Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
DAW (1978), 364 pages
Description
During the lawless Ages of Chaos, when the ruling families of Darkover ruthlessly inbred their laran-gifted offspring to gain powerful talents, a baby was born to the lord of Aldaran. This child, born on a dark and thunder-filled night----, was possessed of a terrifying and uncontrolled talent: Dorilys, heiress to her father's domain, could unwittingly call forth lightning, even while still a fretful child. Fearful for his daughter's life and the safety of his domain, Lord Aldaran sent to a tower for help. But even the powers of a trained monitor and a Hastur lord might not be enough to save this painfully afflicted and deadly young woman.
Media reviews
eine des orages offre un tableau intéressant du fonctionnement de la haute société de Ténébreuse où la politique est omniprésente. C'est aussi là que les pouvoirs psy sont les plus présents et les plus déterminants dans le déroulement de l'intrigue. L'atmosphère y est très « fantasy
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», le laran servant un peu à tout et n'importe quoi, du guidage des planeurs à la création d'armes de guerres en passant par la construction de châteaux. Par contre, l'intrigue et la psychologie des personnages ne se distinguent pas par une grande originalité. Reine des orages est parfois bavard, avec quelques lenteurs autour des états d'âme prévisibles de héros très stéréotypés et assez manichéens.
On peut également regretter, pour la cohérence globale du cycle, l'absence d'un tome intermédiaire, qui fasse la liaison entre la Planète aux vents de folie et Reine des orages. On se trouve brusquement plongé dans l'adolescence de Ténébreuse sans avoir rien vu de son enfance. Les origines sont déjà des mythes, avec des personnages légendaires comme Hastur et Cassilda. Ce hiatus brutal peut désarçonner un lecteur qui lit ces deux romans d'affilée.
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Que dire d'autre, sinon que vous n'en sortirez pas indemnes ?
User reviews
LibraryThing member lewispike
This one is excellent, truly. I think it was probably the first Darkover book I read, and a gripping introduction to the world.
It nicely showed a lot of the culture, breeding programmes, extreme laran powers and the like, and the warfare using laran weapons too in a wild and extravagent style,
It nicely showed a lot of the culture, breeding programmes, extreme laran powers and the like, and the warfare using laran weapons too in a wild and extravagent style,
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wrapped around a love story or two. Show Less
LibraryThing member lalawe
A good read about Darkover in the Ages of Chaos. Unlike the other Darkover novels, which deal with the conflict between Darkoverans and Terrans, the conflict is between the characters and the duties imposed on them by their families, laran, and the breeding programs.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I'm a fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley, but my affection for her rests not on the Avalon books, which I didn't care for, but her Darkover series. Darkover is a "lost colony" of Earth that falls back into a medieval society. Ruled by a psychically gifted aristocracy, after centuries it's rediscovered by
This book is centered on one of the more memorable female characters in the series, Dorilys Aldaran, the "stormqueen" who has power over the weather. Although some of the Darkover books are loosely connected, having characters in common, they were written to be read independently and were written out of sequence. This makes it difficult without a guide to know what story to start with. Stormqueen was published in 1978, when MZB was at the height of her powers, and of the 18 Darkover novels written solely by MZB, is one of my favorites--easily top five. Early chronologically in the timeline of the series, and with no recurring characters, it makes a fine introduction to a beguiling world.
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a star-spanning high-tech human federation, giving the series a feel of both science fiction and fantasy. Most books focus on the clash between the two cultures. This is one of the exceptions, set before the time of rediscovery, in the "Age of Chaos." The Darkover series as a whole features strong female characters, but it has enough swashbuckling adventure to draw the male of the species, and indeed this series was recommended to me by a guy (when we were in high school!)This book is centered on one of the more memorable female characters in the series, Dorilys Aldaran, the "stormqueen" who has power over the weather. Although some of the Darkover books are loosely connected, having characters in common, they were written to be read independently and were written out of sequence. This makes it difficult without a guide to know what story to start with. Stormqueen was published in 1978, when MZB was at the height of her powers, and of the 18 Darkover novels written solely by MZB, is one of my favorites--easily top five. Early chronologically in the timeline of the series, and with no recurring characters, it makes a fine introduction to a beguiling world.
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LibraryThing member LilleesUncle
My second favorite of all the Darkover books. The whole series is wonderful.
LibraryThing member TadAD
This was one of the better of the Darkover books...though I admit to being a particular fan of those set in the Ages of Chaos.
LibraryThing member broccolima
One of the best of the Darkover novels I've read. Less angsty and gloomy than a lot of them.
LibraryThing member quondame
Lots of plot elements, two sets of brothers one of whom is full of bad will, several tangled loves. A 1978 book which handles an arms race from horrified viewers, to involved technicians, to greedy users. And looks at women’s issues with a strange sappy do anything for love sensibility that is
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off from the more feminist notes. Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Nominee — Science Fiction Novel — 1979)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1978-06
Physical description
364 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0879973811 / 9780879973810