think Coryn was gay.
' "Bredu." The word meant brother.... but also beloved.' So they're gay right?
'Beyond the fumbling experiments considered normal for all boys of a certain age, Coryn felt no particular attraction to other men. But neither did he feel any revulsion. Aran loved him according to his nature, loved him for who and what he was, and Aran was a good and decent man.' So only one of them is gay.... I hate it. Especially the part where he's a good and decent man, he wouldn't rape anyone. Also like they're okay with some fumbling when sandal-wearer is a slur use to call a man gay? What the fuck.
' "The reason, the only reason," he repeated the phrase for emphasis, "for a Tower to make such weapons is at the lawful order of the lord to whom is owes fealty. We do not make policy, nor do we decide the fate of kingdoms." '
'Aran's love for him ran just as strongly as it had before. In that moment of rapport, their friendship had changed. Aran had desired him and, knowing that Coryn could not return that desire, had withdrawn rather than risk their friendship.' No Deborah, leave these boys alone.
'Rarely had she seen a man of such surpassing beauty. Eyes as blue as chips of summer sky regarded her levelly, measuring her in a way that sent prickles up the back of her neck. Golden hair glittered as if the room had been specifically to enhance his brilliance. In her experience, such looks often betokened arrogance and self-centeredness. Although she saw no trace of either in the young man's bearing, she disliked him immediately.' Tell me someone is the bad guy without telling me he's the bad guy.
' "Was your first marriage such a burden? Are you a secret lover of women? If so, I will show you the pleasures to be found in the arms of a real man. Oh, yes, I look forward very much to showing you that." ' Vomit. Vomit. I already knew he was a villan, you didn't have to say that.
' "What, and begin the argument we had already been over a dozen times?" she flared. "I myself had answered them. What cause was there to make you resposible for my freely given oath?"
" I have wronged you, niece. I thought you spoke only form vengefulness, that with a lusty new husband, you would give up your wild schemes of reconquest and be content. It would have been foolhardy to risk a single Hastur soldier in such a personal cause. But now the stakes have shifted." '
' Rumail grabbed Ginevra and pulled her backward, not caring whether she fell. He took Darna's face in both his hands and lifted it to the light. Her face and hands were streaked with crimson, where mental energy had burned along the channels, searing the smaller nodes beneath the skin. He could only guess at the internal damage. But her eyes.... ' Crazy woman. That's what you get when you try, and fail, to make your own tower. Fucking crazy people.
' "Are we wise enough, then, to decide what quarrels we will join and which we will pass by?" Bernardo asked. "It is said that power clouds judgment. And with such power as we wield, can we be trusted to use it wisely? Or is it better to leave such decisions to those trained to it, just as we are trained to the use of your laran?" '
' Let each thing keep to it's natural place ' I really like these off the cuff spells.
' "Bonewater dust poisons the land itself, so that for generations afterward, no man may travel there in safety or eat anything which has grown or grazed on it. There may be more horrors in the year to come. We can only pray we never find out what they are." '
' The prohibitions against sexual relations, even jokes, still rang strong, a remembrance of the time when group marriages when any man of her father's age could have actually been her father. '
' Deftly, he began to reshape the psychic substance of the tower. Walls thickened and grew battlements, windows narrowed. A tracing of lace-ivy burgeoned into covering of sword-edged thorn vines. From a landmark of grace and beauty, Neskaya drew in on itself' now a fortress. ' Give me more of this.
I found Taniquel to be a much more compelling and interesting protagonist. I'm still mad that she was deemed to have so little laran it wasn't worth training. To see her constantly ham-stringed by her culture and pushed aside by her uncle really endeared me to her.
Some quotes:
'Father says that if you treat a man as honorable, he is more likely to behave that way.'
'Murmurs rippled around the table at the sight of such riches, for copper was the most precious of all Darkover's rare metals.' I think this is super interesting. We know Darkover is metal poor but it's always novel when gold and silver aren't the most precious metal. I wonder what they use for currency in Darkover.
' "We marry where we must, not where we will," Beltran said. "Love between a man and his wife come later, or not, as the gods will it. Meanwhile, we each do what we can for family, for nothing is stronger than the ties of blood." '
' "Laran is carried through the body in special channels," Gareth explained. "But these channels also carry sexual energy. In some people, laran is awakened at adolescence, when such feelings begin to stir, so the channels are particularly vulnerable to overload. That's one of the causes of threshold sickness. With care and training, this need not be a continuing problem. You will learn to monitor yourself, to learn what is safe for you to do." '
'Coryn's two age-mates were Liane and a tall, dark-eyed boy names Aran MacAran.' Fuck no. Aran MacAran, that's terrible. Do you hate this kid? Also the fact that Aran got any kind of description instead of Liane made me think Coryn was gay.
' "Bredu." The word meant brother.... but also beloved.' So they're gay right?
'Beyond the fumbling experiments considered normal for all boys of a certain age, Coryn felt no particular attraction to other men. But neither did he feel any revulsion. Aran loved him according to his nature, loved him for who and what he was, and Aran was a good and decent man.' So only one of them is gay.... I hate it. Especially the part where he's a good and decent man, he wouldn't rape anyone. Also like they're okay with some fumbling when sandal-wearer is a slur use to call a man gay? What the fuck.
' "The reason, the only reason," he repeated the phrase for emphasis, "for a Tower to make such weapons is at the lawful order of the lord to whom is owes fealty. We do not make policy, nor do we decide the fate of kingdoms." '
'Aran's love for him ran just as strongly as it had before. In that moment of rapport, their friendship had changed. Aran had desired him and, knowing that Coryn could not return that desire, had withdrawn rather than risk their friendship.' No Deborah, leave these boys alone.
'Rarely had she seen a man of such surpassing beauty. Eyes as blue as chips of summer sky regarded her levelly, measuring her in a way that sent prickles up the back of her neck. Golden hair glittered as if the room had been specifically to enhance his brilliance. In her experience, such looks often betokened arrogance and self-centeredness. Although she saw no trace of either in the young man's bearing, she disliked him immediately.' Tell me someone is the bad guy without telling me he's the bad guy.
' "Was your first marriage such a burden? Are you a secret lover of women? If so, I will show you the pleasures to be found in the arms of a real man. Oh, yes, I look forward very much to showing you that." ' Vomit. Vomit. I already knew he was a villan, you didn't have to say that.
' "What, and begin the argument we had already been over a dozen times?" she flared. "I myself had answered them. What cause was there to make you resposible for my freely given oath?"
" I have wronged you, niece. I thought you spoke only form vengefulness, that with a lusty new husband, you would give up your wild schemes of reconquest and be content. It would have been foolhardy to risk a single Hastur soldier in such a personal cause. But now the stakes have shifted." '
' Rumail grabbed Ginevra and pulled her backward, not caring whether she fell. He took Darna's face in both his hands and lifted it to the light. Her face and hands were streaked with crimson, where mental energy had burned along the channels, searing the smaller nodes beneath the skin. He could only guess at the internal damage. But her eyes.... ' Crazy woman. That's what you get when you try, and fail, to make your own tower. Fucking crazy people.
' "Are we wise enough, then, to decide what quarrels we will join and which we will pass by?" Bernardo asked. "It is said that power clouds judgment. And with such power as we wield, can we be trusted to use it wisely? Or is it better to leave such decisions to those trained to it, just as we are trained to the use of your laran?" '
' Let each thing keep to it's natural place ' I really like these off the cuff spells.
' "Bonewater dust poisons the land itself, so that for generations afterward, no man may travel there in safety or eat anything which has grown or grazed on it. There may be more horrors in the year to come. We can only pray we never find out what they are." '
' The prohibitions against sexual relations, even jokes, still rang strong, a remembrance of the time when group marriages when any man of her father's age could have actually been her father. '
' Deftly, he began to reshape the psychic substance of the tower. Walls thickened and grew battlements, windows narrowed. A tracing of lace-ivy burgeoned into covering of sword-edged thorn vines. From a landmark of grace and beauty, Neskaya drew in on itself' now a fortress. ' Give me more of this.
March 14, 2009
Hmm. OK, still reasonably amusing. I did not buy the bit at the beginning where Ross wrote about how MZB had told her the story of what was to happen in these books, and I doubt anyone else will. It was quite unnecessary, and rather patronizing: she's dead! Of course she didn't write the damn book!
November 5, 2016
It was another good one. I liked the story very much. I don't understand how Darkover comyn cannot comprehend the danger in weapons made with laran.
I'm happy because but I'm afraid of what his more dangerous brother could still do. I'm alredy onto the next one.
I'm happy because but I'm afraid of what his more dangerous brother could still do. I'm alredy onto the next one.
February 5, 2017
Apparently I had read this book at some time in the past but I didn't remember any details during this reread. This book was written by MZB's collaborator, and while she is quite good, there is definitely not the same flavor. And, frankly, I think the book could have used some editing to tighten the narrative a bit. Still, I'm glad that Bradley's estate is in good hands.
August 14, 2013
Of the clingfire triology this one is at least a bit MZB style; if you are in desparate need of an additional fix, stop latest after reading this and do yourself a favor and check with previews first if you can stand the way it is written.
July 15, 2016
This was a decent read and I'll read the other two books in the trilogy, but it's not something I'm likely to read again. I personally prefer Ms Bradley's Avalon novels. The Darkover ones just aren't as engaging to me.
March 1, 2019
Definitely has the "Darkover feel", but elements are just a bit off which show that MZB wasn't the actual author. Still quite enjoyable.
September 10, 2024
Partiamo dal presupposto che questo libro non è stato scritto da Marion Zimmer Bradley ma da Deborah Ross, una sua stretta collaboratrice, per non dire una vera e propria discepola del suo lavoro letterario. Zimmer Bradley non avrebbe scritto neanche una parola della trilogia che si apre con La caduta di Neskaya, ma avrebbe dettato alla Ross i punti fondamentali dell'intreccio, lasciando poi a lei il compito di dare forma a questi appunti (un po' come lo Spirito Santo sotto forma di colomba che dettava a papa Gregorio Magno i canti, guarda caso, approvati dalla Chiesa). Ecco, la presunzione di utilizzare un nome più importante per far circolare il proprio lavoro a me fa venire l'orticaria.
Passando al contenuto: il senso di familiarità e di ritorno a casa che mi trasmette qualunque romanzo del ciclo di Darkover non è stato sufficiente a coinvolgermi nella storia e nei suoi personaggi. Le descrizioni non sono il punto forte di questa scrittrice, la quale fortunatamente se ne rende conto e passa velocemente oltre i magri tentativi di dettagliare lo scenario. Il racconto ha un bel ritmo sostenuto, nel giro di poche pagine la storia scorre molto fluidamente... forse troppo, per i miei gusti.
A volte mi sarebbe piaciuto soffermarmi un po' di più sui personaggi, per sentirmi più vicina ai loro desideri e al loro dolore. Invece è stato dato un sacco di spazio . Invece quel poveraccio di Aran tanti saluti. Comunque molto interessante è stato il discorso intorno alle armi laran, che si realizza in una corsa agli armamenti magici che avrà dei risvolti cruciali nel romanzo.
Passando al contenuto: il senso di familiarità e di ritorno a casa che mi trasmette qualunque romanzo del ciclo di Darkover non è stato sufficiente a coinvolgermi nella storia e nei suoi personaggi. Le descrizioni non sono il punto forte di questa scrittrice, la quale fortunatamente se ne rende conto e passa velocemente oltre i magri tentativi di dettagliare lo scenario. Il racconto ha un bel ritmo sostenuto, nel giro di poche pagine la storia scorre molto fluidamente... forse troppo, per i miei gusti.
A volte mi sarebbe piaciuto soffermarmi un po' di più sui personaggi, per sentirmi più vicina ai loro desideri e al loro dolore. Invece è stato dato un sacco di spazio . Invece quel poveraccio di Aran tanti saluti. Comunque molto interessante è stato il discorso intorno alle armi laran, che si realizza in una corsa agli armamenti magici che avrà dei risvolti cruciali nel romanzo.
October 7, 2024
This story takes on the fact that Damian Deslucido of Ambervale and Linn wanted to make the world united and peaceful but only under his rule. If he truly wanted that, he would have worked with the King Rafeal Hastur and the Comyn Council to make it happen. But even if he felt that his vision was a good one for Darkover, his son, Belisar, was not really more than a spoiled brat would not have continued it. And his bastard brother, Rumail, the laranzu, had his own plans which really did not coordinate with Damain’s.
As Damian took to conquering the smaller kingdoms on his way to change the world, he overthrew two that would end up being his downfall. Coryn Leynier was the son of one of the Lords and he was very gifted in laran and during a forest fire, Rumail, came to them to offer held. In the course of him being there, he was able to put a matrx trap in Coryn’s mind to use him later in their quest for power.
The other important kingdom on the list to be conquered was Acosta. When they arrived there, and overtook the castle, killing the Lord, Damian figured he would marry her off to his son to seal the line of power. Taniquel Hastur-Acosta, the widow, was not so willing to be Belisar’s wife, ran away. She made it to her uncle, the ruling king of Darkover, Rafeal Hastur.
The fact that these two end up meeting while Coryn was on his way to the Tower and Taniquel was on the run, put in place the future of Damian’s downfall. I will not say more because it would give too many spoilers.
This story had way more fighting than I cared for but it was needed to show the horrors of war is especially with weapons that could be made by laran which were as deadly as our nuclear and biological weapons now. I enjoyed reading more about the Ages of Chaos and putting that history into the world of Darkover.
As Damian took to conquering the smaller kingdoms on his way to change the world, he overthrew two that would end up being his downfall. Coryn Leynier was the son of one of the Lords and he was very gifted in laran and during a forest fire, Rumail, came to them to offer held. In the course of him being there, he was able to put a matrx trap in Coryn’s mind to use him later in their quest for power.
The other important kingdom on the list to be conquered was Acosta. When they arrived there, and overtook the castle, killing the Lord, Damian figured he would marry her off to his son to seal the line of power. Taniquel Hastur-Acosta, the widow, was not so willing to be Belisar’s wife, ran away. She made it to her uncle, the ruling king of Darkover, Rafeal Hastur.
The fact that these two end up meeting while Coryn was on his way to the Tower and Taniquel was on the run, put in place the future of Damian’s downfall. I will not say more because it would give too many spoilers.
This story had way more fighting than I cared for but it was needed to show the horrors of war is especially with weapons that could be made by laran which were as deadly as our nuclear and biological weapons now. I enjoyed reading more about the Ages of Chaos and putting that history into the world of Darkover.
January 15, 2018
La lettura dei romanzi del ciclo Darkovano da quando MZB ha traslocato su un altro pianeta porta con sè sempre una duplice sensazione: da un lato la curiosità per il mondo di Darkover è più forte di qualsiasi disillusione, dall'altro la consapevolezza che fino ad oggi gli "eredi" di MZB non riescono a far rivivere la magica atmosfera che lei sapeva creare.
La Caduta di Neskaya si inserisce in un periodo di per sè molto interessante, e la trama è buona. Si percepisce la mano di MZB nell'ordito, ma la tessitura ahimé lascia a desiderare.
Piatta e scontata. Ogni azione lascia già intravedere la successiva, togliendo quindi qualsiasi pathos alla narrazione.
Troppe descrizioni (non fanno altro che mangiare, e sappiamo esattamente sempre TUTTI gli ingredienti). Non è che la Ross scriva male, ma manca quel guizzo che rendeva i romanzi di MZB interessanti. Sembra la pallida copia de La Donna del Falco e la Dama delle Tempeste, Coryn non affascina e solo Taniquel ha un qualche spessore. Deslucido dovrebbe essere un affascinante signore del male, e invece sembra un fantoccio nelle mani del noiosissimo fratello nedestro laranzu! Le ultime 200 pagine si leggono 4a4, saltando a piè pari ripetizioni e lungaggini. Detto questo, appena escono i successivi 2 volumi che concludono la Trilogia, va da sè che li leggerò (giurando che saranno gli ultimi)!
La Caduta di Neskaya si inserisce in un periodo di per sè molto interessante, e la trama è buona. Si percepisce la mano di MZB nell'ordito, ma la tessitura ahimé lascia a desiderare.
Piatta e scontata. Ogni azione lascia già intravedere la successiva, togliendo quindi qualsiasi pathos alla narrazione.
Troppe descrizioni (non fanno altro che mangiare, e sappiamo esattamente sempre TUTTI gli ingredienti). Non è che la Ross scriva male, ma manca quel guizzo che rendeva i romanzi di MZB interessanti. Sembra la pallida copia de La Donna del Falco e la Dama delle Tempeste, Coryn non affascina e solo Taniquel ha un qualche spessore. Deslucido dovrebbe essere un affascinante signore del male, e invece sembra un fantoccio nelle mani del noiosissimo fratello nedestro laranzu! Le ultime 200 pagine si leggono 4a4, saltando a piè pari ripetizioni e lungaggini. Detto questo, appena escono i successivi 2 volumi che concludono la Trilogia, va da sè che li leggerò (giurando che saranno gli ultimi)!
July 2, 2021
A new (to me) Darkover novel about the divide between the rulers of the Hundred Kingdoms as to the cost of laran weapons vs. traditional military weapons. Coryn is selected to work in a tower due to his laran abilities but it's a long-term plan by Damien Deslucido to become king of all the kingdoms, displace Hastur rule, and aided by his nedestro brother Rumail.
There are a lot of moral questions that mirror the use of nuclear and biological questions in our own world. Damien has no restraints to using bonewater, clingfire, or lungrot as well as his armies to conquer surrounding territories. He also has the ability to deceive truthspell which is used to determine the truth of a person's words. It is an ability unique to his family, bred by laran, but inconceivable to the other Comyn.
This book is more philosophical than some of the others, but it raises important questions. There are also glimpses of future events on Darkover. I'm rereading these in chronological order, not in publication order as I did before, but I remember some of what is coming from those previous reads. Anyway, it's a good read in an enthralling world.
There are a lot of moral questions that mirror the use of nuclear and biological questions in our own world. Damien has no restraints to using bonewater, clingfire, or lungrot as well as his armies to conquer surrounding territories. He also has the ability to deceive truthspell which is used to determine the truth of a person's words. It is an ability unique to his family, bred by laran, but inconceivable to the other Comyn.
This book is more philosophical than some of the others, but it raises important questions. There are also glimpses of future events on Darkover. I'm rereading these in chronological order, not in publication order as I did before, but I remember some of what is coming from those previous reads. Anyway, it's a good read in an enthralling world.
November 20, 2025
Marion Zimmer Bradley, and her literary work, must be viewed through two, often competing, lenses.
First, she was writing stories with strong, relatable female protagonists battling male oppression at a time when very few other authors were prepared to do so. Many modern readers cannot conceive of a time when women were not allowed to have a credit card in their own name, which was but one of the policies Bradley was dealing with in her time. She was a feminist long before it became fashionable. She was one of a very few voices that spoke powerfully to young women about their own worth. Much of her writing, read today, can be seen as trite, obvious, or overbearing, but it must be remembered that it was none of those things at the time it was written. This was a woman who co-founded, and named, the Society for Creative Anachronism, who championed pagan rights when the mainstream saw them as satanic, and who encouraged and published unknown female authors like Mercedes Lackey. Viewed through this lens, Bradley was a progressive woman to be lauded, as she was, posthumously, when she received the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement in 2000.
Second, and hideously, Bradley was a pedophile, who molested her own children. She also procured and groomed children for her husband, Walter Breen, to assault. She admitted to knowing what he was doing to these children, but refused to stop helping him, much less report him or interfere with his desires. Her own daughter was her accuser, so we can be assured this is not a "he said, she said" situation. Viewed through this lens, then, her life and work become irredeemably tainted.
We are, perhaps, used to evaluating art for art's sake, commenting on Ender's Game, or Harry Potter, as though their authors' views, hateful as they are, should not condemn the output of their minds and hands. Perhaps we are right to do so; after all, these views are only beliefs and words, no matter how widespread a bully pulpit their famous speakers are able to command. However, when beliefs and words turn into actions, we must draw the line. Since 2014, when definitive proof finally came to light, I have found myself unable to recommend anything written by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I remain so appalled by her actions that I can never give more than one star to anything she has written, no matter how groundbreaking, how heartfelt, how astounding it may be. I urge everyone reading this to join me in boycotting her work forever.
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* (extremely rare) There is something very wrong with this book &/or this author; never again.
** (seldom) Has flaws, or I just couldn’t get into it; no thanks.
*** (usual) Not great, not bad; no need to return to it.
**** (often) Better than average; I’d read it again.
***** (rare) A superb example of the genre, &/or an incredible piece of art; I re-read it often.
First, she was writing stories with strong, relatable female protagonists battling male oppression at a time when very few other authors were prepared to do so. Many modern readers cannot conceive of a time when women were not allowed to have a credit card in their own name, which was but one of the policies Bradley was dealing with in her time. She was a feminist long before it became fashionable. She was one of a very few voices that spoke powerfully to young women about their own worth. Much of her writing, read today, can be seen as trite, obvious, or overbearing, but it must be remembered that it was none of those things at the time it was written. This was a woman who co-founded, and named, the Society for Creative Anachronism, who championed pagan rights when the mainstream saw them as satanic, and who encouraged and published unknown female authors like Mercedes Lackey. Viewed through this lens, Bradley was a progressive woman to be lauded, as she was, posthumously, when she received the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement in 2000.
Second, and hideously, Bradley was a pedophile, who molested her own children. She also procured and groomed children for her husband, Walter Breen, to assault. She admitted to knowing what he was doing to these children, but refused to stop helping him, much less report him or interfere with his desires. Her own daughter was her accuser, so we can be assured this is not a "he said, she said" situation. Viewed through this lens, then, her life and work become irredeemably tainted.
We are, perhaps, used to evaluating art for art's sake, commenting on Ender's Game, or Harry Potter, as though their authors' views, hateful as they are, should not condemn the output of their minds and hands. Perhaps we are right to do so; after all, these views are only beliefs and words, no matter how widespread a bully pulpit their famous speakers are able to command. However, when beliefs and words turn into actions, we must draw the line. Since 2014, when definitive proof finally came to light, I have found myself unable to recommend anything written by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I remain so appalled by her actions that I can never give more than one star to anything she has written, no matter how groundbreaking, how heartfelt, how astounding it may be. I urge everyone reading this to join me in boycotting her work forever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (extremely rare) There is something very wrong with this book &/or this author; never again.
** (seldom) Has flaws, or I just couldn’t get into it; no thanks.
*** (usual) Not great, not bad; no need to return to it.
**** (often) Better than average; I’d read it again.
***** (rare) A superb example of the genre, &/or an incredible piece of art; I re-read it often.
September 19, 2020
If this tome were 2/3 as long, it would also be 2/3 better. Wordy, loaded with needless description that neither advances the plot, the worldbuilding, nor the characters. And the characters are just not that interesting. Taniquel had a lot of promise at the beginning but it fritters out in the middle. This novel has many of the same internal consistency problems that plague every Darkover novel, but without the rolling gait and dynamic characterization that Bradley brings to her own work, that makes ignoring her consistency problem worthwhile.
Do not be fooled: This book was not written by Bradley at all. Ross wrote it after Bradley's death based on notes from conversations they had. And Ross is a clumsy, inelegant writer. I had really been looking forward to the Clingfire Trilogy, but now I will not be picking up the rest of it.
Do not be fooled: This book was not written by Bradley at all. Ross wrote it after Bradley's death based on notes from conversations they had. And Ross is a clumsy, inelegant writer. I had really been looking forward to the Clingfire Trilogy, but now I will not be picking up the rest of it.
April 19, 2023
Questo romanzo è uscito postumo dopo la morte della Bradley, completato dalla sua erede letteraria Deborah J. Ross, che ha sfruttato spunti, note e materiale incompiuto lasciato dall'autrice originale. Questo lo scopro solo adesso, a lettura ultimata; o meglio, avevo letto i due nomi in copertina ma non mi sono premurato di scoprire di che natura fosse la collaborazione che la loro presenza suggeriva. Tuttavia durante la lettura ho percepito che ci fosse qualcosa che non andava, che era diverso dal solito. O che si trattasse di un romanzo meno riuscito di altri, cosa che può capitare ed è perfettamente legittima, soprattutto per un'autrice dalla produzione tanto vasta. Anche se mi sono reso conto di non riuscire più a leggere certi passaggi senza sovrapporli alla vita personale della Bradley, leggere della vita sul remoto pianeta di Darkover mantiene sempre il suo fascino.
November 17, 2017
A well-written story, which highlights some of the moral quandaries very clearly, setting the stage for the Compact. During these wars, as families try to defend themselves or solidify defences, Tower workers may find themselves obliged to stand against friends, lovers and family, producing horrifying weapons like clingfire and bonedust.
Both MZB and DR are excellent at setting scenes with laran or the Overworld, making them so vivid I can almost visualize it. (Sometimes I have problems following very complicated mind-scenes, but not here.) Some of the plotline falls into tropes, but not negatively. (And, of course, MZB helped create some of those tropes.)
Both MZB and DR are excellent at setting scenes with laran or the Overworld, making them so vivid I can almost visualize it. (Sometimes I have problems following very complicated mind-scenes, but not here.) Some of the plotline falls into tropes, but not negatively. (And, of course, MZB helped create some of those tropes.)
dnf
March 26, 2020In the first 50 pages of this novel, an 8-year-old girl is married to a 16-year-old boy against her will. Later, the 16-year-old's father jokes that his son will have to wait a few years to bed his bride. After I started reading, I found out that Marion Zimmer Bradley molested her own children, was married to a convicted pedophile, and knew of his crimes but failed to report them. This knowledge cast the "marriage" in a very different and disturbing light and prevented me from engaging with a story I didn't find that interesting anyway.
Will not finish.
Will not finish.
Read
October 23, 2025The Fall of Neskaya, Book One of the Clingfire Trilogy, marks the legendary author's final return to Darkover before her death. Set in the tumultuous era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a terrible time of strife and war, this unique fantasy world is divided into a mutlitude of small belligerent domains vying for power and land. One ambitious and corrupt tyrant will stop at nothing to control Darkover-even wield the terrifying weapons of the matrix.
May 26, 2019
Pretty much standard Darkover novel: psychic abilities vs. physical abilities in war. Lawful use of the abilities vs. abuse of the abilities. The epilogue clearly sets up the next novel. Pretty well paced.
July 8, 2019
This collaboration is rich in detail very clearly written from a woman’s perspective so lacking in kinetic description and action-centric narrative but still great. I look forward to the day The this series of books is taken up for television in GOT tradition.
February 2, 2021
Great book
his was my first book by Marion Zimmer Bradley but not my last. It is a well written book with well developed characters and a great story line. I would recommend this too anyone looking for a great science fiction book. Enjoy!!! 2012
his was my first book by Marion Zimmer Bradley but not my last. It is a well written book with well developed characters and a great story line. I would recommend this too anyone looking for a great science fiction book. Enjoy!!! 2012
October 16, 2017
Fantasy at its finest. There is adventure and magic as well as family loyalty and love.
March 5, 2020
Si sente la differenza con lo stile quasi magnetico che era proprio di MZB. Tutto sommato però mi ha fatto piacere tornare su Darkover a distanza di tanto tempo dall'ultima volta :)
May 25, 2020
These stories written after MZB's passing are not as richly told advice ones she did herself. These ones are good, just not as good.
July 10, 2020
I found the discussions of the relative morality of the use of various types of weapons interesting. The romance side of the story was a bit beside the point though.
July 22, 2020
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
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