Q Literature

Zandru’s Forge
by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross, DAW

Here is Book Two of the Clingfire Trilogy, which began with The Fall of Neskaya. All you really need to know is that it’s a Darkover novel. I read the first book years ago, and didn’t need it to understand the action in this one at all.

This is the story of Carolin Hastur and Varzil Ridenow, who trained to use their laran (psychic) power at the Tower of Arilinn, and became fast friends and allies. Carolin was the heir of the Hastur realm, due to rule when his uncle the King died. Varzil, being a younger son, would never rule the realm of Ridenow; instead, his superior laran powers will lead him to a higher calling as a Keeper, or ruler, of his Tower.

Their education leads them to the knowledge of the terrible power of laran weapons and they promise that between them they will work to outlaw such weapons.

When the Hastur King dies and Carolin’s cousins seize control, the land plunges into a bloody civil war. The usurpers demand the towers create Clingfire and other laran weapons, and declare Varzil outlaw for refusing to comply.

Here then is another enthralling drama from Marion Zimmer Bradley, in which the main characters deal not only with life and death issues, but also with larger issues of ethics and morality in government and war. There is also a major gay character, Carolin’s brother Orain. Many of the battle scenes at the end of the book may seem familiar since they also involve Romilly MacAran and also occur in the book about her, Hawkmistress!.

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Cary Renfro is an author and book reviewer.  He is a feature writer for The Capitol Forum in Salem, Oregon.