Thendara House
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Darkover: The Renunciates (2), Les Amazones Libres (tome 3), Darkover: The First Age (5), Darkover (Chronological Order) (14), Darkover (Publication Order) (18)
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Jaelle has been raised in the harsh patriarchal environment of the Dry Towns. Her mother Mellora is a Comyn woman who has been kidnapped in order to breed laran-gifted offspring for her barbarian "husband." But when a desperate, pregnant Mellora dies in childbirth following a daring escape aided by a band of Renunciates, the still young Jaelle is adopted into the Guild, and becomes the Free Amazon Jaelle n'ha Mellora, a woman who has never known kindness from a man.Tags
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This is the second book I've read by Marion Zimmer Bradley (the first being The Shattered Chain, to which Thendara House is sequel) and, in closing it, my feelings are of deep gratitude. First, to Bradley, whom I now recognize as an author I can trust--something I need very much as a constant reader, a relatively new feminist, and a young woman learning how to live in a world made for a certain kind of man. I need stories that take me away from my physical surroundings, yet help me work through issues (of identity, sexuality, relations with men and with women, society) that I face in the real world. Bradley tackles these issues head-on, without oversimplification or neat endings. And her books are peopled with strong, fully human women, show more satisfying another need, which did not pass when I became an adult: for role-model characters, women to look up to. In this way Bradley is Tamora Pierce for grown-ups.
I'm grateful also, upon finishing Thendara House, to a second party: the women's movement. As a feminist in this world I am constantly aware of its failures, in thought and word and deed. But The Shattered Chain and Thendara House, published in 1976 and 1983, remind me of how much feminism has accomplished, in my lifetime alone. The Darkover books are set in a far-distant future, on a colony planet of Earth. When I imagine the dominant human society a thousand years from now, I cannot conceive of a woman whose official, standard form of address is "Mrs. Peter Haldane." I don't think a future space culture would likely involve revealing, spandex uniforms with high heels for women, or assumptions that a women's gender is what prevents her from achieving high office. Yet Thendara House presents all these things; characters fight against them, but they are mainstream. Twenty-five years later American society--not all of it, but a substantial minority at least--can take for granted freedoms and rights that Bradley in 1983 thought would still be contended for centuries from now. show less
I'm grateful also, upon finishing Thendara House, to a second party: the women's movement. As a feminist in this world I am constantly aware of its failures, in thought and word and deed. But The Shattered Chain and Thendara House, published in 1976 and 1983, remind me of how much feminism has accomplished, in my lifetime alone. The Darkover books are set in a far-distant future, on a colony planet of Earth. When I imagine the dominant human society a thousand years from now, I cannot conceive of a woman whose official, standard form of address is "Mrs. Peter Haldane." I don't think a future space culture would likely involve revealing, spandex uniforms with high heels for women, or assumptions that a women's gender is what prevents her from achieving high office. Yet Thendara House presents all these things; characters fight against them, but they are mainstream. Twenty-five years later American society--not all of it, but a substantial minority at least--can take for granted freedoms and rights that Bradley in 1983 thought would still be contended for centuries from now. show less
This is the sequel to The Shattered Chain and begins directly where that book leaves off. It is less plot driven than the previous book; most of it deals with the culture shock experienced by the two main characters: Jaelle, the Darkovan woman who has been a Renunciate (aka Free Amazon) since she was a teen, and Magda, the Terran woman raised on Darkover who in the previous book joined the Renunciates. Both must struggle with being accepted by their new colleagues and coming to terms with the realities of - in Jaelle's case - the Terran zone with all its technological and bureaucratic strangeness, plus being in a marriage with Peter Haldane, Magda's ex husband, and -in the case of Magda/Margali - with the different expectations of the show more Renunciates who in effect deprogramme new members to break down the dependency on men that is normal to Darkovan women.
Magda, who is a product of both worlds, makes mistakes along the way, resulting in friction with other women in the Renunciate Guild House, while Jaelle contends with the indifference and lack of understanding of the Terrans. This is worsened by her husband's chauvinism. Magda previously divorced Peter because of his controlling ways and jealousy of her competence, although annoyingly for this reader, she continues to entertain doubts that perhaps it was her "fault" the marriage failed because she didn't want a child with him. He is an absolute pig who tries to destroy Jaelle's independence while exhibiting a smarmy 1950s style head-patting attitude. At one point, he orders her to fetch his shoes then throws a tantrum in the bathroom because she didn't order his beard removing cream! The problem is compounded because Jaelle's laran - the psychic ability a lot of Darkovans have - strengthens when she becomes pregnant, so she is made aware of his obsession with getting a son and also with climbing the greasy pole of career progression in the Terran Zone, where he sometimes views her as a liability.
Jaelle constantly has insights into Peter's bullying and small minded attitude, partly through the incipient telepathy she is developing, but she makes excuses for him to such an extent that I started to lose sympathy with her. It isn't till late on in the story that she gains the insight thathaving blotted out the memory of her upbringing in the Dry Towns and her mother's traumatic death which occurred in the previous book, she is now re-experiencing the trauma due to her subconscious awareness that Peter is figuratively at least putting her in chains as the Dry Town men literally do to their womenfolk . But because of this underlying reason, Jaelle becomes rather a whiny character in this book, and Magda is much more interesting and engaging, as is the new character of Cholayna Ares, an Empire woman who is dark skinned and is used by Bradley to examine the question of prejudice on a planet where the population, derived from an Earth colony centuries before, is exclusively white.
Magda, who was told in the previous book by Lady Rohana that she also has laran, experiences issues with it too, and it eventually brings her into the closeness with Jaelle that she has apparently been fighting all along. Both are caught up in a problem concerning the safety of a Terran Empire man who goes off into the foothills just before a serious storm, without waiting for help from a native guide, but there are political ramifications because he is trying to find a Terran called Andrew who has gone missing but is now operating as a Darkovan man.This part of the book segues into a whole different situation which apparently ties in with another sub-series of Bradley's starting with The Forbidden Tower, a book I read years ago but cannot recall a thing about. Anyway, the impression at the end is that both women will leave the Renunicates to join this group.
Although the interactions of the various characters are of interest, some aspects of the book haven't dated well. Even in 1983, when this was published, surely the practice of referring to a married woman by her husband's name was swiftly dying out, so it comes across as ludicrous that this is the practice among Terrans thousands of years into our future: despite their supposedly 'egalitarian' society as the book blurb would have it, they insist on calling Jaelle Mrs Peter Haldane. In fact, it is pretty obvious that the Terrans as well as the Darkovans are male dominated; they just have a more 'equal' gloss over it. Despite the fact that Magda is repeatedly stated to be highly competent - her work is studied on other planets! - she is barred from senior rank supposedly because the Darkovans wouldn't accept a woman in a high position. Considering that Terran society is different in so many other aspects - chiefly its reliance on advanced technology for everything - why shouldn't the Terrans put women into prominent positions to gradually break down this attitude among the native population? Especially as women are accepted in certain roles among the Darkovan nobility, such as Keepers of the Towers and as representatives of the family from which Lady Rohana stems. This is obviously a completely transparent excuse for unfair discrimination against women, especially since the Empire would rather put a grossly incompetent man in charge who his underlings have to constantly steer into not causing a diplomatic incident. This issue isn't really explored in the book which dwells more on the aspects of male-female personal relationships, childbearing etc. So it features an interesting exploration of the issues up to a certain point, but ultimately it ducks the glass ceiling. show less
Magda, who is a product of both worlds, makes mistakes along the way, resulting in friction with other women in the Renunciate Guild House, while Jaelle contends with the indifference and lack of understanding of the Terrans. This is worsened by her husband's chauvinism. Magda previously divorced Peter because of his controlling ways and jealousy of her competence, although annoyingly for this reader, she continues to entertain doubts that perhaps it was her "fault" the marriage failed because she didn't want a child with him. He is an absolute pig who tries to destroy Jaelle's independence while exhibiting a smarmy 1950s style head-patting attitude. At one point, he orders her to fetch his shoes then throws a tantrum in the bathroom because she didn't order his beard removing cream! The problem is compounded because Jaelle's laran - the psychic ability a lot of Darkovans have - strengthens when she becomes pregnant, so she is made aware of his obsession with getting a son and also with climbing the greasy pole of career progression in the Terran Zone, where he sometimes views her as a liability.
Jaelle constantly has insights into Peter's bullying and small minded attitude, partly through the incipient telepathy she is developing, but she makes excuses for him to such an extent that I started to lose sympathy with her. It isn't till late on in the story that she gains the insight that
Magda, who was told in the previous book by Lady Rohana that she also has laran, experiences issues with it too, and it eventually brings her into the closeness with Jaelle that she has apparently been fighting all along. Both are caught up in a problem concerning the safety of a Terran Empire man who goes off into the foothills just before a serious storm, without waiting for help from a native guide, but there are political ramifications because he is trying to find a Terran called Andrew who has gone missing but is now operating as a Darkovan man.
Although the interactions of the various characters are of interest, some aspects of the book haven't dated well. Even in 1983, when this was published, surely the practice of referring to a married woman by her husband's name was swiftly dying out, so it comes across as ludicrous that this is the practice among Terrans thousands of years into our future: despite their supposedly 'egalitarian' society as the book blurb would have it, they insist on calling Jaelle Mrs Peter Haldane. In fact, it is pretty obvious that the Terrans as well as the Darkovans are male dominated; they just have a more 'equal' gloss over it. Despite the fact that Magda is repeatedly stated to be highly competent - her work is studied on other planets! - she is barred from senior rank supposedly because the Darkovans wouldn't accept a woman in a high position. Considering that Terran society is different in so many other aspects - chiefly its reliance on advanced technology for everything - why shouldn't the Terrans put women into prominent positions to gradually break down this attitude among the native population? Especially as women are accepted in certain roles among the Darkovan nobility, such as Keepers of the Towers and as representatives of the family from which Lady Rohana stems. This is obviously a completely transparent excuse for unfair discrimination against women, especially since the Empire would rather put a grossly incompetent man in charge who his underlings have to constantly steer into not causing a diplomatic incident. This issue isn't really explored in the book which dwells more on the aspects of male-female personal relationships, childbearing etc. So it features an interesting exploration of the issues up to a certain point, but ultimately it ducks the glass ceiling. show less
This is a reread in my quest to read all the Darkover books, both the ones I've missed and the ones I've read, in order. The story deals with the Free Amazons, or Renunciates, a guild of women who live amidst the more feudal settings on Darkover. Jaelle and Magda are the protagonists: Jaelle is a Comyn Renunciate who marries Magda's ex-husband and goes to live among the Terrans while Magda takes oath in the guild house. Both women must navigate living in strange settings with people of different cultures.
The book probes questions about what the role of women is: are they merely carriers for children, or can they do meaningful work? The book was written in the early 1980s, and while times have changed, this is still an ongoing question show more in our society. There's a lot to think about here, now as much as when I first read the story. show less
The book probes questions about what the role of women is: are they merely carriers for children, or can they do meaningful work? The book was written in the early 1980s, and while times have changed, this is still an ongoing question show more in our society. There's a lot to think about here, now as much as when I first read the story. show less
One of MZB's longer Darkover novels, and one in which she did write as a continuous part of the series, clearly having it's sequel in mind and taking advantage of The Shattered Chain's character and plot. It still has some strange jerks in it's story telling as if scenes from multiple drafts were never entirely integrated. Thendara House could fairly be described as a feminist tract, but the quality of the characters and the validity of multiple types of interaction kept my interest on more than one read, though this is by no means a favorite.
The collision of patriarchal Darkovan culture and egalitarian Renunciate, Free Amazon society. Jaelle n'ha Melora, a native Renunciate, marries a Terran, and Magda Lorne, a Terran undercover agent joining the Free Amazons, navigate profound culture shock and the fight for women's independence.
Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote 18 Darkover novels--more if you include collaborations. Darkover is a "lost colony" of Earth that falls into a medieval society ruled by a psychic aristocracy and is later rediscovered by a star-spanning advanced human federation after centuries, giving the series a feel of both science fiction and fantasy. Most books in the series examine this culture clash and this book is no exception as it focuses on a Terran, Magda, who has come to live on Darkover and a native of Darkover, Jaelle, who has come to work among the Terrans.
The books were designed to be read independently, and so you could start here, but some books are somewhat connected and that's the case here, and you may see it marked as book two of show more the "Renunciates Trilogy." The Renunciates are also known as the "Free Amazons" and the first book in the trilogy, The Shattered Chain also deals with Jaelle and Magda and makes an excellent entry into the series. Indeed, it's the book I started with on the recommendation of a friend, and the book that hooked me on the series. Thendara House was certainly a good read, even if I do prefer Shattered Chain, and I'm not completely happy with where MZB took her two characters in this one, but I still think of it as a good read. Ditto the third book in the trilogy, City of Sorcery. show less
The books were designed to be read independently, and so you could start here, but some books are somewhat connected and that's the case here, and you may see it marked as book two of show more the "Renunciates Trilogy." The Renunciates are also known as the "Free Amazons" and the first book in the trilogy, The Shattered Chain also deals with Jaelle and Magda and makes an excellent entry into the series. Indeed, it's the book I started with on the recommendation of a friend, and the book that hooked me on the series. Thendara House was certainly a good read, even if I do prefer Shattered Chain, and I'm not completely happy with where MZB took her two characters in this one, but I still think of it as a good read. Ditto the third book in the trilogy, City of Sorcery. show less
pensavo peggio visto che il primo libro sulle Libere Amazzoni, su Margali, Jaelle e Peter era a malapena leggibile e quello sulla torre proibita, Andrew Carr, Damon Ridenov, Callista e la sua gemella Ellemir era proprio spazzatura inleggibile
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Un de mes préférés. Le choc culturel terrien/ténébran est très bien décrit, et ces deux huit-clos, dans le QG terrien et dans la Maison de la Guilde, ne manquent pas d'intérêt...
added by Ariane65
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Author Information
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Marion Zimmer Bradley is a science-fiction and fantasy writer, novelist, and editor. She was born in Albany, New York on June 3, 1930. Bradley attended the New York State College for Teachers from 1946 to 1948. She earned a B.A. from Hardin Simmons University in 1964. Bradley did graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley from 1965 show more to 1967. Bradley sold her first story to Fantastic Amazing Stories as part of an amateur fiction contest. She sold her first professional story to Vortex Science Fiction in 1952. Her novels include The Sword of Aldones and The Planet Savers. Both novels were set on Darkover, the setting for more than 20 subsequent Bradley novels. Bradley also wrote The Mists of Avalon, a reworking of the King Arthur legend with more emphasis on the female characters. She used the same approach with The Firebrand, which was based on The Iliad. In addition to writing more than 85 books, Bradley was the editor of an annual anthology for DAW Books, as well as the editor of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine. Bradley died in 1999. (Bowker Author Biography) Marion Zimmer Bradley was the bestselling author of "The Mists of Avalon", "Lady of Avalon", "The Forest House", & "The Firebrand", as well as the popular Darkover series of science fiction novels. She died in 1999. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Darkover: The Renunciates
3 works (2)
Les Amazones Libres
3 works (tome 3)
Darkover: The First Age
8 works (5)
Darkover (Chronological Order)
42 works (14)
Darkover (Publication Order)
43 works (18)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Thendara House
- Original title
- Thendara House
- Original publication date
- 1983
- People/Characters
- Magda Lorne; Jaelle n'ha Melora (Jaelle n'ha Melora y Aillard); Peter Haldane; Camilla n'ha Kyria; Andrew Carr; Ferrika (show all 20); Damon Syrtis; Ellemir Lanart (Ellemir Lanart-Ridenow y Alton); Dominic; Callista Lanart (Callista Lanart-Alton y Carr); Hilary Castamir; Cassilde Lanart; Colin Syrtis; Felix Syrtis; Kierin; Valdir Alton; Elori Ardais; Lew Alton; Ken Alton; Dorilys Cleindori Aillard
- Important places
- Darkover
- First words
- La neige tombait en flocons duveteux, mais, vers l'est, par une déchirure dans les nuages, perçait la lumière rougeâtre de Cottman IV - le soleil de Ténébreuse que l'Empire Terien nomme le Soleil Sanglant - semblable à... (show all) un gros oeil injecté de sang.
Light feathers of snow were falling overhead; but toward the east there was a break in the clouds where the dull reddish light of Cottman IV - could be seen dimly through cloud, like a great bloodshot eye. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Et, un instant Magdalen Lorne entendit de nouveau le lointain appel des corbeaux - des destinées ? - et un grand frou-frou d'ailes.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And for a moment, again, Magdalen Lorne heard the faint far calling as of distant crows -or fates? - and the rustle of wings. - Publisher's editor*
- Jacques Goimard; Hoffmann, Horst
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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