SOLVED. adult sci-fi: Main character has a "diadem" that's linked into her nervous system and gives her superpowers. She travels by covered wagon across bizarre landscape. [s]

[Leela4]

I want to identify a specific book I read in the late 1980s. Probably one of a series by Jo Clayton, but I can't find anything that describes the actual scenes I remember.

Main character has a "diadem" that's linked into her nervous system and gives her superpowers. She may have innate powers of her own, as I remember a sequence where she's doing psychic healing for paying customers, and I have the impression the diadem had nothing to do with that.

She's travelling by covered wagon with at least one companion across a bizarre world. (Actually, I have the vague memory of two companions, one an untrustworthy woman.) She has an infant who is kidnapped near the end. And I remember that once or twice when she uses the power of the diadem she sees the eyes of someone observing her. At the end of the book she comes face to face with those eyes.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Diadem from the Stars is the series you are talking about. And, while its been many, many, many years since I read them, yes, you are describing that series. Altho I think that what you are remembering might be from 2 of the books.

I also remember that she isn't happy about the diadem bonding with her, and that she has a couple of different groups after her, one of which wants to imprision her in their temple because she is wearing the diadem, which they view as a sacred item, and the wearer as being also sacred.

Like I said--I don't remember a whole lot about it, but I do remember the bit you've described and what I just typed. The entire series is like mega long--9 or 10 or something books long.

[Leela4]

I remembered something else: I believe her dress in this book consists of a skirt (or loincloth?) and butterfly tattoos.

[Leela4]

Ha, found it! It's Lamarchos.

[Lisa]

Thanks, Leela, Shelved it.