I read the Darkover books before I was old enough to have the slightest bit of literary discernment. They offered me a world very far from the unhappy one I lived in. Some of them I can stand to re-read, but some of them are unrelievedly awful, and for the most part I prefer my memories of them to the actual books. When Bradley died in 1999, her world lived on and various others began publishing "Darkover" books based on alleged conversations with MZB or outlines left behind.

I think one of the more memorable of the original Darkover series is [b:The Heritage of Hastur|472778|The Heritage of Hastur (Darkover)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175044337s/472778.jpg|461050]. Hastur Lord is a sequel, and one MZB talked about in print before her death. There's no way I could ignore it, once I knew it actually existed.

I must address the egregious mistakes. There's nothing like a glaring error to bring me out of the flow of a story, and there are plenty of them here. "Flout" for "flaunt" was relatively mild compared to this nonsensical combination of words:

"Regis raked his hair back from his face, pulled on the dressing robe that lay across the foot of the bed, and stumbled about in a semblance of his morning ablutions." Say what? Or this about going in to dinner: "Our brother has superceded (sic) you and is anxious for us all to be together..."

That aside, the writing just isn't very good. The plot is clunky, the dialog wooden, and the prose alternately turgid and purple. It's preachy, it's pedantic, and it fits into the canon the way a hand-carved wooden spoon fits into the ancestral silverware.

(

)

satyridae | Apr 5, 2013 |

A wonderful book and now one of my favorites in the series. Marion would be very proud. (

)

willowcove | Sep 1, 2010 |

http://allbookedup-elena.blogspot.com/2010/02/hastur-lord-novel-of-darkover-mari... (

)

ElenaGwynne | Feb 23, 2010 |

Bradley's unfinished manuscript fleshed out by Ross, filling the gap between The World Wreckers and Exile's Song. Only for completists. I did skim all the way to the end, rather than put it down unfinished. (

)

readinggeek451 | Jan 11, 2010 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 4 of 4

▾Published reviews

no reviews | add a review

▾Other authors

» Add other authors

▾Work-to-work relationships

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Series (with order)

Darkover

Darkover: Publication order (39)

Darkover: Chronological order (23)

Canonical title

Hastur Lord

Original title

Hastur Lord

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2011-03

People/Characters

Regis Hastur

Danvan Hastur

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

Epigraph

Dedication

To Cynthia McQuillin, who allows me to indulge my favorite vice, talking about Darkover.
MZB, July 26, 1998

To Betsy Wollheim who preserved what Marion had written, until it was to time to finish it.
DJR, Dec 19, 2008

First words

Above the ancient city of Thendara, the great crimson sun of Darkover crept toward midday.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Publisher series

DAW Book Collectors (1497)

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Deborah J. Ross

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

Regis Hastur
was the heir to the most powerful domain on Darkover. When his grandfather died he would inherit the title of Hastur of Hastur, Regent of Darkover- king in everything but name. But ironically, this mantle was the last thing Regis had ever wanted. For he dreamed of a different kind of life - a life with the freedom to live and love like an ordinary man, without the expectations and responsibilities of his position.

Yet even Regis recognized Darkover's desperate need for strong, rational leadership - leadership only he had been trained to provide. But tow that his time was at hand, was Regis willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to lead his world? Or would he turn away from his destiny and finally make his real dreams come true? For on his grandfather's deathbed Regis learns that he has a brother - an older half-brother who could finally relieve Regis f he burden of the title he had never wanted...Would Regis finally let himself be free to be the man he had always dreamed of being?

Haiku summary

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0756406226, Hardcover)

A never-before-published fantasy novel set in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover universe.

The world of Darkover, a unique, isolated, and protected world, has long avoided becoming part of the technologically advanced Terran Empire. But things are about to change. Regis Hastur, lord of the most powerful of the seven Domains in Darkover, learns that the Empire is about to become a Federation, and is extending an invitation for all of the worlds to join. While the offer seems tempting to his people, Regis knows that Darkover would become little more than a military base, used for its unique planetary position, and will be sapped of its resources. He must now stop at nothing to save his world.

(retrieved from Amazon Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:53:14 -0400)

(see all 3 descriptions)

▾Library descriptions

Regis Hastur, lord of the most powerful of the domains in Darkover, struggles to protect his world from becoming a military base for the new federation being created by the technologically advanced Terran Empire.