Zandru's Forge

Infobox Book
name = Zandru's Forge
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Dust-jacket from the first edition
author = Marion Zimmer Bradley
Deborah J. Ross
illustrator =
cover_artist = Romas Kukalis
country = United States
language = English
series = Darkover
subject =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = DAW Books
pub_date = 2003
english_pub_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 462 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7564-0149-6
oclc =
preceded_by = The Fall of Neskaya
followed_by = A Flame in Hali

"Zandru's Forge" is a fantasy novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross as part of the Darkover series and is set in the "Hundred Kingdoms" time period. This book is also part two of the Clingfire Trilogy.

Setting

"Main article: Darkover"

"Zandru's Forge" is set in Darkover's "Hundred Kingdoms" era. It is an era blurred in with the Ages of Chaos at the tail end. Breeding programs are no more, but wars are still fought with terrible Laran weapons. The events in this book start about 20 years after the end of "The Fall of Neskaya". One part of it overlaps with "Hawkmistress!" as it contains Carolin Hasturs exile and the part where Romilly McAran joins his band. It also describes the early life of Varzil Ridenow (aka Varzil the Good) so events take place before "Two To Conquer".

Rumail Deslucido has survived and with him his hatred for the Hastur clan which he instills in all his sons. His youngest son Eduin MacEarn enters Arilinn and tries to gain the friendship of Carolin Hastur, the nephew and heir to King Felix, in order to kill Carolin. But Carolin makes friends with Varzil Ridenow and together they share the dream to ban all "laran" weapons from Darkover when Carolin is king and Varzil a keeper. But when King Felix dies, Carolin's cousin Rakhal declares himself as king and outlaws Carolin. Meanwhile Eduin succeeds in killing Felicia Leynier, Varzil's lover and the sole surviving child of Taniquel Hastur-Acosta.

Characters

"Main article: Characters in Darkover"
* Carolin Hastur, nephew and heir to the King Felix
* Varzil Ridenow (aka Varzil the Good), younger son of Dom Felix Ridenow, powerful "laranzu"
* Rahkal Hastur, Carolins cousin and ursurper of the throne
* Eduin MacEarn, youngest son of Rumail Deslucido
* Felicia Leynier, sole child of Taniquel Hastur-Acosta and Coryn Leynier, "leronis", trains to be a female keeper

Chapters

* Prologue
* Book I: Chapter 1-20
* Book II: Chapter 21-30
* Book III: Chapter 31-45
* Book IV: Chapter 46-49
* Epilogue

Publication history

*2003, USA, DAW Books ISBN 0-7564-0149-6, Pub date June 2003, Hardback
*2003, USA, Science Fiction Book Club #58200, Pub date July 2003, Hardcover
*2004, USA, DAW Books ISBN 0-7564-0184-4, Pub date June 2004, Paperback

References

*cite web
last = Brown
first = Charles N.
authorlink = Charles N. Brown
coauthors = William G. Contento
title = The Locus Index to Science Fiction: 2003
work =
publisher =
date = 2007-11-21
url = http://www.locusmag.com/index/yr2003/b7.htm#A185.8
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-09-07
*cite web
last = Brown
first = Charles N.
authorlink = Charles N. Brown
coauthors = William G. Contento
title = The Locus Index to Science Fiction: 2004
work =
publisher =
date = 2007-11-21
url = http://www.locusmag.com/index/yr2004/b7.htm#A200.6
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-09-07