Marion Zimmer Bradley has written numerous novels and short stories, and edited multiple collections of short stories and a current fantasy magazine. The works for which she is best known are the Darkover novels and collections of short stories, and The Mists of Avalon.

The Darkover world is a science fantasy creation, in which there are fantasy-like elements (psychic magic, swordplay) which are rationally explained. There are several gender-related elements in the Darkover world. First, the society which was separated from the rest of the Terran universe developed a patriarchal structure in which women are oppressed. Within this greater society there are sub-societies: the Dry-Towns and the Free Amazons. The Dry-Towns are a combination of Muslim society and John Norman's Gor novels, with women literally kept in chains and owned by men. The Free Amazons of Darkover are an all-woman society which pledges to live without attachment to men and to be self-sufficient. Beloved by many, the Free Amazons are a model to many of a woman's society within a greater mixed-sex society: fully independent and self-sufficient, fairly democratic and non-compulsory, and sexually free.

A second gender element in most of the later Darkover novels (later in the Darkover chronology; not later in publication date) is the clash of cultures between the traditional Darkover society and the Terran society, which is nominally egalitarian but in reality is still very patriarchal. Third, there is a strong feminist element in most of the relationships depicted in all the novels: women are shown as strong, rational, capable human beings, suffering under oppression, and fighting back or rebelling in many ways.

The Renunciates: Free Amazons trilogy within the Darkover series most directly deals with gender-issues, in that the novels focus very clearly on all three elements described above. These three novels (The Shattered Chain, Thendara House, and City of Sorcery) all deal with aspects of feminism in a patriarchal culture. The Shattered Chain deals directly with the role of women in Terran and Darkover cultures. Thendara House concerns conflicts of culture, gender, and justice. And City of Sorcery is a traditional quest story in which a Terran-gone-native travels with her female lover to discover the secrets of the Society of Free Amazons.

The Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the King Arthur legends from the perspective of Morgan LeFey. Here, Arthur is a turning point between the matriarchal, goddess-based society of Avalon and the patriarchal Christian society. This book is virtually a classic, and surely one of Bradley's best-written works to date. It was followed some ten-plus years later by a prequel, The Forest House (which I haven't yet read).

The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine Vol 2; Elisabeth Waters, Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $6.29; Descriptive information available.

Black Trillium (with Julian May and Andre Norton)

Ruwenda is a pleasant, peaceful land - but the magic of its guardian, the Archimage Binah, is waning. Binah must pass along her protectorship to the triplet princess of Ruwenda. She bestows upon the infant girls the power of the rare and mystical Black Trillium - badge of the royal house, symbol of an ancient magic. While the sisters blossom into beautiful young women, neighboring Labornok use a dark magician to sunder Binah's protection. As invaders pour into Ruwenda, the Archimage orders the princesses to flee-and changes them to search for three magical talismans which when brought together will be their only chance to regain their kingdom and free its people. Each must accomplish her task separately-and to succeed, each must also confront and conquer the limits of her own soul.

Lady of the Trillium

In Lady of the Trillium, the last remaining princess of the Trillium, Haramis, must seek out a successor to wear the mantle of the Archmage. The most likley candidate is a young woman every bit as recalcitrant as Haramis was herself.

Rewiew by roberts@methow.com
I recommend Lady of the Trillium
Lady of the Trillium is a good read. I finished it in less than a day. Though some of the characters aren't as well put-together as others, together they make a perfectly decent story. It might help to read Black Trillium first, since some of it's events are referred to. It's not Marion Zimmer Bradley's best book, but it's definitely still worth reading.

The Bloody Sun : A Novel of Darkover; Marion Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

The Catch Trap; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $5.35

Exile's Song : A Novel of Darkover (Daw Book Collectors, No. 1024); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Hardcover; $19.76; Descriptive information available.

The Fall of Atlantis; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $6.29; Descriptive information available.

The Firebrand; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $6.29; Descriptive information available.

The Forest House; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Audio Cassette; $26.96; Descriptive information available.

The Forest House; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Paperback; $13.45; Descriptive information available.

Free Amazons of Darkover : An Anthology (Darkover Anthologies); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $3.56

Ghostlight; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Hardcover; $20.66; Descriptive information available.

Ghostlight; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Paperback; $12.55; Descriptive information available.

Glenraven; Holly Lisle, Marion Zimmer Bradley; Hardcover; $20.70; Descriptive information available.

The Heirs of Hammerfell; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49

The Heritage of Hastur; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49

Hunters of the Red Moon ; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $3.59; Descriptive information available.

The Keeper's Price (Darkover); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Paperback; $3.59

Leroni of Darkover; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover Vol 929; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

Mists of Avalon; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Audio Cassette; $15.30; Descriptive information available.

The Mists of Avalon; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Paperback; $12.60; Descriptive information available.

The Other Side of the Mirror (Darkover); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Paperback; $4.05

Rediscovery : A Novel of Darkover; Mercedes Lackey, Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

Sharra's Exile; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $5.39; Descriptive information available.

Snows of Darkover; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

The Spell Sword; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $3.59

Star of Danger; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

Stormqueen; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $5.39; Descriptive information available.

Sword and Sorceress : An Anthology of Heroic Fantasy (No. 13); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $5.39; Descriptive information available.

Sword of Chaos : And Other Stories (Darkover); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $3.15

Thendara House Vol 2; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $5.39; Descriptive information available.

Tiger Burning Bright; Andre Norton, et al; Mass Market Paperback; $5.85; Descriptive information available.

Tiger Burning Bright; Andre Norton, et al; Hardcover; $20.70; Descriptive information available.

Towers of Darkover; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

The Winds of Darkover & the Planet Savers : Also Including 'the Waterfall'; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

Witchlight; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Audio Cassette; $15.26; Descriptive information available.

Witchlight; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Hardcover; $21.56; Descriptive information available.

The World Wreckers (Darkover : Against the Terrans : The Second Age); Marion Zimmer Bradley; Mass Market Paperback; $4.49; Descriptive information available.

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