Just as Regis Hastur loses his grandfather, he learns he has
an elder brother, Rinaldo. In good faith he brings Rinaldo
to Thendara to sit at his side with full honors. Although
Rinaldo himself may be honorable, there are those who would
use him as a weapon to bring about a desired joining with
the Federation, regardless of the cost to Darkover and it's
future.
Deborah J. Ross has written many Darkover books since Marion
Zimmer Bradley's death, HASTUR LORD is just the most recent
of them. I, however approached this book with apprehension.
It is the first Darkover book I have read since the passing
of Marion Zimmer Bradley. The largest questions for me
were--would it live up to my beloved memories of Darkover?
Would I be as drawn into the world as I was when I was a teen?
I needn't have worried. MZB threw open the gates to her
world with short story collections like 'The Keeper's Price'
and 'Leroni of Darkover'. Many writers have explored the
world first built out of her imagination, and stayed true to
the original themes.
HASTURE LORD under the guidance of Deborah J. Ross upholds
MZB's wish for each of her books, that a reader new to the
series can open the covers and be swept away as easily as
one who is familiar with all the crooked paths and high
mountains of Darkover. The book is said to be the final one
Bradley fleshed out before her death, and as such it does
resolve a great number of questions, while still blessedly
leaving enough trailing threads to allow other storytellers
to continue on. I hope Ms. Ross at least accepts that
challenge as well.
Deborah J. Ross has accomplished much, It is hard enough to
write a book with one's own voice, it may be a magnitude
greater in difficulty to write with another's--particularly
one so vivid and often-read as Marion Zimmer Bradley's.
I will not hesitate to read another of the past Darkover
books Ms. Ross has co-authored, in fact I am eager to get
started.
A never-before-published fantasy novel set in Marion
Zimmer Bradley's Darkover universe.
The
world of Darkover, a unique, isolated, and protected world,
has long avoided becoming part of the technologically
advanced Terran Empire. But things are about to change.
Regis Hastur, lord of the most powerful of the seven Domains
in Darkover, learns that the Empire is about to become a
Federation, and is extending an invitation for all of the
worlds to join. While the offer seems tempting to his
people, Regis knows that Darkover would become little more
than a military base, used for its unique planetary
position, and will be sapped of its resources. He must now
stop at nothing to save his world.
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