The Alton Gift (Darkover) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Deborah J. Ross (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The late Marion Zimmer Bradley's influence can still be detected in her posthumous Darkover "collaborations" with Ross. This opener to the Children of Kings trilogy (after 2004's A Flame in Hali, which concluded the Clingfire trilogy) focuses on a chilling threat: the resurgence of trailman's fever, a disease that could wipe out Darkover's population. The key to a cure is Jeremiah Reed, a Terran battle survivor whose memories were wiped by Lewis-Kennard Alton via the Alton Gift of forced rapport. As the medical crisis worsens, Mikhail Lanart-Hastur, Lew's son-in-law and Regent of Darkover, must fend off a political takeover by his power-hungry rival, Francisco Ridenow. Meanwhile, Mikhail's son, Domenic, finds himself torn between romances with Alanna, his unstable cousin, and lovely Illona, a Gifted under-Keeper. Though a slow start and arcane historical references might dissuade new readers, the teasing resolution will excite anticipation in those familiar with the memorable land of the Bloody Sun.
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From Booklist

In the sequel to Traitor's Sun (1999), the Terrans have left Darkover, and little of their technology remains. Remnants of the Comyn are finding that governing the planet takes more energy and personnel than they have. Changes are needed, but squabbling over what changes continues. Its dream of a Terran-less world fulfilled, the conservative faction strives to restore its unquestioned lordship of the Domains. Domenic Hastur, heir to lordship of the Comyn, travels the Domains to assess the people's problems. When his father, the regent Mikhail, is assassinated, Domenic must assume the lordship just as a plague strikes Thendara. Sure to please Darkover fans. Murray, Frieda

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover (June 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756400198
• ISBN-13: 978-0756400194
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #651,065 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Darkover ended with Traitor Sun, July 20, 2007

By	Kevin Butler (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Darkover book, August 30, 2007

By	Debra Trakel (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Addition to Darkover Series, June 21, 2007

By	C. Howard (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.