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The Darkover series consists of several novels and short stories set in the fictional world of Darkover as created by science fiction author Marion Zimmer Bradley. A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative in prose. ...
This article is in need of attention. ...
The above illustration shows Darkover as the planet on the left with its four moons: Liriel, Kyrrdis, Irdriel and Mormallor. ...
Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...
Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was a prolific author of largely feminist fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, and a steadfast encourager of equality (and quality) in writing. ...
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Darkover chronology
See also: List of Darkover books for a complete chronological bibliography of Darkover books, anthologies and series by date of publication. The following list of books are set in the world of Darkover and were written, co-authored, edited or started by Marion Zimmer Bradley. ...
Although the following Darkover chronology includes a book list for novels set in specific time periods, each was written to stand as a separate story and the individual novel plots are not dependent upon one another. Bradley herself recommended that the books be read in the order in which they were written, rather than the Darkovan chronological order, as her writing style changed considerably over her career.
The time periods the books belong in, particularly the ones in the Ages of Chaos and the Hundred Kingdoms Era, are blurred. Reflecting on that some books state they are in one era, and then there is evidence with story lines lining up to support where it goes while the chronology in the books state there are a different era, the books are in order as their story falls into place. (Not the chronology in the beginning of some of the books.)
The Founding
 The above illustration shows Darkover as the planet on the left with its four moons: Liriel, Kyrrdis, Irdriel and Mormallor. In the background is a representation of the Cottman red giant star. During the early years of space exploration and colonization, Earth-based humans on their way to a new colony planet crash-land on Darkover, a planet which circles a red giant. They are unable to repair their ship and can not re-establish contact with Earth. The ethnic background of the colonists was mostly Celtic and Spanish, and this mix is reflected in the resultant blended culture(s). To increase the available gene pool and maximize the chances of colonial survival, the colonists intermarried extensively and produced as many children with as many different partners as possible. Psychic and psionic abilities were introduced through mutation, external stimulants, and/or interbreeding with the native chieri of the planet. This image was created August 25, 2004 by me, David Speakman [1], for Wikipedia to illustrate the Darkover article. ...
This image was created August 25, 2004 by me, David Speakman [1], for Wikipedia to illustrate the Darkover article. ...
The above illustration shows Darkover as the planet on the left with its four moons: Liriel, Kyrrdis, Irdriel and Mormallor. ...
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the Moon. ...
Artists conception of a space habitat called the Stanford torus, by Don Davis Space colonization (also called space settlement, space humanization, space habitation, etc. ...
The eight planets and three dwarf planets of the Solar System. ...
Artists conception of the remains of artificial structures on the Earth after the Sun enters its red giant phase and swells to roughly 100 times its current size. ...
This article concerns those peoples who consider themselves, or have been considered by others, to be Celts in modern times. ...
A psychic is a person who has the abilities of extra-sensory perception, such as clairvoyance, psychometry, premonition and precognition, or other paranormal abilities such as psychokinesis. ...
Psionics is the practice of using a variety of psychic abilities. ...
In biology, mutations are changes to the genetic material (either DNA or RNA). ...
Indigenous peoples are: Peoples living in an area prior to colonization by a state Peoples living in an area within a nation-state, prior to the formation of a nation-state, but who do not identify with the dominant nation. ...
Books of this era:
- Darkover Landfall (1972) - the first of the series, though not the first story published
Darkover Landfall is a science fiction novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in the Darkover book series. ...
The Ages of Chaos 1,000 years after the original landfall settlement, society has returned to the feudal level. The Darkovans, their Terran technology renounced or forgotten, have turned instead to freewheeling, out-of-control matrix technology, psi powers and terrible psi weapons. The populace lives under the domination of the Towers and a tyrannical breeding program to staff the Towers with unnaturally powerful, inbred gifts of laran.
Books of this era:
Stormqueen! is a fantasy novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in the Darkover book series. ...
The Hundred Kingdoms
 A map of the habitable part of Darkover showing major settlements and landforms (
Larger detailed version) An age of war and strife retaining many of the decimating and disastrous effects of the Ages of Chaos. The lands which are later to become the Seven Domains are divided by continuous border conflicts into a multitude of small, belligerent kingdoms, named for convenience "The Hundred Kingdoms." The close of this era is heralded by the adoption of the Compact, instituted by Varzil the Good. A landmark and turning point in the history of Darkover, the Compact bans all distance weapons, making it a matter of honor that one who seeks to kill must himself face equal risk of death. Download high resolution version (1260x945, 277 KB) This image was created August 25, 2004 by me, David Speakman [1], for Wikipedia to illustrate the Darkover article. ...
Download high resolution version (1260x945, 277 KB) This image was created August 25, 2004 by me, David Speakman [1], for Wikipedia to illustrate the Darkover article. ...
Download high resolution version (1260x945, 277 KB) This image was created August 25, 2004 by me, David Speakman [1], for Wikipedia to illustrate the Darkover article. ...
Books of this era:
- Two To Conquer (1980)
- Hawkmistress! (1982)
- The Fall of Neskaya (2001 - with Deborah J. Ross) (book one of the Clingfire Trilogy)
- Zandru's Forge (2003 - with Deborah J. Ross) (Coincides with Hawkmistress!, as it includes Carolin's exile) (book two of the Clingfire Trilogy)
- A Flame in Hali (2004 - with Deborah J. Ross) (book three of the Clingfire Trilogy)
- The Heirs of Hammerfell (1989). Twins, last surviving heirs to a small mountain kingdom, during the Hundred Kingdoms period of Darkover history recover their kingdom and resolve a blood feud.
Two To Conquer is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley as part of the Darkover series and is set in the Hundred Kingdoms time period. ...
Hawkmistress! is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley as part of the Darkover series and is set in the Hundred Kingdoms time period. ...
The Fall of Neskaya is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross as part of the Darkover series and is set in the Hundred Kingdoms time period. ...
Zandrus Forge is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross as part of the Darkover series and is set in the Hundred Kingdoms time period. ...
A Flame in Hali is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross as part of the Darkover series and is set in the Hundred Kingdoms time period. ...
A feud is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. ...
Recontact (Against the Terrans: The First Age) Eventually the planet was (re-)discovered by a human space traveling civilization and a spaceport was established near Thendara, the only large city on Darkover. Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal apes belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin for wise man or knowing man) under the family Hominidae (known as the great apes). ...
Space exploration is the physical exploration of outer-Earth objects and generally anything that involves the technologies, science, and politics regarding space endeavors. ...
Cities are a major hallmark of human civilization. ...
A spaceport is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with airport for aircraft. ...
To account for the apparent discrepancy between the length of (recorded) history on Darkover and the length of time that had passed for the rest of humanity, the author mentions that early FTL drives could cause dislocation in time as well as in space when mishaps occurred. Thus, the ship of the original colonists was not only thrown off course, but also backwards in time, allowing for the long history of Darkover to coexist with human history. FTL may refer to: Faster-than-light, a general scientific concept FTL Games, the video game development division of Software Heaven Inc. ...
Books of this era:
- Rediscovery (1993 - with Mercedes Lackey)
- The Shattered Chain (1976)
- The Spell Sword (1974)
- The Forbidden Tower (1977)
- (The second and third stories in The Shattered Chain fit here)
- Thendara House (1983)
- City of Sorcery (1984)
- Star of Danger (1965)
- Winds of Darkover (1970)
Bradley also published Oath of The Renunciatates, a combination of The Shattered Chain and Thendara House. Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Lackey (born June 24, 1950) (also known as Misty Lackey) is a prolific American author of fantasy novels. ...
“While only women can command the power of the matrix and he secret sciences which keep Darkover frm Terran hands, in most respects they are still chattles. ...
The Spell Sword: A Darkover Novel is a fantasy - science fiction novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in the Darkover series. ...
After the Comyn (Against the Terrans: The Second Age) Books of this era: - The Bloody Sun (1979)
- The Heritage of Hastur (1975)
- The Planet Savers (1962)
- Sharra's Exile (1981) rewrite of and official replacement of The Sword of Aldones (1962)
- Reluctant King (not yet published)
- The World Wreckers (1971)
- Exile's Song (1996 - with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
- Shadow Matrix (1998 - with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
- Traitor's Sun (1999 - with Adrienne Martine-Barnes)
Following Bradley's death in September 1999 a number of works which were in progress at the time have been published posthumously or are reported as planned for publication, including: Thunderlord!, The Fall of Neskaya, Zandru's Forge, A Flame in Hali, and Reluctant King. The Heritage of Hastur is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley as part of the Darkover series and is set in the After the Comyn (Against the Terrans: The Second Age) time period. ...
In addition to the above books, several anthologies written by the Friends of Darkover and edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley were also based in the Darkover universe. Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was a prolific author of largely feminist fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, and a steadfast encourager of equality (and quality) in writing. ...
The above illustration shows Darkover as the planet on the left with its four moons: Liriel, Kyrrdis, Irdriel and Mormallor. ...
Darkovan Humans - The Comyn The Comyn are the main seven laran-gifted families of Darkover, the descendants of human-chieri pairings. The Comyn learn to use native matrix stones to help focus and strengthen their laran powers to duplicate and sometimes surpass science-based technology. Each Comyn family controls a domain, but strategic inter-marriage and feudal land issues result in fluctuating domain borders. The seven families include: The above illustration shows Darkover as the planet on the left with its four moons: Liriel, Kyrrdis, Irdriel and Mormallor. ...
Hastur of Hastur Gifted with the power of the living matrix, some born into this Hastur family are able to achieve great laran power without the need for an artificial matrix stone. This branch of the Hastur family also holds regency and most real power throughout most of Darkovan history (especially in later years). Their family crest is a silver tree on a blue background.
Hastur of Elhalyn Gifted with the power of foresight, some born into this family have the ability to see all possible outcomes from every decision made or choice presented. This gift is viewed by a curse by some as the foresight shows as many gruesome as positive outcomes. The Elhalyns are also acknowledged as the 'ruling' family of Darkover, though most Darkovans accept Hastur of Hastur as the real power behind the throne. Though most upper-caste Darkovan families have problems with mental stability (due to inbreeding to keep laran as strong as possible), the Elhalyn line suffers from this badly, particularly in recent generations. Their family crest is a crowned silver tree on a blue background.
Alton Gifted with the power of forced rapport, some born into this family have the ability to force their way into an unwilling mind to establish a painful telepathic link of minds. This has caused much distrust between the Altons and other families, especially the rumors that an angry Alton has the ability to kill with his or her mind. In the past, those with the Alton gift have greatly abused their powers and committed heinous crimes.
Ardais Gifted with the power of laran catalyst, some born into this family are able to switch on latent laran powers in others. However, this particular gift was thought to have died out, until Danilo Syrtis-Ardais proved to possess it.
Aillard The Aillard gift is never specified in the novels. However, due to centuries of inbreeding, the gift can only manifest in female members of the line. Therefore, they are the only Domain ruled by women. Possibly their gift is what makes the Aillards more fit to be Keepers since many of the powerful female Keepers were Aillard. Their family crest is the feather.
Aldaran Gifted with true sight, some born into this family have the ability to see what will come to pass. This particular clan is distrusted by most other Darkovans, supposedly due to some great crimes in the past. Though there are references and hints, the true reason is never fully given.
Ridenow of Serrais Gifted with empathy, some born into this family have the ability to sense alien intelligences. This clan was originally only the Serrais, but Dry-Towner bandits ravished and impregnated many of the Serrais women (whose clan was dying out in the Ages of Chaos). This rejuvenated the strain, and allowed the Serrais gift to survive in the Ridenow bloodline. This 'impurity' makes the Ridenow the least prestigous of the comyn.
Minor families
MacAran - Based in the village of Falconsward in the Hellers, MacArans have the ability to establish a rapport with animals. They are known for their hunting falcons.
Delleray
Leynier - It is rumored that in rare cases members of this family have the ability to change shape.
Lanart - This is a more militarized branch of the Alton clan. Their sons traditionally run the military in Thendara, especially in the absence of an Alton lord.
Di Asturien - Part of the greater Hastur family, they live in castle Asturias near the Venza mountains.
Lindir - Intermarried into the Aillard family.
Storn - The Storn family intermarried into the Aldaran clan.
Syrtis - The Syrtis family has intermarried into the Hasturs, but they are still known as the finest horsemen on Darkover. They are also traditionally paxmen to the Hastur men.
Rockraven - Part of the greater Aldaran family, the Rockraven clan are centered at Ravenscrag in the Hellers. The Rockraven gift is the ability to control the weather by tapping into the planet's magnetic fields. This gift was once thought to be dominant only in females. Recently, however, at least two young males have shown signs of this gift, and tales survive of others during the Ages of Chaos. (Note: No mother has ever survived the birth of a child that possessed the active expression of this gift.)
Note The particular laran powers were brought into existence by a process not unlike genetic engineering and was continued through a breeding program. A few laran powers such as the Rockraven Families abilities changed over time. The Rockraven's power of weather control was at one point deemed unsafe and out of control and is not heard of much in the books
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