I read this perhaps 17 years ago. I remember that my copy became quite ragged through rereading before I gave it to a friend who equally enjoyed it. I'd like to think it's still being circulated amongst friends.

Others have summarized the plot. I'll just reiterate that this book is a great way to spend a few hours if you're a sci-fi or fantasy fan.

Paul Edwin Zimmer, Bradley's brother, was initially an uncredited co-author. The lack of recognition wasn't Bradley's idea, and Zimmer was credited from the first on their sequel, _The Survivors_. The protagonist, Dane Marsh, is a lone wolf heroic type Zimmer wrote very well, along the lines of his character Roger Hogg in "The Hand of Tyr" (see _Greyhaven_). Marsh is a romantic born between romantic ages; he wants adventures, but in the late twentieth century, the world's fresh out. Every place has been explored, and somebody else has already been first to do anything worth doing. He saves his envy for whoever'll be first to hike around the Moon on foot, though, and gets on with his life - sailing around the world alone, even though it's been done.

At that point, a flying saucer kidnaps him right off his boat, and he learns that there may be a few more adventures left, after all. :)

The proto-feline Mekhar are notorious for their slave-raids, having refused Unity membership several times rather than repudiate the practice. Slaves being luxury goods, it pays to avoid damaging the merchandise, and even to install translator disks in their captives - although the Mekhar leave Dane's fellow prisoners to explain the situation. (Interestingly enough, proto-simians - humanlike beings - far from being lords of creation, are looked down upon, being perpetually "in season" and thus slaves of their sexual appetites. Superiority lies elsewhere: the proto-felines invented interstellar travel, and the proto-saurians generally look down on *everybody*. Aratak, the follower of the Divine Egg who befriends Dane, is an exception to this last.)

Dane's the only prisoner from Earth; the others figure somebody's being chewed out for grabbing a boat carrying less than a dozen people. Rianna's archeological team, for example, lost their gamble that the Mekhar wouldn't hit the otherwise deserted satellite they were working on.

Until Dane's arrival, nobody tried to escape more than once; not only are all the odds on the guards' side, but severe injuries may be a death sentence. Most of the prisoners have a fatalistic attitude that Dane violently disagrees with; he alone, for instance, interferes with the decision of the only captive from Spica IV, the empath Dallith, to refuse food and let herself die. (Oddly enough, while Aratak, the giant proto-saurian philosopher, remains silent, the vibrant Rianna protests Dane's interference, for reasons he comes to understand only much later.) Dane is the one who, spotting a security hole, masterminds an escape attempt - only to learn that it was just what the Mekhar were waiting for.

The final part of the Mekhar's standard operating procedure is to skim off the ringleaders in their escape-attempt test on each raid, and to sell them to the species known as the Hunters of the Red Moon for the role of Sacred Prey. The Hunters' only interest in life is to hunt the Most Dangerous Game: intelligent quarry, who can give them a challenge. Every batch of Sacred Prey is given some weeks to prepare on the Hunters' World before being taken to the Red Moon, and must survive there only until the next eclipse. They're even given a choice of weapons, short of firearms, but even that's disquieting; the Armory doubles as a huge trophy collection of the weapons of particularly excellent Prey. (In a really *cool* scene, Dane recognizes one weapon as the most perfect Mataguchi he's ever seen - something a samurai would *never* have left behind.)

The story revolves around Dane, as protagonist, and his fellow survivors Rianna, Dallith, and Aratak, with one startling addition: Cliff-Climber, a Mekhar guard who screwed up badly during the escape attempt, and took this option as an honorable alternative to suicide. While he knows more about the Hunters than any of the others, his proto-feline people take the proverb "curiosity killed the cat" very much to heart, and even though - he *says* - one of his own kinsmen survived a Hunt, he knows little about their destination. Dane and his companions have little more than the Hunters' word that successful quarry will be rewarded and allowed to leave. They don't even know what the Hunters look like; until the Hunt itself, the Sacred Prey only interact with robot caretakers, leading to a *lot* of theories among the Prey.

This is a mystery as well as an adventure story; only the last third covers the Hunt proper, the rest being split evenly between the slaveship and the Prey's prep time. Dane and the others must try to figure out the Hunters, knowing that the odds are against them. At the feast celebrating the end of the previous Hunt and the beginning of theirs, they learn that 47 Hunters faced 74 Prey. Nineteen Hunters perished.

*One* Sacred Prey survived.

I read this book about 10 years ago and went searching for it so I could read it again. Too bad it's out of print. This book is very entertaining. It's a worthwhile read. I couldn't put it down.

Estos 4 libros son una saga maravillosa de la epoca de Arturo, contada basicamente sob la perspectiva femenina.

Excelente!

Excelente,es una obra maravillosamente contada desde otra perspectiva, que nos lleva a conocer un poco mas sobre una cultura rica en magia y misticismo.
Excelente desde todo punto de vista.

Una historia excelente, que muestra la otra cara de la saga Arturica,otro punto de vista que nos ilustra sobre otra cultura rica en misticismo y magia,

Having read the entire series, I find that this book is enjoyable, but not as good as the previous two books in the trilogy.

Still, it is worth the purchase and it is good to find out what happened to the main characters.

MZB rarely disappoints.

This is the third in the mini-series focusing on the Renunciates, within the larger Darkover series. It features the characters that have developed within the previous two novels, Jaelle, Magda, Camilla, and the Terran Cholayna. This novel is much more action packed than the previous two had been, with a fraught and perilous journey across mountains, facing dangers both natural and supernatural, in search of a mythic city mentioned in obscure legends--the city of sorcery.

This novel takes place seven years after 'Thendara House', and Jaelle and Magda are full-members now of the Forbidden Tower. They've both been fully trained in the use of their Laran, and their abilities have grown considerably.

If you've enjoyed the other two books in this series-within-a-series, 'Shattered Chain' and 'Thendara House,' you will love this one--it's definitely the best, and it truly delivers on the potential of the other two. If you've missed the first two, you'll still enjoy this one on its own--Bradley makes sure to provide recaps of relevant past events and relationships, allowing a new reader to dive straight into this story. But, there's no question, if you already know and love these characters from their previous adventures, you'll be even more deeply engaged in this great story.

This story is the sequence of adventures of Magda Lorne/ Margali n Ysabet. A terran who join the renunciants group (you can read why and how in Shattered Chain), need to adapt herself to this new ewality, discover who she really is (read about it in Thendara house) and finally goes to search for the city of sorcery, a mistic city, where " crows" cry and dark woman help humanity trhough centuries... she has to face many fears and one dark society... discover who trust and who not trust...This book is plenty of surprises and has links to many others. Im sure you will enjoy reading it!

The Darkover series is an excellent blend of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Plus, Bradley describes action scenes with a flair that even men could appreciate, while never sacrificing the sensitivity and feeling that marks female writing. You get a good buy with this one.

This is the first Darkover novel I read, and it made me hungry for more. Darkover and the Terran Empire in their diplomatic maneuverings. Free Amazons--a guild of women who renounce men's domination over women, the Comyn--the noble caste with psi powers, an intricate society with traces of the supernatural and feudal systems in place.

The novel starts with a daring rescue of a kidnapped, enchained, and very pregnant Comyn Lady from the barbaric Dry Towns chief who has kept her his prisoner/wife for over a decade. We meet the Free Amazons, the women who are hired as mercenaries to handle the rescue, as well as the Comyn Lady who hired them to rescue her imprisoned cousin and her young daughter.

The story returns to the Free Amazons and the Comyn Lady years later when a Terran woman needs their help to save one of her own. Their stories are linked in a series of adventures that establish Darkover as an irresistable world.

This book tells us about a society guided by women who do not accept the social rules in Darkover. This is the story about Jaelle and how she leave the dry town (where womwn are property of theirs husband and use chains around her arms)and became a renunciant. It's also the story of Magdalen Lorne and how, pretending been a renunciant she has became one in fact - Margali 'n Ysabeth. This two women cross each other life and after that theirs lives would be different forever. This book introduce us to these two caracthers that would re-appeared in Thendara House and City of Sorcery.

For some reason, all the MZB books I choose end up having the same plot: there's some dark underground sacrificial alter where dark forces are summoned & it's cramping the style of our heroines. Nevertheless I didn't mind as much this time because the main character's struggle with alcoholism and indulgent self-hatred was so brilliantly drawn. In fact, all of the characters and the way they related when they met were totally captivating. But like I've said before--oh no, not that whole lame devil worship plot again! This book would have deserved five stars had the supernatural possession happened more originally.

Bradley is undeniably one of the great craftspeople of fantastic settings; and her strong female characters are always a refereshing change from the status quo.

I would not, however, consider Gravelight to be one of her more stellar achievements. Although the story line is engrossing, the characters are just a little too stereotypical and the theology/magic system a tad too clichéd. The ending, likewise, is somewhat predictable and pat.

Were it most other author, this book would have received 3 stars. Nevertheless, the Bradley touches (particularly the emphasisi on the female characters) are sufficient to make this a respectable read for anyone who enjoys the genre. As always, Bradley manages to make you want to read to the end; even if you are pretty what that will be.

When I met Wycherly Musgrave, Winter's brother, in WITCHLIGHT, he seemed like just one more thoroughly unlikeable member of a unlikeable and dysfunctional family. In GRAVELIGHT I learned that he's probably the only other member of the family who's worthwhile. Unlike his sister's adventure of the mind, we don't have to wait three-quarters of the book to find out what he's running from. Yes, he has good reason for hating himself. It was interesting to find out what happened to the Musgraves. Too bad that Wycherly is the only other sibling to break away. Will he find the truth and shall it set him free? GRAVELIGHT starts out with a chapter that sets us up for what is to come. Quentin Blackburn certainly misjudged the will of his lover, Athanais Dellon. Unfortunately, Attie didn't succeed in wiping out his evil influence. Unlike the first two books, this one changes viewpoint from character to character before tying everything together. This enabled the author to accomplish more than she could have by sticking with any one character. I enjoyed learning about Athanais and present-day Melusine ("Sinah") Dellon's self-serving ancestress and the origin of the Dark Brooding Evil Menace in Morton's Fork [great name!]. I enjoyed seeing Truth Jourdemayne and Dylan Palmer again, although the reversal of their believer-skeptic roles made me worry that they wouldn't be together by the end. I think Ms. Bradley chose wisely in the manner in which she resolved the problem. However I didn't understand why there should be any trouble between Truth and another character in GHOSTLIGHT who makes an appearance here and I still don't. Little nugget of information: according to one of the many catalogs that clutter up my mailbox, those little bricks of Fels-Naptha that Truth wonders about in chapter five are heavy-duty laundry soap. Just as I found the climax of GRAVELIGHT more powerful and satisfying than that of its predecessors, I think this book has the most powerful and evocative cover. With the other two, I don't think it would matter much if the paperback cover doesn't include the entire wraparound design of the hardcover's dustjacket, but in this case it would. I love the glimpse of the ruined sanatorium with the light streaming through and around it!

An anthology can be ruined by one or two stories. Bradley has a knack for picking the finest. She sets a standard for this anthology which she keeps throught the whole series. This series has led me to sample further works by the authors inside. I discovered Jennifer Roberson, Dianne Paxson, Robin Bailey, and many others through their stories in the series and the intros by MZB. I only which the amazing Charles Saunders was more prolific. Buy it, sit back and enjoy.

The Sword And Sorceress series is a series of collections of short stories, of traditional "sword and sorcery" style, but with women as main protagonists. Marion Zimmer Bradley always explains in her introductions that she began the series because in traditional sword and sorcery, what female characters are to be found are invariably "bad conduct prizes" for the (male) main characters.

It's a fine series, and this volume may just be the best; there was not a bad story in the lot, although I wasn't really taken with "Shimmering Scythe", by Vera Nazarian, and had serious doubts about the ending of "A Matter Of Names", by Cynthia Ward. But I WAS very taken by "Oaths", by Lynn Morgan Rosser, perhaps the best of a very good lot, and there were also a number of stories that continued the exploits of characters found in previous volumes, all of which were a pleasure, a renewal of old friendships: "The Sick Rose", by Dorothy Heydt, continues the adventures of Cynthia, the witch of Syracuse; "Skin Deep" by Heather Rose Jones, continues the stories of Laaki, Asholi, and Eysla the skin-changers; "Spring Snow", by Diana Paxson, the adventures of Bera, apprentice Norse wisewoman; and "The Dragon's Horde", by Elisabeth Waters and Raul S. Reyes, the adventures of Princess Rowena and the dragon. If you've enjoyed any of the other collections in this series, you are more than very likely to enjoy this one; if you're not familiar with the series, this is as good an introduction as any.

I really liked the book, but was a little surprized when I tried to find the whole book of one stories and couldn't. I even searched here, on Amazon, and couldn't find it. I thought you could find the book and read the rest but there was nothing that said these were only stories and not clips of full length books. If you can help me I'd really appreciate it. The clip I wanted to read more of was "Gate of the Damned" by Janet Fox.

Yes, I realize that this book was written before we learned much about Mars. Ignorance I can forgive, and speculation can be a wonderful thing (especially in science fiction). But MZB's arrogance and contempt for expert scientific opinion detracted from an otherwise engaging and entertaining tale. Still, it's an excellent example of sf from that era.

I remembered bits and pieces of the book from reading it years ago, but did not remember the name. I was sooooo excited to find it in a used bookstore and be able to read it again. The book begins with the main character having amnesia. You really feel what he is going through trying to find out what has happened. I loved finding things out along with the character. The mystery unfolds in a chilling and exciting way. This book is one that is really hard to put down, even when you've read it before. I hope others can find it so they can enjoy it as much as I did.

This was the first sci. fi. book I ever read.(1977). I read it 20 times in a row. It has fantastic characters and an excellent storyline. It combines elements of sci. fi. adventure, horror, thriller, romance and drama. From the first paragraph, it captivates the reader. There are no 'slow' spots. Great for ages 10 and over. Adults will enjoy this book as much as younger readers. Not a long story. It's a shame there is no sequel. Do yourself a favour- read this book. Your life will never be the same again!

P.S My sister wrote this, not me.

I suppose this means that my copy is a Collector's Item, now. Sigh....why are all of my favorites out of print? I wanted to do a review for the Thieves' World (Sanctuary) series, only to find them "out of print." I thought, "well, Marion Zimmer Bradley is a LEGEND....I'll review 'Lythande,' instead." I'm glad I take such excellent care of my books and refuse to loan them out to anyone I do not have a meaningful connection with.... I'll be saving my copy of Lythande for my future daughter, Melita Renae Lincoln. This makes me realize how important my little library is! Well...if you can acquire this compilation of stories about Lythande (Lee-THOND), you will be captivated by this character, who was born in a world that has been nearly forgotten, and was created by a woman who will not ever be forgotten. This one is not your typical hack 'n slash, Mazes 'n Monsters fare....in fact, the stories are intellectually stimulating and carry underlying layers of the writer's sentiments. Marion Zimmer Bradley also editorializes a bit, expressing her personal views about Feminism, Male Weirdness and such. As I said, I'm saving this one for my future daughter.

This volume contains all the Lythande stories written up to its publication; two more can be found in _Spell Singers_, an anthology attributed to "Alan Bard Newcomer", but not here. Lythande also appeared as a supporting character in stories written by other authors in Thieves' World; those collected in this volume feature the Adept as protagonist.

Lythande is a mercenary magician; specifically, a Pilgrim Adept of the Order of the Blue Star. The Pilgrim Adepts are sworn to fight in the last battle, on the side of Law against Chaos, at the end of the world. Until that day, they wander, gathering knowledge and power as they will (hence 'Pilgrim' Adepts). The power of a Pilgrim Adept depends on keeping certain vows (e.g. never to eat or drink in front of men), but most of all, upon keeping a secret, specific to each adept. If that secret is ever spoken aloud by any man save the Master of the Star, it (and the magic bound into it) become void, so that the powerless adept becomes worthless to the order - and may be killed by anyone who pleases.

Lythande has chosen to uphold Law against Chaos always, but others have chosen to wait until the last day. The Adept was developed for the Thieves' World series, and is a special crony of Myrtis (the madam of the Aphrodisia House in Sanctuary). The vows of an Adept are extremely literal, so that Adepts can have *female* confidantes if they wish - and if they can find women to trust with their lives.

Check out the Magic in Ithkar series as well; Lythande has visited the fair occasionally.

"The Secret of the Blue Star" - Lythande comes to the rescue of an amazingly beautiful prostitute being roughed up in the street - only to find that Bercy's tormentor is Rabben the Half-Handed, the Adept's worst enemy in the order. But is the girl really a victim, or a spy set to ferret out the Secret - or both?

"The Incompetent Magician" - First appeared in the _Greyhaven_ anthology. Rastafyre the - ahem - Incomparable has lost his wand, to a master thief and magician he cuckolded. Lythande agrees to retrieve it, in exchange for an enchanted lute - to which is bound the soul of Koira, a woman Lythande once loved.

"Sea Wrack" - The seaside village has to rely on half-grown girls to work the fishing boats, because a mermaid has taken up residence nearby, and lures not only men, but grown women to their deaths (only those too young to have felt the tides of the heart are safe). Lythande, feeling secure in having cast off all such emotions, takes up the village's plea to deal with the mermaid...

"Somebody Else's Magic" - Lythande comes to the aid of a priestess of Larith, set upon by thugs in the street. Dying, the Laritha passes on her sword to Lythande in thanks. Unfortunately, the sword has a mind of its own: to avenge its bearer, then force Lythande to carry it back to the Temple - which only women may seek and return alive.

"The Wandering Lute" - As a younger son, the minstrel had gladly accepted the enchanted lute from his father's magician, with its compulsion to follow a migration as regular as the seasons. Now that his older brother has died, though, he must be free of it and return home. Lythande, who'd like a good lute (and who studied a LOT about unbinding spells after the Larith incident) takes it on, intending to disenchant it along the way. Pride goeth before a fall...

"Looking for Satan" - Satan is actually just the name of a wild youngster, caught in a trap and vanished into the empire of Sanctuary. His friends have come looking for him, and Lythande feels moved to help them. (This story, unlike the others, doesn't follow Lythande's viewpoint, but one of Satan's friends, a woman after Lythande's own heart.)

i will always cherish this book, which i discovered in canberra. mzbradley had created an unforgettable sorcerer. i wish she could have written more books on the sorcerer's journeys before she passed away. mz's death is a great loss to both the science fiction and fantasy worlds. i strongly recommend this book. read it, feel the magic and remember marion zimmer bradley...forever..

When I bought this book, I was so excited to begin my meditations focusing on Morgan, Igraine, Guinevere and Nimue. I didn't even get through the book. The meditations themselves are unique, but the book itself wasn't at all what I expected.

Instead of developing the connection with each of the women associated in the Authurian Legend, I felt "turned off" due to the technical slant of comparing different versions of the authurian myths and trying to put together some elements that were not included in all of the versions. I felt disconnected, like there was no sense of cohesion tying together the women I so respect. I wanted to learn more about the women in the legends, to feel like i was sitting across from them, having a conversation over a hot cup of tea. Instead, it felt like a cold, technical research paper not at all bringing to life the legends of the past. In short, I was deeply disappointed-- MZB is my favorite author, and I respect the Matthew's other works.

Like the Grail, the reward this book offers is apparently not available to all, judging from the variation of reviews. Personally, I found the painstaking research and revelation of parallels between various historical sources enlightening in the extreme. Through the work of John and Caitlin Mathews, the reconstruction of truths long lost to us comes to us as a precious gift. If ever there were a literary representation of "racial memory," this book must have at least a strong claim on this title.
I have been fascinated by Arthurian legend since my youth, but have never appreciated it before as I do now as a consequence of reading this wonderful work. If you can apply your intellect and your spirit in synergy and not in conflict, I suggest that you might find as much treasure in this book as I have.

I have always had an interest in mythology and Arthurian legend and have found that few books really touch on the individual personalities or archetypes of the women of Arthurian legend beyond the usual over dramatized stereotypes of "Morgan = Evil sorceress, or confused seeker", "Morgause = "Malignant Manipulator, Power-monger", "Guenevere = Insecure Harlot".

"Ladies of the Lake" give these women back the power taken from them by traditional legend and modern retellings and allows the reader to see them in a richly spiritual and human light. I found that like book "The Goddess in Everywoman", each "lady" carries attributes that most women can relate to in some form or another. There are 9 attributes examined:
1. Energizer
2. Measurer
3. Protector
4. Initiator
5. Challenger
6. Deliverer
7. Weaver
8. Preserver
9. Empowerer

I for one am pleased to see a book such as this that gives a fresh look at women who have been underrated in many tellings of Arthurian legend. While many books will touch upon the aspects and strengths of each of Arthur's many knights, this book gives the same, long awaited look at the women of the legends. I love many of the retellings of the Arthurian legends, such as the "Mists of Avalon" and subsequent books in the series by Marion Zimmer bradley and this book seems to give a lot more insight into the personalities and spiritual arttributes behind the traditional ladies.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in Arthurian Legend or who want to know more about the women of the Arthurian legend from a unique perspective.

Very reminiscent of Daphne DuMaurier's House On The Strand. But still quite good. I liked the psychology in this book and the conflict any good psychologist goes through while struggling with what is reality vs. fiction.

An imaginitive story, this tale questions reality as we know it. As Fenton uses an experimental drug for a psychology study, he finds himself leaving his body to enter another world. But is it real, or is this drug causing him to lose his mind? Detailed arguments about the nature of reality are expressed in this book. The author has certainly done her research in the field of parapsychology, and combines this modern study with her extensive knowledge of celtic mythology. The plot is captivating and the details are rich, but characters can sometimes be shallow and predictable. Overall, a worthy read for any fantasy lover.

This was the first Marion Zimmer Bradley book that I read. I was fascinated with the way she blended the different 'worlds'. It is a very well written book and kept me captivated to the end. I am not a fantasy game player but even though this was part of the story, it didn't put me off. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and went on to read The Mist of Avalon series.