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Darkover (Publication Order) #40
The Children of Kings: A Darkover Novel
More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2013
58 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
801 books4,889 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fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories.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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 12, 2013
The Children of Kings is a worthy successor in the continuing story of the world of Darkover.
Darkover, as created by Marion Zimmer Bradley, was colonized by humans who, after generations of living on this strange alien world, and a few incidents of mating with the indigenous alien chieri, now possess psychic talents and abilities. While their own society has become somewhat medieval in feel--with feudal loyalties given to the now noble Comyn families and using swords and daggers- the Darkovan humans have been drawn back into galactic contact with the rest of the human Federation. The Federation, with its starships, technology of metal and blasters, sees Darkover as a precious possession and wants to own it.
Deborah J Ross has united all the magnificent elements that have made Darkover so wondrous. Characters like Gareth, the protagonist of this novel who could be King himself, or like his aunt Silvana/Stelli, the firstborn child of Regis Hastur and his Linnea fostered by chieri, rise from feeling unworthy, unwanted, out of place, to realizing they have and can make choices that affect and shape their entire world. Characters like Merach, a man of high honor and dignity-- to some is little more than a dusty desert savage--yet he sees his way to helping his lord form new alliances that will change Darkover for generations.
Some must choose how, or if, to choose weapons--whether these are blasters that could level an entire city, or are psychic abilities that could bring down a starship. Some must choose to see past the strange other, whether that is a Dry-Town savage lord or a scion of an often mentally incompetent noble line.
Gareth begins this story as the un-confident prince who is certain everyone thinks he will never amount to anything, or, want to use him as a weakling puppet. So he leaves his home secretly, half-hoping only for adventure, but eventually finds that he holds the key to saving not only his home city, but can bring about an alliance never before attempted, a bond between two cultures. Along the way, Gareth also finds that love can also be his, not just mere simpering romantic love, but a love of strength, acceptance, and fervent devotion.
Darkover stories have always at their heart been about transcendant acceptance-not only one's own acceptance of who and what one is, and not only the acceptance, of one, by others. Darkover's tale of acceptance is the story of how, in the very act of accepting oneself and of the other--which too often is perceived as an act of weakness or simple naivete--instead, brings about a unity of soul and spirit that carries with it immense power and purpose.
The Children of Kings definitely does not disappoint, in this regard. It opens another brilliant chapter into a world of future possiblities, where not only do humans travel between the stars, not only find destiny and heart's home in the strangest of places, but also, find that they can do anything wondrous, build anything marvelous, if they find the way to do it together.
Well done, Children of Kings. Be warned, once you begin this book you will want to continue through to the end.
Darkover, as created by Marion Zimmer Bradley, was colonized by humans who, after generations of living on this strange alien world, and a few incidents of mating with the indigenous alien chieri, now possess psychic talents and abilities. While their own society has become somewhat medieval in feel--with feudal loyalties given to the now noble Comyn families and using swords and daggers- the Darkovan humans have been drawn back into galactic contact with the rest of the human Federation. The Federation, with its starships, technology of metal and blasters, sees Darkover as a precious possession and wants to own it.
Deborah J Ross has united all the magnificent elements that have made Darkover so wondrous. Characters like Gareth, the protagonist of this novel who could be King himself, or like his aunt Silvana/Stelli, the firstborn child of Regis Hastur and his Linnea fostered by chieri, rise from feeling unworthy, unwanted, out of place, to realizing they have and can make choices that affect and shape their entire world. Characters like Merach, a man of high honor and dignity-- to some is little more than a dusty desert savage--yet he sees his way to helping his lord form new alliances that will change Darkover for generations.
Some must choose how, or if, to choose weapons--whether these are blasters that could level an entire city, or are psychic abilities that could bring down a starship. Some must choose to see past the strange other, whether that is a Dry-Town savage lord or a scion of an often mentally incompetent noble line.
Gareth begins this story as the un-confident prince who is certain everyone thinks he will never amount to anything, or, want to use him as a weakling puppet. So he leaves his home secretly, half-hoping only for adventure, but eventually finds that he holds the key to saving not only his home city, but can bring about an alliance never before attempted, a bond between two cultures. Along the way, Gareth also finds that love can also be his, not just mere simpering romantic love, but a love of strength, acceptance, and fervent devotion.
Darkover stories have always at their heart been about transcendant acceptance-not only one's own acceptance of who and what one is, and not only the acceptance, of one, by others. Darkover's tale of acceptance is the story of how, in the very act of accepting oneself and of the other--which too often is perceived as an act of weakness or simple naivete--instead, brings about a unity of soul and spirit that carries with it immense power and purpose.
The Children of Kings definitely does not disappoint, in this regard. It opens another brilliant chapter into a world of future possiblities, where not only do humans travel between the stars, not only find destiny and heart's home in the strangest of places, but also, find that they can do anything wondrous, build anything marvelous, if they find the way to do it together.
Well done, Children of Kings. Be warned, once you begin this book you will want to continue through to the end.
March 7, 2013
Don't read "high fantasy" novels? I didn't either, at least before this book. I won an advance copy in a goodreads giveaway as I wanted to read something in a different genre. I had been reading a lot of urban fantasy (stories set in modern times) lately.
I was skeptical about the book: Would I be able to follow the story? (MZB was a very prolific sci-fi writer. The world in this book is contained in many - maybe all - of her works. This is the first of her or Deborah J. Ross' books I have read.) I was pulled right into the story, following the "black sheep" of the family, Gareth. I had little trouble following his journey, and really enjoyed seeing him grow from spoiled prince to responsible and thoughtful adult by the end. The sweet story between Gareth and Rahelle appealed to the romantic in me, too.
While I think it would have benefitted me to have read other Marion Zimmer Bradley books set in this world, I still very much liked the read. I would say if you want to read this then go ahead and don't worry about reading any of the other books by these author(s). I plan to put more of her books on my "to-read" list!
I was skeptical about the book: Would I be able to follow the story? (MZB was a very prolific sci-fi writer. The world in this book is contained in many - maybe all - of her works. This is the first of her or Deborah J. Ross' books I have read.) I was pulled right into the story, following the "black sheep" of the family, Gareth. I had little trouble following his journey, and really enjoyed seeing him grow from spoiled prince to responsible and thoughtful adult by the end. The sweet story between Gareth and Rahelle appealed to the romantic in me, too.
While I think it would have benefitted me to have read other Marion Zimmer Bradley books set in this world, I still very much liked the read. I would say if you want to read this then go ahead and don't worry about reading any of the other books by these author(s). I plan to put more of her books on my "to-read" list!
September 16, 2016
3.5 stars
It's not often that another author can pick up an established world and run with it, but Deborah Ross has done a great job taking over Darkover, updating in some places and expanding in others. This is one of the latter, as the focus moves away from Thendara and the towers and into the heretofore-ignored Dry Towns and desert areas (amongst others - but I won't include spoilers). Culture clash, societal expectations and a hard look at the inner self make the traditional coming-of-age story something new.
The beginning is a little clunky, and it takes a while to get going, but it kept me reading late into the night, and it was worth every second.
It's not often that another author can pick up an established world and run with it, but Deborah Ross has done a great job taking over Darkover, updating in some places and expanding in others. This is one of the latter, as the focus moves away from Thendara and the towers and into the heretofore-ignored Dry Towns and desert areas (amongst others - but I won't include spoilers). Culture clash, societal expectations and a hard look at the inner self make the traditional coming-of-age story something new.
The beginning is a little clunky, and it takes a while to get going, but it kept me reading late into the night, and it was worth every second.
April 16, 2013
A novel set in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. The focus is on Regis Hastur's grandchildren---what they're doing, how they're coping---and Regis' missing daughter. As usual, outside forces are creating problems and the ruling Comyn are struggling to be true to themselves and to their world.
My Take
This story about Darkover is written using Marion Zimmer Bradley's stories and notes. And it's reasonably well done, although a tad juvenile in its character depiction and actions with a slight fumble in that Ross misses the depth of Bradley's warmth and the full richness of her writing. Otherwise, Ross has pulled enough of the feel and flavor of Bradley's Darkover that I want to start the series all over again. Of course, it will be so much easier with the Internet, LOL. Yup, I'm old enough to remember life before easy access to information, and I absolutely adore the world wide web! It so satisfies my need for data and order.
It's too cute that Gareth is still imagining himself as a super secret agent, an influence of childhood novels---Race Cargill, Terran Secret Agent. It helps make him both normal and rather pathetic, reinforcing the frustration with which Ross has infused his character. This journey will make him. He will come to learn the true meaning of the blood in his veins. Not what he had thought it meant. I have to confess that I am surprised he was as clueless as he was when he first arrived in Carthon, the immaturity reflected in his thoughts and actions.
As desperate as Linnea is to find her daughter after all these years, this was just too easy and too improbable. Somewhere in all those years, I'm sure that Comyn and Nevarsin towers must have communicated.
It's the most amazing world that Bradley created. Centuries of tradition, of family, wars and alliances, culture, economics, betrayals, evolution. I am so pleased that Ross carried on with this story. Part of me hopes she will continue. Part of me hopes she will be very, very careful not to get careless with Bradley's legacy.
Ooh, I like that bit about the embroidery and its purpose on clothing. I do recall having heard this reasoning before, and I'm pleased for the reminder.
I still don't understand why the chieri's actions regarding Regis and his daughter, especially when they claim to honor him.
The Story
Gareth is fed up with his uselessness, with how everyone looks at him and sees only a crazy Elhalyn. Raised on the stories of his grandfather's exploits, Gareth is determined to have his own adventures and heads off to the Dry Towns.
The Compact is everything, every thing, on Darkover. Learning of the possibility of a Federation ship whose captain is handing out blasters to Dry Towners, Gareth intends to discover the truth of it and prevent such a violation of the Compact.
An adventure on which Gareth will learn so much about himself.
The Characters
Gareth Marius-Danvan Elhalyn y Hastur is the uncrowned prince fed up with his uselessness and how the rest of the Comyn perceive him---and encouraged by the stories of his grandfather's adventures. His father is Danilo Hastur; his mother Miralys is a royal Elhalyn. He also has a brother and a sister: Derek and Regina-Javanne. Narsin serves the Hastur family and tries very hard to protect Gareth. It seems that Gareth did something very stupid and treasonous in his youth. Well, younger youth!
Dom Mikhail Lanart-Hastur is the current Regent of Darkover; Lady Marguerida is his wife and Lew Alton's daughter. Domenic Alton-Hastur is their son and a regent-in-waiting. Domenic's Gift is to sense geological conditions. He's with, but not married to, Illona Rider, a non-Comyn with a Psychic Gift working as an under-Keeper at Comyn Tower under Linnea. And she's pregnant.
Regis Hastur is/was Gareth's grandfather. Javanne was Regis' sister, and Regis adopted her son, Mikhail, to be his heir. A promise he kept even when Regis' son, Gareth's father, Danilo Hastur, was born (he refused the regency and the lordship of Hastur to marry Miralys, taking him out of the line of succession). Danilo Syrtis-Ardais had been Regis' bredu and is still Linnea's close friend; he is family. Linnea Storn-Lanart was Regis' wife; now she is a Keeper who is giving her grandson, Gareth, private lessons in the use of his laran. Kierestelli is the daughter born to Regis and Linnea during the time of the World Wreckers. Protecting her was paramount; losing her was devastating.
Dry Towners
Cyrillon is a merchant who has dealings with Danilo and Domenic, but he's a very atypical Dry Towner. His trading party includes Korllen, cook; Tomas; Alric; and, Rakhal, who is one of the camp boys who handles the horses and the oudrakhi. Rahelle is Cryillon's daughter, who educates Gareth in the freedom of the chains the Dry Town women wear.
Lord Dayan is a Dry Towner and lord of Shainsa. Lord Merach of Shainsa is the sword arm of Dayan. Hayat is the spoiled son of Dayan.
Adahab is the oldest son of Rivoth, the headman of the village Korllen is from; he will guide Gareth and Rahelle further into the desert. Cuinn is the village headman whose interactions with Captain Poulos of the Lamonica will have such a strong effect. Offenbach is the ship's mate. Robard, Taz, Viss, Jory, and Lakrin are the men with whom Gareth works. Deester is the captain's bodyguard.
The Grissom is a rebel ship in need of repair; Harris is the captain. The supposed Federation ship, Dauntless , is tracking them.
Jeram, Jeremiah Reed, is a Terranan renegade, who stayed on Darkover when the Federation left. Now he monitors for radio activity about the Federation and teaches other Darkovans how to use it, including Cassandra Haldin, Hermes Aldaran, and Ethan. Vistarin of Temora, Octavien MacEwarin, Rufus DiAsturien,and Lorrill Vallonde are all trying to befriend Gareth for their own purposes.
Silvana is the Keeper of the Nevarsin Tower. Lew Alton appears more as a reference; he's an old man now who has suffered two heart attacks and has retreated to Nevarsin.
David Hamilton is living with the chieri; he mated with Keral and they had a child, Lianantheren. Diravanariel is the chieri who threw Stelli out.
I suspect I've missed some stories as the Federation has left Darkover to battle rebellion amongst their worlds. The Compact is an ancient code of honor that requires men to fight with weapons that bring them within reach of each other. It is intended to prevent Darkovan use of the weapons of the mind.
Laran is the psychic ability possessed by the Comyn and some of the Darkovans. Over the centuries, the survivors of that initial shipwreck learned to use their laran, they bred for it, and as the rulers of Darkover established their domains, certain Gifts became exclusive to certain domains: "the Ridenow were celebrated for their empathy" and the Altons could kill with their anger and force a rapport with anyone.
Today, many of the Gifts have been lost: the Aillards are almost extinct and no one alive remembers what the Elhalyns could do.
The Cover
The cover is a soft blend of lavenders to almost-pinks as the suns rise over a spaceport while Gareth and Rahelle, holding back their oudrakhi, looking over it.
The title sums it up as this is a story about The Children of Kings.
My Take
This story about Darkover is written using Marion Zimmer Bradley's stories and notes. And it's reasonably well done, although a tad juvenile in its character depiction and actions with a slight fumble in that Ross misses the depth of Bradley's warmth and the full richness of her writing. Otherwise, Ross has pulled enough of the feel and flavor of Bradley's Darkover that I want to start the series all over again. Of course, it will be so much easier with the Internet, LOL. Yup, I'm old enough to remember life before easy access to information, and I absolutely adore the world wide web! It so satisfies my need for data and order.
As Gareth considers: "Freedom is a matter of how we choose our chains."
Which sums up the main theme: acknowledging our chains, whether they are worn openly or those of the mind.
It's too cute that Gareth is still imagining himself as a super secret agent, an influence of childhood novels---Race Cargill, Terran Secret Agent. It helps make him both normal and rather pathetic, reinforcing the frustration with which Ross has infused his character. This journey will make him. He will come to learn the true meaning of the blood in his veins. Not what he had thought it meant. I have to confess that I am surprised he was as clueless as he was when he first arrived in Carthon, the immaturity reflected in his thoughts and actions.
As desperate as Linnea is to find her daughter after all these years, this was just too easy and too improbable. Somewhere in all those years, I'm sure that Comyn and Nevarsin towers must have communicated.
It's the most amazing world that Bradley created. Centuries of tradition, of family, wars and alliances, culture, economics, betrayals, evolution. I am so pleased that Ross carried on with this story. Part of me hopes she will continue. Part of me hopes she will be very, very careful not to get careless with Bradley's legacy.
Ooh, I like that bit about the embroidery and its purpose on clothing. I do recall having heard this reasoning before, and I'm pleased for the reminder.
I still don't understand why the chieri's actions regarding Regis and his daughter, especially when they claim to honor him.
The Story
Gareth is fed up with his uselessness, with how everyone looks at him and sees only a crazy Elhalyn. Raised on the stories of his grandfather's exploits, Gareth is determined to have his own adventures and heads off to the Dry Towns.
The Compact is everything, every thing, on Darkover. Learning of the possibility of a Federation ship whose captain is handing out blasters to Dry Towners, Gareth intends to discover the truth of it and prevent such a violation of the Compact.
An adventure on which Gareth will learn so much about himself.
The Characters
Gareth Marius-Danvan Elhalyn y Hastur is the uncrowned prince fed up with his uselessness and how the rest of the Comyn perceive him---and encouraged by the stories of his grandfather's adventures. His father is Danilo Hastur; his mother Miralys is a royal Elhalyn. He also has a brother and a sister: Derek and Regina-Javanne. Narsin serves the Hastur family and tries very hard to protect Gareth. It seems that Gareth did something very stupid and treasonous in his youth. Well, younger youth!
Dom Mikhail Lanart-Hastur is the current Regent of Darkover; Lady Marguerida is his wife and Lew Alton's daughter. Domenic Alton-Hastur is their son and a regent-in-waiting. Domenic's Gift is to sense geological conditions. He's with, but not married to, Illona Rider, a non-Comyn with a Psychic Gift working as an under-Keeper at Comyn Tower under Linnea. And she's pregnant.
Regis Hastur is/was Gareth's grandfather. Javanne was Regis' sister, and Regis adopted her son, Mikhail, to be his heir. A promise he kept even when Regis' son, Gareth's father, Danilo Hastur, was born (he refused the regency and the lordship of Hastur to marry Miralys, taking him out of the line of succession). Danilo Syrtis-Ardais had been Regis' bredu and is still Linnea's close friend; he is family. Linnea Storn-Lanart was Regis' wife; now she is a Keeper who is giving her grandson, Gareth, private lessons in the use of his laran. Kierestelli is the daughter born to Regis and Linnea during the time of the World Wreckers. Protecting her was paramount; losing her was devastating.
Dry Towners
Cyrillon is a merchant who has dealings with Danilo and Domenic, but he's a very atypical Dry Towner. His trading party includes Korllen, cook; Tomas; Alric; and, Rakhal, who is one of the camp boys who handles the horses and the oudrakhi. Rahelle is Cryillon's daughter, who educates Gareth in the freedom of the chains the Dry Town women wear.
Lord Dayan is a Dry Towner and lord of Shainsa. Lord Merach of Shainsa is the sword arm of Dayan. Hayat is the spoiled son of Dayan.
Adahab is the oldest son of Rivoth, the headman of the village Korllen is from; he will guide Gareth and Rahelle further into the desert. Cuinn is the village headman whose interactions with Captain Poulos of the Lamonica will have such a strong effect. Offenbach is the ship's mate. Robard, Taz, Viss, Jory, and Lakrin are the men with whom Gareth works. Deester is the captain's bodyguard.
The Grissom is a rebel ship in need of repair; Harris is the captain. The supposed Federation ship, Dauntless , is tracking them.
Jeram, Jeremiah Reed, is a Terranan renegade, who stayed on Darkover when the Federation left. Now he monitors for radio activity about the Federation and teaches other Darkovans how to use it, including Cassandra Haldin, Hermes Aldaran, and Ethan. Vistarin of Temora, Octavien MacEwarin, Rufus DiAsturien,and Lorrill Vallonde are all trying to befriend Gareth for their own purposes.
Silvana is the Keeper of the Nevarsin Tower. Lew Alton appears more as a reference; he's an old man now who has suffered two heart attacks and has retreated to Nevarsin.
David Hamilton is living with the chieri; he mated with Keral and they had a child, Lianantheren. Diravanariel is the chieri who threw Stelli out.
I suspect I've missed some stories as the Federation has left Darkover to battle rebellion amongst their worlds. The Compact is an ancient code of honor that requires men to fight with weapons that bring them within reach of each other. It is intended to prevent Darkovan use of the weapons of the mind.
Laran is the psychic ability possessed by the Comyn and some of the Darkovans. Over the centuries, the survivors of that initial shipwreck learned to use their laran, they bred for it, and as the rulers of Darkover established their domains, certain Gifts became exclusive to certain domains: "the Ridenow were celebrated for their empathy" and the Altons could kill with their anger and force a rapport with anyone.
Today, many of the Gifts have been lost: the Aillards are almost extinct and no one alive remembers what the Elhalyns could do.
The Cover
The cover is a soft blend of lavenders to almost-pinks as the suns rise over a spaceport while Gareth and Rahelle, holding back their oudrakhi, looking over it.
The title sums it up as this is a story about The Children of Kings.
August 16, 2015
The Children of Kings (pub. 2013), focuses on Gareth Marius-Danvan Elhalyn y Hastur, the oldest son of Dani Hastur and Miralys Elhalyn, grandson of Regis Hastur and Linnea Storn. Last seen in Traitor's Sun as an angry adolescent manipulated by Javanne Hastur and Francisco Ridenow, Gareth has grown to be a more tempered young man, chafing as others of his kin have done before him at the restrictions placed on a Comyn Heir. As heir to Elhalyn, he is destined to inherit a wholly honorary title. Thanks to years of inbreeding and other misfortunes, the Elhalyn line is seen as being tainted by mental instability and a lack of intelligence. Thanks to his youthful mistake in listening to Javanne, many see him as either weak-willed and easy to manipulate, or a potential traitor. He longs to prove himself, to be useful, and to get away from sycophants hoping to entangle him in their marital or political schemes.
The novel begins with the departure of Mikhail and Marguerida on holiday to Armida. After seeing them off, Gareth inadvertently "overhears" snippets of a telepathic conversation between his cousin Domenic, acting Regent in Mikhail's absence, and Danilo Syrtis, advisor now to three generations of Hasturs. Domenic, who possesses a previously unknown form of laran which can sense geological activity, has perceived unusual tremors which may have been caused by the landing of a spacecraft.
Curiosity aroused, Gareth follows Domenic and Danilo as they slip out of the Castle, and observes their meeting with a Dry-Town merchant who appears to be their agent. Suddenly embarrassed over spying on his friends and seeing something he ought not to have seen, he wanders aimlessly around Thendara before, ending up in the city's caravanserai quarter - where he is struck with the idea of running away to Carthon, to be free of his life for a while and to see something of life. When he encounters the trader he saw meeting with Domenic and Danilo, he makes up a cover story and asks to travel with him.
Two days later, with only his grandmother Linnea and a household retainer having any idea of where he is headed, Gareth sets out on his adventure.
In Carthon, staying with the merchant Cyrillon (who has received a message from Danilo Syrtis alerting him to Gareth's identity) he hears rumors suggesting that Terrans have landed in the desert and are trading with the tribes for blasters. Cyrillon is equally concerned by this and agrees to take Gareth to Shainsa. Gareth is guided into the desert region that appears to be the source of these rumours by Cyrillon's daugher Rahelle, who travels with her father disguised as a young boy apprentice.
When he discovers the landing site of a group of offworlders, Gareth attempts to persuade them not to trade blasters to the local tribespeople. They dismiss his concerns, but take him on as a labourer. He learns that they are arms smugglers intending to use Darkover as a base for rendez-vous with customers - mostly planets rebelling against the remains of the Federation, now known as The Nagy Star Alliance. He also discovers that the blasters are no more than cheap trade goods, obsolete and nearly depleted.
Meanwhile, Linnea has discovered that the reclusive Silvana, Keeper of Nevarsin Tower is in fact her long-lost daughter Kierestelli - who believes that Regis and Linnea abandoned her, and wants no personal contact with Linnea. While Linnea mourns losing her daughter a second time, Silvana, in emotional turmoil, returns to the chieri who raised her. There she learns that Regis had in fact returned many times to look for her after the threat to her was over, but that her foster-parent had "closed the Forest against him" for reasons that are not entirely clear. She also learns that the chieri are aware of Terran spaceships near Darkover, and fear that eventually Terran ships will return to wreak horrible destruction on the planet. They give her a special starstone, a heartstone, imbued with memories of the chieri, and tell her to use it to contact them when the need is greatest. Silvana then returns to Nevasin.
What especially pleased me about this section is that Silvana's visit shows us what happened to s'Keral and David Hamilton from The World Wreckers. They are both living in the Yellow Forest, though David is now quite old - and s'Keral is pregnant again. More, their first child Lian is also pregnant.
Back in the Desert, a party of warriors from Shainsa led by Hayat, the son of the Lord of Shainsa arrives at the smugglers' camp seeking blasters, and Gareth acts as the go-between in negotiations, which take several unfortunate turns. When a message reaches the smugglers from their client that they are being tracked by a former Federation warship, the smugglers decide to abandon camp, leaving behind the "trade goods" for the Shainsa warriors. The captain gives Gareth a warning: "Get clear of this base but stay away from any place that has a space port. I know there’s one up toward the big mountain range. When the sharks catch up with the Castor Sector ships, they’ll like as not decide the rebels have set up a base there. The way things are going, they’ll bomb first and ask questions later.”
After the smugglers leave, Hayat takes the blasters, but before heading back to Shainsa, he takes a Dry-Town religious amulet Gareth is wearing - actually a hiding Place for his starstone - saying that in working for the Terrans, he disgraced his faith. Hayat and his men ride off, leaving Gareth reeling from the effects of losing contact with his matrix. Even so, he knows that even if he does not survive to see Thendara again, the Domains must be warned of these dual threats from Shainsa and from space. Trying desperately to reach Linnea, he instead manages to send the warnings to Silvana in a dream - demonstrating that he, like Silvana, carries the Hastur gift of the living matrix. Silvana passes what she has perceived on to Linnea, who realises that the message comes from Gareth.
Rahelle takes Gareth back to Shainsa, where her father waits for them, but once there, Gareth decides to challenge Hayat for his amulet, and also to accuse him of bringing useless weapons to his father, in the hope that he can dissuade the Lord from going to war against the domains. He mortally wounds Hayat, thus proving his challenge, and takes back his starstone - which he then uses to save Hayat's life, as explosions in the skies speak of battle in near space.
Back in Thendara, Jeram, whom we met in The Alton Gift, has received a distress call from a rebel ship, the Grissom - the smugglers' customer. Damaged in a fight with a Star Alliance ship (which they destroyed), they need to set down to make repairs, and present themselves as allies. Domenic, acting Regent as Mikhail is still on holiday, offers them sanctuary as long as they respect Darkovan neutrality and Darkovan law - including the Compact. The Captain of the Grissom reluctantly agrees.
Not long after they land, a warship from The Star Alliance hails them, demanding the Grissom. When Domenic asserts Darkovan neutrality, the starship refuses to recognise it, and gives them an hour to reconsider before the city is destroyed along with the Grissom. As the Comyn Tower circle prepares to attempt to destroy the ship, Linnea contacts Silvana to say good-bye. Silvana, knowing that no human telepath circle can succeed, uses the heartstone to contact the chieri, who are able to disarm the battleship, rendering it incapable of attacking Darkover. The ship retreats from Darkovan space.
As the novel ends, all three children of kings - Domenic, Silvana and Gareth - are together in Thendara, celebrating Midsummer as kin. Gareth resigns his claim to the Elhalyn Domain and the kingship, to be a liason between Domains and DryTowns - and to be free to marry Rahelle.
The novel begins with the departure of Mikhail and Marguerida on holiday to Armida. After seeing them off, Gareth inadvertently "overhears" snippets of a telepathic conversation between his cousin Domenic, acting Regent in Mikhail's absence, and Danilo Syrtis, advisor now to three generations of Hasturs. Domenic, who possesses a previously unknown form of laran which can sense geological activity, has perceived unusual tremors which may have been caused by the landing of a spacecraft.
Curiosity aroused, Gareth follows Domenic and Danilo as they slip out of the Castle, and observes their meeting with a Dry-Town merchant who appears to be their agent. Suddenly embarrassed over spying on his friends and seeing something he ought not to have seen, he wanders aimlessly around Thendara before, ending up in the city's caravanserai quarter - where he is struck with the idea of running away to Carthon, to be free of his life for a while and to see something of life. When he encounters the trader he saw meeting with Domenic and Danilo, he makes up a cover story and asks to travel with him.
Two days later, with only his grandmother Linnea and a household retainer having any idea of where he is headed, Gareth sets out on his adventure.
In Carthon, staying with the merchant Cyrillon (who has received a message from Danilo Syrtis alerting him to Gareth's identity) he hears rumors suggesting that Terrans have landed in the desert and are trading with the tribes for blasters. Cyrillon is equally concerned by this and agrees to take Gareth to Shainsa. Gareth is guided into the desert region that appears to be the source of these rumours by Cyrillon's daugher Rahelle, who travels with her father disguised as a young boy apprentice.
When he discovers the landing site of a group of offworlders, Gareth attempts to persuade them not to trade blasters to the local tribespeople. They dismiss his concerns, but take him on as a labourer. He learns that they are arms smugglers intending to use Darkover as a base for rendez-vous with customers - mostly planets rebelling against the remains of the Federation, now known as The Nagy Star Alliance. He also discovers that the blasters are no more than cheap trade goods, obsolete and nearly depleted.
Meanwhile, Linnea has discovered that the reclusive Silvana, Keeper of Nevarsin Tower is in fact her long-lost daughter Kierestelli - who believes that Regis and Linnea abandoned her, and wants no personal contact with Linnea. While Linnea mourns losing her daughter a second time, Silvana, in emotional turmoil, returns to the chieri who raised her. There she learns that Regis had in fact returned many times to look for her after the threat to her was over, but that her foster-parent had "closed the Forest against him" for reasons that are not entirely clear. She also learns that the chieri are aware of Terran spaceships near Darkover, and fear that eventually Terran ships will return to wreak horrible destruction on the planet. They give her a special starstone, a heartstone, imbued with memories of the chieri, and tell her to use it to contact them when the need is greatest. Silvana then returns to Nevasin.
What especially pleased me about this section is that Silvana's visit shows us what happened to s'Keral and David Hamilton from The World Wreckers. They are both living in the Yellow Forest, though David is now quite old - and s'Keral is pregnant again. More, their first child Lian is also pregnant.
Back in the Desert, a party of warriors from Shainsa led by Hayat, the son of the Lord of Shainsa arrives at the smugglers' camp seeking blasters, and Gareth acts as the go-between in negotiations, which take several unfortunate turns. When a message reaches the smugglers from their client that they are being tracked by a former Federation warship, the smugglers decide to abandon camp, leaving behind the "trade goods" for the Shainsa warriors. The captain gives Gareth a warning: "Get clear of this base but stay away from any place that has a space port. I know there’s one up toward the big mountain range. When the sharks catch up with the Castor Sector ships, they’ll like as not decide the rebels have set up a base there. The way things are going, they’ll bomb first and ask questions later.”
After the smugglers leave, Hayat takes the blasters, but before heading back to Shainsa, he takes a Dry-Town religious amulet Gareth is wearing - actually a hiding Place for his starstone - saying that in working for the Terrans, he disgraced his faith. Hayat and his men ride off, leaving Gareth reeling from the effects of losing contact with his matrix. Even so, he knows that even if he does not survive to see Thendara again, the Domains must be warned of these dual threats from Shainsa and from space. Trying desperately to reach Linnea, he instead manages to send the warnings to Silvana in a dream - demonstrating that he, like Silvana, carries the Hastur gift of the living matrix. Silvana passes what she has perceived on to Linnea, who realises that the message comes from Gareth.
Rahelle takes Gareth back to Shainsa, where her father waits for them, but once there, Gareth decides to challenge Hayat for his amulet, and also to accuse him of bringing useless weapons to his father, in the hope that he can dissuade the Lord from going to war against the domains. He mortally wounds Hayat, thus proving his challenge, and takes back his starstone - which he then uses to save Hayat's life, as explosions in the skies speak of battle in near space.
Back in Thendara, Jeram, whom we met in The Alton Gift, has received a distress call from a rebel ship, the Grissom - the smugglers' customer. Damaged in a fight with a Star Alliance ship (which they destroyed), they need to set down to make repairs, and present themselves as allies. Domenic, acting Regent as Mikhail is still on holiday, offers them sanctuary as long as they respect Darkovan neutrality and Darkovan law - including the Compact. The Captain of the Grissom reluctantly agrees.
Not long after they land, a warship from The Star Alliance hails them, demanding the Grissom. When Domenic asserts Darkovan neutrality, the starship refuses to recognise it, and gives them an hour to reconsider before the city is destroyed along with the Grissom. As the Comyn Tower circle prepares to attempt to destroy the ship, Linnea contacts Silvana to say good-bye. Silvana, knowing that no human telepath circle can succeed, uses the heartstone to contact the chieri, who are able to disarm the battleship, rendering it incapable of attacking Darkover. The ship retreats from Darkovan space.
As the novel ends, all three children of kings - Domenic, Silvana and Gareth - are together in Thendara, celebrating Midsummer as kin. Gareth resigns his claim to the Elhalyn Domain and the kingship, to be a liason between Domains and DryTowns - and to be free to marry Rahelle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
Better than I was expecting. Decent read. =)
June 30, 2014
I liked the Darkover books. I really did. This book, on the other hand...
There are two plots. Which is more boring or cliched?
Our Intrepid Young Hero realizes that he'll never get any respect in the city, so he goes off for an adventure. Yada yada, he meets a girl, he meets foreigners, the girl is spunky, the strangers who know his family help him, the strangers who don't know his family try to use him or kill him. Or both. He manages to do magical things even though he's only half trained. When he gets into a situation that half kills him, he manages to mind-shout for help, which he - according to the in-universe rules - should not be able to do. Oh, he's special alright. And guess what? SpunkyGirl(tm) falls in love with him! Gosh, never saw that one coming.
Our Intrepid Young Hero's Grandmother once had to give up her baby because Reasons, and when she and Grandfather went to look for Baby, she was nowhere to be found. Now, after decades of searching, Grandma finds Daughter (who is Hero's aunt?) completely by accident, while both women are doing something slightly out of character for them. The plot-hole is gently glossed over in the emotional reaction. And just like the Hero's story, the Path of True Love(tm) runs rough, then smooth.
Yawn. This book is so formulaic, you can check off all the plot milestones on the list. And you can look at the checklist because the story is not emotionally gripping enough to make you forget that formulas exist for a reason.
There are two plots. Which is more boring or cliched?
Our Intrepid Young Hero realizes that he'll never get any respect in the city, so he goes off for an adventure. Yada yada, he meets a girl, he meets foreigners, the girl is spunky, the strangers who know his family help him, the strangers who don't know his family try to use him or kill him. Or both. He manages to do magical things even though he's only half trained. When he gets into a situation that half kills him, he manages to mind-shout for help, which he - according to the in-universe rules - should not be able to do. Oh, he's special alright. And guess what? SpunkyGirl(tm) falls in love with him! Gosh, never saw that one coming.
Our Intrepid Young Hero's Grandmother once had to give up her baby because Reasons, and when she and Grandfather went to look for Baby, she was nowhere to be found. Now, after decades of searching, Grandma finds Daughter (who is Hero's aunt?) completely by accident, while both women are doing something slightly out of character for them. The plot-hole is gently glossed over in the emotional reaction. And just like the Hero's story, the Path of True Love(tm) runs rough, then smooth.
Yawn. This book is so formulaic, you can check off all the plot milestones on the list. And you can look at the checklist because the story is not emotionally gripping enough to make you forget that formulas exist for a reason.
March 22, 2013
In Children of Kings, Deborah J. Ross weaves together a tale with threads that bring together memorable characters old and new. When Prince Gareth leaves the city of his birth to find adventure—and hopefully, himself—in the Dry Towns, little does he know that his journey and the choices he makes will affect not only himself but also the entire planet.
The tale includes a young man’s search for self and adventure, a mother’s yearning for what was lost, the joy of pain and love and difficult moral choices along with other issues, all written with the love and familiarity of an author entrusted to MZB’s legacy.
Filled with strong women, gender-bending, and moments of touching emotional clarity, Children of Kings is an entertaining, worthy addition to the Darkover canon that will appeal to everyone, from die-hard fans to those new to the world.
The tale includes a young man’s search for self and adventure, a mother’s yearning for what was lost, the joy of pain and love and difficult moral choices along with other issues, all written with the love and familiarity of an author entrusted to MZB’s legacy.
Filled with strong women, gender-bending, and moments of touching emotional clarity, Children of Kings is an entertaining, worthy addition to the Darkover canon that will appeal to everyone, from die-hard fans to those new to the world.
August 8, 2017
This is, I think, the final book in the Darkover series started by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It is a very worthy final chapter and finishes the saga pretty well if it does in fact end there. I have been reading/rereading the entire series and enjoying it.
Notes about the Darkover series itself:
One of my favorite series. Over the years I'd read many books from it, out of order of course. This is, in fact, the way MZB wrote them, out of order. It shows a bit when trying to read them consecutively. There are slight continuity issues here and there. In fact, Ms. Bradley herself admits that that is the case. It's not a huge thing, and doesn't detract from the enjoyment very much.
Thank you, Deborah J. Ross for continuing the series.
Notes about the Darkover series itself:
One of my favorite series. Over the years I'd read many books from it, out of order of course. This is, in fact, the way MZB wrote them, out of order. It shows a bit when trying to read them consecutively. There are slight continuity issues here and there. In fact, Ms. Bradley herself admits that that is the case. It's not a huge thing, and doesn't detract from the enjoyment very much.
Thank you, Deborah J. Ross for continuing the series.
November 18, 2016
Prince Gareth does not fit in on Darkover His sense of adventure leads him to the Dry Towns and beyond where he uncovers off worlders who sell forbidden weapons. He also discovers a plot against his own people by a Dry Town noble. Keepers of the Tower use their telepathic powers to fight destruction of Darkover by a foreign star system. This is a good science fiction read with a touch of romance.
July 12, 2017
Written by Deborah Ross, not Marion Zimmer Bradley, despite what the cover says, but read the author's note at the beginning. She makes a good case for her credentials to write such a book. And it is a good story. She takes a rather different view of the Dry Towns than in earlier books - the view of Dry Towners themselves. Her lead character, Gareth was a bit of a whiny pampered kid, but he grows up during the book. I will be looking to see if MS Ross has written any more Darkover books.
November 7, 2021
Darkover continues without the unique twist of character of Marion Zimmer Bradley. This book only falls flat on the Terran interaction side and the colourless end happily ever after almost catapulting the book into a cliché. The rich detail of the dry towns and the cultural differences make up for a lot.
January 27, 2021
Enjoyed this as I have all the Darkover books, but this one seemed just a bit more ‘contrived’, a bit rushed to get where it was going, but then reluctant to actually get there. A bit more attention to the active parts of the story might have helped.
July 23, 2018
I just couldn’t get into this story.
April 23, 2020
Like visiting an old friend.
May 6, 2020
I is an excellent book I'm glad I got the chance to read it
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
January 14, 2021
Fills in a few of the blanks in the Darkover series. Well done as usual.
October 5, 2021
I like a Darkover novel and I particularly like the themes and main character in this one. I do think it would be hard to read this book, having never read another book in the Darkover world.
June 9, 2022
Life on Darkover goes on.
Intrigue, greed, honor, and love continue to motivate people. Day to day problems overshadow the fear of the Terraman's return.
Intrigue, greed, honor, and love continue to motivate people. Day to day problems overshadow the fear of the Terraman's return.
July 8, 2023
Great book. The pacing was fabulous. The story was moving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2023
Loved it. No one writes more compelling or interesting stories than Deborah J. Ross.
August 28, 2023
❤️ Loved this book.
February 15, 2024
I've always liked the Darkover novels, in spite of all the controversy. They hold up well for their age and the genre, and the new co-writer has a good solid knack for story-telling.
August 2, 2018
I think the main reason I gave this five stars is because it does something different.
Through most of Darkover's publishing history other than The Shattered Chain, the Dry Towns have been the weird frontier that does weird things without much actual background or exploration of their culture other than as honor-bound desert-dwellers who fight all the time and keep their women in chains. And it's true that in The Children of Kings, most of the expansion of their culture follows those lines and the only real surprise is that the Dry Towners don't have laran, which is odd, because in Stormqueen! we learned that the Ridenow had their origin in a group of Dry Towns bandits. And it's also true that the Dry Towns makes very little sense considering the rest of Darkover's climate.
But surprisingly, I didn't care that much. While I reading, I was really interested in Gareth's plot to head off to the Dry Towns and I eagerly looked forward to what he would learn about the world there. He starts off as a coddled prince who no one trusts and everyone assumes will just turn out to be another ineffectual-at-best and insane-at-worst Elhalyn king, and that drive to prove himself leads to him disguising himself as a merchant and running off. Then he hears rumors of men vanishing in blasts of light in the deep desert, realizes that it must be Federation weaponry that is the cause, and has to make a decision beteween his duty toward his ancestors and the Domains to keep himself safe, and his desire to neutralize a threat to the Domains as a whole and prove that he isn't just another useless blue-blood wastrel. The choice between freedom and duty always makes the best Darkover stories, and that's the case here just as much as it's true anywhere.
There's also another plot dealing with Linnea, Regis Hastur's wife, and her attempts to find Regis's lost daughter, which seems like it's from Hastur Lord, which I haven't read. This might have fallen a bit flat except for the involvement of the chieri, which are one of my favorite parts of Darkover. Yes, they're Space Elves and as stereotypically so as it's possible to be, but I'll give Bradley credit for coming up with most of their defining characteristics--living in true harmony with nature, immense psychic powers, being a civilization that had powerful technology but gave it up for a simpler existence, and slowly going extinct--before they all becomes codified into a popular archetype. And considering how much influence they have on Darkover's history, the nonhuman species on the planet are underused. This book doesn't have enough information to remove the mystique of the chieri, but it has tidbits and reveals that even against the might of a starship, the chieri are not defenseless.
The ending is pretty cliched and leaves some questions: , but that wasn't enough to retroactively ruin the rest of the book for me. After the disappointment I found in the last few books, I'm glad that I found this one much more interesting.
Through most of Darkover's publishing history other than The Shattered Chain, the Dry Towns have been the weird frontier that does weird things without much actual background or exploration of their culture other than as honor-bound desert-dwellers who fight all the time and keep their women in chains. And it's true that in The Children of Kings, most of the expansion of their culture follows those lines and the only real surprise is that the Dry Towners don't have laran, which is odd, because in Stormqueen! we learned that the Ridenow had their origin in a group of Dry Towns bandits. And it's also true that the Dry Towns makes very little sense considering the rest of Darkover's climate.
But surprisingly, I didn't care that much. While I reading, I was really interested in Gareth's plot to head off to the Dry Towns and I eagerly looked forward to what he would learn about the world there. He starts off as a coddled prince who no one trusts and everyone assumes will just turn out to be another ineffectual-at-best and insane-at-worst Elhalyn king, and that drive to prove himself leads to him disguising himself as a merchant and running off. Then he hears rumors of men vanishing in blasts of light in the deep desert, realizes that it must be Federation weaponry that is the cause, and has to make a decision beteween his duty toward his ancestors and the Domains to keep himself safe, and his desire to neutralize a threat to the Domains as a whole and prove that he isn't just another useless blue-blood wastrel. The choice between freedom and duty always makes the best Darkover stories, and that's the case here just as much as it's true anywhere.
There's also another plot dealing with Linnea, Regis Hastur's wife, and her attempts to find Regis's lost daughter, which seems like it's from Hastur Lord, which I haven't read. This might have fallen a bit flat except for the involvement of the chieri, which are one of my favorite parts of Darkover. Yes, they're Space Elves and as stereotypically so as it's possible to be, but I'll give Bradley credit for coming up with most of their defining characteristics--living in true harmony with nature, immense psychic powers, being a civilization that had powerful technology but gave it up for a simpler existence, and slowly going extinct--before they all becomes codified into a popular archetype. And considering how much influence they have on Darkover's history, the nonhuman species on the planet are underused. This book doesn't have enough information to remove the mystique of the chieri, but it has tidbits and reveals that even against the might of a starship, the chieri are not defenseless.
The ending is pretty cliched and leaves some questions: , but that wasn't enough to retroactively ruin the rest of the book for me. After the disappointment I found in the last few books, I'm glad that I found this one much more interesting.
April 8, 2013
I'm a big fan of the Darkover novels. When Bradley died I just assumed, incorrectly, that was the end. When I heard about The Children of Kings I discovered that there have been others taking up the tales of this wondrous and mysterious place. In Darkover, Bradley created a rich and imaginative world full of interesting cultures, mysterious powers and a great historical narrative. In this third novel, Deborah J. Ross has shown herself a worthy heir to Bradley. Darkover is a world home to non-human sentient races and humans descended from colony ships from Terra long forgotten until they were rediscovered. Some of the human inhabitants (the Comyn) developed great mental powers (laran). Miss-use of these powers in the distant past gave rise to the Compact that forbade all weapons that did not put the wielder into as much danger as the target. Few realized that this abuse of mental powers was the main purpose of the Compact and not modern weapons. The exposure of Darkover to rest of the galaxy has put the Compact under great stress.
This is the story of Gareth Hastur, heir of the Comyn and the Seven Domains. Because of unfortunate events he is thought a fool and incompetent, unworthy of the throne, and his laran weak, making him useless to working in the Towers; in his own words, a parasite on the Domains. Hearing rumors of strange happenings out in the desert cultures he decides to strike out alone to discover the truth and to earn himself a worthy place in Comyn society. The story draws you forward as Gareth searches out his destiny, learning about himself and his heritage. Ross does an excellent job of providing the historical back story so you can read this without prelude, but it would that much more enjoyable to have read Bradley's stories to guide you. If you are a fan of Darkover, you will not be disappointed and if are new to Darkover please go back and read Bradley's books and you will become a fan.
This is the story of Gareth Hastur, heir of the Comyn and the Seven Domains. Because of unfortunate events he is thought a fool and incompetent, unworthy of the throne, and his laran weak, making him useless to working in the Towers; in his own words, a parasite on the Domains. Hearing rumors of strange happenings out in the desert cultures he decides to strike out alone to discover the truth and to earn himself a worthy place in Comyn society. The story draws you forward as Gareth searches out his destiny, learning about himself and his heritage. Ross does an excellent job of providing the historical back story so you can read this without prelude, but it would that much more enjoyable to have read Bradley's stories to guide you. If you are a fan of Darkover, you will not be disappointed and if are new to Darkover please go back and read Bradley's books and you will become a fan.
December 16, 2015
"The Children of Kings" is the last in a series of make-up stories for the Darkover series by Deborah J. Ross. These are set in the "present day" of the chronology unlike her Clingfire trilogy. The first published (second chronologically), "The Alton Gift" concludes the Margaret Alton trilogy done by Adrienne Martine-Barnes under Marion Zimmer Bradley's name and advisement. The second published and first chronologically, "Hastur Lord" explains how the Regis Hastur, Regent of Darkover and a confirmed homosexual, ended up being a married heterosexual and progenitor of a vibrant dynasty.
"Children" picks up on these stories and expands them to other generations. It also moves the story in the direction of space opera. Ross is taking the series into places Marion was not interested including less mental, physical, and sexual abuse. We will definitely lose something in this transition from gender roles and culture clash to fantasy and adventure. Ross has the following to say on the evolution that has occurred for her:
"By the end of the sixth book (The Children of Kings), I realized how much of my own imagination colored the story and its landscape. I found myself drawn away from the characters and situations that Marion had envisioned, and toward those I had invented. I believe it’s a healthy thing, to simultaneously allow for the introduction of new characters, themes, and resonances, at the same time staying true to the spirit of the world, a wondrous place of telepaths and swordsmen, nonhumans and ancient mysteries, the clash of cultures between a star-faring, technologically advanced civilization and one that has pursued psychic gifts and has turned away from weapons of mass destruction. It’s an engraved invitation to gritty, romantic, action-adventure, gender-bending, inclusive, poignant, uplifting stories!"
I think the fun will remain but not the questing that was the real highlight of reading the Darkover series.
"Children" picks up on these stories and expands them to other generations. It also moves the story in the direction of space opera. Ross is taking the series into places Marion was not interested including less mental, physical, and sexual abuse. We will definitely lose something in this transition from gender roles and culture clash to fantasy and adventure. Ross has the following to say on the evolution that has occurred for her:
"By the end of the sixth book (The Children of Kings), I realized how much of my own imagination colored the story and its landscape. I found myself drawn away from the characters and situations that Marion had envisioned, and toward those I had invented. I believe it’s a healthy thing, to simultaneously allow for the introduction of new characters, themes, and resonances, at the same time staying true to the spirit of the world, a wondrous place of telepaths and swordsmen, nonhumans and ancient mysteries, the clash of cultures between a star-faring, technologically advanced civilization and one that has pursued psychic gifts and has turned away from weapons of mass destruction. It’s an engraved invitation to gritty, romantic, action-adventure, gender-bending, inclusive, poignant, uplifting stories!"
I think the fun will remain but not the questing that was the real highlight of reading the Darkover series.
March 27, 2013
I have to say that, after Hastur Lord, I started this book with a bit of fear. But, after all, this is Deborah J. Ross, written about a world created by Marion Zimmer Bradley. How bad could it get. So, prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best, I decided to brave the latest Darkover book. And, just like Hastur Lord, I was really, really surprised. A good surprise, this time.
As far as I'm concerned, The Children of Kings is one of the top 3 Darkover novels of all time, and without doubt the best one released since Marion died. Deborah's touch, always so deft, takes us in a journey of exploration and discovery, into parts of Darkover we only dreamed of, without ever boring us with stuff that was overused in the past, or even those same old characters we keep reading about. Oh, some of them are still there, but just enough to make everything familiar.
On the best Darkover tradition, we are invited to explore several different stories, parallel but ultimately interconnected, taking places everywhere from Thendara to the Yellow Forest, passing through Nevarsin and the Dry Town deserts.
The Children of Kings is a must read for any Darkover fan and, without a doubt, a landmark on the series.
Thank you for the wonderful journey, Deborah J. Ross. I owe you another one.
As far as I'm concerned, The Children of Kings is one of the top 3 Darkover novels of all time, and without doubt the best one released since Marion died. Deborah's touch, always so deft, takes us in a journey of exploration and discovery, into parts of Darkover we only dreamed of, without ever boring us with stuff that was overused in the past, or even those same old characters we keep reading about. Oh, some of them are still there, but just enough to make everything familiar.
On the best Darkover tradition, we are invited to explore several different stories, parallel but ultimately interconnected, taking places everywhere from Thendara to the Yellow Forest, passing through Nevarsin and the Dry Town deserts.
The Children of Kings is a must read for any Darkover fan and, without a doubt, a landmark on the series.
Thank you for the wonderful journey, Deborah J. Ross. I owe you another one.
December 7, 2015
I'm guessing Deborah Ross won't let the series end here but for now, this was kind of a meh way to end a commitment to read a 28-book series I've loved for so long. Yes, major things are resolved (Kierestelli gets over herself, for one--a bitterness I never wholly understood--and Gareth redeems himself after being such a dupe for his Auntie Javanne), but the majority of the book is focused on offworld pirates and desert hooligans. To his credit, Gareth deals with them as no one else has bothered, and as nobly as he should, given his background. I just had a hard time caring, I suspect because people today are also dealing with desert primitives ruled by outdated mythologies and armed beyond their wisdom. Much easier to ignore them as the Comyn have all these years, and hope they simply destroy themselves.
Then there are the Terranan, the dregs of the broken Federation, still fighting it out for control of the galaxy. This was equally irksome to me because 1) They're still greedy idiots and 2) The threat will obviously not be resolved as long as people with the ability to travel in space consider it their right to land anywhere and do whatever they want when they get there. It just makes me really uncomfortable to think we really will screw up everything we touch once we fuck up our own planet. No matter how honorable Darkovans are, they are not likely to deal with any interlopers on the same terms--especially when we're really talking about the same oligarchs and their military complex ruining our world now.
Hoping they figure out a way to keep the spirit of the Compact and insulate themselves from outside worlds. Here's hoping the damned Federation evolves in the meantime and they rediscover Roddenberry's prime directive to save us from becoming the bad guys for all time.
Then there are the Terranan, the dregs of the broken Federation, still fighting it out for control of the galaxy. This was equally irksome to me because 1) They're still greedy idiots and 2) The threat will obviously not be resolved as long as people with the ability to travel in space consider it their right to land anywhere and do whatever they want when they get there. It just makes me really uncomfortable to think we really will screw up everything we touch once we fuck up our own planet. No matter how honorable Darkovans are, they are not likely to deal with any interlopers on the same terms--especially when we're really talking about the same oligarchs and their military complex ruining our world now.
Hoping they figure out a way to keep the spirit of the Compact and insulate themselves from outside worlds. Here's hoping the damned Federation evolves in the meantime and they rediscover Roddenberry's prime directive to save us from becoming the bad guys for all time.
February 24, 2013
This was a First Reads win from Goodreads, an Advance reader's copy (so there may be changes before it reaches publication in March).
In some ways what a wonderful concept: immortality for our beloved authors by having chosen friend continue the adventures in the author's chosen lands. I mean, which of us would not give our right hands..or a fingernail or two, anyway, for a new Jane Austen novel? It is never fair that the authors we love die, as Bradley did in 1999.
And in writing The Children of Kings, Deborah J. Ross has said she has gone back to previous Bradley sources, to her conversations with Bradley, and so on, in an attempt to stay true to what this Darkover novel would have been if written by Bradley herself.
Does she manage this? Well, could anyone? I don't think so.
But it is a good read, with the requisite adventures and search for self and reconciliation and use of laren, and starstones and clashing cultural mores and all that. After a slow start I found that I had fully entered into the various interlocking tales and keep reading (and not sleeping) to see how everything turned out. (without spoiling this for others, let me say that everything turns out very predictably).
In some ways what a wonderful concept: immortality for our beloved authors by having chosen friend continue the adventures in the author's chosen lands. I mean, which of us would not give our right hands..or a fingernail or two, anyway, for a new Jane Austen novel? It is never fair that the authors we love die, as Bradley did in 1999.
And in writing The Children of Kings, Deborah J. Ross has said she has gone back to previous Bradley sources, to her conversations with Bradley, and so on, in an attempt to stay true to what this Darkover novel would have been if written by Bradley herself.
Does she manage this? Well, could anyone? I don't think so.
But it is a good read, with the requisite adventures and search for self and reconciliation and use of laren, and starstones and clashing cultural mores and all that. After a slow start I found that I had fully entered into the various interlocking tales and keep reading (and not sleeping) to see how everything turned out. (without spoiling this for others, let me say that everything turns out very predictably).
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