Customer Reviews

The Alton Gift (Darkover)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Like many a fan of MZB's Darkover series I was delighted to see that she had collaborated with Deborah Ross on the Clingfire trilogy. I feared that we would no longer have access to Darkover when the trilogy was finished. I found The Alton Gift to be a worthy part of the Darkover series. MZB would be pleased, I think, to read of the indepth characterizations (Lew, Marguerida, Mikhail, etc.), the lush imagery of life on the planet, the deft handling of the increasingly complex politics (which has always been a hallmark of MZB novels) and the fascinating fantasies extended around the Comyn and their use of "laran."

I could not put the book down.

I particularly loved the trouble that Deborah Ross went to in re-imagining the history and subtly reminding the reader of what had happened in novels written many, many years ago. For those of us who have been reading Darkover novels for thirty years, it was a kindness.

I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with the Darkover novels. It will be like coming home to old friends and meeting some new ones in the process.

Let me say first that I love the Darkover series, ever since I first read Two to Conquer. I loved Marion Zimmer Bradley's flair for being able to develop rich, complex characters that followed their own consistent psychology. More than any other science fiction series, a reader could say, "That's just like Lew Alton!" and have the conviction that the next few pages would richly develop and support the prior characterization. The book begins with a quick word from Marion Zimmer Bradley expressing her love for Lew, but the love that she put into him is the same love that she put into every aspect of the world of the bloody sun. Through her myriad of books, she consistently built upon every theme, place, and character, creating a consistent world.

This consistency is completely shattered by The Alton Gift. Like many readers, I eagerly awaited the release of this book because I wanted to see more Lew, more Mikhail, more Marguerida. The story didn't feel quite compelted, and I wanted to see what happened next. This book entirely let me down.

There are pages and pages of action, but the feel is entirely wrong. Lew Alton survived and overcame the obliteration of his hand, the death of his wife, his torture by a former friend, and the constant haunting of the Sharra Matrix, yet his response to the essential use of the Alton Gift at the end of Traitor Sun is entirely out of character. It seemed as if the author wanted to discuss the use of the Alton Gift, and latched onto the first character she could. Such a discussion has other characters that would eagerly take up the cause, yet they are overlooked in preference for Lew.

The treatment of Javanne, if even ever so briefly, is indicative of the problem with this book: a failure of consistency. Characters that were on their way to being Keepers no longer even reside in towers. Neversin now has its own tower: when did this happen? It was certainly not mentioned in the text. Characters' natures, the facts of the world, and behaviors of whole groups of people are handled so poorly that it makes me question how closely the author read the prior books.

All in all, I was very disappointed with this text. Without serious correction to the course that the series has now taken, then I'm afriad that I will consider Traitor Sun to be the final book in the series. Marion Zimmer Bradley was a master of world-building and characterization. The new author's characterization is not bad, it just refutes all that has come before, and this is a true tragedy.

Ross returns to Bradley's Darkover world in the sequel to Traitor's Sun. This book follows mostly Domenic, the oldest son of Marguerida and Mikhael, as he tries to figure out how to be a man and outside the shadow of his parents. If you aren't familiar with Darkover, this is probably a pretty bad place to start, since it could really be considered probably the 6th book in a series (start instead ossibly with Heritage of Hastur, available in an "omnibus" book including its sequel, Sharra's Exile, which could be considered the first in this Darkover series - or other good places to start are Bloody Sun or Forbidden Tower). If you have followed the books, I enjoyed this book probably more than the prior three because they seemed to spend less time sitting around talking about politics or gossip, and more time actually doing things. This was also interesting for more insight into Danilo's life (and I won't spoil what is going in his life in case you haven't read the other books). If you like Darkover, definitely read this, although read the Traitor's Sun series first. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, just order one of my recommendations of books to start with and read them. Very good.

The Terran Federation left Darkover to fight in an interstellar war not realizing just how powerful the people with laran (psychic powers are) or that they can be a weapon against an enemy. Now the old ways no longer work. There are less laran users and towers have been abandoned because there have not been enough people to fill them.

Trailmen's Fever which was thought to have been wiped out by Terran science makes a pandemic return. The knowledge of how to cure it is locked in an encrypted file in the bioweapon files so those who know how to use a computer can't access it. However, there is one Terran soldier Jeram who chose to stay on Darkover. His mind was entered without his consent to erase a few of his memories so that the off-world military won't discover what laran can actually is. As the plague threatens the world, he is the Darkover's last hope.

Taking place after the federation forces have left, The Regent Mikhail and his wife Marguerida try to hold society together but the poor, caught in a cycle of devastation have no lords to help them. Their son is torn between love and honor and finds the strength to rule when his father takes ill. These characters make THE ALTON GIFT very special because they care about their people and the audience will hope they survive and their son Domenic finds love. The authors have written a complex tale with interwoven storylines that are entertaining and exciting. They create a world with its own culture that seems believable. This adds to the Darkover mythos.

Harriet Klausner

Like many reviewers, I have been a long term fan of MZB's. Probably 25 years at this point.

This book doesn't feel like it belongs to the Darkover series. It reads like a fan fiction by a person who maybe read the Coles Notes of the series and never really got to know the characters deeply. Lew is reduced to a snivelling wreck, Javanne's maliciousness is due to a brain tumor (?) Marja goes from being a very independant young woman to an overcontrolling, overprotective mother who objects to her son's growing independance but at the same time pretty well instantly capitulates to his desires.

An example of how the book strays from MZB's writing style - she never shied away from depicting sexuality of any sort, but the phrase 'wet crotch' would also never have hit the paper.

I have to admit, I'd rather just read the notes the MZB left as to the future history of Darkover than someone's botched interpretation of said notes.

I was captured by the world of Darkover a long time ago. Bradley built her world very carefully, with a fully imagined (and very long) history, a culture that was unique and appropriately defined by the unique characteristics of the Comyn, and conflicts that grew integrally from that culture and her individual characters. Ross, with this latest work, has done a good job of continuing the story, showing the changes that happen to this world from its contact with Terran technology, and how it manages to restructure itself after the Terrans leave.

This is story of Domenic, child of Marguerida and Mikhael (for Marguerida's story, read Traitor's Sun, and I recommend you do so before reading this, as it will provide a lot of background needed to fully appreciate this book), as he tries to find his place in the world and what he should do with his talents. It is also a story of ethics and morality, honor versus practicality, what true leadership is, just what harm the Alton gift of forced rapport can do and when its use can be justified, as personified by the mental anguish of Lew Alton, all given robust treatment and not subjected to quick, slick answers. Each of these characters is well delineated, and Ross makes you feel their problems and shows how each character arrives at their own solutions to these questions.

I was a little disappointed in the abrupt end to the challenge to Mikhael's leadership, when so much had led up to the challenge, and there are inconsistencies between this book and prior ones both in terms of genealogies and the character traits of some the people. In some ways the book is a little too long; there probably could have been some judicious pruning done to keep the story flowing. But these problems are fairly minor, and won't interfere with your enjoyment while reading this, but mainly show up with a mild feeling of confusion after you've finished it. But even Bradley ended up with inconsistencies between various works - part and parcel of having such a large tapestry upon which to write.

A strong entry into the Darkover saga, and with the promise of more to come, a nice thing for those who have been captured by this very real imaginary world.

---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

The Alton Gift, as written by Deborah J. Ross is one that was only half heartedly satisfying to me. While this book did answer some questions on "what happens next" in Lew Alton's world, I am mystified as to why there were so many disconnected threads that did not live up to the books written by MZB before she passed away - why the "Shadow Matrix" on the various hands of the next generation Hasturs seemed to take different roads than what had happened previously and why there was such an obvious plot of "Nico Alton Hastur" following his heart - or not - or following it again when it seemed that his character from the previous books was not able to grow out of some elements that make life difficult as a Hastur and seem to leap beyond his character boundaries as a new and totally different stylized character.

While I have read Deborah J Ross's other works with MZB, I am disappointed that this particular adventure really leaves me with - "I really don't care what happens next for it just doesn't fit with what I know and understand in the Lew Alton world of Darkover."

Please, Ms. Ross - in the next two versions - either come closer to what has been written before and ensure that whomever does your fact and character checking really knows the previous books and characters - or give up the post and let us readers imagine on our own how to address the "Dry Towners" and the return of the Terran Empire - sure to be difficult and one that centers on the entire theme of technological societies vs. magical/mystical/primitive societies.

Thanks,

Dr. Judy Kunkle

I wanted to like this book a lot. Some of my favorite characters are in the story arc before this one. (Marguerida, Mikhail, cantankerous old Javanne, brilliant and quiet Domenic, Katherine and Herm, Illona etc). I have to say, Deborah Ross's grasp on characterization isn't good in this book. She doesn't get the feel exactly right, and she has done a few things that completely contradict the characters long-term personalities. For example- Javanne has always been controlling and nasty. ALWAYS. She chalks it up to a long-term illness and brain tumor and writes it completely off. NOT. That's the least of it.

Let me just preface this review by acknowledging the fact that I have been a die hard Darkover fan since I borrowed the first book from the public library when I was 12. I particularly love the earlier books in this set: Exile's Song, The Sharra Matrix and Traitor's Sun. I've read them so many times I know them almost by heart and feel like these people are part of my family. Well... this book does NOT live up to the others. The characters were always MZB's greatest achievement and what made the books so fascinating. This book does not get the primary characters right.

I was particularly upset by how Marguerida and Lew were characterized. Marja loses the essence of her character in this novel. She is no longer the strong willed, blindingly intelligent woman who is able to set aside personal concerns and think objectively about the problems facing her family and world. Instead she frequently gives in to hysterics and seems to be a burden at best once her husband and father fall ill. I also found it inconsistent that she would be so adamant about her defending role in the North Road Battle after the horrible gut reaction and depression she and Mikhail shared afterword. I understand her defending herself, but in this novel she takes a long time to admit that although she chose the lesser of two evils, it was still evil. The Marja from Traitor's Sun would have had no problem recognizing that fact.

Also Lew has used his own gift more than any character in the novel and carries that burden, but to think he comes undone over the North Road Battle? After suffering Sharra? I think not. I can understand all of it building up in him and his need to find solace even at St. Valentine's, but I don't see him losing it because of the battle.

There are also other historical and place inconsistencies that were mentioned in other reviews. These also served to undermine the quality of the novel.

I did enjoy finding out what happened next to some of the younger characters like the development of Nico's character and his own adventures. I was also glad to read about the development of Alanna's character and unique powers. (Although in one of the much earlier books I believe the ability to see multiple futures was referred to as the Elhalyn Gift and most likely came to her through her grandmother Javanne.) In all the novel was mediocre at best with most of the well written sections being compromised by the completely out of character actions of the most prominent figures.

This is an enjoyable enough book if you're willing to ignore or overlook some of the small details that are inconsistent with previous books. I was glad to find out what happened to some of the characters from the previous books, though I found some of the characters, particularly Illona, poorly developed and romantic relationships that developed far too abrupt.

Unfortunately, I found too many things that made me go "huh?" Too many Darkovan characters in this book are described as having brown eyes. That's extremely unlikely, given that there was so much prejudice against brown-eyed Marius Alton in Sharra's Exile because of the brown eyes he inherited from his Terran mother. The Darkovans in Bradley's books all have green, blue or gray eyes, not brown, which they consider alien and like the eyes of an animal -- "beast eyes." That prejudice wouldn't be gone, despite some of the brown-eyed Terrans mixing it up with the Darkovans since they reestablished contact 100 or 150 years before the book opens, yet ordinary Darkovans without Terran blood are described as brown-eyed here. Are the minor character Yllana's eyes pale blue, as in Traitor's Sun, the previous book by this author, or are they golden like her mother Marguerida's? Marion Zimmer Bradley very firmly established that Lew Alton has dark brown hair, a fact which he comments upon in passing, along with the fact that his "laran" is nonetheless strong; in this book he's described as having graying red hair. Aside from that, I had a really hard time believing Lew would do many of the things he does in this book.

Then there are the glaring inconsistencies with the genealogy described in the books. Darius-Mikhail Zabal, yet another minor character, is described as an illegitimate grandson of Auster, a character from the Bloody Sun, and is made heir to the Aillard domain, which would be completely impossible if the original genealogy laid down in Bradley's previous novels is followed. Auster was a child of the Terran Jefferson Andrew Kerwin and of the Darkovan Cassilde, the illegitimate daughter of Callista Lanart-Alton and her brother-in-law and cousin Damon Ridenow. It was Cassilde's half-sister Cleindori, daughter of Damon Ridenow and of Jaelle Aillard, an illegitimate daughter of the Aillard family, who had the claim to the Aillard family through her dead mother. The entire plot of the Bloody Sun centered around Cleindori's son Jeff Kerwin Jr./Damon Aillard and his discovery of his heritage. Jeff Kerwin's children, if he had any, would be heirs to the Aillard Domain; the descendants of Auster Ridenow would have NO claim whatsoever. Anyone who's read the books is going to know better. If the author plans to continue this series with Darius-Mikhail Zabal as a character in future books, she would do well to clarify the genealogy. Maybe one of his other grandparents is a previously unknown daughter of Jeff Kerwin from the Bloody Sun.

These little details matter, especially when an author is attempting to continue a very popular series. It wouldn't have taken much for a good editor to catch the inconsistencies. The fact that these things weren't caught makes the continuation of the series feel inauthentic.