The Fall of Neskaya (Clingfire Trilogy #1) » (Reprint)

A prolific storyteller from the time she was old enough to talk, Marion Zimmer Bradley had an enormous impact on the science fiction and fantasy genres, imagining centuries of technological and culture clashes in the colonization of a distant planet in her Darkover series and recasting the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the women in his life in her 1983 masterpiece, The Mists of Avalon.

Return to the world of Darkover during the tumultuous era of The Hundred Kingdoms. In a terrible time of strife and war, when this unique fantasy world is divided into a multitude of small belligerent domains vying for power and land, one corrupt, ambitious tyrant will stop at nothing-not even the use of terrifying matrix weapons-to control all of Darkover!

Bonnie Kunzel - VOYA

Young Coryn Legnier must leave Verdanta Castle for Tower training when the powerful mental laran he does not know he possesses rages out of control. Dom Rumail, brother to King Deslucido, tests him for laran, an ability that can be used for good or misused for evil purposes, recognizes his gift, and primes him with a mindtrap for later use on behalf of the king. His training at Tramontana Tower gives Coryn the incentive to stop a family feud. Nevertheless it does not prepare him for a king's treachery or the love of a beautiful young queen. This novel is fast paced, with action-filled fun. After the death of author Bradley, this reviewer never expected to see another new Darkover novel, but happily, this first book of the new Clingfire trilogy fills the void. Ross captures Bradley's love for her creation and her smooth-flowing style perfectly. Because the two had been friends since Bradley began editing the Darkover and Sword and Sorceress anthologies, Ross was a natural choice to work with Bradley as her health began to decline. They decided to return to the Ages of Chaos in the early days of Darkover. The plan was to create a trilogy beginning with the Hastur Rebellion and the fall of Neskaya, go on to the enduring friendship between Varzil the Good and Caroline Hastur, and finish with the fire bombing of Hali and the signing of the Compact. Ross scribbled notes as fast as she could while Bradley described what she had in mind. Courtesy of the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, here is that novel. Fans-and others-will rejoice! VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult andYoung Adult). 2001, DAW, 464p,