M. Z. B.'s Shadow Matrix continues Darkoven Lore

books:

	• The Shadow Matrix (Darkover) Marion Zimmer Bradley DAW, 1999 - 560 pages average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

M. Z. B.'s Shadow Matrix continues Darkoven Lore

While this novel cannot be enjoyably read without reading another, it continues the tradition of Darkover admirably in relation to the storyline. I agree with the other reviews on this page, and would like to point out that there was a common thread that I found disappointing in this novel- the fact that there are at least about four female characters that fit into the role of shrew. I found it repetitive-- First there was Mikhail's mother, the insane woman at the castle (& the one who was manipulating her), as well as, the telepath who "overshadowed" Margaret in her childhood who she must face once more. If you like the Darkover books, you will enjoy this one. The plot was solid and the protagonists were sympathetic.

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A fascinating heroine

Margaret Alton is the child of the powerfully psychically gifted Lew Alton, who has been the Senator for Darkover for several years. After a traumatic early childhood, little Margaret lived with her father and stepmother in exile, struggling to overcome her own oppressive Gift without expert Darkovan help, as well as trying to endure what she cannot help sensing of her father, battling his own demons.

This book takes up the story of Margaret, who in Exile's Song returned to the planet of her birth as an ethnomusicologist, accompanied by her beloved professor Ivor Davidson, to collect folk song from the rural places still largely untouched by the Empire.

As this book begins, we find Margaret undergoing the compulsory training in a tower, while Mikhail investigates a suspicious situation in the Elhalyn household, which appears to be haunted, and dominated by a strange woman of unknown origins. Mikhail's handling of the troubled Elhalyn children is touchingly presented, as is his relationship to his sister Liriel.

After much political maneuvering (an annoying but necessary part of these Hastur-era stories) there is the expected midwinter crisis, this one larger than most.

As a bonus, we meet again characters we know well: Jeff Kerwin, Javanne Hastur, Lew Alton, Diotima Ridenow, Mrs Davidson (Ivor's wife), Rafaella the Renunciate, Michael Lanart-Hastur, Danilo Syrtis, and Uncle Rafe, and others. And, as always, the children are delightfully portrayed. Finally, there is travel through time to visit with Varzil the Good, towards the close of the ages of chaos, to learn what happened to the legendary ring in which he preserved the soul of his beloved, Felicia Hastur.

Margaret Alton is a very sympathetic character, especially to those who might relate to music. Her own development is only part of a larger set of events that culminate in the story related in Traitor's Sun. This book is indeed the middle section of a trilogy within the Darkover saga consisting of Exile's Song, Shadow Matrix, and Traitor's Sun, all worth reading.

Archimedes

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Not quite as good as Exiles song

This book had a few dragging plot points but overall it was still quite worth reading

Bradleys greatest work is this TRILOGY

I was so terribly thilled to hear that Marion was starting a new Generation of Darkover charactors..It began with Exiles Song and ends with Traitor's Son... TRULY Great.. all of them and if you like DARKOVER I highly recommend all of the.. this is about the third time I have purchased them... WORE the others out......=0) I hightly recommend these books..

I really freaked when Bradley Passed when Traitors Sun was still In hardcover.. Deborah Ross is really good. and I can only pray that after the Clingfire trilogy ( Co-Written with Bradley ) she will continue to write Darkover Books.... Marion Zimmer Bradley was truly great in that she encouraged and helped others to write about her worlds and her characters... She was instremental in helping not only Mercedes Lackey but many others to get a good foothold on the Genre... I truly hope we can look forward to more- MANY more DARKOVER BOOKS

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

After spending her youth in the Terran Empire, Margaret Alton returns to Darkover, the planet of her birth. There she discovers she has the Alton Gift--forced rapport and compulsion--one of the strongest and most dangerous of the inherited "Laran" gifts of the telepathic Comyn--the ruling families of Darkover. And even as she struggles to control her newfound powers, Margaret finds herself falling in love with the Regent to the royal Elhalyn Domain, a man she has been forbidden to marry, for their alliance would irrevocably alter the power balance of their planet!.

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