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Darkover (Publication Order) #34
Traitor's Sun
Traitor's Sun continues the epic saga of Darkover, the award-winning series by Marion Zimmer Bradley . Her most brilliant and popular creation, the Darkover books take readers to a planet torn by rebellion--and struggling for freedom...
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
34 people are currently reading
888 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
800 books4,873 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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October 20, 2016
I was all set to give this five stars until the stupid ghost showed up.
Traitor's Sun is the culmination of all the plots and schemes found in both Exile's Song and The Shadow Matrix, but is better than both of those put together. Maybe it's the fifteen-year timeskip that does it, since it allows Bradley to drop all of Marguerida and Mikhail's angst and pass it on to their children, where angst is a bit more palatable. Much of the first two-thirds of the book deals with the TerranEmpireFederation's troubles as the new Expansionist Premier dissolves the Senate and rebellions are gestating, including on Darkover where the local Terran official is thinking of using the chaos to overthrow the Comyn. The Comyn have their own troubles, since there's a significant group who believe that Mikhail is unfit to rule--and honestly, his story about time traveling and meeting Varzil the Good does sound like a pack of lies--and their intrigues keep them from implementing a unified policy against the Terrans.
The best parts are Katherine and Domenic. I have a lot more sympathy for Katherine's complaints than I do for Marguerida's in the previous books, since "woe is me, I have superpowers" is never going to make me very sympathetic. Katherine gets pulled out of her bed in the middle of the night by her husband, dragged to a frostball world in the middle of nowhere, and then learns that her husband is a telepath, her daughter might be a telepath, the people around her are all telepaths, and she's not a telepath. Now that's worth complaining about.
Though Traitor's Sun does ruin it a bit later by implying that Katherine is an empath, because of course you can't have a Darkovan protagonist who doesn't have laran.
Domenic was appealing mostly through his interactions with Illona. I liked watching him interacting with commoners (even if they are nedestro Comyn daughters) and learning that there are large parts of Darkovan society who don't think that the Comyn walk on water. I found it especially interesting that there's a fraternal organization on Darkover that wants a democracy, since the Darkover books tend to fall into pastoralist aristocracy-pushing with the idea that of course the Comyn are a better choice for ruling than the Terrans would be. I mean, they're born to it, right? It's nice to see that some Darkovans realize that red hair does not actually make you a better administrator. I know that the psychic powers are one of the draws of the books, but I'd like more Darkovan books with non-Comyn protagonists to explore that kind of viewpoint a bit more.
Now, about the ghost. The question of Mikhail's legitimacy are finally put to rest not by debate, nor by force of arms. Nope, it's deus ex machina--in the middle of a council session, the ghost of Regis Hastur shows up claiming that Varzil the Good has sent him from the Overworld and yells at everyone for not accepting his choice of heir. This is an unsatisfying conclusion, to say the least. Might as well have Varzil himself show up, or maybe Aldones descend in glory and put a crown on Mikhail's head. When you have ghosts show up, and since Evanda already showed up last book, why not?
I hope future books have Mikhail's adversaries assume he was using Varzil's matrix to trick them, because that's pretty obviously the most believable solution.
What I really hope future books go into is the blatant violation of the Compact at the end, though. I know that the Terrans had blasters, but using laran to rip an army apart with telekinesis is straight up Ages of Chaos-level warfare. Probably worse, because I think even in the Ages of Chaos most direct laran use in warfare was in telepathic confusion and playing on enemies' fears, while direct weapons like clingfire were first made in the Towers and then deployed by hand. They didn't have Tower circles just psychically bomb people's castles, but it sounds like Mikhail and Marguerida could do it. Once the worry about the Terrans starts to fade after they leave Darkover, are the knives among the Comyn going to come out again? What kind of balance of power is there if the Hastur regent can probably kill anyone else he wants with laran?
Without the spiritus ex machina this would be one of the best Darkover novels I've read, but with it it's merely good and requires slogging through two other mediocre-to-bad books before it. I don't regret reading it, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle.
Previous review: The Shadow Matrix
Traitor's Sun is the culmination of all the plots and schemes found in both Exile's Song and The Shadow Matrix, but is better than both of those put together. Maybe it's the fifteen-year timeskip that does it, since it allows Bradley to drop all of Marguerida and Mikhail's angst and pass it on to their children, where angst is a bit more palatable. Much of the first two-thirds of the book deals with the Terran
The best parts are Katherine and Domenic. I have a lot more sympathy for Katherine's complaints than I do for Marguerida's in the previous books, since "woe is me, I have superpowers" is never going to make me very sympathetic. Katherine gets pulled out of her bed in the middle of the night by her husband, dragged to a frostball world in the middle of nowhere, and then learns that her husband is a telepath, her daughter might be a telepath, the people around her are all telepaths, and she's not a telepath. Now that's worth complaining about.
Though Traitor's Sun does ruin it a bit later by implying that Katherine is an empath, because of course you can't have a Darkovan protagonist who doesn't have laran.
Domenic was appealing mostly through his interactions with Illona. I liked watching him interacting with commoners (even if they are nedestro Comyn daughters) and learning that there are large parts of Darkovan society who don't think that the Comyn walk on water. I found it especially interesting that there's a fraternal organization on Darkover that wants a democracy, since the Darkover books tend to fall into pastoralist aristocracy-pushing with the idea that of course the Comyn are a better choice for ruling than the Terrans would be. I mean, they're born to it, right? It's nice to see that some Darkovans realize that red hair does not actually make you a better administrator. I know that the psychic powers are one of the draws of the books, but I'd like more Darkovan books with non-Comyn protagonists to explore that kind of viewpoint a bit more.
Now, about the ghost. The question of Mikhail's legitimacy are finally put to rest not by debate, nor by force of arms. Nope, it's deus ex machina--in the middle of a council session, the ghost of Regis Hastur shows up claiming that Varzil the Good has sent him from the Overworld and yells at everyone for not accepting his choice of heir. This is an unsatisfying conclusion, to say the least. Might as well have Varzil himself show up, or maybe Aldones descend in glory and put a crown on Mikhail's head. When you have ghosts show up, and since Evanda already showed up last book, why not?
I hope future books have Mikhail's adversaries assume he was using Varzil's matrix to trick them, because that's pretty obviously the most believable solution.
What I really hope future books go into is the blatant violation of the Compact at the end, though. I know that the Terrans had blasters, but using laran to rip an army apart with telekinesis is straight up Ages of Chaos-level warfare. Probably worse, because I think even in the Ages of Chaos most direct laran use in warfare was in telepathic confusion and playing on enemies' fears, while direct weapons like clingfire were first made in the Towers and then deployed by hand. They didn't have Tower circles just psychically bomb people's castles, but it sounds like Mikhail and Marguerida could do it. Once the worry about the Terrans starts to fade after they leave Darkover, are the knives among the Comyn going to come out again? What kind of balance of power is there if the Hastur regent can probably kill anyone else he wants with laran?
Without the spiritus ex machina this would be one of the best Darkover novels I've read, but with it it's merely good and requires slogging through two other mediocre-to-bad books before it. I don't regret reading it, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle.
Previous review: The Shadow Matrix
August 16, 2015
Traitor's Sun (pub. 1998) - the last Darkover novel published during Marion Zimmer Bradley's lifetime - is now generally credited to Adrienne Martine-Barnes, working with notes from Bradley.
It is this novel that changes everything about Darkover. In all the novels set in "present" time to this point, one of the key themes has been how to maintain a relationship between the technologically-based, galaxy-spanning Terran Empire/Federation and the planet-bound, laran-using, low-tech culture of Darkover. There have been changes, but for about a century, this dance between independence and reliance has been a major concern for both Darkovan rulers and Terran administrators. Now everything is changing.
The novel opens fifteen years after the events of The Shadow Matrix. Hermes Aldaran, the Darkovan Appointee to the Federation Senate, wakens out of nightmare - which he quickly realises is in fact a manifestation of the Aldaran gift. Trying to focus on the details, he "hears" the leader of the Expansionist party making an announcement that he knows will pose a serious threat to protected worlds like Darkover:
“I cannot permit the functioning of the Federation government to remain at a halt any longer,” Herm heard at last. “Since it is clear that the opposition is determined to hold the legislature hostage to their own inexplicable and selfish goals, I have no choice but to dissolve both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies until such time as new elections can be held and order restored.”
As Herm tries to determine for himself what this will mean, his thoughts reveal to the reader that much has changed for the worse over the past fifteen years. Both the living conditions and travel rights of both ordinary people and politicians have been curtailed - in fact, even Senators are only allowed one trip home every five years, for elections. All citizens are subjects of constant surveillance: "Like every other person on the planet, he was subject to constant observation. And there was nothing he could do about it, since disabling the spy eyes that watched and listened was a serious offense." Infrastructure and social and cultural programs are being ignored, while military spending is increasing: "New taxes had been passed for all member planets of the Federation, to build a fleet of dreadnaughts, great fighting ships, when there was no foe to defend against. Some worlds had protested, and even tried to rebel, and combat troops had been sent in to 'keep order.'"
Herm knows that this spells the beginning of a time of political and upheaval, perhaps even civil war, for the Federation, and that he, his family, and all of Darkover are in danger: "A handful of worlds were simmering on the edge of rebellion, and when the Premier disbanded the legislature, at least one of them would use it as an excuse to try to break with the Federation. He understood that, but he could not be sure that Nagy did."
Long aware that he might need an emergency exit strategy, Herm triggers the hidden programs that will enable him to leave at once for Darkover, when he realises that his gift has one more disaster to reveal - something has happened to Regis Hastur.
Herm and his family reach Darkover safely, only hours before Regis succumbs to the stroke which had incapacitated him a few days before - news which is being kept from both the populace and from the Terrans on Darkover, now commanded by Station Chief Lyle Belfontaine. Belfontaine has been plotting since his arrival to find a way to force Darkover into becoming a full member of the Federation - a change which he hoped would lead to his appointment as Planetary Governor. But now his plans are threatened by orders from Terra, announcing the closure of the spaceport in thirty days.
As the Comyn gather for Regis' funeral and burial at the rhu fead, Marguerida and Mikhail's oldest son Domenic (called Nico) discovers, purely by accident, that the Terrans have placed spies among the Travellers, that the Terrans now know of Regis' death, and that they are contemplating an attempt tp assassinate all of the Comyn during the burial procession. When Mikhail learns of this, he dispatches Herm - the least likely of his advisors to be recognised - to join Nico and continue surveillance.
Herm and Nico find further indications that the Terrans are planning some kind of intervention with the intent of destabilising Comyn rule. Mikhail calls a Council meeting, at which several members, including his own mother Javanne, question his fitness to succeed Regis - a conversation cut short by the remarkable appearance of Regis' spirit, returned from the Overworld with the aid of Varzil. Mikhail then informs the Council of the likelihood that the Terrans will attack the funeral procession on the way to the rhu fead.
The day following the funeral of Regis Hastur, the funeral procession set forth for the Rhu fead, leaving behind a group of defenders - including Lew and the telepaths of Arilinn Tower - in the event of an attack on the Castle. Mikhail and Marguerida ride with the procession, the long line of coaches carrying not the women and children of the Comyn, but armed Guardsmen, in addition to those riding openly with the procession.
The attacks come as expected. In Thendara, the telepaths, working through Lew and his gift of forced rapport, amplified by giant matrix screens embedded in the walls over the front gates, overwhelm the minds of the force arrayed against the castle, so that each soldier is faced with what he fears most. Thus made vulnerable, the Terrans - including Lyle Belfontaine - are easily taken captive by the Guardsman. The battle on the Old North Road is bloodier and more deadly. The Terrans, dressed as bandits, attack with blasters. Marguerida and Mikhail are able to protect most of the Darkovans with their combined power, but there is fighting, both with laran, and hand-to-hand, with deaths on both sides.
Afterwards, Lew and Marguerida use the Alton gift to blur the memories of the surviving Terrans, and when the last of the Big Ships finally comes to evacuate them, they leave without remembering how they were defeated. And for a time, the relationship between Darkover and the other children of Terra is ended.
It is this novel that changes everything about Darkover. In all the novels set in "present" time to this point, one of the key themes has been how to maintain a relationship between the technologically-based, galaxy-spanning Terran Empire/Federation and the planet-bound, laran-using, low-tech culture of Darkover. There have been changes, but for about a century, this dance between independence and reliance has been a major concern for both Darkovan rulers and Terran administrators. Now everything is changing.
The novel opens fifteen years after the events of The Shadow Matrix. Hermes Aldaran, the Darkovan Appointee to the Federation Senate, wakens out of nightmare - which he quickly realises is in fact a manifestation of the Aldaran gift. Trying to focus on the details, he "hears" the leader of the Expansionist party making an announcement that he knows will pose a serious threat to protected worlds like Darkover:
“I cannot permit the functioning of the Federation government to remain at a halt any longer,” Herm heard at last. “Since it is clear that the opposition is determined to hold the legislature hostage to their own inexplicable and selfish goals, I have no choice but to dissolve both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies until such time as new elections can be held and order restored.”
As Herm tries to determine for himself what this will mean, his thoughts reveal to the reader that much has changed for the worse over the past fifteen years. Both the living conditions and travel rights of both ordinary people and politicians have been curtailed - in fact, even Senators are only allowed one trip home every five years, for elections. All citizens are subjects of constant surveillance: "Like every other person on the planet, he was subject to constant observation. And there was nothing he could do about it, since disabling the spy eyes that watched and listened was a serious offense." Infrastructure and social and cultural programs are being ignored, while military spending is increasing: "New taxes had been passed for all member planets of the Federation, to build a fleet of dreadnaughts, great fighting ships, when there was no foe to defend against. Some worlds had protested, and even tried to rebel, and combat troops had been sent in to 'keep order.'"
Herm knows that this spells the beginning of a time of political and upheaval, perhaps even civil war, for the Federation, and that he, his family, and all of Darkover are in danger: "A handful of worlds were simmering on the edge of rebellion, and when the Premier disbanded the legislature, at least one of them would use it as an excuse to try to break with the Federation. He understood that, but he could not be sure that Nagy did."
Long aware that he might need an emergency exit strategy, Herm triggers the hidden programs that will enable him to leave at once for Darkover, when he realises that his gift has one more disaster to reveal - something has happened to Regis Hastur.
Herm and his family reach Darkover safely, only hours before Regis succumbs to the stroke which had incapacitated him a few days before - news which is being kept from both the populace and from the Terrans on Darkover, now commanded by Station Chief Lyle Belfontaine. Belfontaine has been plotting since his arrival to find a way to force Darkover into becoming a full member of the Federation - a change which he hoped would lead to his appointment as Planetary Governor. But now his plans are threatened by orders from Terra, announcing the closure of the spaceport in thirty days.
As the Comyn gather for Regis' funeral and burial at the rhu fead, Marguerida and Mikhail's oldest son Domenic (called Nico) discovers, purely by accident, that the Terrans have placed spies among the Travellers, that the Terrans now know of Regis' death, and that they are contemplating an attempt tp assassinate all of the Comyn during the burial procession. When Mikhail learns of this, he dispatches Herm - the least likely of his advisors to be recognised - to join Nico and continue surveillance.
Herm and Nico find further indications that the Terrans are planning some kind of intervention with the intent of destabilising Comyn rule. Mikhail calls a Council meeting, at which several members, including his own mother Javanne, question his fitness to succeed Regis - a conversation cut short by the remarkable appearance of Regis' spirit, returned from the Overworld with the aid of Varzil. Mikhail then informs the Council of the likelihood that the Terrans will attack the funeral procession on the way to the rhu fead.
The day following the funeral of Regis Hastur, the funeral procession set forth for the Rhu fead, leaving behind a group of defenders - including Lew and the telepaths of Arilinn Tower - in the event of an attack on the Castle. Mikhail and Marguerida ride with the procession, the long line of coaches carrying not the women and children of the Comyn, but armed Guardsmen, in addition to those riding openly with the procession.
The attacks come as expected. In Thendara, the telepaths, working through Lew and his gift of forced rapport, amplified by giant matrix screens embedded in the walls over the front gates, overwhelm the minds of the force arrayed against the castle, so that each soldier is faced with what he fears most. Thus made vulnerable, the Terrans - including Lyle Belfontaine - are easily taken captive by the Guardsman. The battle on the Old North Road is bloodier and more deadly. The Terrans, dressed as bandits, attack with blasters. Marguerida and Mikhail are able to protect most of the Darkovans with their combined power, but there is fighting, both with laran, and hand-to-hand, with deaths on both sides.
Afterwards, Lew and Marguerida use the Alton gift to blur the memories of the surviving Terrans, and when the last of the Big Ships finally comes to evacuate them, they leave without remembering how they were defeated. And for a time, the relationship between Darkover and the other children of Terra is ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
Traitor Sun
Great book. Follow MZB for over 30 years. Thank you all for continuing her legacy. Look forward to more books.
Great book. Follow MZB for over 30 years. Thank you all for continuing her legacy. Look forward to more books.
January 11, 2015
"Traitor's Sun" is the final work in the Margaret Alton trilogy ("Exile's Song" and "The Shadow Matrix") and was written, like the others in the trilogy, by Adrienne Martine-Barnes (unaccredited but copyrighted) and advised by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It is the last work not published under the Bradley Literary Trust. It is also clear that Bradley's publisher wanted to distance her work from any hints of pedophilia since her ex-husband Walter Breen was in the process of being investigated and eventually convict of such crimes with Bradley being implicated in the cover up. There is much romance and mental abuse in these three novels like Bradley's earlier work and the series' focus on culture clash is very prominent in these books. It is also a strongly feminist work like most of Bradley's bibliography and explores the role of women in society.
Martine-Barnes' biography is very limited on the web and is not included on any of the books flaps. Apparently, she had a limited literary career earlier in life and only started writing again in 1982. This is what the publisher has to say:
"Born in Los Angeles in 1942, Adrienne Martine-Barnes has always had a strong interest in fantasy, and particularly in Norse and Celtic mythology. As an author, her writing has been influenced by Tolkien, Norton and Moorcock."
She is also known for her independent "Sword Sequence" and "Dragon Rise"s series and the cooperative "The Chronicle of Fionn Mac Cumhal" series with Diana L. Paxson. Like Mercedes Lackey I have found no statements about the current allegations of pedophilia by Bradley's children. Bradley's son, Mark, has the following to say:
"There was always drama and there was always the invisible blade of what would happen if all of this dreadful secret got out. The atmosphere of fear of discovery was simply everywhere and there was no place to hide. . . .Feminism to me was a lot of very unhappy women telling stories to each other about how they had been hurt. They were getting ready to change the world and I didn't want to be in front of that train when it started rolling."
Historian Brian Stableford has written on how Bradley “became something of a guru to numerous writers of a similar stripe, several of whom — including Diana L. Paxson and Gael Baudino — described themselves as priestesses of ‘Dianic Wicca.'” Martine-Barnes' other collaborator, Paxson, and Bradley are also co-founders of the California-based Center for Non-Traditional Religion, now know as the Fellowship of the Spiral Path, a neo-pagan belief institution. Paxson's response to the sexual abuse allegations are as follows:
"I saw Marion’s children at family parties, and in passing when I was at Greenwalls for meetings, which usually took place in the Center for Non-Traditional Religion’s room over the garage. I never personally observed, nor had any reason to suspect, that she was abusing either of her children....I do not recall any overt sexuality within the circle, and I neither observed nor heard about any abusive relationships between Marion and any other woman or girl."
It is clear that for better or worst Bradley is a major contributor to feminist thought and literature, the genres of both fantasy and science fiction, and neo-paganism. We must remember this blurring of genre fiction, abuse of power, and real world achievements when approaching the delightful tales of Darkover.
Martine-Barnes' biography is very limited on the web and is not included on any of the books flaps. Apparently, she had a limited literary career earlier in life and only started writing again in 1982. This is what the publisher has to say:
"Born in Los Angeles in 1942, Adrienne Martine-Barnes has always had a strong interest in fantasy, and particularly in Norse and Celtic mythology. As an author, her writing has been influenced by Tolkien, Norton and Moorcock."
She is also known for her independent "Sword Sequence" and "Dragon Rise"s series and the cooperative "The Chronicle of Fionn Mac Cumhal" series with Diana L. Paxson. Like Mercedes Lackey I have found no statements about the current allegations of pedophilia by Bradley's children. Bradley's son, Mark, has the following to say:
"There was always drama and there was always the invisible blade of what would happen if all of this dreadful secret got out. The atmosphere of fear of discovery was simply everywhere and there was no place to hide. . . .Feminism to me was a lot of very unhappy women telling stories to each other about how they had been hurt. They were getting ready to change the world and I didn't want to be in front of that train when it started rolling."
Historian Brian Stableford has written on how Bradley “became something of a guru to numerous writers of a similar stripe, several of whom — including Diana L. Paxson and Gael Baudino — described themselves as priestesses of ‘Dianic Wicca.'” Martine-Barnes' other collaborator, Paxson, and Bradley are also co-founders of the California-based Center for Non-Traditional Religion, now know as the Fellowship of the Spiral Path, a neo-pagan belief institution. Paxson's response to the sexual abuse allegations are as follows:
"I saw Marion’s children at family parties, and in passing when I was at Greenwalls for meetings, which usually took place in the Center for Non-Traditional Religion’s room over the garage. I never personally observed, nor had any reason to suspect, that she was abusing either of her children....I do not recall any overt sexuality within the circle, and I neither observed nor heard about any abusive relationships between Marion and any other woman or girl."
It is clear that for better or worst Bradley is a major contributor to feminist thought and literature, the genres of both fantasy and science fiction, and neo-paganism. We must remember this blurring of genre fiction, abuse of power, and real world achievements when approaching the delightful tales of Darkover.
June 20, 2017
I'm determinedly reading or re-reading all the Darkover books before I discard most of the series (bad person author vibes) I never got to this one before, though.
Not a bad book at all. Of course, reading through it-- especially the emotional subtlety-- I thought "who did MZB get to write this? There's actual people in it!" (Note: apparently Adrienne Martin-Barnes.) Also, there's more than usual Deus Ex Machina. Still, I (unusually) liked most of the characters and found that despite their problems and sufferings, I wanted to read more about them. More a YA treatment than usual with Darkover books.
Not a bad book at all. Of course, reading through it-- especially the emotional subtlety-- I thought "who did MZB get to write this? There's actual people in it!" (Note: apparently Adrienne Martin-Barnes.) Also, there's more than usual Deus Ex Machina. Still, I (unusually) liked most of the characters and found that despite their problems and sufferings, I wanted to read more about them. More a YA treatment than usual with Darkover books.
June 4, 2022
Feels like the end of an Era.
Things are changing across human occupied space and on Darkover. The children are growing up. Murder, treason, and a new Laran are discovered.
Things are changing across human occupied space and on Darkover. The children are growing up. Murder, treason, and a new Laran are discovered.
January 22, 2022
Per me è difficile giudicare in modo oggettivo questo libro, perché coi romanzi di Darkover ci sono cresciuta e, nonostante siano passati molti anni da quando fuggivo in quel mondo, leggere questo libro è stato un po’ come tornare a casa, ritrovando lo stesso senso di familiarità e comfort che dà l’abbraccio di un amico ritrovato. Per carità, non voglio affermare che questo stile di scrittura sia privo di criticità, ma mi è difficile valutarle.
Ma detto ciò veniamo alla sostanza. Stiamo parlando di un romanzo di 22 anni fa, quando molte tecniche narrative moderne ancora non si sospettavano. Infatti qui quello “show don’t tell” tanto ricercato al giorno d’oggi manca, le informazioni e il background vengono dati affiancandosi ai singoli personaggi e ragionando con loro fra nei loro pensieri su come si sia arrivati lì e sulla situazione in cui ci si trova. Sì, potrebbe sembrare un gran spiegone, ma non è così pesante come si possa pensare. D’altronde riuscire a far capire l’intero world building sviluppato nei precedenti 25 (?) romanzi in un riassunto è ardua impresa.
Molti dei personaggi che qui troviamo li avevamo già conosciuti e le loro precedenti avventure qui vengono accennate, anche se non so, a chi non ha letto i libri prima, quanto possa effettivamente arrivare. Ovviamente ero già affezionata a molti di loro e ad essi se ne sono affiancati altri. Per quanto ben sviluppati, li ho trovati forse tutti un po’ troppo perbenisti visto che in fondo, nonostante i lati più oscuri del carattere di alcuni, prevale sempre il lato buono. Inoltre dà un po’ fastidio che chiunque capiti nella storia quale personaggio significativo ha, casualmente, un qualche tipo di laran quasi sempre forte, spesso nuovo e che, non si sa come, riesca a gestirlo persino senza l’addestramento delle torri. I cattivi poi, altrimenti detti i terrestri, qui sono sviluppati malissimo e sembrano degli emeriti inetti, ci si chiede come abbia fatto la federazione ad arrivare ad essere quella che è.
Nella trama infine i personaggi non si trovano quasi mai in vero e serio pericolo, riescono infatti quasi sempre a prevedere le mosse del nemico e a prevenirle. Credo che ciò sia una conseguenza diretta del fatto che sia difficile cogliere impreparata una schiera di telepati che riescono a leggerti la mente a tua insaputa, tuttavia questa situazione rende poco avvincente l’avventura.
L’azione arriva solo verso le ultime pagine e, a dire la verità, mi aspettavo qualcosa di più dal tanto agognato scontro tra tecnologia terrestre e tecnologia delle pietre matrici, invece l’autrice affronta la battaglia più dal punto di vista interiore, psicologico ed etico. Peccato, perché ci sarebbero stati bene dei grandi effetti speciali, anche se non sono mai stati molto nelle corde della Bradley.
Peccato che qui si chiuda la saga di Darkover. Mi mancherà.
Ma detto ciò veniamo alla sostanza. Stiamo parlando di un romanzo di 22 anni fa, quando molte tecniche narrative moderne ancora non si sospettavano. Infatti qui quello “show don’t tell” tanto ricercato al giorno d’oggi manca, le informazioni e il background vengono dati affiancandosi ai singoli personaggi e ragionando con loro fra nei loro pensieri su come si sia arrivati lì e sulla situazione in cui ci si trova. Sì, potrebbe sembrare un gran spiegone, ma non è così pesante come si possa pensare. D’altronde riuscire a far capire l’intero world building sviluppato nei precedenti 25 (?) romanzi in un riassunto è ardua impresa.
Molti dei personaggi che qui troviamo li avevamo già conosciuti e le loro precedenti avventure qui vengono accennate, anche se non so, a chi non ha letto i libri prima, quanto possa effettivamente arrivare. Ovviamente ero già affezionata a molti di loro e ad essi se ne sono affiancati altri. Per quanto ben sviluppati, li ho trovati forse tutti un po’ troppo perbenisti visto che in fondo, nonostante i lati più oscuri del carattere di alcuni, prevale sempre il lato buono. Inoltre dà un po’ fastidio che chiunque capiti nella storia quale personaggio significativo ha, casualmente, un qualche tipo di laran quasi sempre forte, spesso nuovo e che, non si sa come, riesca a gestirlo persino senza l’addestramento delle torri. I cattivi poi, altrimenti detti i terrestri, qui sono sviluppati malissimo e sembrano degli emeriti inetti, ci si chiede come abbia fatto la federazione ad arrivare ad essere quella che è.
Nella trama infine i personaggi non si trovano quasi mai in vero e serio pericolo, riescono infatti quasi sempre a prevedere le mosse del nemico e a prevenirle. Credo che ciò sia una conseguenza diretta del fatto che sia difficile cogliere impreparata una schiera di telepati che riescono a leggerti la mente a tua insaputa, tuttavia questa situazione rende poco avvincente l’avventura.
L’azione arriva solo verso le ultime pagine e, a dire la verità, mi aspettavo qualcosa di più dal tanto agognato scontro tra tecnologia terrestre e tecnologia delle pietre matrici, invece l’autrice affronta la battaglia più dal punto di vista interiore, psicologico ed etico. Peccato, perché ci sarebbero stati bene dei grandi effetti speciali, anche se non sono mai stati molto nelle corde della Bradley.
Peccato che qui si chiuda la saga di Darkover. Mi mancherà.
February 15, 2021
This Darkover book tells a complete story and could stand alone. However, it does build on events from books which are earlier chronologically, especially Shadow Matrix. The last chapter before the epilogue sets the stage for at least one book to follow based on some of the younger characters in this book.
Regis Hastur, who has led Darkover through previous decades as told in more than half a dozen books, dies in the early chapters. The Federation, which grew out of early Terran colonization, is in turmoil. Most of the leaders of Darkover are, at best, suspicious of the Federation. Many are downright antagonistic. It is inevitable that there will be a power struggle in Regis' absence. Mikhail, Regis' designated heir, and his allies try to focus on the threats from the Federation that they are uncovering. A key character in that is Domenic, Mikhail and Marguerida's son.
The book is filled with schemes, intrigue and bitter politics. But it is also filled with the tales of several relationships. Katherine is Hermes Aldaran's wife and she is new to Darkover. Her story includes developing relationships with Hermes' scheming sister, Gisela, and with Maruerida, not to mention redefining her marital relationship. Domenic's story partially revolves around his special laran gift. It also includes relationships with his mother and father, and with two women his age, which will become the focus of The Alton Gift. Domenic is the special child who was conceived during his parents trip to the distant past
So there is a lot going on in this book, which is a little longer than most pulp SFF stories. I was glad there was only one face off in the Crystal Chamber between the various factions of the Comyn.
This book reveals the inconsistencies of laran ethics. Characters repeatedly consider how unethical their various uses of it are, but they do it anyway. There will be residuals of this in later books.
I have always found SFF to be filled with commentary about real world issues. It seems to be the case here where the author seems to be commenting on integrity in government. My first reaction is that some of the motivations are too extreme. I would definitely say the Lyle Belfontaine is a one dimensional character. But upon further consideration, maybe the critique of integrity in government is not that far off the mark. In this book, even the so-called Good Guys are not immune to using whatever they have at their disposal, including deceit, to gain their goals.
Mature themes: there is no sex described. There is plenty of murder, war and fantasy violence. For the most part, the violence is mildly graphic.
Regis Hastur, who has led Darkover through previous decades as told in more than half a dozen books, dies in the early chapters. The Federation, which grew out of early Terran colonization, is in turmoil. Most of the leaders of Darkover are, at best, suspicious of the Federation. Many are downright antagonistic. It is inevitable that there will be a power struggle in Regis' absence. Mikhail, Regis' designated heir, and his allies try to focus on the threats from the Federation that they are uncovering. A key character in that is Domenic, Mikhail and Marguerida's son.
The book is filled with schemes, intrigue and bitter politics. But it is also filled with the tales of several relationships. Katherine is Hermes Aldaran's wife and she is new to Darkover. Her story includes developing relationships with Hermes' scheming sister, Gisela, and with Maruerida, not to mention redefining her marital relationship. Domenic's story partially revolves around his special laran gift. It also includes relationships with his mother and father, and with two women his age, which will become the focus of The Alton Gift. Domenic is the special child who was conceived during his parents trip to the distant past
So there is a lot going on in this book, which is a little longer than most pulp SFF stories. I was glad there was only one face off in the Crystal Chamber between the various factions of the Comyn.
This book reveals the inconsistencies of laran ethics. Characters repeatedly consider how unethical their various uses of it are, but they do it anyway. There will be residuals of this in later books.
I have always found SFF to be filled with commentary about real world issues. It seems to be the case here where the author seems to be commenting on integrity in government. My first reaction is that some of the motivations are too extreme. I would definitely say the Lyle Belfontaine is a one dimensional character. But upon further consideration, maybe the critique of integrity in government is not that far off the mark. In this book, even the so-called Good Guys are not immune to using whatever they have at their disposal, including deceit, to gain their goals.
Mature themes: there is no sex described. There is plenty of murder, war and fantasy violence. For the most part, the violence is mildly graphic.
January 3, 2021
I don't know what to say about this. I wanted something easy to read, on my Kindle and i thought this might be ok. Notwithstanding that I'm still having a hard time separating MZB's art from her life.
The writing was... not as good as the books MZB wrote. It read a lot like fan fiction* but not the best type which is ok really. But there seemed to be a lot of extraneous detail about Darkover, Comyn society and the internal lives of the protagonists that was just page filler rather than world-building and scene-setting. This is the 26th Darkover novel - i get that you should be able to pick it up at any point in the series and not be completely confused but some of this just seemed completely surperflouous.
My biggest criticisms are this though:
1) the bad guys (booooo the Terranans) are bad with no redeeming features. None. They are just horrible and that's it. I find that difficult to believe since humans are complex characters, generally, and not all either bad or good (there was one who kind of questioned orders but then kind of shrugged and carried on). The Comyn baddies were a tad more nuanced but not much, although it was easier to grasp why they did what they did.
2) We have had 26 books. And in each one (I started with The Bloody Sun which is actually quite a ripping read) we have fleeting mention of how the "simple folk" regard the Comyn as sort of demi-gods who are exploiting them. And every book has one or more of the Comyn having a couple of "hmmmm perhaps we need to be more open about what we do" kind of thought, even a conversation and then never do anything about it and BAM! next book we're back to square one .
There are a couple of other nighles: in The Bloody Sun Kennard Alton flies Jeff Kerwin to Armida using a little flying craft. Jeff realises that the Comyn have bought a few of these and the Terranen had always wondered how they used them since they didn't buy any of the fuel they use (whatever that might be). So what happened to that one? or the others (presumably the Aldarans had some)?
Also i want a whole novel about the Renunciates. And maybe about some of the domains, based around the non-telepaths, or a few wild telepaths. And a sentence i want to have restricted to no more than 1 per novel is the one about the wild telepaths being a danger to themselves and those around them.
And yet i keep coming back to these because TELEPATHIC SOCIETY! Worldbuilding! Perhaps i need to go back and read every one of them, in order.
*i like fanfiction if the writing is good. That isn't an insult.
The writing was... not as good as the books MZB wrote. It read a lot like fan fiction* but not the best type which is ok really. But there seemed to be a lot of extraneous detail about Darkover, Comyn society and the internal lives of the protagonists that was just page filler rather than world-building and scene-setting. This is the 26th Darkover novel - i get that you should be able to pick it up at any point in the series and not be completely confused but some of this just seemed completely surperflouous.
My biggest criticisms are this though:
1) the bad guys (booooo the Terranans) are bad with no redeeming features. None. They are just horrible and that's it. I find that difficult to believe since humans are complex characters, generally, and not all either bad or good (there was one who kind of questioned orders but then kind of shrugged and carried on). The Comyn baddies were a tad more nuanced but not much, although it was easier to grasp why they did what they did.
2) We have had 26 books. And in each one (I started with The Bloody Sun which is actually quite a ripping read) we have fleeting mention of how the "simple folk" regard the Comyn as sort of demi-gods who are exploiting them. And every book has one or more of the Comyn having a couple of "hmmmm perhaps we need to be more open about what we do" kind of thought, even a conversation and then never do anything about it and BAM! next book we're back to square one .
There are a couple of other nighles: in The Bloody Sun Kennard Alton flies Jeff Kerwin to Armida using a little flying craft. Jeff realises that the Comyn have bought a few of these and the Terranen had always wondered how they used them since they didn't buy any of the fuel they use (whatever that might be). So what happened to that one? or the others (presumably the Aldarans had some)?
Also i want a whole novel about the Renunciates. And maybe about some of the domains, based around the non-telepaths, or a few wild telepaths. And a sentence i want to have restricted to no more than 1 per novel is the one about the wild telepaths being a danger to themselves and those around them.
And yet i keep coming back to these because TELEPATHIC SOCIETY! Worldbuilding! Perhaps i need to go back and read every one of them, in order.
*i like fanfiction if the writing is good. That isn't an insult.
September 4, 2020
Von diesem Darkover-Roman war ich etwas enttäuscht. Er las sich irgendwie anders und es war so zäh und lang, dass ich 100 Seiten vor Ende des Buches ziemlich ungläubig war, dass es nur noch so wenig ist - es baute sich so langsam auf, als wäre das erst das erste Viertel gewesen. Stattdessen kam innerhalb von 100 Seiten dann quasi die gesamte Spannung auf, was einfach zu viel war, und viele Fäden blieben lose, was umso tragischer ist, da dies der letzte Darkover-Band ist, von der Chronologie der Geschehnisse her.
Dennoch gab es unterhaltsame Stellen und vieles, was ich mochte, auch wenn ich es bevorzugt hätte, nicht so viele Charaktere und Erzählfiguren zu haben, weil am Ende so alle ein wenig untergingen. Marguerida hätte ihren letzten Band allein verdient, und dann ihr Sohn Domenic einen eigenen Band mit Herm zusammen ... aber nein, so ist es nun mal leider nicht gekommen. Ich habe mich am Ende zwar etwas gequält und das wird nicht mein Lieblingsband der Reihe bleiben, aber dennoch war es unterhaltsam zu lesen und von Darkover kann ich sowieso nie genug bekommen.
Dennoch gab es unterhaltsame Stellen und vieles, was ich mochte, auch wenn ich es bevorzugt hätte, nicht so viele Charaktere und Erzählfiguren zu haben, weil am Ende so alle ein wenig untergingen. Marguerida hätte ihren letzten Band allein verdient, und dann ihr Sohn Domenic einen eigenen Band mit Herm zusammen ... aber nein, so ist es nun mal leider nicht gekommen. Ich habe mich am Ende zwar etwas gequält und das wird nicht mein Lieblingsband der Reihe bleiben, aber dennoch war es unterhaltsam zu lesen und von Darkover kann ich sowieso nie genug bekommen.
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.
February 23, 2018
Darkover is suffering the fallout of the disintegrating galactic Federation based on Terra. The Federation leader has dissolved the Chamber of Deputies and is attempting to rule as a dictator. The overpopulated Federation's goal is to plunder food and other resources from as many non-central planets as it can. This is a radical change from the friendly Federation with whom Darkover first made its treaty. The current Federation power on Darkover has decided to overcome Darkover by military force.
The ruling class of Darkover is going to have to unite against the Federation renegades, or go down. Marguerida and Mikhail, from the previous books of the trilogy, have paranormal powers so extreme they are reluctant to use them, but there is no longer any time to avoid the issues.
The reason I gave this a lower number of stars than I normally give to Darkover books is because of a continuity problem. The ruling class are telepaths. Treason is hard to hide. In TRAITOR'S SUN, the author(s?) put more emphasis than before on the good-manners habit of refusing to read each other's minds. A lot of the intriguing in this book should not be possible because of the automatic shared thoughts and/or empathy. If a boy is planning to commit murder, the adults of his family who happen to notice his facial expressions shouldn't take themselves to task for having unworthy suspicions, they should dip in for a confirming look!
Read 3 times
The ruling class of Darkover is going to have to unite against the Federation renegades, or go down. Marguerida and Mikhail, from the previous books of the trilogy, have paranormal powers so extreme they are reluctant to use them, but there is no longer any time to avoid the issues.
The reason I gave this a lower number of stars than I normally give to Darkover books is because of a continuity problem. The ruling class are telepaths. Treason is hard to hide. In TRAITOR'S SUN, the author(s?) put more emphasis than before on the good-manners habit of refusing to read each other's minds. A lot of the intriguing in this book should not be possible because of the automatic shared thoughts and/or empathy. If a boy is planning to commit murder, the adults of his family who happen to notice his facial expressions shouldn't take themselves to task for having unworthy suspicions, they should dip in for a confirming look!
Read 3 times
February 20, 2021
I found the variation in characterisation surprised me this time round, some are wonderfully developed, others cardboard two dimensional... does every character need a part to play? The central story is still gripping but seemed less than believable in the tension between the terranen and Darkover. The collapsing federation is skipped over. There are some great set pieces, but not always consistent.
October 17, 2017
Ich habe das Buch geliebt. Aber es lässt mich mit Wehmut zurück - und ich versuche, es zu unterdrücken, weil die Autorin ja schlecht was dafür kann, wenn sie stirbt ...
Aber so viele Handlungsstränge, die angerissen wurden und nicht weiterverfolgt wurden, angefangen mit "Wieso heißt das Buch überhaupt so, wie es heißt?" ... Aber es war im Großen und Ganzen trotzdem wundervoll.
Aber so viele Handlungsstränge, die angerissen wurden und nicht weiterverfolgt wurden, angefangen mit "Wieso heißt das Buch überhaupt so, wie es heißt?" ... Aber es war im Großen und Ganzen trotzdem wundervoll.
February 14, 2017
Delightful to revisit Darkover! It's been a while and I've been missing hanging out in a world that seems to make more sense than ours these days. Bradley almost always speaks to my heart and Traitor's Sun is no exception.
November 30, 2020
Darkover end to the Federation; Traitors Sun
Like all of the Darkover series this one is superbly planned and written. Marion Zimmer Bradley's skills as a storyteller are exceptional.
Like all of the Darkover series this one is superbly planned and written. Marion Zimmer Bradley's skills as a storyteller are exceptional.
January 28, 2020
I can't put her books down
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
September 10, 2020
Hm, hab ich nun verpasst, er konkret der Verräter war? Und dementsprechend wert der Sohn?
Ich hab immer noch mehrere Möglichkeiten vor Auge.
Ich hab immer noch mehrere Möglichkeiten vor Auge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2020
It was good.
March 4, 2022
questo è l'ultimo in mio possesso, ora mi rimangono 8 antologie e poi finalmente con Darkover ho finito
October 9, 2024
Good old fashion space opera fills the void I miss with Mass Effect. Shame the author is a horrible person.
November 22, 2024
Not bad as in entertaining at times, but not paced fast enough.
Read
January 30, 2025Politics, colonialism, ethical questions about violence. Not for me right now
Read
March 4, 2014The title is terrible, as I've already commented. So far, the book is not so bad. We'll see how it ends.
Frankly, the descriptions of Federation worlds are not particularly convincing. It's not just that they portray people as helpless puppets, unable to think for themselves if they're exposed to even a little 'propaganda'. It is that, but it's not JUST that. There's also the notion that technology is monolithic and inevitably destructive, as if technology inevitably has to go in one direction, and is inertially trapped in that course, once it's started. Yet Darkovans use extensive technology, just to survive--and also to thrive. It's not electrical technology (anymore). It's not 'disposable' technology--and I suppose this is meant to be the difference.
But the technology that the Terran Federation uses doesn't HAVE to be 'disposable'. It's always a choice. Mass production can be used to produce fewer, more durable things, as easily as it can be used to make cheap, obsolescent goods in vast numbers. Excellent, durable objects can be made by machines--and then hand-finished, by crafters who take pride (and time) in the process. Indeed, we're ALREADY making things that are too well-designed for what they're used for. If people less than 200 years from the beginning of industrialization are capable of recognizing this, and perhaps even doing something about it, why hasn't the Federation, with hundreds (even, it's sometimes argued, thousands) of years of experience, never recognized it?
Anyway, this book takes place about twenty years after the previous one (The Shadow Matrix). Early in the book Regis Hastur suffers a fatal stroke. This moves up people's schedules quite a bit, but it's not as if they hadn't been planning for years. Also early in the book, the Federation begins to implode. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are dissolved, and the Darkovan Senator, Herm Aldaran (who has the Aldaran Gift in full), drags his family to Darkover, rather than to his wife's homeworld, partly because he fears that their daughter has laran, and wouldn't get proper training elsewhere.
The Federation has been planning to shut down the spaceport on Darkover for some time, and they have about thirty days to prepare at the start of this book. This forces people who had been plotting for years to force Darkover into full membership to accelerate their schedules, as well. And then there's Domenic Lanart-Hastur, who can hear the forces inside the planet...
I have to say I don't have much respect for the reasoning capacities of the characters. In one scene, the obvious thing to do is to use the command voice to command people to follow their own consciences. Most of the ambushers would have dropped their weapons and fled, since this was what they wanted to do anyway. The few who did not could have been handled on a one-on-one basis.
One of the things I'd forgotten was that Regis Hastur KNEW he'd shortened his own life by handling the Sword of Aldones. He'd probably chosen to forget it himself...but it may help account for why he was so urgent toward the end, when most people thought he still had decades before him.
One inconsistency: back in the days of Valdir Alton, the Darkovans imported one technology they shouldn't've had to import: the art of lens-grinding. In this book, they have to steal binoculars, camera lenses, etc. Why? Well, probably because most weren't literate at the time--and because they didn't train any women (particularly Free Amazons), as far as I can tell. The art of lens-grinding on Earth was pioneered and often sustained by women. Maybe if it had been taught to women on Darkover, it would have been passed down.
Frankly, the descriptions of Federation worlds are not particularly convincing. It's not just that they portray people as helpless puppets, unable to think for themselves if they're exposed to even a little 'propaganda'. It is that, but it's not JUST that. There's also the notion that technology is monolithic and inevitably destructive, as if technology inevitably has to go in one direction, and is inertially trapped in that course, once it's started. Yet Darkovans use extensive technology, just to survive--and also to thrive. It's not electrical technology (anymore). It's not 'disposable' technology--and I suppose this is meant to be the difference.
But the technology that the Terran Federation uses doesn't HAVE to be 'disposable'. It's always a choice. Mass production can be used to produce fewer, more durable things, as easily as it can be used to make cheap, obsolescent goods in vast numbers. Excellent, durable objects can be made by machines--and then hand-finished, by crafters who take pride (and time) in the process. Indeed, we're ALREADY making things that are too well-designed for what they're used for. If people less than 200 years from the beginning of industrialization are capable of recognizing this, and perhaps even doing something about it, why hasn't the Federation, with hundreds (even, it's sometimes argued, thousands) of years of experience, never recognized it?
Anyway, this book takes place about twenty years after the previous one (The Shadow Matrix). Early in the book Regis Hastur suffers a fatal stroke. This moves up people's schedules quite a bit, but it's not as if they hadn't been planning for years. Also early in the book, the Federation begins to implode. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are dissolved, and the Darkovan Senator, Herm Aldaran (who has the Aldaran Gift in full), drags his family to Darkover, rather than to his wife's homeworld, partly because he fears that their daughter has laran, and wouldn't get proper training elsewhere.
The Federation has been planning to shut down the spaceport on Darkover for some time, and they have about thirty days to prepare at the start of this book. This forces people who had been plotting for years to force Darkover into full membership to accelerate their schedules, as well. And then there's Domenic Lanart-Hastur, who can hear the forces inside the planet...
I have to say I don't have much respect for the reasoning capacities of the characters. In one scene, the obvious thing to do is to use the command voice to command people to follow their own consciences. Most of the ambushers would have dropped their weapons and fled, since this was what they wanted to do anyway. The few who did not could have been handled on a one-on-one basis.
One of the things I'd forgotten was that Regis Hastur KNEW he'd shortened his own life by handling the Sword of Aldones. He'd probably chosen to forget it himself...but it may help account for why he was so urgent toward the end, when most people thought he still had decades before him.
One inconsistency: back in the days of Valdir Alton, the Darkovans imported one technology they shouldn't've had to import: the art of lens-grinding. In this book, they have to steal binoculars, camera lenses, etc. Why? Well, probably because most weren't literate at the time--and because they didn't train any women (particularly Free Amazons), as far as I can tell. The art of lens-grinding on Earth was pioneered and often sustained by women. Maybe if it had been taught to women on Darkover, it would have been passed down.
September 3, 2024
Marion Zimmer Bradley is a wonderful writer. She has a great way with words and she knows how to spin an engaging story. Darkover is one of those places where I long to go sometimes, to revisit places and characters that have taken root in my heart.
May 10, 2012
I was very disappointed by this book.
Latest episode of the Series by the time I read it, co-written with Adrienne Martine-Barnes as was The Shadow Matrix. A thick book of 550 pages with nothing really happening but a lot of thought-sharing, introspection and talking. There is a main plot - a Terran conspiracy against Hastur. No suspense at all though. The Terran characters stay in the background, except maybe in the first stages of the conspiracy. But then the author(s) seem(s) to loose totally interest in them. I would have switch points of view between Terrans and Tenebrans from one chapter to the next, before, during and after the events. This conspiracy is only a pretext for an outcome that is told in a few paragraph wrapping 500+ pages of a Santa Barbara-like script.
There is only one interesting part worth reading. There the faithfull Darkover reader finds the passion and the drama of Marion Zimmer Bradley intact, and this is -of course- the Comyn council.
In the Darkovan chronology, the last real episode with sound and fury noise and fury and fascinating read is Sharra's Exile. If you want to read about anti-Hastur conspiracy, please read The World Wreckers which is also a must-read if you want to know more about the Chieri.
Latest episode of the Series by the time I read it, co-written with Adrienne Martine-Barnes as was The Shadow Matrix. A thick book of 550 pages with nothing really happening but a lot of thought-sharing, introspection and talking. There is a main plot - a Terran conspiracy against Hastur. No suspense at all though. The Terran characters stay in the background, except maybe in the first stages of the conspiracy. But then the author(s) seem(s) to loose totally interest in them. I would have switch points of view between Terrans and Tenebrans from one chapter to the next, before, during and after the events. This conspiracy is only a pretext for an outcome that is told in a few paragraph wrapping 500+ pages of a Santa Barbara-like script.
There is only one interesting part worth reading. There the faithfull Darkover reader finds the passion and the drama of Marion Zimmer Bradley intact, and this is -of course- the Comyn council.
In the Darkovan chronology, the last real episode with sound and fury noise and fury and fascinating read is Sharra's Exile. If you want to read about anti-Hastur conspiracy, please read The World Wreckers which is also a must-read if you want to know more about the Chieri.
January 8, 2011
Ho aspettato talmente tanto che traducessero questo libro, che alla fine l'ho letto in originale. Uno dei primi libri in inglese che ho letto per piacere mio.
Con "Traitor's Sun" si conclude, seppur in maniera non definitiva, il miniciclo su Marguerida Alton e Mikhail Hastur che si era aperto ne "La sfida degli Alton".
E' un libro gradevole e scorrevole, dove i momenti "up" sono sicuramente maggiori che non i momenti "down", dove la mano della Barnes copre quasi totalmente quella di una Bradley ai suoi ultimi anni e mesi di vita, ma dove le atmosfere fresche e frizzanti del pianeta dal sole rosso mantengono intatto il loro fascino e le loro attrattive.
Con "Traitor's Sun" si conclude, seppur in maniera non definitiva, il miniciclo su Marguerida Alton e Mikhail Hastur che si era aperto ne "La sfida degli Alton".
E' un libro gradevole e scorrevole, dove i momenti "up" sono sicuramente maggiori che non i momenti "down", dove la mano della Barnes copre quasi totalmente quella di una Bradley ai suoi ultimi anni e mesi di vita, ma dove le atmosfere fresche e frizzanti del pianeta dal sole rosso mantengono intatto il loro fascino e le loro attrattive.
E per quest'ultimo romanzo pubblicato prima della morte della Bradley nel 1999 non mi sento di dire null'altro che grazie, grazie a chi in una calda estate di fine anni novanta mi ha preso per mano e mi ha sussurrato, "Lontano, molto lontano, da qualche parte al centro della galassia e a quattromila anni nel futuro, c'è un mondo con un grande sole rosso e quattro lune. Volete venire laggiù a giocare con me?"
January 8, 2011
Ho aspettato talmente tanto che traducessero questo libro, che alla fine l'ho letto in originale. Uno dei primi libri in inglese che ho letto per piacere mio.
Con "Traitor's Sun" si conclude, seppur in maniera non definitiva, il miniciclo su Marguerida Alton e Mikhail Hastur che si era aperto ne "La sfida degli Alton".
E' un libro gradevole e scorrevole, dove i momenti "up" sono sicuramente maggiori che non i momenti "down", dove la mano della Barnes copre quasi totalmente quella di una Bradley ai suoi ultimi anni e mesi di vita, ma dove le atmosfere fresche e frizzanti del pianeta dal sole rosso mantengono intatto il loro fascino e le loro attrattive.
Con "Traitor's Sun" si conclude, seppur in maniera non definitiva, il miniciclo su Marguerida Alton e Mikhail Hastur che si era aperto ne "La sfida degli Alton".
E' un libro gradevole e scorrevole, dove i momenti "up" sono sicuramente maggiori che non i momenti "down", dove la mano della Barnes copre quasi totalmente quella di una Bradley ai suoi ultimi anni e mesi di vita, ma dove le atmosfere fresche e frizzanti del pianeta dal sole rosso mantengono intatto il loro fascino e le loro attrattive.
E per quest'ultimo romanzo pubblicato prima della morte della Bradley nel 1999 non mi sento di dire null'altro che grazie, grazie a chi in una calda estate di fine anni novanta mi ha preso per mano e mi ha sussurrato, "Lontano, molto lontano, da qualche parte al centro della galassia e a quattromila anni nel futuro, c'è un mondo con un grande sole rosso e quattro lune. Volete venire laggiù a giocare con me?"
November 14, 2011
You know, I think MZB and Stephanie Meyer would get on well together. Neither of them know how to write an action sequence worth a damn, and both of them have eye-widening views on the role of women in the world. Meyers wins on titles, though - I have no idea what the hell "Traitor's Sun" is supposed to mean. Nothing special happened to the sun.
Hey, did you know that a woman named "Margaret" or sometimes "Marja" will randomly change her name to (and be addressed as) "Marguerida" in this late-series book? She totally will! Why, you ask? Dude. I have no idea. There is no internal logic in the Darkover canon, and it'll drive you crazy to try and chart a path.
I can't say I liked this book, but it's probably better than any other Darkover I've read... oh wait, no, I've just remembered the idiotic sequence in the conference room (or whatever the hell that thing's called). Never mind. Stupid.
Hey, did you know that a woman named "Margaret" or sometimes "Marja" will randomly change her name to (and be addressed as) "Marguerida" in this late-series book? She totally will! Why, you ask? Dude. I have no idea. There is no internal logic in the Darkover canon, and it'll drive you crazy to try and chart a path.
I can't say I liked this book, but it's probably better than any other Darkover I've read... oh wait, no, I've just remembered the idiotic sequence in the conference room (or whatever the hell that thing's called). Never mind. Stupid.
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