SOLVED. 70s-ish scifi about a brainwashed astronaut becoming a wizard. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Michelle]

I read this series in the early 2000s, but from the cover designs they were written between the 60s and the 80s. These were scifi pulp novels, little paperbacks. In the first one this astronaut supersoldier lands on a planet with medieval-era technology and magic, which he learns how to use and eventually manages to break his brainwashing by reciting his full name three times. Then in the second book another supersoldier, this one a woman, lands and he tries to stop her from killing people/deprogram her. He finally does it, and her name is something like Viorica Mikaelhovina Yessenina, but she can't handle freedom and she kills herself.

[Peter]

Maybe The Cyborg and the Sorcerers by Lawrence Watt-Evans? It's been so long since I've read it that I don't remember details, but the basic plot of a high tech soldier landing on a planet with magic is definitely there.

[Kris]

Added a spoiler alert to the topic header.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

While not a brainwashed astronaut, There is the possibility of The Warlock in Spite of Himself has someone from a technologically advanced planet landing on a planet where magic is normal. There is an entire series of this, but like I said, not a super soldier.

[Michelle]

The Warlock in Spite of Himself doesn't fit, but I'm not sure about the Cyborg and the Wizards. The tone seemed more serious and I don't think the protagonist could remember his old name--figuring it out was what freed him from his mind control.

[Ayshe]

Michelle wrote: "...I'm not sure about the Cyborg and the Wizards. The tone seemed more serious and I don't think the protagonist could remember his old name--figuring ..."

The second book: The Wizard and the War Machine appears to have "Valentina Mikhailovna Yessenina" https://books.google.com/books?redir_...

[Michelle]

That's it! Thank you!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Glad you found it Michelle. REALLY glad, since this is an author that I enjoy and I somehow managed to miss the 2 books in this series. Now to just wait for PaperbackSwap.com to get them delivered to me. Gotta love getting books for a credit, right?