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Gandalara Cycle #3
The Bronze of Eddarta
Bantam #23281-9, 1983. First printing in near fine condition. Faint crease at the lower spine seam. Small rubs to the book's corners. Book III of The Gandalara Cycle.
168 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1983
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93 people want to read
About the author
Randall Garrett
451 books87 followersRandall Garrett's full name was Gordon Randall Phillip David Garrett. For more information about him see https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?239
He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron
His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.
He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron
His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 8, 2026
It's right there on the cover: Theodore Sturgeon heralds The Bronze of Eddarta as "full of swordplay and giant cats." Undeniably true. But action and giant cats, telepathic giant cats even, telepathic giant cats you can ride on(!) isn't quite justification enough for a novel. And even this book knows it because it spends a lot of time -- after a fairly inelegant number pages of recapping what happened in the last books in the series, which I should be the target audience for since I haven't read them, yet found transparent and tiresome -- it spends much of its time after that developing the human relationships. Nothing too elaborate, the usual jealously / love triangle material with tension provided by people just not talking things through properly. Plus family relationships withheld until needed for dramatic reveals. But there's a little more nuance to how the protagonists communicate than expected, and the tropes aren't pushed to annoyance, perhaps because this was written in tandem by an actual couple.
The series setup, of aging man on contemporary Earth is suddenly whisked away by a meteor and finds himself on an adventure on a foreign world in a much younger body and soon with a much younger love interest, is such transparent wish fulfillment for an aging sci-fi author (with a reputation for offending women author-contemporaries at conventions, eek). But given the pair that wrote this, yes, you also guessed it, she's eighteen years younger. Sadly, Vicki Ann Heydron wasn't even Randall Garrett's new lease on life, as less than a year after their marriage, he suffered a viral brain infection that caused sever memory loss and incapacitated him for the last eight years of his life. Garrett prepared the outline of the Gandalara series plot, but really Henderson appears to be the actual author, though she published them under both their names. In her hands, besides the level of emotional nuance (though let's not get too excited, it's just more than most sci-fantasy adventures bother with), Garrett's romantic fantasy seems more tragic. Though only after I started reading up on the authors, which is arguably of more interest than the book itself, a book only snapped up off of dollar rack because I needed something to read on the train.
I've been reading some wonderful books lately and this wasn't one of them, but I need a rhythm of contrasts.
The series setup, of aging man on contemporary Earth is suddenly whisked away by a meteor and finds himself on an adventure on a foreign world in a much younger body and soon with a much younger love interest, is such transparent wish fulfillment for an aging sci-fi author (with a reputation for offending women author-contemporaries at conventions, eek). But given the pair that wrote this, yes, you also guessed it, she's eighteen years younger. Sadly, Vicki Ann Heydron wasn't even Randall Garrett's new lease on life, as less than a year after their marriage, he suffered a viral brain infection that caused sever memory loss and incapacitated him for the last eight years of his life. Garrett prepared the outline of the Gandalara series plot, but really Henderson appears to be the actual author, though she published them under both their names. In her hands, besides the level of emotional nuance (though let's not get too excited, it's just more than most sci-fantasy adventures bother with), Garrett's romantic fantasy seems more tragic. Though only after I started reading up on the authors, which is arguably of more interest than the book itself, a book only snapped up off of dollar rack because I needed something to read on the train.
I've been reading some wonderful books lately and this wasn't one of them, but I need a rhythm of contrasts.
March 14, 2024
This third book in the Gandalara Cycle is a fluent, competent novel that advances the plot, introduces new characters and new developments, and climaxes at the end with an exciting finish.
It seems to be doing everything right; and yet for me it lacks the kind of compelling scenes that motivate me to reread a book. I bought it 30 years ago, read it then, and this is the first time I’ve bothered to reread it for many years—out of mild curiosity, because I no longer remembered anything about it.
It’s readable and I have no trouble getting through it, but I’m sorry, it doesn’t turn me on. Clearly it has more effect on some other readers.
It’s a rather strange sensation to read a novel that seems to go through all the right motions, but leaves me emotionally unstirred. Unfortunately I can’t explain the problem or suggest how the book’s power could be boosted.
It seems to be doing everything right; and yet for me it lacks the kind of compelling scenes that motivate me to reread a book. I bought it 30 years ago, read it then, and this is the first time I’ve bothered to reread it for many years—out of mild curiosity, because I no longer remembered anything about it.
It’s readable and I have no trouble getting through it, but I’m sorry, it doesn’t turn me on. Clearly it has more effect on some other readers.
It’s a rather strange sensation to read a novel that seems to go through all the right motions, but leaves me emotionally unstirred. Unfortunately I can’t explain the problem or suggest how the book’s power could be boosted.
October 5, 2015
Good 3rd book in the series and the finish to the 1st story arc. Nice fantasy read. Recommended
May 15, 2021
Rikardon, and his team continue their quest to recover the Ra'ira, the legendary jewel that grants it's user greater mind powers. But to recover it they must enter Eddarta the once capital of this world where the corrupt kings and nobility all have varying degrees of mental powers.
As book three in the series you must read books 1 and 2, as it is part of the unfinished tale. There's more of the sense of needing to finish the quest and less of the new and wondrous. The interaction between the characters at times seems a little forced.
As book three in the series you must read books 1 and 2, as it is part of the unfinished tale. There's more of the sense of needing to finish the quest and less of the new and wondrous. The interaction between the characters at times seems a little forced.
February 19, 2022
The conclusion of what I originally thought would be a trilogy, and was surprised - and delighted - to find went on for several more books.
This concludes the search for the stolen Ra'Ira and Tarani's history with her family. But the story continues as Riccado learns more about the Gandalara history and the role of the Sharith in the later books.
This concludes the search for the stolen Ra'Ira and Tarani's history with her family. But the story continues as Riccado learns more about the Gandalara history and the role of the Sharith in the later books.
March 26, 2023
I'd forgotten how much I've been enjoying this series until I picked this up and finished it. It's very John Carter of Mars in feel - our hero is from 20th century Earth, magically transported to this mysterious desert world and into the body of a not-quite-human warrior with a telepathically-bonded cat - but with fully-realized female characters and complex interpersonal relationships.
July 4, 2019
Still love it
RE-reading an old favorite, and it doesn’t disappoint after all this time. A strange setting but really about family and connection.
RE-reading an old favorite, and it doesn’t disappoint after all this time. A strange setting but really about family and connection.
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October 23, 2025One magic sword, one gorgeous sorceress, and still the trusty Warcat remains. A quest for treasure in good old sword swinging style. Go get the magic item before the bad guys.
July 16, 2010
Rikardon, his telepathic warcat Keeshah, and Tarani make a daring raid on Eddarta's royal citadel to steal back the Ra'ira before it can be used as a weapon.
My only complaint is that I am getting awfully tired of trips across the desert.
My only complaint is that I am getting awfully tired of trips across the desert.
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September 10, 2016Ne abbiamo parlato sul blog nell'articolo sul planetary romance:
http://wp.me/p29Hyy-2w
http://wp.me/p29Hyy-2w
May 3, 2015
I'm moving through these books VERY quickly.
I honestly can't remember the stories, but I remember THINGS about them, so I KNOW I read this far.
On to book four.
I honestly can't remember the stories, but I remember THINGS about them, so I KNOW I read this far.
On to book four.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews